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23| O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 7,2018 insidehalton.com CELEBRATING YEARS50 The most beautiful things are memories! Congratulations to Dearcroft Montessori for creating 50 years of beautiful memories. The choice is yours educationoakville.com FASCINATINGMINDS SINCE 1911www.appleby.on.ca OF EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE OAKVILLE COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS TO DEARCROFT MONTESSORI SCHOOL 50 YEARS In 1967 Peter Phippen uprooted his family, transporting his wife, Barbara, and two young sons to Italy where he went for a year-long Montessori teacher training. Little did he know that move would be the start of a busi- ness, school and family lifestyle for generations. Celebrating 50 years of Dearcroft Montessori, now-owner and Peter's son, Gord, credits his parents for the vision they had - one that has shaped his life and the life of the thousands of students who have passed through the school's doors over the last five decades. Those doors are now located at 1167 Lakeshore Rd. East and have been for the last 42 years. But prior to that, Dearcroft operated out of the Phippens' own home as a one-class school in their basement, followed by various rented church spaces and even a commercial space on North Service Road. But in the summer of 1967, the Phippens secured the current proper-Phippens secured the current proper-Phippens secured the current proper ty, constructing the 9,000 square foot facility set on two acres of old estate property on Lakeshore. The location, within walking distance to downtown, is an ideal setting for a school. Gord, who lives in the century home on the property, explains. "Our senior elementary and junior high students head to the harbour quite often", he says, adding that they get to paddle or do sketching by the lake. Within the boundaries of the prop- erty itself - which has grown to three and-a-half acres - students enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens for art and other activities. It was Peter who helped develop the initial curriculum, based on the Montessori principals he learned in Italy where the tradition of Montessori schooling began with Maria Montes- sori in 1907. Gord, who met his wife Lynda at Dearcroft when she was a young teacher there, has carried on that tradition and the school remains the third oldest private school in Oakville. As the town's original Montessori school they undergo recertification ev-school they undergo recertification ev-school they undergo recertification ev ery five years for best practices under the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (CCMA). But for Gord, Montessori is more than that. "It's a way of life," he says. "It's the way you parent, look at things, the lens through which you look at life." His commitment to his students and the school extend beyond the facility, reaching into the community with char-reaching into the community with char-reaching into the community with char itable support throughout Oakville. Montessori has a global vision that al- ways seeks potential for change. "It's exciting to be part of that." As Gord looks ahead to the next 50 years of Dearcroft he does so by look-years of Dearcroft he does so by look-years of Dearcroft he does so by look ing back on the last 50 years, even recently returning to Italy to revisit the place where he spent a year of his life while his dad trained. "It's a great ex-while his dad trained. "It's a great ex-while his dad trained. "It's a great ex ercise, it makes you appreciate what you've accomplished." A history of commitment to Montessori education Dearcroft Montessori is located on a historic, wooded property on Lakeshore Road.