Mission
The mission of Coastal Empire Montessori Community Organization is to operate a public charter school that provides individualized elementary education rooted in Montessori philosophy emphasizing emotional,
intellectual, physical, and social development in a nurturing and rigorous academic environment.
Vision
To cultivate a diverse, inclusive Montessori learning community rooted in awareness of and respect
for self, others, and the environment so that teachers foster intellectual curiosity, students develop cognitive flexibility, and all stakeholders grow together as responsible compassionate stewards of the community.
Rationale
The
school, supported by the Montessori philosophy and method, educates the Whole Child: intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of human development. By nurturing the total development of the child
and fostering respect for self, peers, community and nature they will be prepared to take their place in society and work toward a peaceful world.
Core Values
Wonderment: a unique characteristic of
childhood is a sense of wonder for our world and an innate desire to learn about the world and how it works. We encourage the child’s joyful exploration and discovery of his /her world.
When we build a harmonious community that nurtures wonderment, respects and celebrates the individual, and encourages stewardship we lay a foundation for a life of continual learning.
Ultimately we will...Grow Together
in the World.
A non-profit corporation, the Coastal Empire Montessori Charter Organization (CEMCO) was organized by seven Savannah-area residents in 2005 to operate the Coastal Empire Montessori Charter School (CEMCS) and the Coastal
Empire Montessori Academy (CEMA). The goal is to provide, through these institutions, the opportunity for Chatham County schoolchildren to experience educational services based on the teaching philosophy and methodology
developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. The CEMA and CEMCS are not only innovative as compared to traditional schools but also unique from other Montessori schools, and they provide an unparalleled education for children
of the community.
CEMCS was set up in accordance with the Charter Schools Act of 1998 (amended in 2005) as part of an agreement between the Board of Public Education for the City of Savannah and the County of
Chatham, the State Board of Education, and CEMCO. The school began operation in August 2008, in facilities located at 301 Buckhalter Road in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. It offers an environment in which certified,
Montessori-trained teachers provide a truly holistic education that adheres to the principles and standards of the Montessori Methods of childhood education. Children are offered a rigorous, content-rich, hands-on curriculum
via stimulating teaching in a safe and nurturing environment. Teachers facilitate instruction while creating an atmosphere where children are taught to take responsibility for their own learning, at their own pace,
within a Montessori-structured environment.
CEMCO, through CEMCS, is dedicated to continuing progress already made in raising expectations for teaching and learning in order to increase student achievement. The
organization – and therefore the school – is committed to continuing to implement Montessori curriculum that is aligned with Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS). We also intend to maintain the already-strong
collaborative community of students, families and school personnel dedicated to the development of life-long learners who acquire the skills and attitudes of responsibility, resourcefulness and respect. The CEMCS Community,
comprised of school leadership, faculty, staff, parents, students, and the CEMCO Board, is unified, cohesive and dedicated to realizing increases in student achievement and modeling how innovative a school community
can be.