Enrichment Programs

MCH provides a fully integrated curriculum combining an authentic Montessori approach with the full complement of Montessori materials and several significant enrichment areas. From gardening and farming, to theater production and play performances, students get hands-on experience to explore their passion... and discover new ones.

Gardening

The MCH gardening experiences are based on the Montessori model of a child-directed, developmentally appropriate, individualized approach. Each MCH program (Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood, Elementary) provides children with direct access to gardening. Several direct goals of gardening with children include nurturing independence, inspiring awe and wonder in the natural environment, and meeting several cognitive objectives such as an enriched vocabulary and taxonomy lending to a sense of where plants fit into the greater world.

Farming

Pulling in all aspects of social, emotional and cognitive learning, MCH is one of the only eastside schools to have farm animals on-site. All students have opportunities to interact with the animals where they gather eggs, feed the goats and hold the many on-site bunnies.

Music

Music is an important part of every classroom at MCH. Daily singing and listening are accentuated by weekly circles with our Music Specialist. Children learn about the structure of songs and learn a wide array of songs from traditional rounds to popular folk songs to songs the Music Specialist has written just for the children at MCH. During the course of a school year, they also write and sing original songs. Music is naturally integrated into cultural studies and language. Special guest artists join the class occasionally to share cultural art forms. Classroom-based drama and dance production and performance encourage public speaking, poise, self-control, and self-confidence.

Art

As current research continues to indicate the importance of artistic exploration, we find it a very natural part of our curriculum. Different forums of art are a natural a part of the curriculum as technique and use of various media. Early Childhood and elementary students learn about art as we do everything else, from the perspective of history. We study the various forms of media as we study the artists who created and used them. Sessions with our Arts Specialist help children build their artistic vocabulary, skills and confidence.

Physical Education

Large muscle skills are an important focus during P.E. Games and team sports teach good sportsmanship skills. Each week, the Kindergarten and Elementary students attend Physical Education class to develop stretching, flexibility, coordination, balance, breath-awareness, strength-building techniques, and to encourage an active life-style.

Nature Club

While every student enjoys time on MCH's fully-enclosed nature trail, our Kindergarten students enjoy regularly scheduled time in the outdoors, lead by two on-site nature and animal specialists. Whether walking in the forested areas around our serene, 5-acre campus or scouting on the MCH Nature Trail, Nature Club is a favorite activity of our Kindergarten population.

Original Play Production

Every year at MCH, we put on a musical play production. Written by our Elementary Program Director, Nicole Champoux -- with original music by Music Specialist, Amy Roberts -- the MCH play productions feature all MCH students from Kindergarten to sixth grade.

Our debut production, The Odyssey, was the first time this classic tale has been re-thought into a musical and performed by elementary students. In May 2018, MCH debuted A Midsummer Night's Dream; again written, composed and directed by MCH staff.

Students create the props, sets, costumes, lighting and of course, perform on stage. See the complete performances of The Odyssey and A Midsummer Night's Dream here.