Summary
Organization name
Durango Montessori School
2005
Tax id (EIN)
20-1961557
Category
Education
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
1309 E. 3rd Ave., Unit #6Durango, CO 81301
La Plata County, CO, US
Durango Montessori School
A nonprofit organization
$28,751 raised by 35 donors
96% complete
$30,000 Goal
About
Testimonials
Give the Future Wings
DMS offers children of Durango and nearby towns an experiential education with a Montessori Method foundation. Excellent student-to-teacher ratio and involvement in the community's art and music programs enables each student to receive individualized guidance and a unique learning opportunity.
Donate Today!
Student Scholarships:
It is essential to our school culture that we cultivate a diverse school community. Your donation will give a child an educational experience that instills a life-long love of learning and a holistic approach to personal development. Help us expand our reach into the community to provide a solid foundation for children.
Montessori Teacher Training:
We are fortunate to provide lead teachers with Montessori teaching certification this year—this is a big asset for teachers that adds to their professional development and reflects an authentic Montessori learning environment. Our teachers are dedicated to continued education. Your donation will strengthen teachers’ foundational knowledge and increase teacher confidence and commitment to the school. Feeling supported by school administration, board members, and families positively impacts teacher retention.
Enrichment Classes & Expeditionary Learning:
A great benefit of being an independent school is that we can create opportunities for expeditionary learning outside the classroom through our enrichment classes and school field trips, often in partnership with community organizations. School field trips take advantage of the wonderful access we have to natural and historical landmarks in our surrounding area, such as studying early human civilizations at Canyon of the Ancients. Your financial donation will support these working partnerships and extend opportunities for student study outside the classroom!
Outdoor Education at Colvig:
DMS has been fortunate to partner with Colvig Silver Camps to instill outdoor adventure skills and recapture a child’s natural wonder of their surroundings and be stewards of wild places. At Colvig, students connect with peers and teachers, play team building games, study the flora and fauna and often take a cold jump into the natural swimming pond on-site! Your donation helps students have lasting memories and develop a love for our planet and a deep connection with the natural world.
Staff Health & Wellness:
Because it is nearly impossible for a small, non-profit Montessori School to provide health insurance for employees like large school districts do, DMS is committed to providing staff with Health and Wellness Stipends each year. Your donation provides imperative financial support for staff, most often used for health insurance and medical expenses.
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Giving Activity
Mission
Durango Montessori School's (DMS) mission is to provide an education center for children in preschool through sixth grade according to the principles and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. It is the adopted belief of DMS that appropriate education received at these ages is the most valuable education in the whole of a lifetime, and DMS intends to provide each child with warm, nurturing, didactically prepared environments supervised and maintained by teachers trained in the Montessori Method and consistent with Montessori philosophy. DMS' goal is to promote emotional, social, and intellectual development in order to meet the needs of the whole child.
DMS enables the community's children to pursue knowledge hands-on in and outside the classroom in English language arts, math, social studies, history, art, music, outdoor education, Spanish, physical education, and peace works. Curious by nature, students are given the agency to self-select work, leading to intrinsic motivation, sustained attention, and a love for learning. Financial aid is available for qualified families.
Background Statement
At DMS we pride ourselves on being a leader in Montessori education and an organization that believes in experiential education for all. Mary Polino, educator and parent, founded DMS in 2005. Since then, DMS has grown from 1 classroom with only 13 students to serving 84 students and families this 2024/25 school year. DMS would not be what it is today without the support of dedicated families who believe in the benefits of a Montessori education for their child.
As we enter our 20th year, we are not slowing down—we are continuing to grow and expand our reach. As a school that values community, we know that students, teachers, and families are an invaluable part of this evolution. To spark this upward momentum, we are highlighting five areas of our school community that would greatly benefit from your financial support. Your donation has a lasting impact on the future of DMS and the opportunities and benefits we can provide our community.
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Organization Data
Durango, CO 81301