The Cayce Montessori School is a labor of love for Vijayashree “Viji” Saravanan. She is a teacher and runs the school at 1000 Poplar Street, in Cayce. It takes students from two-and-a-half-years-old to age six. 

The Cayce Montessori School implements Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy, that tailors lessons to correspond with the essential inclinations of the child at each developmental stage. 

Viji said the Montessori method results in confidence and independence for the student and that motivates her. 

“I love what I do,” Viji said. “Teaching the Montessori method fills my heart.” 

Viji also said Cayce Montessori School works to develop the individual needs of the  whole child incorporating Montessori philosophy to provide a foundation that cultivates a lifetime love of learning, created in a peaceful classroom environment, where students develop at their own pace so that they grow to respect themselves and those around them. 

Viji learned the Montessori educational philosophy from Nilmani Seneviratne, who is known as Ms Mani. She directed, and taught at the Montessori Children’s House in Columbia on Woodrow Street. She has more than 40 years experience. Ms Mani was born in Sri Lanka and learned the Montessori  method from nuns who studied directly under Dr. Maria Montessori in Italy, where the teaching method originated when Dr. Montessori took in children of the street who were deprived of an education.

Ms Mani is a longtime believer in the effectiveness of the Montessori method. She said each child is allowed to explore and develop according to the subject that most interests them. And they are able to study the world, starting from a local perspective and expanding to a global view. She also said Montessori stresses contentment and peace, along with the empowerment that comes from learning. 

Cayce Mayor Elise Partin is a supporter of the Montessori School. She worked to bring it to Cayce and her two children are alumni of the Montessori School where Viji, Ms Mani and Cheryl Spencer taught. 

“I’m so excited to have the Montessori School in Cayce,” Partin said. “It’s a blessing to the community.”

Partin said because her children were taught in the Montessori School she knows first hand about the high quality of the education. “These are amazing educators. I knew my children were in good hands with them.”

Viji said the City of Cayce has been great to work with and she also thanked the congregation of Mt. Zion Church and Pastor Smalls for their support.