​It’s dismissal and apart from the buzz of busyness, jackets being pulled on, and shared laughter, there are also excited murmurs.

“I can’t wait for Makerspace after school!” 

“Running Club is going to be crazy awesome. We’re running around all of Chicago!”

“I signed up for cooking class because my mom wants me to make dinner from now on.”

Our spring session of after school classes (for ages 5 to 14) is underway, and the children were ready to dive into a variety of activities including gardening, chess, cooking, running and set design.  In the past, we've offered robotics, anime, ballet, hip-hop, and playwriting.

"The road to success is always under construction." - Lily Tomlin

​It's been a busy few weeks over at 6942 W Roosevelt Road as our floor was poured.  It was such a great sight to see the crew from Bulley & Andrews plug away as floors were created right before our very eyes.  Dave Hempfling, Sr. Project Manager with Bulley & Andrews, hosted Sandra Simmons (our Toddler Directress) and Gina Gleason (our Executive Director) as the crew worked quickly and precisely on our floor. On our FB Live video, Dave informed us that eighteen trucks came in that morning, with approximately 8500 sq. feet of cement which were needed for our space, which will consist of two toddler classrooms, two infant classrooms, three garden spaces, a large multipurpose room, a full kitchen and much more.

Next, the exterior structural wall framing was erected.  Within the next week or so, a joist will come to assist on the next part of the project as the B & A crew commences roof work. Construction demo on the Middle School has been completed and work will soon begin on renovations of that space. 

“Let’s start our parade and go all the way to Senior Elementary,” Primary teacher, Mr. Mike, called out as he held the dragon head and called the “scales” into formation.
 
We celebrate children’s awe of everything around them. Places, things, ideas — we help them explore it all. In ways both large and small, the children of Alcuin become aware of the greater world around them.  We celebrate cultures, people, diversity, histories, and holidays across the curriculum.  For the younger children, it may be via maps, storytelling, and art — for the older children this becomes more in-depth through literature, plays, music, timelines, guest speakers, field trips, and even more elaborate art studies. 

We follow children’s curiosities which lead to deeper knowledge and personal connection to what they learn, and then we help apply what they’ve learned continuously to other subjects, topics and life. We broaden the learning environment so our children can continually push the fence over to explore new territory and test their growing potential. 

We’re pleased to announce that the final step in our seven-year-long dual accreditation process with ISACS (Independent School Accreditation of the Central States) and AMS (American Montessori Society) is coming as we prepare for our team site visit at the end of the month.    

We will be hosting nine education professionals which include teachers and administrators (both Montessorian and non-Montessorians alike) who will spend four days with us. During this visit, every aspect of the school is examined and documented, including governance, curriculum, fiscal and personnel policies, facilities, health and safety practices, teacher preparation, and learner outcomes. 

So, what exactly does this dual accreditation mean? Accreditation, for ISACS and AMS, begins with an intensive self-study, by the school, involving the school’s entire community. Our whopping almost-200-page self-study goes over every aspect of our school. At the end of the self-study period, a thorough onsite peer visit is conducted. In addition to determining whether the school meets the over 200 AMS and ISACS standards, the visiting team evaluates the school to see how well it is achieving its mission and goals—whether the school is what it says it is and does what it says it does.

ISACS is a membership organization of more than 230 independent schools from 13 states in the Midwest region. The purpose of ISACS is to promote the development of active learning communities characterized by high achievements, social responsibility, and independence of governance, programs, and policies. This goal is achieved partly through a rigorous school accreditation process. 

While the United States Department of Education can only recognize accrediting bodies for higher and adult education, ISACS accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Government. AMS accreditation affirms that a school meets a standard of excellence recognized within the Montessori community and by educators worldwide. Because AMS is accredited by the National Council for Private School Accreditation, schools that are AMS-accredited also gain accreditation by the NCPSA.  Additionally, accreditation assures families that their child's school is a quality one and that it is accountable to a larger body.  Finally, we will receive a report with commendations and recommendations from the visiting team which will help us grow as a school.

We will be in great company as our peer ISACS or AMS schools include: Near North Montessori, Brickton Montessori, Ancona School, Avery Coonley, Beacon Academy, The British School, The Latin School of Chicago, Francis W. Parker, Rogers Park Montessori, Countryside Day School, and University of Chicago Laboratory School.

A special thanks to the Steering Committee:  Roxy Krawczyk, Nicole Cochrane, Phoenix Holt, and Alex Valera.  Thanks again to everyone who has supported this incredible journey, and we can’t wait to celebrate our final steps.   

Gina Gleason
Executive Director

In the Spanish program, we build relationships through open and compassionate communication, creative collaborative work, and by valuing and respecting another’s perspective and input as well as our own. The program helps to develop essential life skills such as innovative and flexible thinking, cooperation, resilience in the face of challenges, and courage to attempt new endeavors --- all qualities to be found in contributing members of society.

Last week was filled with learning a few different routines, as well as making new friends. For many of the toddlers, the classroom was a completely new environment, but they quickly jumped in. The children engaged in exploration, old friends got reacquainted, they practiced Grace and Courtesy during snack time and a lot of self-care.  They are such independent little human beings.
 
They spent their time building, chopping fruits and vegetables, helping one another, listening to music, climbing the playground structure, setting and busing tables. We are often amazed at what our toddlers can do, but they are too! ​

Throughout the year, the art curriculum connects to subjects and themes, such as nature, the built environment, and community. Our recent theme of identity, which is always the focus during the first few months of the year, is a wonderful way for Alcuin students to develop their drawing skills while also exploring their interests, needs and personal lives. 

We have all been learning that making a great drawing isn’t all about having a steady hand or making things perfect, it’s about how you see and how you interpret the information that your eyes receive. I tell the students “draw what you see, not what you think you see.” Using mirrors and thinking about simple shapes and proportions, Junior and Senior Elementary students have been creating self-portrait drawings in their sketchbooks.  These studies have developed into final compositions, some that include just the face and others that include the full figure drawn with colored pencils. ​

We are thrilled to share an update on our new Roosevelt Campus!  As we relayed to you at the Spring All-Parent meeting, we had been completing the details of our financing and working toward final design drawings and permits for the new building, in preparation for our new campus.  We are pleased to share that we closed on the construction loan and purchase of the property at 6936-6950 West Roosevelt Road.  Now the real work and the fun begin. 

Our groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 24th at 12:30 pm at the building site on Roosevelt Road.  Our entire Alcuin community and the greater Oak Park community are invited to join us as we celebrate the incredible milestone in our school’s 56-year history.  Bulley & Andrews will join us with their trucks and equipment so the children can climb in and get the construction work started.  Shovels and hard hats will be on hand as we literally break ground on a new beginning.  After the ceremony, parents, children, and friends are invited to Maple Park for a picnic and further celebration.  Hot dogs and cake will be plentiful!
Our building on Roosevelt will be home to a much needed All-Year Infant and Toddler program.  We are excited to launch this new program designed to meet the needs of our youngest community members.  It will serve as the bedrock of our Montessori program and the true beginning of a child's journey through Alcuin.

In addition to the new construction, we will also be renovating the existing building on the new campus.  The renovated one-story building will serve our ever-growing Middle School program.

Construction on both buildings is set to begin in early September with a very tight construction schedule of seven months. The project is set to be completed in late April 2019, barring any major complications.

If you have an infant or young toddler, or have friends and families with young children, please help spread the word about our upcoming program.  Please contact the Alcuin office for more information.  All of our current programs (Toddler – Senior Elementary) will remain at the Main Campus at 324 N Oak Park Avenue.

We look forward to seeing you on August 24th for the groundbreaking ceremony and to celebrate this incredible time in Alcuin’s history. 

Best wishes for a bright future with the Alcuin Community!

Gina Gleason
Executive Director
​ggleason@alcuin.org

Adolescence is an age of rapid growth, emotional development, and the transformation of the child into an adult member of society. At this critical age, adolescents need more guidance as they develop key communication skills and a more mature and complex understanding of social interactions. They need creative and physical outlets, especially for processing complex emotional and psychological issues.  They crave personal space, but they are also highly social!  They still need to move on a regular basis, and being physically engaged in work that produces tangible results is rewarding to them.
 
The Middle School program at Alcuin Montessori School is designed to meet the very specific needs of children from 12 – 14 years of age and to support their families through this unique time in their development.
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The program incorporates both traditional Montessori philosophy and current “best practices” for middle school education.  The program emphasizes independent, project-based and student-driven work.  Students are encouraged to do high-level critical thinking and to consider themes and issues across all areas of the curriculum.  Daily and weekly homework is given in addition to student-managed long-term projects with the goal of having students engaged in 1 – 1.5 hours of homework a night. Students are introduced to formal lectures along with interactive presentations, dynamic activities, student-led research, group projects and more.  Students are given quizzes and tests, as well as alternative forms of assessment and informal observation.

The program also includes weekly enrichment programs in art, theater and physical education led by child-focused specialists.  They engage the students in learning about and through all areas of life (not just textbooks) by incorporating real-world applications of studied concepts.  They discuss current events and their implications on all spheres of life and they contribute to our school and local communities through volunteering and service projects.  The students take weekly trips into the Oak Park and Chicagoland area to facilitate curriculum enhancement, community engagement, and authentic orienteering and practical life experiences.
 
Our curriculum has been carefully designed to meet or exceed state standards in all fundamental areas of study, as well as to align with the benchmark outcomes of local public schools, ensuring full preparation for a smooth transition into high school. Our units of study are theme-based and center around several essential questions.  The curriculum includes mathematics, the sciences, social studies, literature, humanities, writing, Spanish and more.
 
Alcuin Montessori’s teaching staff is fully committed to mentoring and coaching students through a sometimes complicated and confusing time in their lives.  They facilitate appropriate, effective communication and problem-solving skills through one-on-one, small group, and large group interactions.  Additionally, they support students in balancing their school and home lives, helping to plan homework around family time and extracurricular activities. 
 
With a clear understanding of the emotional, social, and academic needs of this formative developmental stage, Alcuin Montessori’s program is specifically designed to guide and nurture students as they transition into high school and their teenage years. ​