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Our Mission
Our school’s mission is to create a peaceful, nurturing, child-centered community which fosters the joy and excitement of learning. We at MMS carefully prepare an environment in which each child is respected, self-directed and inspired to be a life long learner.
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Our History
Merrimack Montessori School was first opened in 1965 offering Pre-School and Kindergarten by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. Merrimack Montessori is one the earliest Montessori Schools opened in the United States and today remains one of the oldest continuously operating in its original building. Our beautiful location was once a
private home, built in the 1920’s and next a Jesuit Boy’s School and then became a pre-school at the time when Montessori was just becoming popular in Massachusetts. The Sisters of St. Joseph were the schools first teachers and leaders changing over time to all lay faculty and administration. The school is governed by a non-parent board with alumni, alumni parents, and local business people from the community and the Sisters of St. Joseph serving as board members.
Merrimack Montessori is one of nine ministries that are sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. MMS attracts families of many faiths and as part of the school’s mission we are committed to addressing the social, educational, and spiritual needs of each child, teaching them respect, fostering joy and peace, and love of all living creatures. Our faculty is committed to creating experiences for young children that guide their moral and spiritual development toward values such as love of neighbor, unity, justice, compassion, courage and an appreciation of diversity.
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Our Vision
MMS seeks to respond to the needs of the greater Merrimack Valley children and their families whom we serve. Over the past six years, the school has learned to listen to the changing dynamics of our communities and to the economics of our time.
• MMS opens a Pre-Primary Class
In the fall of 2005, MMS opened a Pre-Primary class for children who are two years old by September with a Montessori trained Toddler Teacher and experienced assistant teacher. Young children from the age of two to three are offered a half day Montessori program for 5, 3, or 2 days a week. This program became very popular and introduces parents to the strengths of our Montessori curriculum and philosophy of learning for our youngest of students. MMS parents marvel as they see the “will of two year olds” responded to with consistent and loving guidance for physical, social, emotional and academic learning opportunities in a well prepared classroom filled with exciting new hands on materials that say “yes you can” to their students, as they learn the balance of freedom within limits.
• MMS opens an Elementary Program
In 2008, once again MMS responded to a call from interested parents to open an elementary classroom. The Little House was converted to the Elementary Building and an outdoor classroom deck was added at the entrance. Complimentary Elementary Montessori materials and furnishing were purchased for this age group and the classroom opened with a Montessori Elementary trained teacher. This Elementary class has grown serving another grade level each year. Currently the ages served are first through third grade with the prospect of continuing our growth through the sixth grade.
The lower area of the Elementary is being prepped to serve this growth when needed.
MMS offers a strong academic elementary Montessori curriculum with all the excitement and advantages that a new program offers it students and parent community. The Elementary program offers continuing and new students to MMS many exemplary opportunities to strengthen their primary skills and advance their interests in learning about the world around them. Through many field outings, regular research projects, hands–on learning experiences demonstrating the integrations of ‘how things work’, and through self directed learning opportunities and leadership opportunities, these Montessori students are thriving and are being introduced to concepts well beyond the state standards for their age group.
• Supplemental Program Offerings
MMS has expanded its time offering to assist working parents. We offer before school and after school care and are open from 8:00am to 5:30pm.
MMS has also expanded its summer time program over the past years and now offers a nine week outdoor summer program. Students may do a half day or full day program from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
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Our Campus
As you enter the school driveway in this residential area of Haverhill, you will see the school’s dedicated play-scape in the lower play yard. Our campus houses two buildings. The main office and the Pre-Primary classes are housed in the Main House. The Elementary Building sits at the top of the six acres and overlooks the pond.
Merrimack Montessori School is just five minutes off Rt. 495 and is located in the northeast corner of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Our six acre campus offers an idyllic setting for young children to learn in the comfort of a Tudor home renovated to hold well maintained child friendly environment of classrooms, library, kitchen, child sized bathrooms, parent meeting room and a dedicated space for art, indoor recess, lunch room and school assemblies. Our second building has been renovated for our recently opened Elementary classroom and outdoor learning deck.
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Calendar of Events
Coming Soon…
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Employment Opportunities
We currently do not have any openings for positions at MMS.
Please check back for any future opportunities we may post.
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