Middle School
The Blue Heron Class, Ages 12-14
The Adolescent program is specially designed to offer the time and space necessary for children to continue their journey of self-construction. Montessori’s insights into younger children remain relevant as adolescents are still motivated by an inner drive to define themselves as distinct individuals.
While younger children focus on self and family, adolescents turn their attention outward, seeking their place within society. This transition is supported by a deep exploration of human culture and by encouraging them to grapple with profound questions.
Who am I? What do I value? How do I find my place in the world? Although some practices from the primary and elementary environments continue—such as working at their own pace, following their interests, and using materials to grasp new concepts—the adolescent environment emphasizes social development and the journey toward adulthood.
Summer Curriculum:
Community Living, X-Terms, and Summer Economic Work
A portion of the annual tuition for Adolescents includes the X-terms, which will take place in the months of June and July 2025.
Participation in community is a key component of our Adolescent Programs. This is fostered through trips and weekly communal meals. Adolescents take part in planning and organizing multi-day trips at least twice a year, focusing on building a strong sense of community and teamwork. They also take on the responsibility of planning and cooking weekly meals from scratch, developing essential cooking skills, nutritional knowledge, and hosting abilities when families or staff are invited.
X-terms offer students the opportunity to explore subjects of personal interest that don't fit neatly into the standard curriculum. Students are deeply involved in every stage of X-term projects, from conceptualizing their ideas to executing them. These experiences, funded through their economic work, might involve traveling or transforming spaces. At the end of the X-term, students share their projects with the community through presentations, products, or visits. Their creativity and dedication are the only limits to what they can achieve.
Additionally, adolescents participate in Summer Economic Work sessions that focus on production and exchange. One session emphasizes creating items from scratch, such as bread, pasta, sauces, and crafts. The other session concentrates on food preservation techniques, including making jam from campus-grown and local fruits, water-bath canning, vinegar pickling, and fermenting foods. These sessions equip students with practical skills and deepen their understanding of economic work.