East Providence Mayor Tours Montessori School

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — Mayor Bob DaSilva toured Ocean State Montessori School on Thursday, learning about the school's "nurturing approach," as described by Head of School Amy Andrews. The school's sixth-graders served as ambassadors for the event, leading DaSilva through the school and explaining what makes it different from traditional schools.

"Our goal was to show the Mayor and the City of East Providence what our nurturing approach to academic excellence looks like," said Andrews in a statement. "Here at Ocean State Montessori, we focus on more than student achievement. We make our community wellbeing a priority, with daily reminders to be safe and respectful. An important part of our school's mission and vision is to develop each child's full potential as a collaborative and self-directed learner who will grow to become an engaged citizen of the world."

School officials say that Montessori School's approach is to harness students' natural desire to master new skills and support the development of the whole child. The school aims to support students' social, emotional and physical needs on the individual basis.

"This is all accomplished by providing students with carefully prepared classrooms and learning materials designed to meet their developmental needs," school officials said. "The effectiveness of the approach is evident in the cultivation of socially adept children who consistently exhibit independence, self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning."

The Montessori School is located on Grove Avenue, up the street from City Hall.