CAUTION: Construction Zone Information Ahead!  This summer, the Harbor Montessori School has been undergoing much-needed and transformational improvements, bringing new life to the space on the south side of the Y’s main facility’s campus. The upgrades include large windows to let in more natural light, additional bathrooms with tiny toilets for the younger children, sinks in every classroom, new flooring, lighting, and furniture, and an improved air circulation system complete with air conditioning in each room. A new outdoor canopy will provide shade and protection from rain, while also hiding the air condensers on its roof. For families, a wider sidewalk and entry apron enhances the safety of drop-off and pick-up. New closet and storage spaces, a renovated kitchen, and new furniture round out the improvements. The project has remained on budget and on time and all of this has been made possible thanks to generous donations to the recently completed A Greater Impact campaign.   

During the renovations, the children have been located in temporary spaces throughout the Y’s main facility (or as they call it “the Big Y’). Their presence has been a welcome addition, with children often saying hello or giving high-fives to members and visitors. “I’m so proud of our staff,” says Hannah Joule Wayda, the School’s director. “They’ve gone out of their way to provide a wonderful experience in temporary classrooms. We can’t wait to get back to our renovated home, but we’ve loved being up here at the Y and creating an intergenerational environment.”  

The Harbor Montessori School provides essential early childhood education and daycare, serving as a vital part of the Boothbay Region YMCA. On a national scale, the YMCA is the largest nonprofit provider of child care, operating nearly 10,000 child care sites across the country. These programs reach more than 500,000 children annually, offering high-quality and affordable care for working families. At the Y’s Harbor Montessori School, a Montessori learning approach is used to foster a hands-on learning environment, freedom of movement, and collaborative work, all within a carefully prepared space.

The Montessori classroom includes mixed-ages from 3 to 5 years old, special materials, and a teacher who acts as a facilitator. The approach encourages independence, self-motivation, and a love of learning through exploration and discovery. Alexandra Pinkham, a certified Montessori instructor, has been leading the program in Boothbay for over ten years. Her approach, along with the hard work of the other teachers at the school, creates a unique environment. “I hear from the local elementary school teachers that our kids are very well prepared when they go to school,” says Joule Wayda. “We utilize Montessori principles in all of our classrooms, and we use natural toys for our infants all the way up to the natural materials in our outdoor natural playground.”  

Some of the best parts of the Harbor Montessori School are found in its natural outdoor spaces—true hidden gems. Felled trees from the Camp K campus, sandboxes, an outdoor “kitchen,” a playhouse, and play spaces made from local stone, stumps, and thoughtful landscaping create light-filled, fun, and creative play areas. The children also have access to the Y’s amphitheater, an area between the school and the Main Y, used for play, outdoor performances, and Y-Arts programs.  

The school is adjacent to the “Annex,” a large two-room space utilized by the Y-Arts program and visual arts classes. While the Annex has weathered years of different uses, extensive renovations weren’t feasible as part of the Harbor Montessori School project due to the high cost—estimated at $2.5 million. However, there is a plan for the Annex to receive a few upgrades in the coming months, hopefully to include resurfaced flooring for dance and theater classes, laminate flooring for the visual arts room, and improved storage space.   

If you’d like to take a hard-hat tour of the Harbor Montessori School, the Annex, or the playgrounds, please reach out to me at agoodwin@brymca.org. Our local children, as well as our seasonal friends during the summer, are being well cared for and educated, and they’ll continue to be nurtured in a beautifully renovated space come the end of August.