The Hollis Montessori Middle School, what we refer to as the Adolescent Program, is designed around the unique needs of the young adolescent, focusing on self-direction, independent thought, collaboration, and responsibility.

The Adolescent Program at Hollis Montessori follows the recommendations of Dr. Maria Montessori, based on her years of work studying the stages of human development and finding ways to support children’s needs at each stage. Our program offers adolescents the opportunity to begin their transition from childhood to adulthood in a community that understands, respects, and supports the emotional, neurological, and physical changes they are experiencing. Adolescents in our program learn and grow with others with respect to their individual development. They have entered what Maria Montessori called the third plane of development.

Strong Integrated Academics

Each week there is time blocked for work in mathematics, English, and Latin, which carries through the whole academic year. Our year is also divided into trimesters, each covering units that integrate history, geography, politics, biology, chemistry, physics, ecology, geology, astronomy, and culture. Designed to exceed the New Hampshire state requirements for 7th through 9th grade, our academic component offers required coursework and extends to include work beyond what is typically found in middle schools. We do this in a way that inspires independent work, initiative, responsibility, innovation, and focuses on real life applications.

During each trimester a simple topic or question is posed to the adolescent students. Following that introduction, supporting lessons and details are taught to the group while individual students (or small groups) find and follow their own related exploration at school, in the local community, or beyond! At the end of each trimester there is a time for sharing projects, so that all community members will have the benefit of learning from each other.

Sometimes the work in mathematics and English supports the work done in the trimester studies. The integrated quality of our academic curriculum offers the students meaningful connections between many areas of adult life and areas of study.

The adolescent curriculum also includes travel as a way of exploring geography, culture, history, and our own society. Historical sites, varied ecological settings, and even different countries add depth to the learning being done by the students at school. Experience away from home also offers the adolescents the chance to become more independent, as the students are not only away from the comfort of their families, but are called upon to blend into society in new and potentially very different settings.

Emotional and Social Support

Adolescence is a time of rapid developmental change, and change can sometimes lead to strong emotions. Our community provides a social setting where adolescents can find support in themselves, peers and adults. Weekly time for journaling, reflections on challenging and thought-provoking literature, community meetings, volunteer work within and outside the school community, and genuine feedback from students and adults when working through conflicts will offer the support needed to navigate this difficult age.

In addition to direct support and emotional outlets found through journaling and discussions, our program offers weekly opportunities for students to process emotions through creative and physical challenges. Lessons in various artistic media, techniques, and societal applications of art are presented, followed by time to explore independently. Music and theater are also encouraged and supported. Physical activities are often planned or chosen by the students and include individual, group, and team activities both on and off campus. Successes and challenges in these areas provide each adolescent the opportunity to find confidence in a new skill, a personal outlet for processing feelings and a chance for refining talents.

Connection with the Land Around Us

It is through exploring the land, with all of its human and geologic history, that adolescents discover what responsibilities he or she has to the Earth and all its inhabitants. Our goal is to offer many opportunities for the students to learn about, appreciate, and care for the natural world around us. Gardening, hiking, canoeing, volunteering, camping, winter sports, soil and water testing, observing wildlife, and watershed studies are just some of the ways we connect to the land.

Understanding of Economics

Dr. Montessori found that it is imperative that adolescents learn the importance and significance of the exchange of goods and services in human society. After all, adult life revolves around the earning and distribution of goods and money, and much of human history is rooted in the procurement and exchange of desired goods and services. Our Adolescent Program supports economic education by having the students run a small business throughout the year. The students are part of the whole operation, from planning and purchasing supplies, to marketing, to maintaining record books. Examples of an adolescent-scale business, called a Micro Economy by Dr. Montessori, include organic farming and produce sales, wool-working, candle making, cider production, honey production, or a bakery.

Education for Life

This integrated curriculum encompasses all of the disciplines of a traditional education. The approach, however, is thoroughly Montessori—where the end result lies not in a letter grade or diploma, but in the development of intellect, morality, creativity, and independence. Teachers provide direction and guidance, but encourage students to freely and independently explore their own ideas. Our graduates will be able to transition easily not just to high school and college, but into a complex and constantly changing world in dire need of independent thinkers and innovative problem solvers.

We are accepting applications from students currently in 6th or 7th grade. Previous Montessori experience is not a requirement for admission. For more information please contact us.