HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
MONTESSORI SCHOOL
ABOUT HCAMS
Hans Christian Andersen Montessori School was opened in Tolland, CT in 1964 by Clara Berman. It is named after a Danish man who created stories and poems for children’s (and adults’) delight; including The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, and The Ugly Duckling.
In 1969 the school was incorporated as a nonprofit organization, and a Board of Trustees was formed. In 1974, HCAMS moved to Bolton, renting space at St. George’s Episcopal Church. The school eventually grew into its current residence at 212 Bolton Center Road in 1986. The building was built in 1938 and originally served as the Bolton Public Library, and the parish of St. Maurice. Rev. William McGurk originally purchased the property in 1898 to run a summer home for girls with respiratory problems.
In 2022, Hans Christian Andersen Montessori School celebrated its 58th year. It has a uniquely iconic presence as a little, red, one-room schoolhouse in a beautiful rural setting. The school attracts families from all the surrounding towns: Andover, Coventry, Hebron, Glastonbury, Manchester, Vernon, and beyond.
The school has a seasoned history as a nurturing climate in which children can educate themselves through creative activity and sensorial exploration. It perseveres with devotion to and excellence in Montessori early-child education. HCAMS is a full member of the American Montessori Society.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to create a community where children can learn and grow to their true potential, in an environment that fosters independent thinking and allows each child to gain the confidence within themselves to become life-long learners.
Philosophy
At our school we believe that learning takes place through the senses. Students will learn to manipulate the materials that have been prepared by the teaching team independently and in small groups of peers. The mixed ages in the classroom create a cooperative environment where the youngest children have the positive older role models and the eldest children learn to mentor the youngest learners. The aim of the Montessori curriculum is to foster life-long learning in children, for them to be confident, to question and problem solve with the assistance of the teachers in the classroom. Each individual child is challenged to become a competent, responsible, adaptive citizen. All of the child’s intelligences will be developed: physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, spiritual, and cognitive. In our classroom you will find happy, curious, social children busy learning and experiencing all of the wonderful materials that have been carefully chosen for their individual needs. Each teacher is trained to observe children to anticipate their needs, understand their emotions and facilitate future learning experiences.