Timeline and History of Victoria Montessori School

The opening of the original, leased Victoria Montessori School in Entebbe, Uganda

1998:

  • USA/Ugandan Rotarians develop “SEED” micro finance project in Uganda
  • Conversation begins about Montessori method of education for peace with Ugandan teacher Lawino Christine Kijange
  • 1999:

    • With the help of the Montessori community in the USA, Christine comes to the USA for Montessori teacher training during the l999-2000 school year
    • 2000:

      • Christine returns home to plan a model Montessori school in Entebbe, Uganda
      • 2001:

        • Victoria Montessori School opens for 30 pre-school children in a renovated, leased building
        • 2002:

          • Victoria Montessori School continues to grow
          • 2003:

            • Land is gradually purchased nearby for a new school building for elementary students
            • 2004:

              • New five-room school opens for elementary children and refugee orphans from war-torn Northern Uganda
              • 2005:

                • The school continues to grow to 170 students
                • 2006:

                  • Christine is awarded the Ursula Thrush Peace Seed Grant by the American Montessori Society in New York.  She begins forming “Peace Clubs” in Uganda.
                  • Two more classrooms are added to the new school building.  Refugee orphans are sleeping in the store room.  DORMITORY SPACE IS NEEDED.
                  • Christine and her husband Joseph are invited to New York to be part of the American Montessori Society’s “Global Forum” at the United Nations
                  • The Victoria Montessori Teacher Training Center officially opens in April
                  • 2007:

                    • Christine is awarded a scholarship to continue advanced Montessori training in Chicago, USA during the summers of 2007 and 2008
                    • A cistern is built to collect rain water for the bathrooms at the new school
                    • The new kitchen building is under construction
                    • School website is created by Red Mesa Design to give broader exposure to new Montessori education for peace in Uganda
                    • 2008:

                      • Newly built small building opened in February to house upper classes; library/learning center; office for Victoria Montessori Teacher Training Center
                      • "Volunteer Guest Teacher Program" initiated  with 0-3 Directress Sheri Minter from Nashville, Tennessee, helping teachers and children in the new 2-3 year old classroom in February 2008
                      • Volunteer guest teachers, 3-6 Directress Heather Braaten, and 3-12 Directress & Administrator Susan Ennar from Washington State, assisted  the older children and teachers in May 2008
                      • Security gate at school entrance is completed
                      • Original leased building in park is vacated in December 2008, and playground is relocated to main site
                      • 2009:

                        • Two more classrooms are under construction in early 2009
                        • 2010:

                          • In January, “Volunteer Guest Teachers/Trainers”, Rosann and Peter Larrow, Montessori Opportunities Inc., Ohio, USA, provide Montessori elementary and preschool workshops for staff
                          • Volunteer Guest Teachers, Lisa Kambich, Celeste Courtney, and Carolyn Kambich (from Deerfield Montessori Schools, Illinois, USA), help in the pre-school classrooms
                          •  
                          • The new classrooms open February, 2010, for two Montessori 6-9 year old classes
                          • Construction of two second floor classrooms is in process for two Montessori 9-12 year old classes for 2011
                          • The library floor is tiled.  More tall bookshelves and a reading table and chairs are added, awaiting book delivery from Bookfriends International, NFP.
                          • Two more gravel pathways are constructed to link to the new building. 
                          • 2011:

                            • Victoria Montessori School celebrates its 10 year anniversary and now has a five building campus
                            • Third floor of elementary building is completed
                            • New playground with 12 ' PVC geodesic dome climber  for the elementary students
                            • 2012:

                              • Larger school buses bought for growing student population.  School population grows over 400.
                              • 2013:

                                • New expanded kitchen built with dining pavilion replaced small kitchen
                                • New enlarged multi-age playground replaced small blue preschool playground 
                                • Volunteer Guest Teacher, Kathe Streeter (from Marquette Montessori Academy, South Bend, Indiana, USA) worked with the teachers and students at VMS
                                • 2014: