Fifth grader, Campbell Donovan (Chestnut Hill) interacts with a Montessori visitor from a school in Brooklyn, NY.

Norwood-Fontbonne Academy welcomed nearly 30 Monetessori educators from around the world to visit its campus as part of the national American Montessori Society conference being held in Philadelphia on March 12.

Escorted by NFA student guides, the visitors toured NFA's Montessori preschool houses – the Gate House and the Carriage House – where 3- to 5-year-olds begin their Signature Montessori education. Afterwards, they were taken to the Junior Level Montessori classrooms where children 6- to 9-year- olds continue the program before merging with primary students in the fourth grade.

Throughout the morning, visitors had the opportunity to interact with students and teachers and get an inside glimpse of the enrichment and interactive primary classroom spaces. Later, following lunch, the group toured the Morris Arboretum – NFA's newest academic partner – where they learned about NFA's growing Signature curriculum and commitment to environmental care.

“Our visitors truly enabled us to be global educators!” said Sr. Mary Helen Beirne, NFA's head of school. “We shared our common hopes and excitement about the formation of children as they saw our children so engaged in learning.”