Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori

What We Believe

The Montessori method of teaching is an academic learning program designed to meet the child at their most absorbent stage of development, the time when they are soaking up knowledge like a sponge. With a prepared environment and concrete-to-abstract materials, our trained teachers and staff seek to guide the children through their own learning, encouraging autonomy and community. We provide a stable, loving space for children to explore their own interests and navigate opportunities for social growth.

The greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."

—Maria Montessori

Primary Two Classroom

Our Programs

Far Horizons Montessori School is open to children starting at 2.5 years of age and up through 6th grade. We are open year-round with an academically challenging school year program and an enriching summer camp program. Our hours of operation are 7:45 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday.

We offer all day childcare on most “no school” days to the students enrolled at our school and their siblings. We provide morning and afternoon snacks and ask that you send a lunch with your child.

We have two Primary aged classrooms (2.5 years old through Kindergarten), a Lower Elementary classroom (Kindergarten through 2nd/3rd grade), and an Upper Elementary classroom (3rd/4th through 6th grade). Our teachers are Montessori trained, and an assistant is provided in each classroom to maintain low student/teacher ratios.

We are passionate Montessori educators. We strive to meet and follow the child through their development over the years. We follow the multi-age classroom model that allows the child to learn from and teach their peers in all things from academics to social and emotional learning, guided by experienced teachers.

Learn more about our programs →

The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures...gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.

—Maria Montessori

Elementary Classroom

Our Commitment to the Environment

Far Horizons is always actively searching for new ways to be good stewards of our Earth. We focus on reducing our use of limited resources, like paper and electricity. We seek cleaning and chemical products that pass green school reviews. We strive to teach our students to notice the moments when we can make better choices for our environment, and we share our love for the Earth with them in every way possible.

A Little History

Far Horizons Montessori School was founded in 1963 by Terri Fentress-Thompson with 15 children in the basement of the a church on Hilyard Street. Using a shared space, staff and teachers had to fold up the shelves and store all their materials every Friday afternoon and reassemble their classroom each Monday morning.

In 1976, Mary Tomassini and Mary Davis purchased the school and increased the enrollment to 20 children and began a half-day Primary program. In 1978 Kerry Knust purchased the school, and two years later added a full-day program with after-school childcare to help support working mothers.

Kerry bought our current location in 1999—which also used to be a church. It was remodeled to accommodate two Primary classrooms and one Elementary classroom. There was no playground so they planted trees, set up garden spaces, and added playground equipment.

In 2018, Kerry retired and Lynn Peacock, a former teacher at Far Horizons, purchased the school. She also remodeled and the school now includes two Primary classrooms, a Lower Elementary classroom, and an Upper Elementary classroom. Her next dream is to create a Middle School program, stay tuned!!

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I love that the before and after care is available as well as childcare provided during school breaks. I never have to shuffle to find childcare again during school breaks or if I’m running a bit behind in the afternoon.

Lorie Ann — Far Horizons Parent