The mission of Clay-Platte Children's House (CPCH) Montessori School is to employ the philosophy and methods of Dr. Maria Montessori and to educate young people to their fullest potential, instilling a deep sense of personal independence and responsibility to self, to others and to our Earth.

Our purpose is to provide, through the Montessori philosophy and curriculum, an environment where each child will be free to function and develop individually, naturally and sequentially into the whole child that lies within, realizing the full potential of his/her innate talents.

Overview of the school

Clay-Platte Children's House (CPCH) Montessori School is located on ten acres of wooded, rolling countryside. Old Maid's Creek meanders through the middle of the property offering an ideal outdoor environment for classroom study. There is an abundance of wildlife such as deer, raccoon, possum, wild turkey and woodchucks. Over 35 varieties of trees grow within the boundaries of the school.

A city park is located across the street, also a site of the Hopewell people. Future plans include working with Native Americans to establish the area as an educational museum, complete with indigenous plants and walking trails.

10 Acre Wood

Clay-Platte Children's House Montessori School is built on land that was once home to the Hopewell people, dating back to 2000 BC. CPCH middle school children have worked with a local archeologist to find artifacts that have helped to identify the native people and date the time of inhabitance. The children have named and registered the site as "10 Acre Wood" with the Archeology Society.

Job Opportunities

If you would like the opportunity of working at CPCH Montessori School in the future, please send a cover letter and resume to our office at the address below. EEOC

We enjoy a feeling of community at CPCH Montessori School. Some events that strengthen our sense of community are as follows:

	MPTO Montessori Parent Teacher Organization is a group of dedicated parents and teachers who work together to provide for the school in special ways. In the past, MPTO has sponsored speakers, parent education classes, workshops, school gatherings and teacher education.
	Open House Two times a year, CPCH Montessori School sets aside a night for children to share work with their familes. These are special nights with many things going on - bake sale, book sale, raffle and a number of other events. Families are welcome to visit all classrooms from preprimary through middle school.
	Earth Day A school-wide picnic is held on Earth Day. Families gather in the meadow below the elementary building to have lunch and enjoy each other's company and the arrival of spring. The afternoon is set aside for planting, repotting, and cleaning the environment.
	Community Meetings Once a month, the school meets in the early morning for a community meeting. Parents, children and staff gather together to share in song and spirit. The meetings begin with a moment of silence and end with a special song. The meeting can be led by anyone who would like to share.
	Peer Interaction In the Montessori classroom, students are given the opportunity to teach and be taught by other students. Older children learn by teaching the younger ones. We take advantage of our mixed-age programs. Elementary children can be found assisting with special events in the younger children's classrooms. Younger children, in turn, have wonderful examples of leadership.