The child's spiritual development as a Catholic is nurtured and respected in a rare way in the Montessori environment.

Central to the mission of Renaissance Montessori School is the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a unique approach to the religious formation of children. Begun by biblical scholar Sofia Cavalletti in 1954, it is grounded in prayer, scripture, liturgy, and the Montessori method.

Dr. Maria Montessori herself added a room for religious work to her schools in 1922 that she called an atrium. The word atrium comes from the early church, as it was in the entryway (the atrium) of the ancient Basilica where people prepared for baptism.

Similar to the Montessori classroom, the atrium is a place for child-centered exploration. In the Catechesis, we follow the child into the depths of his or her relationship with God. God has already formed a relationship with the child; the atrium helps foster that relationship. A trained catechist prepares the environment for the children and offers presentations on scripture, biblical geography and history, liturgy, and prayer.

The children also witness the adult staff members living their Catholic faith in a natural and joyous manner. Meeting the spiritual needs as well as the intellectual needs of the young child in a specially prepared place is an integral part of the learning environment at Renaissance.