Montessori school has new home in South Walton

The South Walton Montessori Academy held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the school’s scheduled movement into two new buildings in Point Washington.
Currently the school is located in Rosemary Beach, but will move to its new location at the entrance of Eden State Park next school year after summer renovations.
“The school is moving out of Rosemary Beach simply for economic reasons,” said Montessori Board of Trustees Chairman Miriam Dillon. “We have been in portables for the past four years in Rosemary and the estimates to build are just over $3 million. 
“That is just way too big of a number for a small school.”
According to Dillon, the new site, even with proposed renovations, will still cost the academy less than a third of the cost of what a new building would in Rosemary.
The primary school house in Point Washington was built by Peter Horn of Artisan Builders and according to county records, was acquired for $780,000. Combined, the two buildings will hold more than 50 students from toddlers to fifth grade.
Because the new location is nestled in dense vegetation and trees, Dillon said it is perfect for Montessori education.
“Connecting with nature is a big part of a Montessori education,” she said. “How amazing it is to be adjacent to such a magnificent park! 
“The motto in classrooms is respect of self, respect of others and respect of the environment.  We plan to be very good stewards of this property.”
Montessori education is a theory of child development started by Maria Montessori in the late 19th century that focuses on children learning many things on their own.
The South Walton Montessori Academy focuses on five areas of curriculum: practical life – care for self and environment, sensorial – learning senses through shapes, language – reading and writing and culture – science and physics.
Academy head Catherine Beall said yearly tuition is currently $9,000, but scholarships are available to those who need it.
According to the school’s Web site, its mission is to “awaken and nurture an endless passion for knowledge within our children.”
Dillon said the school is successful in what it strives for because it is surrounded by strong support inside and out, making a great learning environment for the children.
“We are fortunate to have wonderful and supportive parents and an incredible teaching staff,” she said. “As a parent at the school, I truly feel the teachers are my partners in educating and raising my son! 
“How cool is that?”