The Montessori Children's Academy Staff Participates in Day of Service at St. Peter's Orphanage

On June 23rd, teachers and administrative staff from The Montessori Children’s Academy (MCA) took time off from their end-of-year classroom cleanup to instead lend a hand at St. Peter’s Orphanage in Denville, NJ. St. Peter’s provides residential care for boys ages 9 – 17 years whose parents have been unable to provide for them. The staff at St. Peter’s works hard to ensure that the environment for the boys is safe and comfortable, and they strive to create a place where the boys can feel like they are part of a family.

The boys that live at St. Peter’s have a beautiful backyard to enjoy in the warm summer months. The MCA staff members that took part in the outreach project pitched in to do yardwork and more while the boys enjoyed a special day at Six Flags. The MCA volunteers improved the landscaping near the pool, built a new storage box for sporting equipment, put together two brand new bikes, and inside the facility, helped attach snaps to new duvet covers. This was not just a service experience, but also a bonding experience, as staff from all three MCA campuses came together to work throughout the morning alongside St. Peter’s staff. By lunchtime, the backyard at St. Peter’s had received a makeover that surprised and delighted the boys upon their return to the home!

MCA established a relationship with the orphanage earlier this year to help support St. Peter’s efforts in making the world a little brighter for the boys who live there. During Montessori Education Week, MCA families donated over $4,000 to St. Peter’s. These funds have provided the boys with opportunities to go on special outings, take part in SAT prep classes, and participate in summer camps, as well as to purchase some of the toys, books, and supplies on their Amazon wish lists.

MCA looks forward to continuing to find ways to work with St. Peter’s during the upcoming 2016-2017 school year, as community service and building bridges throughout our local communities are important parts of the rich MCA curriculum. Dr. Maria Montessori spoke often about peace, grace, and respect for others. The MCA family looks forward to continuing to uphold these values set forth by Dr. Montessori by helping St. Peter’s and working together to create that sense of family the orphanage tries so hard to build for the boys. If you would like to learn more about St. Peter’s Orphanage and discover what you and your family can do to help, you may visit their website www.stpetersorphanage.org .

For further information about The Montessori Children’s Academy, with campuses in Morristown, Chatham, and Short Hills and the programs we offer for children ages 2 ½ years through eighth grade, please visit our website www.TheMontessoriChildrensAcademy.com. Educating Today’s Child for Tomorrow’s World.