Despite The Odds, HoCo School Remains Open During Pandemic

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — While many schools shuttered their doors during the coronavirus pandemic, The Journey School, a private Montessori school serving students in grades first through 8th in Spencerville remained open.

Founder and head of school Christina Thomas told Patch that the school opened Sept. 1, 2020, and will be wrapping up the spring semester soon. In order to safely operate, class sizes remained small, masks were worn, social distancing was implemented and everyone engaged in frequent hand washing and equipment disinfecting. There are "strict" drop-off times where students' temperatures were taken and an online health screen completed.

"Children are very good at following rules once they are taught and explained. We are very happy with our community and the trust they have in us to keep their children safe," Thomas said.

One difference between The Journey School and other institutions is that it is located on 60 acres with access to trails, a meditation labyrinth, woods and a creek. Students were able to be outdoors, weather permitting, throughout the pandemic.

"We have a classroom set up in the school garden where children learn about pollinators, agriculture, plant and animal life. We also have a chicken coop and beehives on campus that children help to care for and learn from. We often conduct class outside as long as the weather cooperates," Thomas said.

Parents who choose The Journey School are interested in Montessori education as well as the individualized work plans, small class size, skilled teachers and daily access to the outdoors that the school provides, Thoms said. Her own children attended Montessori preschool and elementary school, which inspired her to start The Journey School.

"I researched the method and was impressed with its history and outcomes for young people. Many Montessori schools end at the elementary level of sixth grade and I wanted this method to continue for my children and others through their middle school years," she said.

The school has multi-age/grades classrooms where older children are designated to serve as positive role models and gain leadership skills. The younger children benefit from learning alongside older peers, Thomas said.

"We treat the outdoor environment as an additional classroom where learning, exploration and lessons happen. We have gardens, chickens and beehives on campus. Our lessons are hands-on and individualized for each child. We meet children where they are in their education, based on their abilities and interests, and guide them to explore deeply - topics that will help them excel academically," she said.

Thomas, who has a bachelor's degree in anthropology and a master's degree in leadership in teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland, along with a certificate from AMI Montessori Orientation Programme to Adolescent Studies, started her teaching career as a media specialist in Southeastern Utah on the Navajo Reservation. After four years, she returned to Maryland and taught at Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School for Public Policy in Washington, D.C.

"After being a stay-at-home mom for seven years, I returned to teaching at Wilde Lake Middle School. While I was teaching middle school social studies, my children were attending Montessori school and I became interested in Montessori education and how it could be applied at the middle school level. I left my job teaching public school to pursue opening my own Montessori Middle School," Thomas explained.

For more information about The Journey School, visit https://www.thejourneyschool.n...