WMS is grateful to the Webster Museum and Historical Society for researching and writing the following history of our school.
Webster Montessori School
The Webster Montessori School is a nonprofit, parent-run school, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale. Children are encouraged to develop self-disciplined and to learn through their natural curiosity, discovery and exploration. In June of 1966, Mrs. Douglas Smith and several interested parents began the preparations to open a Montessori School in Webster. The Webster Montessori School opened in the fall of 1967 under the direction of Miss Lakshmi Sliva of Ceylon India. Miss Sliva was an Association Montessori Internationale trained directress. Two classes for children ages three and four were held at the Baptist Church on South Ave. The church donated space and materials to the school during the first year. In the fall of 1969, the school relocated to the former A.N. Martin Company building at 2 Martin St.
The Webster Montessori School expanded its programming for the 1972-1973 school year. Starting in September, the afternoon classes were eliminated, students eligible for public school kindergarten and some four-year-old students remained at school until 2:30 pm for an extended program. In order to accommodate the changes, a second directress was hired. At this time the school housed 50 students with 21 participating in the expanded programming.
The Webster Montessori School had several locations over the years. In August of 1978, the school leased the West Webster Elementary School building at 515 Ridge Rd from the Webster Central School District. In 1977 after the closing of DeWitt Road School, Webster Montessori School moved into the DeWitt Road building. When Dewitt Road School reopened for the 1983/4 school year, the Webster Montessori School moved once more to the former Ridgecrest School building on Ebner Dr in Webster.
In September of 1984, the school moved again, this time to the Spry School building on South Ave in Webster. In 1984, before and after-school child care programs were added to the programs available to meet the needs of the growing number of families with working parents. The school’s caregivers continued to use the Montessori principles with the daycare activities.
In 1985, Sigrit Van Damme and Mrs. Nedimala of the Webster Montessori School, received the Daniel Award for the film, “Learning with Joy” which they co-produced at the school. The film demonstrated how students participate in the Montessori philosophy of early childhood education.
Webster Montessori School leased space from the WCSD at Plank Road North School in 1987. When Plank Road School reopened in 1988, Webster Montessori School moved once more, leasing space at the Rochester Christian School at 260 Embury Rd.
On March 21, 1988, the school celebrated its 20th year with a reception. A special ceremony was held with the school’s founders being honored. The founders were presented with a plaque commemorating their efforts over the past 20 years. Those honored were Lois Smith, Nancy Goodwin, Felicia Chiella, Nancy Theis, Bernice Goffe, Adele Cappelle, Sabra Clapp, Judith Slade, and Ada Trommel. Nancy Goodwin, a member of the Board of trustees, presented the school with a gift from the founders, three videotapes about the Montessori method to be used for parent education.
Summer programs were added in 1989, they consisted of four two-week sessions beginning in July. The sessions covered topics such as astronomy, botany, geography, zoology, creative movement, and arts and crafts to art appreciation.
In the spring of 1992, Sigrid Van Damme retired after 21 years of teaching. In September of 1992, Webster Montessori added a third section and Sigrid returned to teach the new class. Each section would accommodate children between the ages of three and six years of age. The school was also making preparations for the 25th anniversary of its opening.
In 1996, the Board of Directors made arrangements to lease space from the Town of Webster at the former Ridgecrest School building on Ebner Dr. The school agreed to renovate the area they would be using. The Webster Montessori School shared space at the Ridgecrest building with the Town of Webster Parks and Recreation department.
In 1997, the Webster Montessori School expanded its programming to include a full day elementary program for children six to twelve years of age. The school had three preschool classes of about 30 children and one elementary class of children from first through third grade by 1999.
In February of 2002, Webster Montessori school expanded its classes to include toddlers. The school began offering a class for children 18 months to 3 years of age. The Town of Webster and the school discussed the possibility of the school moving into the space that had been occupied by the library at the town hall. However, the school board decided to stay at the Ridgecrest location on Ebner drive for at least one more year in order to ensure a smooth transition that would not compromise the school’s high academic standards. At that time, 130 students between the ages of 3 and 10 were enrolled in the school.
In 2004 the Webster Montessori School purchased the home of the former Calvary Chapel located at 1310 Five Mile Line Rd. This was the first time in the school’s 37-year history that it would own the building which housed their educational programs. The building and 4 acres of land and was purchased for $600,000. The closing took place on Aug 11. School was scheduled to begin on September 8, 2004 for 119 students and 24 staff. Renovations costing $150,000, were successfully completed before the first day of school. Three classrooms were built in the former worship area, three classrooms upstairs were renovated, bathrooms were made handicap accessible, and two outdoor playgrounds were installed.
The school began an expansion project in 2011. Nicholas Team and Hanlon Architects planned the facility upgrades including expanded physical education, classroom and childcare space. The school had now doubled in size. On September 3, 2013 a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate. Webster Montessori school would now be able to accommodate new students and to broaden their education programming. More than 100 students between the ages of 18 months and 12 years of age were enrolled in the school. An open house was held on October 8.
Beginning in the fall of 2014, Webster Montessori School opened a second full day elementary classroom. This addition was made to rebalance the mix of students and to provide smaller more favorable class size for the students.
In 2015, a second toddler room was opened. This program had a strong enrollment from the beginning.
In 2017, the two elementary classrooms were reconfigured to a new model of one Lower Elementary and one Upper Elementary classroom.
In 2019, the school has 155 children enrolled. There are two Toddler Classrooms for children ages 18 months to three years, three Primary preschool rooms for children ages three to six, one Lower Elementary room for children in grades 1-3, and one Upper Elementary room for children in grades 4-6.
Sources:
● Dunn, Esther, Webster Through the Years, Webster Town Board, Webster, New York, 1971 p 125, 126.
● Montessori School Set to Open in Webster, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, May 20, 1967, p 6B.
● “Montessori Coffee Hour, Fairport Herald Mail, Fairport, NY, September 2, 1970, p 9.
● “Montessori Appoints New Directress, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, August 11, 1971, p 7.
● “Extended Day Planned At Montessori School, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, February, 9, 1972, p 14.
● “New Directoress for Montessori School, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, October 11, 1972, p 10.
● “Montessori Nursery School Expanding, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, January 24, 1973, p 4.
● “Farewell Present”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, JUne 20, 1973, p 28.
● “Montessori Gets New Directress, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, September 5, 1973, p 11.
● “Montessori School Makes Strides in Education, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, January, 30, 1974, p 23.
● “Marathon”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, June 28, 1978, p 2A
● “Moving to a New School”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, August 30, 1978, p 15.
● “Montessori elects new officers for 82-83, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, June 23, 1982, p 4.
● “Open House”, Fairport Herald Mail, Fairport, NY, April 20, 1983, p 2.
● “School appoints administrator”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, November 9, 1983, p 2B.
● “Webster Montessori moves to Spry School”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, August 22, 1984, p 7A.
● “Montessori school has openings”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, February 27, 1985, p 11.
● “Lehmann named Montessori administrator”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, October 16, 1985, p 2B.
● “Nedimala reception”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, april 30, 1986, p 5.
● Classified,“Child Care - Webster/Penfield”, Fairport Herald Mail, Fairport, NY, December 2, 1987, p 22.
● “Reception marks school’s 20th year in operation”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, March 16, 1988 p 25.
● “Founders honored when school observes 20th anniversary”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, March 30, 1988, p 20A.
● “School offers summer programs”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, May 24, 1989 p 19.
● “School opens third section”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, September 23, 1992, p 11.
● “Ridgecrest changes”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, January 10, 1996, p 4.
● “Linda Hilliard named to Helm at Montessori School”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, September 29, 1999 p 5.
● Morrill, Jan, “Montessori school grows but staying put extra year”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, February 6, 2002, p1,3.
● “Sorenson, Mike, “Library renovations advance toward opening” Webster Herald, Webster, NY March 27, 2002, p 11.
● “Morrill, Jan, “Webster Montessori School purchases new building”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY October 27, 2004,p 1,4.
● “Montessori School announces major expansion initiative”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, July 20, 2011, p 7.
● “Webster Montessori School hosts ribbon cutting ceremony Sept 3”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, August 28, 2013, p 9.
● “Webster Montessori School announces opening of second elementary classroom”, Webster Herald, Webster, NY, Feb 12, 2014, p 3.
● Webster Montessori School, http://www.webstermontessori.org/ accessed January, 2019.
● Grieble, Jacqueline, “Webster Museum Project”, email, 2019.