2016
GSMS HIGH SCHOOL FEASIBILITY WORKING GROUP
From January - June 2016 a group of current/former parents, administrators, and board members at Good Shepherd Montessori School (GSMS) – a private age 3 through grade 8 Montessori School located in South Bend, Indiana – met on a regular basis to explore the feasibility of adding high school grades. The product of the working group’s efforts was a feasibility study that both supported the viability of a Montessori high school in South Bend and outlined key challenges that would need to be overcome. Based on feedback received from stakeholders during the process, the leadership of GSMS determined that school resources would be better used to continue enhancing current programming as opposed to launching a high school.
2018
WILDFLOWER FOUNDATION & DREXEL FUND
One outcome from the 2016 feasibility study was the realization that solving the problem of creating small-scale, replicable, sustainable Montessori high schools was not just a local problem: it was a national-level need and challenge. In early 2018, RMHS co-founder Dr. Eric Oglesbee began conversations with both the Wildflower Foundation and Drexel Fund about supporting the development and launch of a prototype high school that could be a blueprint for other communities. In December 2018, Dr. Oglesbee was awarded a highly competitive fellowship from the Drexel Fund to support a one-year curriculum development and school planning process.
2019
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & SCHOOL PLANNING
Beginning July 2019, Eileen Mariani – a former high school science teacher and long-time Upper Elementary Montessori guide – joined the launch team of RMHS in the role of lead curriculum developer. This was not a new pursuit for Ms. Mariani, but rather the culmination of seven years of thinking about what it could look like to have a Montessori high school in South Bend. In September 2019, the launch site for the school in downtown South Bend was officially selected from among the more than 20 sites that had been considered during the previous two years.
2020
Accreditation, Wildflower Affiliation, & Pandemic Launch
As the world ground to a halt in March 2020 the work to open RMHS did not. April brought Freeway Accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), May saw the school formally affiliate with Wildflower Schools, and July marked the school officially operating under a new name – River Montessori High School – and inviting Patrick Newsom to join the launch team as River’s first Humanities guide.
On August 13th, 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 global pandemic, RMHS welcomed a pioneering group of 14 students. Although the pandemic limited some of the founders’ plans to utilize community resources, students were able to engage in fully in-person learning on-campus and still participate in off-campus learning at the South Bend Museum of Art, the Music Village, Reins of Life, and Prairie Winds Nature Farm.
2021
RMHS Team grows
By the end of the first academic year of RMHS, the team had added three new guides. The spring semester of 2021 brought Justin Gordon to the community as the Creative Process Guide. During the summer, Henry Borjas (Math Guide) and Amy Martinez (History Guide) were also invited to join this growing community.
Students continued to engage in fully in-person learning on-campus and still participate in off-campus learning at the South Bend Museum of Art, Prairie Winds Nature Farm, and other community partners. This year also was the first year RMHS hosted a school dance!
2022
Our Community expands
As our student enrollment grew, our community needed to expand. The RMHS campus physically doubled in size with the expansion project during the summer of 2022. Thanks to our guides and community volunteers, RMHS now has a large communal space, a beautiful library, and many more exciting additions!
The RMHS community also grew in size this year, with the enrollment of 12+ new students and two new guides. We welcomed Erin Markel (Science Guide) and Katie Bennet (Language Guide) to our community and are excited for what this next year will bring.
2023
FURTHER GROWTH
The RMHS community continued to grow this year, with our first year of having a full senior class and the addition of three new employees. We welcomed Rachel Schaffner (History), Stephanie Siezcko (Student Support), and Andrea Deleon (Administrative Assistant).
RMHS is, as always, working to strengthen their community connections. This year, we increased our number of students in dual-enrollment programs at IUSB and other local colleges, connected with new community service opportunities at the LGBT Center and St. Margaret’s House, and our students can be spotted around downtown more than ever.