Building blocks for a purposeful life
GTMS cultivates in children respect, confidence, autonomy and curiosity. A delight for discovery that our students carry with them for their whole lives.
Every choice we make, as parents and educators, is an opportunity to give each of our students the tools to make their own choices for learning and for life.
At Greene Towne, guided by our teaching staff, students discover for themselves a purposeful, active, personal learning journey, with unlimited potential to realize a wonderful future. Our classrooms are thoughtfully prepared spaces, designed to encourage and grow hands-on self-directed learning. Filled with educational materials that engage and spark thinking, where learning is structured around uninterrupted time, and exploration can take its natural course. Greene Towne students go on to lead fulfilling lives, because they have the skills to constantly build their own learning, and make their choices come to life.
Over 50 Years Growing With Philadelphia
Greene Towne opened in the fall of 1966 at Saint Clement’s Church, founded by parents with the goal to grow a “racially, religiously, and economically integrated school.” Greene Towne Montessori has been an integral part of the fabric of the Center City neighborhood we call home, fostering a carefully considered learning environment for Philadelphia’s children.
Greene Towne School opens its doors to 25 students on the 3rd floor of St. Clements Church. For a small group of dedicated parents, it is the realization of a dream.Two founding parents, Portia Sperr and Maryanne Hunter, take the Montessori Early Childhood certification course at Ravenhill under Mother Isabel who brought Montessori training to Philadelphia while founding parents Kaki Kriebel and Jane Unkefer run the office.
Portia Sperr and Mary Anne Hunter leave Greene Towne to found The Please Touch Museum, based on the hands-on, experiential learning experience provided by the Montessori classroom environment.
The first fundraising auction, benefitting tuition assistance, is held. Greene Towne still offers financial aid today.
Greene Towne has a new home to call our own at 2121 Arch Street. After two years of fundraising, planning, and construction, the new Greene Towne opens in September, welcoming 3 returning classes and 1 new class for 3 to 6-year-olds.
Greene Towne expands to a neighboring property at 2215 Arch Street, now known as West Campus, establishing the Toddler House with two toddler environments.
Greene Towne receives a first time 10 year accreditation from the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools and the American Montessori Society.
Greene Towne celebrates 50 years!
Greene Towne Montessori School officially opens the doors of their new home at 55 N. 22nd Street, with 11 classrooms, including an elementary classroom, an art room, a music room, 3 movement rooms, and a rooftop play deck.
Our Community
Celebrating Curiosity in a Diverse Community
Our entire learning environment is thoughtfully prepared to encourage hands-on self-directed learning, structured around uninterrupted time, where exploration can take its natural course, in classrooms designed to prepare the children for the society they will inherit.
We continually celebrate differences in ability, sexual orientation and identity, social background, religious belief, and racial, national, and ethnic origin, because we see a diverse student body, faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees as an essential reflection of the Montessori vision and our place in the city of Philadelphia.
Read the full statement
GTMS Diversity Statement
Dr. Maria Montessori, for whom the Montessori educational philosophy is named, fundamentally believed that children of all backgrounds possess an innate desire to learn, to be productive, and to find joy in work.
In creating the first “Children’s House” in Rome nearly a century ago, Montessori imagined the school as a reflection of the surrounding social world, and designed the classroom to prepare the children for the society they would inherit. In keeping with Montessori’s vision, Greene Towne Montessori School seeks to provide an environment within which each child can acquire a lifelong love of learning in a diverse community. In creating such an environment, the School emphasizes the need to respect differences in ability, sexual orientation and identity, social background, religious belief, and racial, national, and ethnic origin. GTMS extends this approach to all aspects of the life of the school, from teaching to hiring, governance, admissions, and financial aid decisions.
Our Strategic Plan
Greene Towne is in an ideal position to focus on creating a new strategic plan, to focus our work in the next several years. We are excited to join with as many of our community members as possible to help shape our vision for this important time in the life of Greene Towne. Stay tuned for more information about the many ways to take part in this important process.
Our Accreditations and Affiliations
Submit a recipe to Greene Towne’s Cookbook and win $250 Amazon card for your child’s classroom!
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