Village Montessori opens in Inglewood United Church
Inglewood is now home to a new Montessori school. Margaret Stapley and Corry Carter recently opened Village Montessori School in the historical setting of the Inglewood United Church.

Village Montessori School held its grand opening inside Inglewood United Church recently. Owners Margaret Stapley and Corry Carter were joined for the ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mayor Marolyn Morrison, Councillor Doug Beffort and many of the school's children. The school offers an enriched preschool program for children from age 18 months to six years.

Carter and Stapley worked together for more than nine years in Oakville but they tired of the commute and longed to open their own school in their local community.

"We realized the need for a Montessori school in the growing community of Inglewood. Upon finding the church we fell in love with the main floor with its hardwood floors and beautiful large windows," Stapley said.

Village Montessori School is a preschool for children ages 18 months to 6 years with half-day and fullday programs with an extended day available.

Carter has 25 years of Montessori teaching experience and is a mother of three. All three of her children attended Montessori schools.

Stapley live just outside of Cheltenham and has more than 10 years experience in a Montessori classroom.

Stapley said the location has proved to be everything they had hoped for.

"The children have thoroughly enjoyed our walks on the trails, visiting the local donkeys and picking apples on a neighbours tree to make applesauce," she said.

She added it's fitting to be opening the school this year as Montessori is celebrating its centenary. The first Montessori Casa dei Bambini (Children's House) was opened January 6, 1907 in San Lorenzo, Rome. Marie Montessori wrote the following letter commemorating the occasion.

"I started my work like a peasant who had put aside good seeds of wheat, and to whom a fertile piece of land had been offered so he could sow it according to his wish. But it was not to be. As soon as I moved the sods of that earth, I found gold, rather than wheat. The sods were hiding a precious treasure."

The operators of Village Montessori School have found their treasure.