Engaging students to become peaceful citizens of the global community
About Us
The Montessori School of Camden is a public 5K - Grade 8 charter school with a privately funded Infant - 4K program located between Camden and Lugoff. MSC’s mission is to nurture the “whole” child to inspire independence and a lifetime love of learning. Founded by Dr. Sheryl Sweet in 1979 as The Montessori Pre-School at the Joseph Kershaw Academy (JKA), the school now occupies an eleven acre campus and serves children 6 weeks to 15 years of age. The Middle School program opened in July 2019.
The MSC curriculum is based on the different developmental stages of the child. This carefully developed Montessori Method uses hands-on materials to encourage a concrete understanding of abstract principles. The multi-age classrooms help the children develop self-esteem and self-discipline, independence, and respect for and cooperation with others. With a low student to teacher ratio, the Montessori teachers observe, instruct, and encourage students to explore and to work at their own pace. This non-competitive environment allows creativity and learning to flourish.
MSC is accredited by Montessori Educational Programs International and is an ABC Quality Childcare Program (Level B).
Why Montessori?
There are many principles that set a Montessori education apart from others. If you’ve visited other schools, you’ll probably notice the differences. We strive to provide an academic environment that also enhances self-esteem and develops a strong sense of individual responsibility and community. Spend some time in the classroom and on our campus. What do you observe?
Philosophy
MSC supports and implements the principles of learning developed by renowned 20th century educator Maria Montessori.
Dr. Montessori, born in 1870, was an Italian physician and educator. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy. It was through her work and interest as a physician that she came to care for developmentally delayed children. Working with these children, Dr. Montessori brought them to a higher developmental level, enabling them to enter regular schools.
After achieving such startling results, Dr. Montessori concluded that a “normal” child’s potential was also being overlooked by the existing education system. Through scientific research and observation, Dr. Montessori sought to understand what guided children’s psychological structure and how that growth could be supported. As a result, she developed a child-centered philosophy of education. She devoted her life to this work and was honored and respected throughout the world by the time of her death in 1952.
Our Mission
The mission of The Montessori School of Camden is to engage students to become peaceful citizens of the global community using the Montessori approach to nurture in them an enthusiasm for learning, resourcefulness, a sense of responsibility for their actions, and respect for themselves, others, and their environment.
