Summer Spotlights- Frederick’s Private School Preview

Frederick County is home to a number of highly-sought after private schools. Each following their own educational methods and teaching styles, these programs have been proven to educate children of different age groups and successfully enhance child development. Read on to learn more about what is happening at your child’s current (or future) school in Frederick’s Private School Summer Preview:
Meadows Montessori

​The Montessori educational method respects the child’s innate drive, tendencies, and motivation to educate himself through multi-sensorial activities in a beautifully prepared environment. The child passes through stages of development called “Sensitive Periods” that are periods of intense interest in particular learning areas. Meadows Montessori school of Frederick is proud to announce a new lower elementary program that will extend learning opportunities for students in first through third grades. The program includes art and music education, strong history, geography, biology, science, mathematics, geometry, language/literacy and cosmic education, as well as a curriculum for cursive handwriting and keyboard typing skills.

The Montessori Method is named after Dr. Maria Montessori, a scientist and physician who pioneered the learning method based on the potentialities and needs of children. Her theories and practices have been widely respected and has shown to be successful worldwide for over a century. Meadows Montessori’s new elementary program will allow for elementary students to participate in real-world experiences in and out of the classroom using researching skills to report back on various subjects of interest.

Early in 2015, Meadows Montessori acquired a talented Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) teacher at the elementary level trained in grades 1 – 6 who holds a Master’s degree in Education through Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola University. Meadows Montessori school has also received Certificates of Approval by the Maryland State Department of Education and the City of Frederick. Those interested in completing the enrollment process may contact the school directly, and are encouraged to schedule a tour.
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The Lucy School

The Lucy School is an arts-based institution that offers preschool, primary, and now middle school education opportunities to students seeking growth in all areas of life. This private school is proud to announce the introduction of 6th -8th grade to their educational system. The school’s arts-based curriculum incorporates aspects of the Maryland content standards, which abides to high-quality academic expectations in Engligh/Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics for sufficient higher education preparation.

Their whole child teaching approach fosters an environment of academic excellence in art, movement, creativity, hands on learning, and holistic development. Assessments are given three times during the school year, beginning, middle, and end, to measure academic growth and success in each individual. These assessments show that 80% of kindergarten through fourth grade students showed readiness for mathematics at least two grade levels ahead of their current grade. 81% of Lucy School students read above grade and age levels.

The school is excited to extend the opportunities for children and families to continue such positive growth through the eight grade, opening more doors for continued strong-self-image and leadership qualities. The middle school program will be held on the 17-acre campus and will utilize natural resources surrounding the property to enrich every aspect of the exploratory learning opportunities.
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The Mother Seton School

​This year marks the 205th year of educational excellence at The Mother Seton School (MSS) since they opened their doors in 1810. Since the beginning, The Mother Seton School strives to inspire students to reach for academic excellence and dedicate their lives to love and serve Christ in the tradition of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the first American congregation of religious sisters in the early 1800’s.

The private, Christ-centered community is excited to announce their new involvement with Amazon Smile, a program offered by the online shopping network that provides proceeds to the school with each purchase. All you need to do to participate is designate MSS as you charity of choice, and a portion of your Amazon purchase benefits MSS. The school also offers a rewarding referral program. Each referral for a family to MSS that ends with a successful enrollment is rewarded with a $200 credit towards the referrer’s tuition. Call the office at MSS for more information.

Saint John Regional Catholic School

Saint John Regional Catholic School, now located on Oppossumtown Pike in Frederick, is one of the oldest Catholic Educational Institutions on the east coast priding themselves in spiritual, physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and creative childhood development.

Recognized as the only middle school in country to offer intensive Chinese language studies, St. John’s Catholic School prides themselves in their partnership with Hunter College of the City University of NY to provide students with this extraordinary language acquisition opportunity. The program centers around the linguistic properties, basic syntax, and grammatical structure of the intrinsic language.

Saint John Regional Catholic school also recently celebrated staff member Colleen Manchester’s award for Teacher of the year for 2015. Manchester teaches third grade at the private Catholic school located off of Oppossumtown Pike in Frederick. Principal Karen Smith has been quoted for praising Manchester on her ability to approach her work with enthusiasm for six straight years at St. Johns. Another triumph for the St. John’s community includes the “Green School” certification in 2014, naming St. John’s Regional Catholic School an integrated sustainable institution with notable best management practices, environmental education curriculum, and community engagement incorporated into daily operation.