Hi All, I am new to the forum. Just wanted to start a discussion about the exciting connection between Montessori philosophy and an environmental approach to the design of the school.

I am just starting a new Montessori school in Saskatoon, SK. and would like to share a bit about our experience.

Brilliant Star Montessori is Saskatoon's newest Montessori School offering preschool level classes to grade four. The school is committed to creating a peaceful and stimulating environment for children in a safe and healthy setting. We are pioneering new ground in striving to become Saskatoon's first truly 'green' school by incorporating enviromentally-friendly considerations into everything from the design of the building to the content of the curriculum.

Building on the strong themes already integral to the Montessori philosophy of environmental stewardship and appreciation of the beauty and complexity of the environment, Brilliant Star Montessori has extended that emphasis to a rethinking of all aspects of the school, including the following:

School Building & Facility:
- In keeping with LEED guidelines, the School is restoring an older building rather than constructing new.
- All paints, stains & building adhesives used in renovating the school are all from Low and Zero-VOC products.
- Many of the various classroom materials come from recycled sources
- Classes use less than 10% of the paper content of a typical classroom with the reliance on re-useable learning materials rather than on paper primarily.
- School is set up with recycling programs that the children participate in (paper, cardboard, plastics, beverage containers, tins, glass)
- Only environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaners & other products used in the school

Curricular Elements:
- Montessori lessons that emphasize care, respect & stewardship for the environment and an understanding of the harm being done to the environment.
- Composting (scraps from snacks, lunches, and cooking)
- Gardening - growing thier own plants and vegetables
- Creating art from recycled materials (toilet paper rolls, containers, empty cereal boxes, tin cans, old magazine pictures, misc materials around the house, etc)
- Using Montessori school materials made from Zero-VOC, natural, and non-toxic wood products rather than carcinogen and environmentally-hazardous plastics
- Community service projects including picking garbage around the school property, neighbourhood and nearby parks.
- Promoting waste free lunches


For more information about our school visit: www.brilliantstarmontessori.ca
I would be interested to hear if anyone else has any similar experience.