History

A Brief History of Cross of Life Montessori 1994-2023

1994

• Opened September 1994 with 7 students, 1 teacher/administrator (Founding Director, Patricia Craft-Heuer), a bank loan of $40,000 and a loan from COL of $10,000

1998

• School has 43 students, 3 teachers, 3 assistants, and one administrator. The loan to COL is paid off.

2001

• Bank loan is paid off 

2002

• School moves into education wing of new building. There is one toddler, one primary, and one elementary class. 43 students enrolled.

2005

• 42 students enrolled in 1 toddler, 1 primary, 1 elementary with grades 1-4. Plans made to add a new primary class in 2006. Patricia retires at the end of 2005-6 school year. Elementary program also closes at this time. 

2006

• Kim Coleburn moves into full time director position after working as the toddler teacher since 1998. There are 2 primary classes and one toddler class now taught by Stefanie Graper. The board votes to expand the name of the school to "Cross of Life Christian Montessori School" 
• 2006-09 enrollment struggles due to bad economy, retiring of longtime COL pastor, Pastor Reider, and roadwork that makes it hard to see school. 2009 ends with about 20 students.

2010

• Stefanie moves into director role and continues to teach the toddler class 3 mornings a week. Enrollment is down. Primary classes are combined into one class and 2010 begins with 8 primary half day students and 7 toddlers. 
• Website is revamped and new school logo created by COL volunteer. School Facebook and blog are started. A landscaping donation enhances the courtyard area. 

2011

• 2011 begins with 14 primary students and 8 toddlers. Website received major update and staff can now easily keep it up to date. School is accredited by GAC allowing us to participate in Apogee scholarship program. $34,500 is raised for scholarships through this program in its first year.

2012-14

• 2012-13 Primary and toddler class are full with a waiting list. Stefanie continues to teach and direct. Staff consists of one toddler teacher/director, one toddler assistant/French teacher, one primary teacher, one primary assistant, and one administrative assistant. Total of 28 students enrolled, highest in 6 years. 
• 2013 Lise G., our toddler assistant of 17 years retires. Stefanie moves into full time director role. New toddler teacher and assistant are hired, toddler program expands to 5 days/week.
  
• 2013-2014 Toddler class grows in enrollment due to additional days being offered. Primary class is full with a waiting list. Primary needs a larger room to accommodate required enrollment for school accreditation and additional students. School and church work together to create an expansion plan. 
• Summer 2014 - Building improvements for classroom expansion project and new youth room total nearly $30,000. This includes new paint and flooring throughout downstairs of building B and in the new youth room, a toilet and kitchenette installed downstairs, as well as new furniture, décor, sink and counter in new youth room. A picket fence was also installed in the courtyard area so the primary children could work outside.
• Two school rooms are now shared with the two younger Sunday School Classes.

2015

• COLM Parent Association donates playset in honor of teachers and staff.

2017

• The playset is expanded.
• COLM is ‘Accredited with Quality’ by GAC. Toddler program is expanded again.

2019

• Over $200,000 in Apogee Scholarships have been awarded to 50 students in 7 years! 
• COLM Continues to be an active ministry of COL, serving 20 families and 26 children through the Montessori school. COLM maintains AMI recognition throughout years, ensuring the highest quality Montessori program is being offered. 
• September 14th, 2019 – 25th Anniversary Dinner and Celebration held at COLM. The ‘Seedlings Scholarship’ program commences, which will allow our youngest students to receive scholarships. 

2020

• March 2020, Covid changes the world and education. School moved to online schooling for the remainder of the school year. The school staff created at home lesson plans, regular zoom meetings for reading and chapel times, and a lending library to send home learning materials.
• School reopened for in person learning in August 2020 with very strict Covid protocols. We were happy to be a safe place that parents trusted with their children. It was wonderful to hear the halls and classrooms filled with laughter and learning again. 
• However; the school income had dropped sharply. Enrollment was very low in August 2020, with 12 primary and 4 toddlers. EIDL and PPP funds had been secured in April 2020, which allowed us to continue to pay staff regular rate through the summer and this time.

2021

• March 2021, the vaccine becomes widely available and enrollment starts to increase. The last of the PPP funds are used to cover the school payroll in summer of 2021. 
• COLM makes a $2000 donation to COL in Dec. 2021. 
• By Feb. 2021 enrollment is back to normal, with 12 toddlers and 17 primary students.

2022

• 22-23 school year, starts with full enrollment, and record donations to the scholarship program. With 100% staff retention, as well as an active Parent Association and engaged and happy students, we look forward to continuing to "Grow in Spirit and Intellect" for years to come.