Our School
School Hours & Calendar
Children's House:
8:15 - 2:30 Monday - Friday
Elementary:
8:00 - 3:00 Monday - Friday
The academic year at Sweetbay is largely in alignment with that of the Walton County School District.
Authentic Montessori Education
We are committed to the Core Components of Montessori Education established by the American Montessori Society (AMS):
- Properly trained Montessori teachers
- Multi-age classrooms
- Use of Montessori materials
- Child-directed work
- Uninterrupted work cycles
We are a Member School with AMS, and have embarked on the AMS Path of Continuous Improvement toward AMS Accreditation.
Founding of Our School
Sweetbay Montessori School originated when a group of Montessori families and teachers created a new home for an elementary program transitioning from another school. In response to local demand for more quality early childhood education options, the Children's House for ages 3-6 was added for the 2018 - 2019 school year.
Our Head of School
Head of School: Theresa Joyce
Theresa first discovered Montessori when her oldest child was 3 years old and she fell in love with the philosophy. All three of Theresa’s children attended Montessori schools. By the time her youngest child entered a primary class, Theresa decided to become a Montessori teacher herself.
Theresa has Montessori certifications in both Lower Elementary (6-9 years) and Primary (2 ½ - 6 yrs). She has a BA in Psychology and holds certifications in Florida for Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education K-12. She has been teaching for over 17 years.
Our Campus
Location
Indoor Classrooms
Outdoor Space
Our school is conveniently located between South Walton and Freeport off US 331 - just 7 minutes north of US 98 and 7 minutes from the center of Freeport.
Outdoor Space
Indoor Classrooms
Outdoor Space
Our natural play yard includes a lunch/work deck, sand play areas, organic gardens, and a copse of native trees. Outdoor work and play are an integral part of each school day.
Indoor Classrooms
Indoor Classrooms
Indoor Classrooms
Our schoolhouse has spacious classrooms filled with natural light. Shelves of Montessori work line the open concept spaces and invite the students to learn through exploration.
Our Name
Sweetbay Magnolia
Sweetbay Magnolias (Magnolia virginiana) are cousins of southern magnolias and are found in several indigenous plant communities in Walton County, including the small copse of native trees in our play yard. They have beautiful white flowers with a vanilla scent and are distinguished by their bright red seed pods.
Photo source: Georgia Native Plant Society