Cross of Life Montessori School

Education for Life

A Montessori school for children ages 18 months to 6 years

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Our Mission

is an integral part of the ministry of Cross of Life Lutheran Church. The purpose of the school is to provide Christian Montessori education in partnership with parents so that children may be nurtured in the word and will of God; and develop within themselves the foundational habits, attitudes, skills, appreciation and ideas that are essential for a lifetime of creative learning.

Why do so many families choose Montessori?

Individualized Learning


Lessons are designed and given to each child when they are most ready to learn.

Whole Child Education


Social, emotional, and physical development is emphasized along with academic skills.

Empowered by Choice


Freedom to move and choose activities fosters independence and self-confidence.

Supported by Research


Current neurology and human development research consistently backs Montessori.

Our Programs

Parent Reviews

"When I think of COLM, the first few words that come to mind are family, friends and partnership. After the initial couple of months of our youngest child attending COLM we quickly realized that the love, care and dedication to our child’s education was bar none. It’s truly a partnership relationship between the COLM staff and parents. The teachers want to see your children succeed just as much as you do. You know when you drop your child off in the morning you are leaving them in the hands of staff that feel like family. The exchange of love that they have for the children and that the children have for them is tangible. The small tight-knit community of parents become friends you’ll enjoy actives with."


— Rahsaan S. 

Our Blog

By Elizabeth Horgan, PhD 18 Oct, 2024
When you ask a young child how old they are, they will likely hold up fingers like a badge of honor while proudly announcing their age. Birthdays and ages are one of the first tangible markers of time that children understand. They anticipate their birthday for months, excited about advancing to the next age. The rituals and traditions around birthday celebrations become beloved memories as children grow. Their love of birthdays also reflects children’s natural desire to understand themselves and their place in the world as they grow. Montessori supports this desire in children by offering a unique birthday celebration that centers the child’s individual growth within the earth’s cycles. Known as a “ Montessori Birthday Walk ” or “ Walk Around the Sun ” ceremony, the Montessori birthday tradition honors each year of a child’s life and development as they age. In the Montessori classroom, a depiction of the sun is placed in the center of the room and a small candle or light is placed on top. The classroom of children all sit around the sun in a circle while the birthday child stands and holds a globe or representation of the Earth. Just like the Earth completes one orbit around the sun each year, the birthday child completes one “orbit” around the circle for each year of their life. After each time around the sun, the child, a parent, or caregiver shares memories including photos and stories about that year of the child’s life. For example, after the first “orbit” a parent may share baby photos and stories about the child learning to crawl. The child completes as many orbits as they are years old. This special Montessori birthday tradition allows children to tangibly experience the journey of aging while self-reflecting and sharing beloved memories with friends and teachers. The celebration centers the child while connecting their personal history and growth with the world around them. Next time you celebrate your child’s birthday, you can try a version of the Walk Around the Sun at home! Print out pictures of them at each age and prepare to share some of your favorite memories. You can also ask your child to share their own favorite memories from each year. This can be a wonderful opportunity to help your child integrate their memories while reflecting on the joy of early childhood. photo credit: BirchStreetGoods Etsy
By Elizabeth Skora Horgan, PhD 13 Jul, 2024
Montessori math education is rooted in concrete experience with physical materials to help children's self-discovery of abstract mathematical concepts.
By Elizabeth Horgan, PhD 02 May, 2024
“A child’s work is based on doing things for their own sake. There is an end towards which his work is taking him: through his work, he is building the man he will become. But the child doesn’t know this; he only knows that he takes delight in doing certain things. This is his work” -Dr. Maria Montessori
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