About Us

How we became Montessori School of Johns Island and Creative Beginnings



Makin’ Butterflies Montessori Center was opened in June of 1997 in a rented building on James Island. Norma Christensen, the School’s founder,  planned to start small and allow the school to grow with the students. This first facility was filled to capacity in a few years, and parents encouraged Norma to expand the school to accommodate older students, allowing for children to stay through elementary school and beyond.

Norma purchased five acres of land on Johns Island in 1999 for the future growth of the school.  In 2002, the land was developed and plans for construction put into place. The Folly Road facility was kept open and operational until 2004,  at which point, the school and its students moved to the new location on Johns Island. The Montessori School of Johns Island became a reality.

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Great care and thought was put into the school before construction began.  The Pre School and Elementary Center looks like a farmhouse with charming blue shutters, but it was designed by Montessori teachers with the sole purpose of educating children.   The “farmhouse look” blends into the environment around the school making it an inviting and natural place.   Even the acoustics in the school are carefully considered to allow each classroom a quiet setting while maintaining the school’s open environment.  The adjoining playground and beautiful organic garden completed the school’s campus.
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In January 2020, Norma sold the school to a fellow Johns Island Educator, Sarah Hocutt.  Since then the school has been growing and merging together with the Creative Beginnings Preschool.  We have been busy putting in a new building for our littlest learners, re-vamping the playgrounds and adding a small farm for the children to tend to and learn from.
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