...to nurture the child's natural love for learning, work, and order through self-discipline, mastering positive attitudes toward learning, and achieving ever increasing levels of independence.
The History of the Montessori School of Alexandria
In 1970, a group of interested citizens felt the need to have a Montessori School within the Alexandria city limits. In September of the same year, the Montessori School of Alexandria, Inc. (MSA) was established as a nonprofit, nonsectarian, private school run by a small Board of Directors. The doors of the school were opened with two primary classes in the rented facilities of a church. In January of 1971, a third primary class was established. By then, the need to provide continuity by opeining an elementary class was also forseen.
Believing that all children should have the opportunity to have a Montessori education, MSA was the first Montessori school to offer an extended day care program, making the school availible to children of two-career families and single parents who were able to look at MSA as a second "home away from home" for their children.
In 1986, MSA moved to its current location at 6300 Florence Lane and, in 1988, expanded the school with an addition of three classrooms and a modern kitchen.
Thanks to the faith and trust parents put into the school, and the tenacity and determination of the founders to make a success of the school in spite of many unexpected problems, much has been accomplished since those early days.
The Objectives of the Montessori School of Alexandria
The purpose of the Montessori School of Alexandria (MSA) is to provide an early education program in which the foundation for a lifetime of creative learning is developed effectively and efficiently in the child. More specifically, MSA strives to develop within the school a learning environment which surrounds the child with maximum motivation and opportunities to learn and achieve in directions consistent with his or her individual level of maturation.