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History of The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes Today The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes serves students from Toddler through the Adolescent level on our campus in Mishawaka, Indiana. The school had its beginnings as an American Montessori affiliate in the fall of 1969 under the name Little Flower Montessori. The purpose of the school was to offer an outstanding Montessori classroom experience to as many children as possible, while maintaining itself on a self-sufficient, tuition-supported basis. In March of 1970, the school was formalized into a not-for-profit corporation with governing responsibility resting on a Board of Trustees. The school's enrollment increased substantially, necessitating relocations over the next several years. In 1978 the school became the second in the United States—out of hundreds of affiliated schools—to achieve the high rank of accreditation status with the American Montessori Society. A gift of property at 15767 Day Road in Mishawaka was made to the school by Mr. and Mrs. Don Cressy. In 1980 the Early Childhood building was dedicated on that property by the Reverend Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., President of the University of Notre Dame. In the fall of 1982, an Elementary Division opened in downtown South Bend. In 1985, after three years of operation in two different locations, the school purchased its own building at 624 North Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend. In 1987 Mr. and Mrs. Don Cressy donated the property adjacent to the Early Childhood building on Day Road so that it could be used for a permanent Elementary facility. A fundraising campaign was organized and ground was broken in October of 1988 for the new facility. In the fall of 1988, a Junior High class was opened at the Notre Dame Avenue site, expanding the student population age range from two through fourteen years. On August 1, 1989, the school became officially known as "The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes." The newly constructed Elementary/Adolescent facility was dedicated as the second building on the Montessori campus, and in the fall of 1989, the school year began with all programs consolidated on Day Road at the Edison Lakes campus. In 1990 the Main building received a distinguished design award from the Indiana Society of Architects. In 1989 The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes and Indiana University at South Bend collaborated to develop the Montessori Teacher Academy, which offers Montessori Early Childhood teacher training and certification. The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes was reaccredited in 1990 by the American Montessori Society at its annual meeting in Washington. In October of the same year, the Accreditation Council for Childhood Education Specialist Schools (ACCESS) recommended the Montessori Teacher Academy for accreditation. The Accreditation Council granted accreditation status to the Montessori Teacher Academy in April of 1991. The Teacher Academy held its inaugural session in June, 1991. In 1992 the Montessori Teacher Academy was reaccredited by the international organization known as Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE, formerly known as ACCESS). The Montessori Teacher Academy was most recently reaccredited in 2009. The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1994. In commemoration of this event, the Cressy Foundation, the South Bend Center for the Homeless and The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes formed a partnership to operate an Early Childhood classroom at the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana. In April of 1995, two classrooms and a lower level were added to the Early Childhood building, allowing for a total of six classrooms and a music room. A computer lab was then installed in the former music room in the Main building. The 1997-1998 school year was one of continued growth at The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes, and it was annexed into the city of Mishawaka during the summer of 1997. Ground was broken for a major expansion to the Main building. A wing containing a full-sized gymnasium/auditorium, Junior High classroom and presentation room, and an art room was opened in May of 1998. In honor of The Montessori Academy at Edison Lake's 30th anniversary, the first annual Fall Frolic was held in October, 1999. All proceeds from the Fall Frolic race benefit the Montessori classroom at the South Bend Center for the Homeless. In 1996 The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes was accredited for the first time by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes again received AMS and ISACS dual accreditation in 2003 and was then the only dually accredited Montessori school in Indiana. In 2010 The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes was reaccredited by AMS and ISACS.
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