Rec Center Montessori School Has Big Plans for Upstairs Move

This spring saw the move of the Kaleidoscope Children’s Center out of their room on the second floor of the Western Springs Recreation Center—and the opening of an opportunity for the Montessori School of Western Springs to claim new, larger territory for educating young minds.

“We’re ready to move to our own space,” said “Mrs. Beth” Sorrells, a much-loved 26-year veteran of the school. “For 14 years, we’ve shared [first-floor] space with the Kensington School… We’re just looking to expand, get a different feel for our school and make it more of a ‘children’s house.’”

Currently, the room vacated by Kaleidoscope is empty, with harshly bare white walls and floors marked only by a mural or two.

But Sorrells plans to convert the room into a preschool paradise, covering up the cinderblock and importing the school’s tested educational materials (including vintage 40-year-old—but perfectly well-maintained—chairs and shelves.)

“I think it’s important to keep it developing,” said Sorrells. “You can’t get stagnant. You need to get creative… “We want to make it really homey and lovely and peaceful.”

The school’s plans have already been approved by the original architect of the Recreation Center, and construction is scheduled to begin as soon as possible.

Besides the larger area, which will be largely used to expand the school’s “practical-life” section, the school’s new home also comes with its own private bathroom stall. Additionally, the school has made a commitment to make all snacks and lunches fully-organic.

But one major project precedes any moving in: a wall needs to be busted down to create a second door to comply with fire-safety standards. The wall in question faces south, just outside the second-floor elevator.

“There’s quite a bit of work to do,” Sorrells said.

The Montessori School began in Bethlehem Woods, then moved to the Clark building in Western Springs in 1986, and then to the current Recreation Center when the Clark building was demolished in 1997. The school currently serves about 50 families.

Sorrells also spoke positively of the Village.

“We love Western Springs!” she said; “It’s just a phenomenal town, and very family oriented. And I just love how the families really value education for their children.

“We’ve been here a long time, and we want to be here a long time.”