Penfield Montessori Academy to open at Former Urban Day School 24th Street Campus

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 21, 2016) – Penfield Children’s Center has completed the acquisition of the former Urban Day School 24th Street Campus located at 2433 West Cherry Street in Milwaukee. The school building will be the home for Penfield Montessori Academy, a fully-inclusive public Montessori charter school for children of all abilities, when it opens three multi-age kindergarten classes on September 6, 2016.

“We are thrilled to have secured an amazing facility that will meet the current and future needs of Penfield Montessori Academy while maintaining a presence and strong commitment to our neighborhood,” said Christine Holmes, president & CEO at Penfield Children’s Center. “While we were disappointed to see our long-time partners at the Urban Day School close their doors, we welcome the opportunity to continue their commitment to urban education at this facility.”

Penfield Montessori Academy on the Urban Day campus will open on September 6, 2016 with three multi-age kindergarten classrooms. Penfield Montessori anticipates a total of 72 students in 2016/17 enrolled in its K3, K4 and K5 programs.

“It is a pleasing coincidence of fate that the closure of Urban Day School has afforded Penfield Children’s Center the opportunity to locate Penfield Montessori Academy in the very same building Penfield shared with Urban Day School in 1972,” said Dr. John Ridley, former Penfield Children’s Center trustee and current Urban Day School trustee. “Urban Day is elated that it is Penfield who will utilize the space we are vacating as their Montessori Academy will offer Milwaukee’s urban youth the continuity of a supportive, encouraging, challenging, character enhancing, rigorous educational environment that is the hallmark of Urban Day School.”

Founded in 1967, Penfield Children’s Center was initially named the Via Marsi Montessori School for Exceptional Children. The founders were interested in developing a program utilizing the educational techniques and principles of Maria Montessori. Penfield Montessori Academy is a return to the agency’s roots in Montessori education and to the location – 2433 West Cherry in Milwaukee – where it initially opened its doors nearly 50 years ago.

“This is a momentous day in the life of Penfield Montessori Academy,” said Dr. Sabrina Claude, head of school at Penfield Montessori. “We look forward to partnering with parents, students, staff, and our neighborhood to ensure that all students receive an excellent education at Milwaukee’s newest Montessori public charter school.”

Penfield Montessori will add a grade annually until the school is fully enrolled for the fall 2024/25 academic year K3 through 8th grade serving more than 300 students. Penfield Montessori will partner with Penfield Children’s Center to provide physical, occupational, speech and behavioral therapy, nursing care and back office support. Before and after school care will be available.

About Penfield Montessori Academy
Penfield Children’s Center will return to its roots in Montessori education by opening Penfield Montessori Academy – a public Montessori school for children of all abilities chartered through the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee – on September 6, 2016. Penfield Montessori will be built on the three foundational components that have allowed children and families to thrive at Penfield Children’s Center for nearly 50 years – education, health & wellness services and parent engagement and support. This fall, Penfield Montessori will begin with three multi-age kindergarten classrooms with plans to add a grade each year until it is fully enrolled and serving more than 300 children from K3 through 8th grade by fall 2024. Learn more at www.PenfieldMontessori.org or contact us at 414.313.6442 or info@PenfieldMontessori.org.

About Urban Day School
Founded in 1967, Urban Day School has provided students, prekindergarten through eighth grade with a learning experience that emphasizes academic excellence and personal achievement, enabling the students to make a successful transition into higher education and to become value-creating leaders of society. Urban Day has helped countless children succeed in school and life during its nearly 50 years in urban education by providing highly effective teachers, a rigorous and viable 21st century curriculum and an empowerment environment. Urban Day School closed both of its campuses at the conclusion of the 2015/16 academic year.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.