Newton Montessori School Opens Innovative 7th and 8th Grade

Newton Montessori School (NMS) is expanding its educational offerings to include Grades 7-8, with the first cohort of seventh graders starting in Fall 2019.

Located in Newton Center, Massachusetts, NMS has offered programs for children from age 15 months through Grade 6 since its founding in 2006. In 2018, the school was named by Boston Parents’ Paper as the “Family Favorite for Montessori Elementary Schools in Greater Boston.”

“The Voyager program at NMS is a 2-year curriculum designed to provide highly motivated students with new and exciting opportunities for learning,” explains Head of School Beth Black. “Developmentally, middle school students are interested in big ideas and are ready for serious challenges. We want to leverage their energy and engage them in ‘deep dives’ that reward their curiosity and passion.”

One of the unique features of the Voyager program is that students will be expected to independently plan, prioritize, and schedule their assigned work. This open-ended scheduling style will give students opportunities for in-depth exploration of ideas, while challenging them to practice efficient time management.

Julia Tatsch, who is developing the Voyager curriculum and will be the lead teacher, also notes that a less rigid schedule has advantages. “Often as kids get older, their subjects in school become more compartmentalized,” she states. “Voyager is an integrated, theme-based curriculum designed to intrigue students with compelling questions and challenge them to discover answers through independent and collaborative research.”

Another feature that makes the Voyager program different from more traditional middle school is the class size. Voyager class size will be intentionally small, with fewer than ten seventh graders in the inaugural class and a likely maximum of 25-30 students.

“A small class size can work well to minimize the negative peer pressure that often dominates group dynamics in large schools,” Black points out.

Though small, the Voyager program is right-sized for experiential learning, which includes frequent off-campus research excursions. These off-site, overnight learning adventures will give students meaningful context for their in-school studies. Tatsch notes, “They’ll never have to ask ‘Why are we studying this?’ because of the myriad opportunities they’ll have to apply what they are learning.”

As the finishing touches are made on the Voyager curriculum, Newton Montessori School is anticipating interest in the program from outside applicants. “The Voyager program is open to any student who can demonstrate the ability to handle more responsibility and freedom than 7th and 8th grade students are often given. We’re looking for applicants who are eager to move at their own pace academically and are excited to engage in innovative, collaborative projects with others.”

A very limited number of seats are open for grade 7 in Fall 2019. Additional spots will open up for Fall 2020. More information is available on the school website or by emailing admissions@newtonmontessori.org.

About Newton Montessori School

Newton Montessori School is a welcoming, diverse school community in which learners are inspired to strive for excellence and contribute positively to their communities, challenged to explore big ideas independently and collaboratively, and empowered to pursue their goals with confidence, persistence, and integrity. The school is located in Newton Centre, Massachusetts and serves students age Toddler through Grade 8. Learn more at www.newtonmontessori.org.