School History

1980

1987
Founder Linda Cole-Weaver opens Montessori Children’s House in Bellevue with six students, ages 3-6.

1989
MCH moves to Redmond, WA in search of a more rural, home-like atmosphere. The school operates in the lower level of Linda Cole-Weaver's home.

1990

1993
MCH moves to its current location on a 1.5 acre turn-of-the-century farmstead. The school opens with one Early Childhood classroom of three to six year olds, offering before and after school care to meet the needs of working families.
MCH opens a second classroom serving infants and toddlers.

1995
MCH opens a third classroom, for three to six year olds.

1997
The Toddler Program closes and its space is converted into a dedicated before and after care space.

1998
MCH starts the school year with two Early Childhood classrooms.
MCH breaks ground on a second building designed to house two new Early Childhood classrooms, offices and a large Multi-Purpose Room destined to become the elementary classroom in future years.

1999
Building B opens first and second Early Childhood classrooms.

2000

2003
Jennifer McConnell starts at MCH as an Administrative Assistant and moves into Assistant Head of School during the school year.

2004
​MCH inaugurates its Elementary Program, with a first third grade class of three students. Simultaneously, the current Infant/Toddler Program launches. The first infant/toddler classroom was opened at La Casa, now known as Lily Pad which was Linda Cole-Weaver's home. The second classroom was opened in January of 2005.

2006
MCH opens a fifth Early Childhood classroom which sparks a redesign of the Elementary classroom and the administrative offices are moved. Jennifer moves into the Head of School position.

2007
MCH purchases the property next to the main campus adding 3.5 acres to the existing 1.5 acre campus. This expansion introduces a wide variety of gardening spaces, wetlands, forest and farm structures.

2008
MCH opens a third Toddler classroom on the new property, opening a new classroom called La Escuela.
Founder Linda Cole-Weaver retires and sells MCH to her daughter, Jennifer McConnell.
​

2010

2010
MCH extends its Elementary Program by opening a fourth through sixth grade classroom.

2013
MCH breaks ground on new 7,000 square foot facility at La Escuela to house expanding Elementary classrooms, an expanding Infant/Toddler Program and additional faculty/office space. 

2014
Construction on the new building ends and MCH Elementary and Infant/Toddler classes move in.

2015
The elementary playground, featuring natural materials such as a recycled water pipe and repurposed wood, open for use. 
MCH wins a coveted gardening grant from The Whole Kids Foundation created by Whole Foods. 

2016
Head of School, Jennifer McConnell, is the keynote speaker at the International Chinese Montessori Foundation Convention in China. 

2017
MCH is named BEST PRESCHOOL by 425 Magazine. ​
Jennifer McConnell is named a finalist in the 2017 King County Executive's Small Business Awards, Best Woman-Owned Business.
The MCH Pollinator Garden opens directly outside the Elementary building. Funded in partnership with the MCHPA and designed to attract bees and butterflies, the Pollinator Garden serves as an outdoor classroom, playground and garden space.

2018
MCH wins BEST PRESCHOOL by 425 Magazine for the second year in a row -- along with another honor: Best Childcare.
MCH announces another expansion with an MCH Middle School set to launch in 2019.
With partner funding by the MCHPA, the new Infant/Toddler Playground opens, encouraging imaginative play and cognitive development.
MCH creates a large, free-range animal environment for the MCH goats and ducks.

2019
MCH Middle School opens.

2020

2021
MCH changes classroom names to Native Plants found around campus.
​
2022
MCH updates the Elementary Playground.

2023
Angela Spayde steps into the Head of School role, while Jennifer McConnell shifts to the Head of Strategic Planning.

Campus Growth

Playground Updates- 2022/2023
We’ve recently updated our playgrounds, creating new opportunities for students to engage in a stimulating environment where they can take risks, learn, and grow. The elementary playground has new play structures crafted out of natural materials, including wood from our very own wetlands! Additionally, the early childhood playground has a new sandbox and more space to run and engage in popular games like soccer and tag.
Infant/Toddler Playground - 2018
Infant/Toddler Playground
A new and improved play area opened in June 2018. Mirroring the natural materials found in MCH’s Elementary playground, our new Infant playground uses natural and recycled elements designed to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills. With musical instruments and gardening opportunities, the new Infant playground is where imaginative play comes to life.
Farm Animal Habitats - 2018
Farm Animal Habitats
In 2018, our on-site farm animals got upgraded areas to promote freedom of movement and socialization. The centrally-located chicken pen received new amenities, a bunny run was built on the Early Childhood Playground and our ducks also had a home makeover allowing them to interact more with the MCH goats. 
Pollinator garden - 2017
Pollinator Garden
In 2017, the Garden and Farming Specialist came together to create this sanctuary outside of the Elementary and Infant Building. The MCH Pollinator Garden is home to valuable pollinator friends such as butterflies, bees, beetles and moths …and an outdoor classroom to the two elementary classrooms located near by.
Elementary playground - 2015
Elementary playground
In February 2015, we celebrated the grand opening of our new Elementary playground. Using downed trees as balance beams and a recycled water pipe as a tunnel, the MCH Elementary Program has been featured in national magazines for its innovative use of natural materials. 

After a decade-long vision conceptualized by Head of School Jennifer McConnell, construction of the new playground began in the summer of 2014. Using elements of nature and Montessori teaching methods, the new Elementary playground welcomes “free-range play” with 100% plastic-free materials. 
 
The two-level fort and attached rope bridge are made of secure and natural  materials. The surrounding nature trail is not only used at recess but also during P.E., while the bird’s nest swing and climbing stump complete a well-appointed and innovative playground area.
mch garden - 2015
The MCH Garden
In the Spring of 2015, MCH hosted a work party to complete new, raised planting beds in our thriving garden. These hearty beds, designed by Gardening Expert Katherine Stewart, not only expand our growable real estate, but add a modern aesthetic to the heart of our school. 
 
With a long-term goal of becoming 100% organic in garden practices, these new garden beds are used daily by the students during their appointed garden time. 
elementary and infant building - 2014
Elementary and Infant Building
In 2014, we completed construction of our 7,000 square foot building. This new addition houses our growing Elementary program and provides custom-built spaces for our Infant/Toddler Program. Intentionally designed to have the smallest impact on our certified wetland campus, the building is an innovative space, designed to be flexible for classrooms, special presentations and all-school celebrations. 
 
The main level of the new building is home to the lower and upper Elementary Program, while upstairs are infant and toddler classrooms and office space. Directly outside the infant and toddler classrooms is a fully-enclosed playground built to accommodate our youngest MCH students.

Click here to see a virtual tour.