‘A place to call our own’
Montessori school ready for students at its new location
Children’s Montessori School students will experience quite the change when returning to class next week.
Instead of studying inside the Peterborough Armoury, the school has moved to the 186 Romaine St. building that used to house the former French Catholic elementary school, Monseigneur-Jamot.
The school signed a long-term lease with building owner Paul Dietrich, of Parkview Homes, which gives the school a building to call their own, principal Jennifer Connelly said.
“We moved in on June 1 and spent the summer getting everything ready,” Connelly said.
Children’s Montessori School was located at the Peterborough Armoury on Murray Street for 21 years.
The school first began at Edmison Heights Baptist Church in 1997 with two students. From there it grew and a second location was added at the former Shiners building on Brealey Drive.
Then, 21 years ago, both locations amalgamated and moved to the Armoury.
Although the partnership with the Armoury was great, it was time to move on to find a better building for students, Connelly said.
The new Romaine Street location boasts a gymnasium and schoolyard, something the Armoury couldn’t provide, she said.
But before the students could move in, Connelly said extensive renovations had to be done. Every wall was painted and new floors were put down in every classroom. A new kitchen was built and the gymnasium was renewed.
“It’s a place to call our own,” Connelly said.
In addition, the new space has also allowed Children’s Montessori School space to expand its child-care services. They now have room for 32 children aged two to four.
An open house for the community was held at the school Wednesday night.