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December 2022 Capital Project Update

December 2022 Capital Project Update

Eight years ago at Greenspring, an ambitious and inspiring campus-wide vision was born of expansive prepared environments—indoors and out, state-of-the-art facilities, and a well-stewarded, earth-friendly home to students, staff, and families. From that, an essential student-centered plan of action was set in motion, phase by thoughtful phase, accompanied by a long-term timeline to guide the way. The reality, however, was always the true timekeeper–i.e., concerned citizen groups, slow motion permitting processes, layers of nearly impenetrable ledge, and ultimately a pandemic. Thus, in true Montessori fashion, patience and humility became the watchwords for the better part of a decade in manifesting that vision and staying the course throughout this big work. As a result, the Elementary Village is nearing completion. Really!

Our Elementary students had a chance to tour their new building recently – it is a joy to see their reactions!

At the heart of the original vision was the desire for every student to possess a modern, healthy,
right-sized, and safe home of their own that calls them to learn and play, explore and grow. The Elementary Village brings the campus one integrated and holistic step closer to that goal. The new structure is tantalizingly close to welcoming students into its 5,560 square feet of beautiful, warm, inviting, developmentally-sensitive spaces. No matter the time of day or which classroom, the natural light is stunning, the interior flow apparent, the scale perfect, and the building’s textures and tones soothing. With all but the interior doors needing to be hung, mechanical systems powered up, life-safety systems installed and activated, and the various minor odds and ends attended to, the building is nearing the finish line.
At present, the new structure is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in mid-January 2023. It is also expected to be completed on budget—no small feat given the extended timeframe and being constructed amidst a period of steadily rising interest rates and prices. Perhaps no one is more eager for the ribbon to be cut than the Elementary students themselves, yet, no one has been more patient and respectful of the process from start to finish. How Montessori of them. Their new home will surely be worth the wait.
October 2022 Capital Project Update

October 2022 Capital Project Update

We are excited to share that our Elementary Village is 90% complete! The final touches are being completed in November and we are patiently waiting to move into our new building.
Since the last update, we have seen many changes on the exterior. The site was graded, loamed, and seeded. The construction crew finished paving the roadways and lower parking lot. New canopies were also installed in front of the Elementary Village and the Friedberg Building. Inside the Elementary Village, the ceiling was installed, the rooms were painted, light fixtures were installed, and the installation of the floors began.
Looking ahead, the cabinets, countertops, and appliances will be installed in November. In addition, the interior doors, access controls, and plumbing fixtures will be finalized. Unfortunately, there continue to be supply chain delays and worker shortages. We are still waiting for fire alarm parts, as well as for BGE to install our electrical systems.

Right now we are looking at building delivery in the middle of December, assuming we get the fire alarm parts in. Thank you for your patience and support as we continue the important work of having our campus fully prepared!

September 2022 Capital Project Update

September 2022 Capital Project Update

The new Elementary Village is humming with activity. Drywallers are closing up ceilings, electricians are installing the dampers, and prep is starting on all the behind-the-scenes work of plumbing, flooring, lighting, and more.

The biggest changes to the space can be seen on the outside! Sidewalks and patios are complete the courtyard is graded. We recently had our entryways, parking lot, and north loop road paved and painted.  It is such a relief for the entire community to see it all visibly coming together!

Soon painting and finishing touches will commence. We are hoping for completion in mid-November – stay tuned!

As we near the final stages of Phase III, we need your help!

We are looking to honor our community’s unique history in two special ways. We are collecting historic photographs of our campus and students from the past 65 years for a special Timeline Wall in our Elementary Village.

We would also like to have engaging and meaningful names for our Main Building, Student Activity Center, and new Elementary Village. It is important for us to honor the history of the area and its peoples. If you have name suggestions for any of these spaces or historic photographs to share, please email Kimberly Zerfas at kzerfas@greenspringmontessori.org.

April 2022 Capital Project Update

April 2022 Capital Project Update

The Elementary Village began to take shape this spring, with framing completed, trusses installed, and roofing started. April showers have made the construction a bit more challenging, but the children have been fascinated by the many cranes and different construction equipment on campus.

It is such a joy to see the building begin to take shape. After the roofing, siding and windows will be installed. Then the exterior construction will slow down, with specialists working indoors on the plumbing, electrical, and drywall.

Right now we expect the project to be completed at the end of September and hope to move in during October 2022. Needless to say, our staff is excited to move in as soon as possible! We will keep you posted as we know more.

See photographs of our recent progress below:

The Peaceful Gift of our Montessori Classrooms

The Peaceful Gift of our Montessori Classrooms

When walking around campus and observing our classrooms, it is striking how the children are driven by purposeful work and relationships in their small community, peacefully unphased by the trials of the world around them. While our children will all grow up knowing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is heartening to see their resilience and adaptability, as well as the ways that a Montessori classroom intentionally makes space for peace, calm, and a sense of normalcy – what a gift!

Our Toddlers are learning how to be in community with one another – some for the very first time! They are absorbing language through early conversations, storytelling, and songs, as well as beginning to understand Grace and Courtesy when interacting with one another. In our Children’s House classrooms, the students are eager to make sense of the world around them, learning about everything from the traditions of Chinese New Year to the different types of leaves on trees native to Maryland. Lessons tie back to childrens’ identities and give them an understanding of their place in the world. In our Elementary communities, creative writing has been a special focus over the past month, with children eagerly thinking up new stories to write and share with one another. Our Adolescents boldly explore the current events in the world with a social justice lens and a passion to change things for the better.

We are inspired by each of them every day!