The Montessori School of Bowling Green is a nurturing community that educates the whole child in a Montessori environment, where children develop mutual respect, personal responsibility, and a passion for learning.
The Montessori Method is an educational approach for children based on the research and experiences of Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952). It arose in the process of her experimental observation of young children given freedom in an environment, leading her to believe by 1907 that she had discovered “the child’s true normal nature.” Based on her observations, she created an environment prepared with materials designed for their self-directed learning activity. She also strongly believed that children’s brains best develop with hands-on learning manipulatives. Children are introduced to all concepts with concrete, beautiful and exciting materials.
The core characteristics of MSBG include:
The Montessori School of Bowling Green was founded in 1980 under the name The Nazarene Montessori School, with half-day programs available for early childhood. A full-day option for kindergarten was added in 1986. The school’s name was changed in the spring of 1990 to The Montessori School of Bowling Green when the school moved from its church home into leased space at the Greenwood Center. That fall, the elementary and extended-day programs were opened.
The school moved into its new facility at 515 Sand Ridge Rd. during the summer of 1992. A Capital Campaign for Phase 2 concluded with the expansion and remodeling of our facilities during the spring and summer of 2000. Nearly 10 acres were donated to the school in 2003, which facilitated our Phase 3 addition of classrooms to house new upper elementary and multi-purpose rooms.
The school now has a staff which includes the Executive Director, Education Director, Advancement Director, Operations Director, AMS Credentialed Teachers, Education Aides, Physical Education, Art, World Language, Band/Music Instructors, Speech Therapist, Intervention Specialist, Extended Care Workers and Athletic Coordinator. MSBG celebrates nearly 40 years of excellence!
The Montessori School of Bowling Green educates children 18 months through 9th grade. Our hands-on, authentic approach makes children excited about learning, motivated to explore the world and well-prepared for the global society in which we live. Our programming offers art, music, physical education, world language, cultural sciences and a tailored math and language curriculum where each child’s ability is met and challenged. Our international, diverse population replicates a global society and challenges children to be successful in today’s world.
MSBG is operated as an independent, nonprofit institution, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of former school parents, current school parents and community members. The student body is drawn from Bowling Green and the surrounding area. The school recruits and admits students of any race, color or ethnic origin and the student body is representative of the community. The school follows all truth-in-advertising laws.
2014 & 2015 Community Partner Organization of Excellence by the BGSU Office of Service Learning
2013 Eco-School Award from the Science Alliance for Valuing the Environment
2013 Grant Recipient for Land Lab (Community garden, greenhouse, GPS geocaching)
2012 Bowling Green Community Foundation Grant Recipient (Nature Trail)
2011 Character Education Award
2010 We the People National Endowment of Humanities Grant Recipient
The Montessori School of Bowling Green was the first accredited American Montessori School in Ohio.
Licensed and Chartered by the Ohio Department of Education
We are proud to announce that we have received our full re-accreditation from the American Montessori Society! We are fully accredited to serve ages 18 months through 9th grade and we were 100% in compliance! As the first Montessori school in Ohio to be accredited nearly 30 years ago, we are deeply honored to continue this level of excellence and service to our community.
An Accredited Montessori School has the following characteristics:
To learn more about the Accreditation process, click here.
Did you know? Approximately 15% of AMS member schools are accredited? We are proud to be among them! Click here to read more!
The mission of the American Montessori Society is:
Empowering humanity to build a better world through Montessori
The Montessori School became chartered by Ohio’s State Board of Education as a nonpublic school in July 1991. This does not mean that we are a “Charter School.” Instead, it means that our complete courses of study for all nine curriculum areas (Art, Health, Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Reading, Science and Social Studies) meet the requirements, and have been approved by the State of Ohio for grades K-8. These courses of study are revised as needed to remain current. The charter entitles the school to a nominal amount of state funding for the purchase of materials; school age children to free transportation on the city school buses; and the school to participate in various school-related programs in Wood County.
The Montessori School of Bowling Green is legally licensed to operate under the Ohio Department of Education licensing regulations. The license and a current inspection report hang outside the school office and the laws and rules are available for review. The licensing record, including but not limited to compliance forms, health, building and fire department inspections, is available upon request from the Ohio Department of Education. The school is licensed to serve children from birth through kindergartners in the toddler and early childhood classrooms. It is also licensed to serve children from birth through 8th grade in the before and after school care programs. The Ohio Department of Education’s number is 1 877-644-6338. For further information, see appendix A: Information Required by Ohio Administrative Code.