CULTIVATING THE WISDOM OF EACH CHILD

Good Shepherd Montessori School is a diverse, cooperative learning community serving children ages 3–8th grade on a six-acre property in South Bend's urban core. Our mission is to nurture the character and uniqueness of each child and to foster holistic education that attends to the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical development of our students. We accomplish our mission by cultivating wisdom in each child, creating space for children to flourish, and working together for the common good.

Cultivating wisdom

Children have a great internal wisdom when it comes to their own learning and development. We work hard to cultivate that wisdom. Each time they dig in the soil, they gain wisdom about the interconnectedness of the world. Each time they experience a different culture, they gain wisdom about the beauty of diversity. Each time they encounter and resolve conflict, they gain wisdom about compassionate human interactions. By growing in wisdom, children become able to harness their creative energy to respond to the world’s pressing needs.

Creating Space for Children to Flourish

We prepare our learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, to facilitate joyful, inclusive, holistic education that respects the dignity of each child. We make room for independent growth, creative expression, and collaborative learning. We allow time to explore the natural world, to reflect on the divine, and to imagine a more just and peaceable world. We create the space each child needs to develop as a human being well prepared for life.

Contributing to the Common
Good

We nurture the uniqueness of each child because we believe in the tremendous capacity of each child to offer a singular gift to the world. Children who enter our doors know that the ultimate aim of a Montessori education is to foster world peace, global justice, and wise stewardship of the world’s resources. We want to help children discover how their unique gifts might contribute to the common good.

GSMS Distinctives

Learning on our Urban Farm

The land-based learning program at GSMS is a special part of our identity and culture. We have a graduated curriculum that starts with introducing primary-aged children to nature and culminates with junior high students running a farm business based on the principles of permaculture. Students learn the importance of sustainable systems and enjoy the fruits of their labor through our hot lunch program, which uses the produce from our farm. The wider community benefits through educational workshops, a CSA program, and farm camp each summer.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

We provide holistic education at GSMS, which includes attention to the spiritual development of each child. We use the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based method of religious formation, to provide space for children to listen, to pray, and to explore questions about both the human and the divine. We approach spiritual formation from a Catholic Christian perspective, but we do not proselytize students nor require any adherence to specific religious dogma. Our program honors each child and allows students to grow and develop at their own pace.
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Hot Lunch Program

We have an extensive lunch program that serves tasty and nutritious meals to students and staff each day. Aside from a weekly pizza lunch from a local pizzeria, we make all other meals from scratch in our kitchen. We use locally grown and sustainably sourced food – usually organic – and frequently include produce from our own farm. Our hot lunch coordinator caters to all dietary needs and often ties in thematic elements from the curriculum when planning the menus: for instance, cultural studies of the Americas might include empanadas from Argentina.
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News & Updates

Save the Date: Chiaravalle Gala

Save the Date: Chiaravalle Gala

Save the date for the Chiaravalle Gala on February 22, 2025! Chiaravalle is Good Shepherd’s annual fundraising dinner, where we celebrate our mission and those who spread the light of learning and compassion to children in our community. Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship on February 22.

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Good Shepherd Entering Choice Scholarship Program

Good Shepherd Entering Choice Scholarship Program

New for the 2024–2025 school year, Good Shepherd will be a participating school in the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program pending approval by the Indiana Department of Education. Commonly called the voucher program, Choice Scholarships provide eligible families funds to offset tuition costs at participating schools.

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From Seed to Lunchroom Table Video

From Seed to Lunchroom Table Video

The Grotto Network produced a mini-documentary on our hot lunch program and farm curriculum titled, From Seed to Lunchroom Table. The slice-of-life video celebrates some of Good Shepherd’s most important values: practical life, nutrition, and care for the environment. Peek into our little corner of the world and see what GSMS is all about!

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188 Students Enrolled At GSMS
44 Faculty and Staff Members Educating and Caring for our Student Body
2 Acres Devoted to Urban Farming in Support of the Local-Food Movement
636 Pounds and Counting of GSMS-Farmed Produce Used in the Hot Lunch Program so Far This Year
9+ Local Vendors Who Source Humanely Produced Food for our Flexitarian, Scratch-Made Lunch Menu
300+ Hours Per Year Engaged in Community Learning at Two Local Nonprofits by Junior High Students