St. Christopher’s Montessori takes aim at becoming an International Baccalaureate World School

St. Christopher’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Montessori School, recognized statewide as a leader in education, is set on achieving a higher feat: becoming an International Baccalaureate World School.

The Key Biscayne school for students in kindergarten to fifth grade is a leading candidate to become an International Baccalaureate World School,

Leslie Lasseville, St. Christopher’s Head of School, said the certification process takes two years. An IB World School offers a global, nonprofit learning program to develop students’ intellectual, social, personal and emotional skills.

Currently, the school has 160 students enrolled.

The certification procedure involves consultants training teachers and administrators to bring them up to par with IB standards. Lasseville said St.Christopher’s would be the first Montessori school in Florida to reach IB World School if the effort is successful.

“St. Christopher’s is thrilled by the opportunity to add the IB component to its Montessori program. The two philosophies blend beautifully together,” said Lasseville.

“Its commitment to Montessori education, which focuses holistically on integrated studies and developmental best practices, makes it a natural union,” she said, adding that the Key’s international community is a perfect environment for an IB World School.

Lasseville said only schools certified by the IB Organization could offer its four academic programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP), the Middle Years Program (MYP), the Diploma Program, or the Career-related Program (CP).

Lasseville said her summer training in workshops was a prerequisite for St. Christopher’s candidacy moving forward with the certification process.

She said it was fascinating to coordinate with teachers from Japan, Norway and other parts of the world.

“We all have the same interest, and that is the best interest of the students,” she said. “All of the heads of schools seeking to be IB world schools had to do the training before the process started.”

Lasseville said encouraging Spanish as a second language is a requirement for IB World School rank. She said the school’s library will be stocked with Spanish books.

Lasseville said she is optimistic the school will reach its goal.

“There will be challenges and aspirations, but we hope to make education enjoyable and not harsh,” she said. “It’s a love for learning and interconnected relationships with different cultures.”

Through the IB certification process, the school will maintain Montessori standards for learning and developing social skills, Lasseville said.

St. Christopher’s debuted in Key Biscayne in 1968 with a preschool program. It expanded through the years to a school for children in grades one through five.