2006
The School is founded as “Newton Montessori School.” A Board of Directors is formed by five parents from the former Montessori Educare School. The School opens in September with 90 students.
SCHOOL HISTORY
We acknowledge that others’ history precedes the history of our school and the school building we occupy. See our land acknowledgement.
Founding
Wellan Montessori School was established in 2006 by an interested group of parents, under the name “Newton Montessori School.” The School leased and moved into the former Sacred Heart Catholic School building, which had previously been occupied by a different Montessori School called EduCare.
To see more of our school history, navigate the interactive slideshow above.
Accreditation
In 2013, the school earned full accreditation from the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Name Change
In the spring of 2019, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the school to “Wellan Montessori School” based on the ancient meanings and associations of the name and its power to tell what we value as a school. “Wellan” is an Old English word that means “to cause to bubble up from deep within.” This term resonates with our educational philosophy, which is based in the belief that within each student there is a deep well of curiosity and empathy. We inspire, challenge, and empower students to draw on that innermost eagerness to learn and channel it effectively to achieve academic excellence.
To learn more about our name change, watch the video at the bottom of the page.
Adoption of the Owl as School Mascot
During the run-up to the 2016 Presidential election, the School educated students about democratic voting by running its own election for a school mascot. Elementary students voted in a primary to narrow down the candidates to three animals they believed had qualities aligned with our mission and educational approach – a turtle, a dog, and an owl. Students formed political parties to advocate for their favorite candidates, made posters, and gave persuasive speeches to Primary classes. Classroom discussions focused on the values each animal might symbolically represent. Teachers also addressed how to behave if your preferred candidate were to lose. On Election Day, Primary and Elementary students showed ID to election officials, voted privately in special cardboard booths, and received “I voted!” stickers. See the blog post about the election here. The Owl won the election and its likeness now appears in many school contexts. Go OWLS!
Land Acknowledgement
Wellan Montessori School recognizes that our history is intertwined with that of the Wampanoag people, on whose ancestral homeland our school facilities are located. We honor them and their ancestors by acknowledging that we fulfill our educational mission in territory they occupied prior to colonization.