The New St. Helena Montessori School

Few schools ever get the opportunity to plan and build their campus from scratch.  The new campus on College Avenue represents a complete vision for a thriving Montessori learning community on a working farm – one where students are connected with the agricultural roots of our Napa Valley community and the Montessori tradition of environmental awareness.

The Campus

In the school’s new classroom buildings, children will find hospitable learning environments designed, scaled and equipped to meet the unique needs of each age group.  Each classroom will give children and faculty carefully planned spaces and materials to foster self-directed learning across the full range of subjects.  With natural lighting and access to protected outdoor learning spaces, the classrooms will maintain a strong connection with the school’s natural setting.

The campus will also feature seminar rooms, libraries, atria, a dedicated science laboratory and a working commercial kitchen for the culinary arts program.  Children and parents alike will gather for dining, performances and community events in the new Great Room and the indoor-outdoor amphitheater.

To strengthen the school’s physical education program and provide opportunities for sports and recreation, the new campus will feature a multi-purpose ball field, handball courts, and a basketball/volleyball court, as well as distinct, age-appropriate playground spaces.

An administration building will support the growing school and its community, including space for ongoing parent education programs in such areas as child growth and development, practical parenting and character development.

Growing Up

As it grows into the new campus, the St. Helena Montessori community will grow as well.  With new age levels and the addition of a second group of children at each level, the school will approximately double its enrollment over the course of several years.

Careful business planning and thoughtful campus design has helped to ensure an attentive learning environment and an intimate community even as the School grows.

Partnership with Nimbus Arts

St. Helena Montessori will share part of its new campus with Nimbus Arts, a visionary young community organization that nurtures the artistic pursuits and creative lives of children and adults across the Napa Valley.  This innovative partnership will provide a range of inspiring facilities for St. Helena Montessori children and will serve as an Arts Center for people of all ages throughout the Napa Valley. 

At the new Nimbus Arts Center, children will have daily opportunities to practice hands-on crafts such as ceramics and woodworking and to explore a range of artistic media.  The Center will also feature gallery space for exhibitions and events, two wings of indoor and outdoor classroom space, a sculpture garden and a community events space.