Creekside Montessori Children’s School can officially plan its 10th anniversary celebrations in October.
Housed in a portable at Vernon’s Okanagan Landing Elementary for nearly a decade, the school was looking at possible closure this summer if owner Valerie Brousseau couldn’t find a new home.
Brousseau’s portable lease with the Vernon School District expired at the end of May, and the portable that has housed Creekside Montessori is being moved to Lumby to house an alternative education program.
After her story appeared in The Morning Star, Brousseau received seven phone calls for potential new homes and settled on the old 1,800-square foot Curves building in Coldstream, owned by Art and Myrna Ferris.
“This is a building I have looked at and inquired about,” said Brousseau of her soon-to-be new home for Creekside Montessori. She has a five-year lease at the site starting July 1.
“It has everything we need. It’s the right size, it’s got parking, it’s next to an elementary school (Coldstream Elementary). It’s perfect. We’re absolutely thrilled.”
The old location for Creekside Montessori had been perfect as well, as there were Montessori programs at Okanagan Landing school, but those programs are being moved to Silver Star Elementary.
Since she started Creekside Montessori, Brousseau and staff have taught close to 300 students, ages three, four and five.
She has two classes of 20 kids – one morning, one afternoon.
The new facility will allow Brousseau to run her Montessori preschool, and enough room for an all-day Montessori program.
Spaces are available for children in both.
“I just want to thank everyone who called and offered to help us out,” said a grateful Brousseau.
