Timeline and History of Victoria Montessori School

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:

• 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

2015:

• Expanded Elementary school building

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