Montessori school in West Dundee launches new website

The Children's House Montessori School in West Dundee has launched a new website to better promote its events, registration and individualized teaching methods.

Enrollment has fluctuated since the private school opened with eight students in 1991, owner and co-founder Donna Butcher said. Children's House now serves roughly 30 students ages 3 to 9, she said, noting numbers have rebounded slowly after dropping significantly during the Recession.

"We're still down from where we once were," she said.

Children's House leaders are now trying to boost enrollment and attract more families to the school - the only one of its kind in the Dundee area, Butcher said. The new chmsdundee.com site serves as a marketing and informational tool for parents, students and interested community members.

"It was time for us to make it more user-friendly and bring it up to date," Butcher said. "It's an easier way for us to communicate with people."

The new website includes a cleaner layout, more accessible features and additional functionality, such as online enrollment and tuition payment, she said. Visitors can view a calendar on the homepage and sign up for upcoming events, including an open house scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the school, 417 W. Main St.

Based on the teaching methods of Italian educator and physician Maria Montessori, Children's House and other Montessori schools aim to provide a self-directed, hands-on learning environment. Students of various ages operate out of one classroom and are encouraged to learn at their own pace by choosing their daily academic activities, Butcher said.

Children can color a map to learn geography, use blocks to learn how to count or put on drama presentations to improve their speech and boost self-confidence.

The methods allow each student to become more independent, manage their time and work closely with others, Butcher said. The student-teacher ratio is 10 to 1, allowing educators to closely track each child's progress.

"A big part of Montessori is creating lifelong learners," she said. "They're capable of so much more than we give them credit for."

Other Montessori schools are located throughout the suburbs, including in Schaumburg, Crystal Lake and St. Charles.

The Children's House offers morning and afternoon preschool, full-day kindergarten and a classroom for elementary school students ages 6 to 9. The enrollment deadline for the 2017-18 academic year is Sept. 5.