Creativity, Activity & Service in the Montessori Adolescent Context

Creativity, Activity, & Service at MAP St. Louis

MAP St. Louis supports the development of student leadership skills, passion projects, service of community (both on and off campus) and self-expression via creative and physical outlets. We orient these elements to eventuallysupport readiness for the IBDP’s Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project.

Our approach to creativity, activity, and service across the program continuum sets MAP—and our students—apart. In addition to ourrigorous academic program, CAS truly recognizes each student as an extraordinary individual, and encourages lifelong learning throughexplored interests and skills-building in accordance with each student’s journey.

Come learn about the myriad ways in which CAS manifests throughout our Montessori adolescent program, including:

Service Learning: students participate in weekly on-campus Community Work; additionally, students recurrently partner with external local organizations such as Phi Global Farms, St. Louis Food Outreach, St. Louis Food Bank, and Care StL.

Student Management: Each year, students participate on Committees or take on individual Student Management positions. Examples of Committee work might include school trips, community lock-ins, holiday parties and other social events, and yearbook publication. Examples of Student Management roles might include Admission Ambassador, Livestock Care, Kitchen Manager, and End-of-Day Jobs Coordinator.

MicroEconomy: Dr. Montessori envisioned adolescents creating sustainable, on-campus business as a means of experiencing economic activity and building skills toward economic independence. MicroEconomy work might include farmers’ market egg produce sales; school store of goods (food items available for purchase); art sales; and community escape room experiences.

CAS Projects: Students design, implement, reflect upon, and present individualized CAS projects designed to address a community need. Examples might include writing and implementing strength & conditioning curriculum for a boot camp elective; developing a restorative justice handbook for school policy awareness; researching student driver liability considerations and writing a permission waiver; and researching and designing a school herpetarium for educational purposes.

In all branches of CAS students work in partnership with adults, some of whom are on-campus guides and some of whom are experts from the broader community.

About MAP St. Louis Curriculum Events

MAP St. Louis Curriculum Events allow families, guides, and students to come together around topics relevant to our program and of special interest to our community. We emphasize the importance of community connection by holding these events in person when possible.

Each event is designed to share information about a featured area of the program or curriculum; provide families opportunities for experiential engagement; invite questions and discussion from a variety of interests and perspectives; and strengthen mission-aligned community connections through interpersonal engagement.

About Us

MAP St. Louis is St. Louis's premier Montessori & IB school for grades 7–12, located in the Grand Center Arts District.

MAP St. Louis aims to redefine secondary education through a Montessori lens by cultivating an adolescent microcosm rooted within the heart of a vibrant St. Louis neighborhood. We prioritize the holistic development of each student, guiding them on their individualized journey to achieve their full potential as actively engaged local and global citizens.

Our vision is rooted in the conviction that adolescents—in the context of a stimulating, rigorous, and supportive environment—can learn, work, and contribute in significant ways. With an emphasis on student agency and partnership with adults, we strive to maintain a community constituted of creative, critically-thinking, and socially-conscious individuals who will enter adulthood prepared to create lives of purpose, value, and joy.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

6:00 PM–7:30 PM

3840 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108

Host or Publisher MAP St. Louis