OCMS Celebrates New Playground and Outdoor Classroom

September 12, 2017 – Hingham, MA – Old Colony Montessori School (OCMS), located at 247 Gardner Street in Hingham and enrolling students ages 2.9 and up, welcomed over 200 students, parents, alumni and community members in celebration of the completed Stronger Together Project outdoor campus enhancements on Saturday, September 9, 2017.

The Stronger Together Project, raising over $200,000 throughout the 2016-2017 school year, allowed for completion of a new outdoor classroom, new Childrens House playground, new hardtop/sports court area, shaded picnic and learning spaces, enhanced organic gardening areas, new website, security and safety system and robust professional development program for OCMS.

This capital campaign, the largest in OCMS history, was the result of generous giving and support from current parents, alumni students and parents and the community-at-large.

The new OCMS outdoor classroom, named “Tracy’s Woods” in honor of 43-year veteran OCMS Head Teacher, Tracy Stillman, was officially dedicated to the school during the celebration. The new Children’s House playground, completed just prior to the new school year, was inaugurated by 5 past and present OCMS Board of Trustees Presidents cutting the ceremonial blue ribbon, signifying the completion of the project.

To assist in the celebration at OCMS, many well-loved community partners joined in on the festivities, providing refreshments and activities for children and adults of all ages. My Gym of Norwell and Cohasset ran obstacle courses in the OCMS field while Jonny Belber, Education Director at Holly Hill Farm and OCMS organic gardening teacher, led families though organic gardening activities in the newly expanded OCMS gardening areas.

Deborah Brockney, owner of Sadie Mae’s Cupcake Café, handed out various flavors of her “famous” mini cupcakes while Sarcastic Swine BBQ served up pulled pork sliders and macaroni & cheese cups to all event attendees. Local musician and teacher, Joe Armstong, alongside student, and OCMS alumna, Ashely Buckeridge, provided live musical entertainment while West African master drummer, Mohamed Kalifa Kamara, provided authentic African rhythms throughout the event.

“This celebration embodied the true spirit of our OCMS community. It was wonderful to see many generations of OCMS students, parents and staff alongside one another to celebrate the accomplishment of this incredible goal that we were able to achieve for our school together”, said Mikey Walker, Head of School at OCMS.

For more information regarding OCMS half-day, full-day and Elementary programs, please visit OCMS at www.oldcolonymontessori.org or call the school directly at 781.749.3698. For more information regarding upcoming events, or any questions regarding admissions at OCMS, please contact Courtney Doyle, Director of Admissions and Development at OCMS, at cdoyle@oldcolonymontessori.org.