At Ghent Montessori School, we encourage the total development of the child by meeting each child’s needs individually and by providing a prepared, comprehensive Montessori environment that cultivates independent thought, empathy for others, social awareness and confidence.
Our Aims
- To nurture intelligence, curiosity and imagination
- To encourage students to live their lives as joyful contributors to society
- To show them how to be compassionate global citizens and committed caretakers of the earth
- To support and develop each child’s unique talents
How We Achieve this Mission
1. Individualized learning
Dr. Montessori recognized that each child is unique and develops according to an inner timetable. In our Montessori classrooms, new concepts are introduced to your child when they show an interest and readiness. This allows each child to be challenged according to their ability, rather than by top- down, age-based standards.
2. Mixed aged classrooms 
Dr. Montessori observed distinct “planes of development”—three year periods in which all children share characteristics, interests and tendencies. At GMS, children are grouped in multi-age class- rooms that mirror these three-year age spans, encouraging peer-teaching, leadership, and a community atmosphere.
3. Freedom within limits
We introduce your child to a broad curriculum, but give him or her the freedom to pursue his/her own interests, while making responsible choices. The result? Your child will become an independent learner, self-motivated, and excited about education.
4. Children learn by doing
You won’t see rows of desks, a teacher at a blackboard in front of the class, or children filling out mind-numbing worksheets. Rather, your child will work hands-on, with beautiful learning materials specifically designed to facilitate a deep understanding of abstract concepts and essential life skills.
5. children are independent
Dr. Montessori observed that all children have a natural drive to be independent—and our Montessori classrooms are designed to encourage this process for your child. Small furniture, low shelves, and child-size tools allow students to take care of themselves, their friends, and the classroom with limited help needed from adults.
6. a carefully prepared environment
Our trained Montessori teachers spend considerable time creating a classroom environment to meet your child’s every need. Child-size materials and tools that aid independence are organized and cleaned daily so students can access and use them when needed. Cultural items of interest, beautiful artwork and plants create a warm, inviting environment in which your child will love to learn.
7. a real community of children
Kindness and respect for others are modeled by our teachers with “grace and courtesy” lessons. The oldest children, who are finishing their Children’s House cycle, serve as leaders for their younger friends. The result is a loving and peaceful community of children.
8. Respect for Children
Through her observations, Dr. Montessori grew to respect the child as a capable, admirable individual to be unconditionally accepted as one of life’s most marvelous expressions. Our GMS staff is dedicated to this belief. We strive to develop a deep relationship with your child, respecting each as an individual, including his or her unique gifts, talents, and traits. We value the relationship that we create with families and strive to create a community that supports one another.