Innovative 7th and 8th Grade Program Opens in Newton

NEWTON, MA, February 8, 2019 -- Newton Montessori School (NMS) is expanding its educational offerings to include grades 7-8, with the first cohort of seventh graders starting in Fall 2019.

Located in Newton Center, Massachusetts, NMS has offered programs for children from age 15 months through Grade 6 since its founding in 2006. Current enrollment is 242. In 2018, the school was named by Boston Parents’ Paper as the “Family Favorite for Montessori Elementary Schools in Greater Boston.” Extending the program through eighth grade is a strategic priority for the school and a response to parent demand.

“The Voyager program at NMS is a 2-year curriculum designed to provide highly motivated students with new and exciting opportunities for learning,” explains Head of School Beth Black. “Developmentally, middle school students are interested in big ideas and are ready for serious challenges. Typically, the classes they are required to take are offered in blocks of time that require them to shift gears too frequently and study academic subjects in isolation, which can interfere with both learning and motivation. We want to leverage their energy and engage them in ‘deep dives’ that reward their curiosity and passion.”

One of the unique features of the Voyager program is the schedule. Montessori students are accustomed to having long, uninterrupted class periods and weekly flex time. They shoulder the responsibility to independently plan, prioritize, and schedule their assigned work even at a young age. Continuing this more open-ended schedule will allow Voyager students to explore ideas in depth and make connections across disciplines. It will also provide challenging opportunities for practice in time management, an essential executive function skill.

Julia Tatsch, who is developing the Voyager curriculum and will be the lead teacher, also notes that a less rigid schedule has advantages. “Often as kids get older, their subjects in school become more compartmentalized,” she states. “While it makes sense to give each subject its own focus, students this age also benefit from being encouraged to make connections in the classroom and in the world beyond school. Voyager is an integrated, theme-based curriculum designed to intrigue students with compelling questions and challenge them to discover answers through independent and collaborative research that requires skills in a variety of subject areas.”

Another feature that makes the Voyager program different from more traditional middle school is the class size. Many public middle schools in Greater Boston’s high performing suburban districts can top out at over 500 students. Voyager class size will be intentionally small, with fewer than ten seventh graders in the inaugural class and a likely maximum of 25-30 students.

“A small class size can work well to minimize the negative peer pressure that often dominates group dynamics in large schools,” Black points out. “Many young teens have groups of friends outside of school based on their extracurricular activities. They’re less interested in ‘fitting in’ and more interested in figuring out who they are or could be. At school, they really only need a few peers with whom they feel comfortable pursuing their own interests and trying new things.”

Though small, the Voyager program is right-sized when it comes to experiential learning.Transporting a few students is easier and less expensive than mobilizing a large group, which means that the Voyager curriculum can include more frequent off-campus research excursions. In addition to cross-curricular academic studies geared at or above grade level, students will travel to locations where they will partner with experts to conduct “real-world research.” These off-site, overnight learning adventures will give students meaningful context for their in-school studies. Tatsch notes, “They’ll never have to ask ‘Why are we studying this?’ because of the myriad opportunities they’ll have to apply what they are learning.”

As the finishing touches are made on the Voyager curriculum, Newton Montessori School is anticipating interest in the program from outside applicants. “The Voyager program is open not only to interested NMS students,” says Black, “but also to students from other schools who can demonstrate the ability to handle more responsibility and freedom than students that age are often given. We’re looking for applicants who are eager to move at their own pace academically and are excited to engage in innovative, collaborative projects with others.”

A very limited number of seats are open for grade 7 in Fall 2019. Additional spots will open up for Fall 2020. Interested families should visit the Newton Montessori School website or email the Admissions Office directly at admissions@newtonmontessori.org for more information.

“Families in this area are lucky to be able to choose from so many high-performing, feature-rich middle schools,” notes Black. “There’s a right school for every student. We’re confident the Voyager program will appeal to independent thinkers and creative problem-solvers who want to be actively involved in charting their own course as learners.”

Newton Montessori School is a welcoming, diverse school community in which learners are inspired to strive for excellence and contribute positively to their communities, challenged to explore big ideas independently and collaboratively, and empowered to pursue their goals with confidence, persistence, and integrity. The school is located in Newton Centre, Massachusetts and serves students age Toddler through Grade 8. Learn more at www.newtonmontessori.org.