Ruffing Montessori operates in a 48,000 square foot building on 5.25 acres of land in Rocky River, Ohio. The original building and land were purchased from the Rocky River Board of Education in April of 1983. Several additions have been made to the original building, the most recent completed in 2020. The principal oversees the operation of the school. In addition, each classroom is led by a Director or Directress who holds an Association Montessori Internationale teaching certificate in addition to a college degree.
Ruffing’s Learning Garden
Ruffing’s Learning Garden began in 2007 with a gift from a very appreciative family whose children were graduating from Ruffing. They wanted to give a little something back to Ruffing in return for everything Ruffing has given to their family over the years.
The design of the garden itself was a collaborative effort between and among a parent/landscape architect, parent/landscape designer, a past parent/general contractor, the principal, and the teachers. We also have a pre-existing, complementary greenhouse.
In designing the garden, we looked at many other educational gardens around the Cleveland area, including the children’s garden at The Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Our garden has since been a template for other educational gardens.
While the garden is primarily taken care of by the students, we have a part-time teacher that devotes 100% of her time to running and organizing the garden and associated activities. Each year this teacher divides her time with the children between artistic endeavors, culinary creations, and garden maintenance.
Each class participates in the maintenance of the garden and putting the garden to bed for the winter. The seeds are saved for the following year and are made into feed for the animals. The garden is used as a beautiful setting for our New Parent Wine Party. Things made in the garden or from items harvested from the garden are auctioned off or sold at our fundraiser. There are scavenger hunt sheets available for use by the teachers. The benefits of having an education garden include:
- hands on, experiential learning in many different subject areas
- care for our environment and creatures of the earth
- excellent opportunity to learn about nutrition
- responsibility and teamwork
- school beautification
- physical activity
