Groundbreaking: Alcuin's Infant Toddler & Middle School Expansion

Alcuin Montessori is beginning a new chapter in its rich history, opening a second location on the 6900 block of Roosevelt Road in Oak Park. Members of the community are invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, August 24th at 12:30pm to learn more about Alcuin's plans for expansion and celebrate as the construction process kicks off.

The new campus will house an expanded infant and toddler program, as well as a larger middle school to meet increased demand from the community. "We constantly receive inquiries from families seeking high-quality care for their infants and toddlers," explains Gina Gleason, Executive Director of Alcuin Montessori. "Additionally, our middle school is currently bursting at the seams with families in search of a smaller, more personalized learning environment for their children."

"I have been involved in the development of this school addition since 2011, and I am extremely excited to see what this project can ultimately provide for the Alcuin community. We strived to integrate openness, abundant natural daylight, and nature into the building design, because we believe these elements are critical in the development and education of young Montessori students," shares Ted Nourie, owner of 83 architecture. "It is our hope, that in the future, this building will be the foundation for one larger Alcuin Montessori campus."

"Throughout our extensive property search, we worked closely with the Village of Oak Park, our partners, and consultants to find just the right location to expand our programming and continue to provide a first-class Montessori education for children throughout Chicagoland from birth through middle school," says Gleason.

"We are proud to support Alcuin's expansion plans and feel their new campus will help revitalize the Roosevelt corridor," Viktor Shrader, Director of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, says.

Alcuin's new campus will accommodate 60 infants and toddlers and 30 middle school students. Alcuin's current campus at 324 N. Oak Park Ave. will continue to house its popular preschool and elementary programs.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, children will be invited to grab a shovel and dig – in true Montessori fashion – as plans for the new campus are showcased. Following the ceremony, community members are invited to bring a picnic and continue the celebration at Maple Park.

About Alcuin Montessori
Alcuin Montessori School has been serving Oak Park, the western suburbs and Chicago for 57 years, and remains Oak Park’s most established progressive school for children ages 0-14 as well as one of the country’s oldest Montessori schools. Alcuin’s mission is to empower children’s inherent love of learning, inspiring and challenging each child to engage the world as an independent thinker, creative problem solver, and compassionate citizen. Classrooms operate on the principle of freedom within limits with children, under the guidance of a teacher, working at their own pace with their chosen learning materials. Different levels of ability are expected and welcomed within each classroom and education occurs in multi-aged classrooms, where children of various stages of development learn from and with each other. Alcuin Montessori School is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, call 708-366-1882 or visit Alcuin.org.