Specials
Physical Education
Physical education is offered daily in the beautiful "barn" at The Children's House to foster a love for physical activity in all of our students. Maria Montessori said, "play is the work of the child." While we play in the gym each day, our children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Art
The Art program begins in Primary with the Kindergarten students. They are introduced to materials, tools, and techniques through a hands on approach that helps them begin building a basic understanding of art. Open art is available to all lower and upper elementary students each week. During open art, students work on individual art projects that support their studies (research papers) which they present to their class. Elementary students also have weekly art classes where they continue learning more advanced techniques and skills; along with further exploration into artists, styles, movements, and history. Art education and learning continues through the Junior High program where more advanced techniques are introduced and individual student projects become more complex and elaborate.
Music
The Children’s House Music Program is full of fun and engaging activities that encourage students to sing, dance, and play! Music class is offered once per week to students in Kindergarten through 8th. And, starting in Kindergarten, students learn to play the ukulele. Because music is supported in each child’s classroom, students are able to choose music in some form, daily. The music program is further enhanced by field trips and monthly concerts.
Foreign Langauge
Spanish is offered twice weekly at the elementary level. The program creates language-lovers and a generous foundation for the Middle Years program, which meets four times a week. The seventh and eighth graders complete Spanish One equivalent to the public school program.
Della Terra
Our Della Terra program provides students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to practice good nutrition and environmental stewardship in their everyday life. Della Terra is a practical outdoor laboratory where lessons in applied math, science, and horticulture are used to actively engage the student in learning and reinforce lessons from the classroom. All students have the opportunity to work in our campus gardens and/or greenhouse through the Della Terra program. During Della Terra, students perform a variety of tasks including garden planning, seed starting and sowing, planting bulbs, transplanting, weeding, making and spreading compost and organic fertilizer, and harvesting crops.
Kitchen Classroom
Kitchen Classroom provides students with experiences that promote the acquisition of general food preparation skills, familiarity with a variety of whole foods, making healthy choices for their bodies and their environment as well as an understanding of the social and cultural component of preparing, serving, and sharing food. Students prepare, sample, and share food with the school community. Students learn safe food practices, nutrition, and cooking skills.
MindUP™
MindUP™ is a classroom-based program that teaches children strategies guided by the fields of neuroscience, mindful awareness training, social and emotional learning, and positive psychology to support success in the classroom and in life. The MindUP™ curriculum for Kindergarten and Elementary students is co-facilitated by Jen Superson, Children’s House parent and MindUP™ Specialist, and Steve Maas, Physical Education Specialist. Trisha Short, Mental Health Consultant, provides the lessons at the Junior High.
Specialists
Andrea Deibler, Kitchen Director
BA University of Missouri-Kansas City, English Language and Literature
AAS Johnson County Community College, Chef Apprenticeship
The Children's House experience (2021 - present):
Kitchen Director
Andrea joined the Children’s House community as Kitchen Director in October 2021. Previously, she has worked as a chef, restauranteur and whole animal butcher, focusing on sustainably sourced and local food. She lives in Traverse City with her young son Henry, husband Ben and cat, Mr. Waffles. Other than cooking she enjoys knitting, biking and gardening.
Alison Hoffman, Art Specialist
B.A. Northern Michigan University, Art Education 2002
The Children's House experience (2007- present):
Classroom Support, Summer Art Program Specialist, Art Specialist
Alison grew up in Traverse City but spent time in Marquette, Boulder and Massachusetts, before moving back. Alison has been the art teacher here at TCH for ten years and feels blessed everyday for being able to teach these students and be a part of this community. She enjoys ALL things artistic and loves spending time trying out and practicing new techniques and mediums. Other hobbies include gardening, spending time with her dog Rocco and being on the water.
Brooke Kartje, Della Terra
BFA Western Michigan University Frostic School of Art with emphasis in Print Media
Currently enrolled in MSU Extraction Master Gardner program
The Children's House experience (2024 - present):
Della Terra
In August 2024, Brooke Kartje joined The Children’s House as Della Terra. She has experience as an art and technology coordinator at a library, a farmhand on an organic farm, and a Program Coordinator for a non-profit art center. She is new to Traverse City and was originally from Milan Michigan: a small town over on the east side of the state. The motivation for her work comes from her belief in food sovereignty and her love of plants. When she’s not in the garden she enjoys looking at antiques, camping, and traveling.
Virginie Kanner, French specialist
PhD coursework, Social Foundations of Education, UVA
MA American History, Emory/ Paris VII, France
French Culture Coordinator, Emory University
French Teaching Assistant, Washington & Lee University
BA English language and Civilization, minor in French as a Foreign Language, Paris VII, France
The Children's House experience (2015 - present):
Volunteer, Substitute, Upper Elementary Support, French Specialist
Virginie was born and raised in France. There, she studied English and education and completed her teacher training. After moving to the US in 2005, Virginie first taught French in a middle school in Maryland and then in a French immersion preschool in Virginia.
Angela Lickiss-Aleo, Music Specialist
Bachelor of Music, Middle Tennessee State University 2006
Master of Music, The Boston Conservatory 2008
Doctorate of Musical Arts, University of Iowa 2016
The Children's House Experience (2016 - present):
Substitute, Music Specialist
Angela has been a substitute at The Children's House since 2016 in nearly every classroom, including music. She has been teaching music in the Traverse City area since moving here in 2015 and an active music educator since 2006. Her primary instruments are piano and oboe. When Angela is not making music she enjoys working in the garden and spending time with her daughter, husband, and dog outdoors.
Steve Maas, Physical Education Specialist
B.A. Spring Arbor University, Family Life Education
AMS Primary Certification
The Children's House experience (1992 - present):
Primary Assistant, Primary Guide, Physical Education Specialist
Steve began his employment at The Children's House in the fall of 1992 in Suttons Bay as an assistant in Nadine's Primary classroom. The following school year he transferred to the Traverse City location, then being housed in the First Congregational Church at the base of Old Mission Peninsula. He worked with three to six year old students for several years until TCH began offering daily physical education in 2003.
Vida Ruggero, Spanish Specialist
B.A. Spanish, Latin American Studies Certificate: Michigan State University
M.A. Curriculum & Teaching, K-12 Spanish Certification: Michigan State University
Language study in Spain, Mexico & Guatemala
The Children's House experience (2024 - present):
Spanish Specialist
Vida has been teaching Spanish for over 30 years. She has taught preschool - AP high school Spanish. Vida has lived in Michigan her whole life and has traveled to many Spanish speaking places: Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica and in Guatemala. She loves to use music & movement to teach Spanish. She moved to Traverse City with her husband 4 years ago to take a job at TCAPS Montessori and the opportunity to work with elementary school aged children again. Vida is looking forward to working with the lower elementary students at The Children’s House Montessori this year.
DiAnn Service, Learning Lab Guide
BA Grand Valley, English and Elementary Education
AMI Elementary Certification Montessori Center of Minnesota
M.Ed. Loyola University Maryland
The Children's House experience (1995 - present):
Summer Support, Master Gardener, Elementary Guide
DiAnn has been a part of The Children's House community since 1995. From summer programs and primary assistant, to Master Gardener training and elementary guide, she has participated in many different aspects of school life. Currently, DiAnn is providing academic support for the elementary community in a variety of ways.
Jennifer Superson, MindUP Specialist
B.A., Connecticut College, Anthropology
MSW, New York University, Clinical Social Work and Fellowship in End of Life Care
The Children's House experience (2025 - present):
MindUP Specialist
Jennifer is a licensed clinical social worker with a decade of experience in end-of-life care and private practice. Her counseling practice focused on contemplative approaches to health, based in neuroscience and a lived understanding that we all can change our brains with mental awareness and fitness. She has been practicing formal meditation for 15 years. Jennifer has three children at The Children’s House and has enjoyed being a Room Parent in Primary.
