Oxford Offers Small, Alternative School

BY RACHEL TRACY
Miami University journalism student

The McGuffey Montessori School is adding a liberal arts structure of learning to the upper grade levels to introduce students to global perspectives, said parent and member of the school board Carrie Stenstrom.

“It is super cohesive compared to how you usually learn,” said Stenstrom. “In essence it's project-based work that touches on various subjects in a more applied and intertwined way that tends to allow more choice and meaningful exploration by the students.”

History of McGuffey

Founded in 1910, Miami University housed the McGuffey Laboratory School inside McGuffey Hall. This included an elementary and high school, with around 400 students each year. In 1963, the Campus Avenue Building was built to house the elementary school. But in 1983, Miami University’s Board of Trustees decided to close the McGuffey Laboratory School all together, according to OhioLINK history of William Holmes McGuffey Laboratory School.

"At that time some of the parents addressed the teachers and said, 'Will you help us start a school so we can keep this going?’,” said Head of School Nancy Hawthorne. “And so several families second-mortgaged their homes to buy this house."

Located at 5128 Westgate Drive in Oxford, The McGuffey Montessori School did not adopt the Montessori title until five or six years ago, according to Hawthorne. The school currently enrolls 65 to 70 students, ages three through grade eight, with annual tuition just under $9,000. After eighth grade, most students attend Talawanda High School, said Hawthorne.

Students are not graded until seventh grade, and because the school is so small teachers are able to focus on the development of each individual child.

"In addition to all the other core subjects, we have a string of our curriculum for practical life and peace. The practical life focuses on skills that are common to all cultures -- so, learning to sew, learning to cook, learning how to crochet, learning how to eventually manage a budget,” said Hawthorne. “And then the peace curriculum is where they learn about how their brains work so they can make better choices about how to self-regulate and how to get along with each other -- how to resolve conflict in authentic ways that empower a child."

Outreach efforts underway

Because the school is small and tucked away, a lot of parents in Oxford do not know the McGuffey Montessori school is an option, said Stenstrom. As a member of the school board, one of her key initiatives is reaching out and informing the community about the school.

“I think as McGuffey works on outreach, people start to get to know the school and talk about the school more,” said Stenstrom. “I know families who have been here for a long time also have perceptions about the school. But it's had a lot of layers and a lot of evolutions, so I think some of that outreach is just a, 'Come and get to know us again. We are a little different now.' "

The McGuffey Montessori School has created a larger social media and blog post presence in the last year to increase outreach. Other initiatives for outreach include adding a "kinder-music" class to interest families, partnering with Miami's Education Department for a screening of the movie "Most Likely To Succeed," holding a book club and discussion session at Lane Library, and hosting an annual trivia night.

More space to come

In the next few years, the school will work to reorganize and expand its space. Stenstrom said the school hopes to add an indoor common area and a full-time music room in the future.

“As a school, we are always looking to build on and improve things and so, naturally, we continue to evaluate and improve on our space so it flows and is in line with the needs of the students, families, and school," she said.

A committee is currently working on making those expansion plans a reality for The McGuffey Montessori School, she noted.

Photo: A house on Westgate Drive stands as a Montessori school for students in Oxford. -- Contributed by McGuffey Montessori