MISSION STATEMENT

Happy Valley Montessori is open to all eligible students, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical and mental abilities, language, and/or socio-economic background. The Montessori pedagogy supports a diverse child community, assisting the development of the whole person so that future generations recognize in each other reflections of the greater good. Our staff is dedicated to an educational approach that specifically addresses the community’s diversity, uplifting each child through their uniqueness all while nurturing and standing for a child’s right to clean air, water, and healthy food in daily practice:

  • Embrace inclusion, cultural, and social diversity in our school community

  • Maintain an environment of honor, respect, and harmony that will assist the children in reaching their fullest potential in life

  • Provide a Montessori curriculum that is holistic, flexible, and eclectic

  • Maintain a gifted and dedicated staff by providing a rich and rewarding workspace

  • Foster a strong sense of community and cooperation with our families that will encourage parent involvement, education, and volunteerism

  • Instill in the child the importance of awareness and care of Nature, including all living things, water sources, and each other

View of the school house 2003

History

The founders, Elizabeth and Carl van Warmerdam retired in June of 2016 to embark on their new full-time careers in travel and grand-parenting, passing the reigns onward to someone who desires to continue the legacy of their little farmhouse school. It was simply too much to imagine the hard work and goodwill of Liz and Carl’s enchanted children’s house being “absorbed” into the urban residential landscape! In keeping with the foundation they have laid out, we continue to adhere to the Montessori Method, while enhancing the facility and the entire program itself.

With an intimate, small student base of 20 children, we have an incredible opportunity to nurture a fantastic child-centered community founded in the philosophy that each child, at her own pace with her own interests, deserves an academic and social foundation rooted in a love of learning. Our high caliber of education cultivates this next generation with the tools needed in order to value and respect themselves, the environment, and the local and global community. In the process of nurturing our students to be competent, creative, lifelong learners who practice compassion, respect, nonviolence, and sustainability, we will strengthen families and the neighborhoods we serve here in Happy Valley and beyond.

Our school is committed to providing a safe, carefully planned, stimulating environment which helps children to develop within themselves the fundamental habits, attitudes, skills, and ideas which are essential to independent growth, social and environmental care and responsibility, creative thinking, and learning. The program is dedicated to education according to the Montessori philosophy. Our teachers (Guides) are educated and certified through the Montessori Institute Northwest in Portland, Oregon.

Come find out more about us and what our program has to offer you and your child by taking a tour in the near future.

Anti-Bias Anti-Racist Statement

Happy Valley Montessori recognizes that racism, bias, and privilege are present in our culture and institutions:

We affirm our identity as an anti-racist and anti-bias organization and continue to develop and strengthen an intentionally anti-racist and anti-bias identity. Anti-bias referring not only to race and ethnicity but includes gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical and mental abilities, language, and socio-economic class.

We acknowledge, respect, and embrace our differences and promote positive self and group identity development among children and adults in our community.

We seek to apply an anti-racist/anti-bias lens to all aspects of our organization including policy, procedure, and classroom curriculum, thus creating a more equitable and inclusive school and community.

We are dedicated to providing an anti-bias curriculum within our classrooms and we believe honest, thoughtful, age/developmentally appropriate conversations about race, biases, and inequity can and must be happening with our children from a very early age. This is an important part of our work to support the “whole child.” Our children deserve to be equipped with the appropriate tools to fight social injustices. We are honored to have the opportunity to guide the next generation of leaders that will fight for equity, affect change and transform our world.

We strive to understand, identify and challenge issues of bias and inequities that may be present within our organization and are aware that this is ongoing work that will continue daily, monthly, and for all years to come. To continue our own awareness, staff members attend annual ABAR and/or Social Justice training.