About
Your Child is at the Center of Everything We Do
For over 30 years, the child has been the center of WEM’s mission, vision, and goals. At this Washington State-approved Private School accredited by the American Montessori Society, your child will have access to a unique, proven academic experience specializing in the instructional methodologies of Dr. Maria Montessori. These very same instructional methodologies, developed over 100 years ago, are validated today by the latest research on how the brain works by noted experts in the field of neuroscience.
Our mission is to develop in each child a respect for self through academic excellence, respect for others through a global perspective, and respect for the natural world through environmental awareness. At Whole Earth, your child will experience an individualized learning experience and environment that will support them in reaching their fullest potential.
Working with the whole child in mind, each child experiences a safe and empowering learning environment that will support their growth- academically, intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, creatively, and spiritually. Nurturing these foundational values results in your child developing a lifelong love for learning and academic pride.
Our highly qualified staff bring commitment, care, and individual attention to each student. Your child will experience true partnership, empowerment, and growth through each interaction. Our teachers instill in each child the universal human values of truth, right action, peace, love, and non-violence. This rich, 11-year academic educational experience nurtures characteristics that serve one throughout a lifetime.
Choosing the right academic experience for your child is an important choice. We are privileged to educate your child and look forward to supporting them on their educational journey.
Campus Description
Safely shielded from the road by five acres of surrounding nature, WEM students can enjoy a certified Schoolyard Habitat, outdoor playground areas, vast fields, streams, and a garden. For more than 30 years, WEM students have worked with the City of Bothell and the Fisheries and Wildlife Department to enhance the fish-inhabited stream flowing across the campus. The six-foot saplings planted by students in 1990 are now well over 100 feet tall. These trees have created a riparian zone along the stream, cooled the water, provided shade, and created a healthier habitat for the native species both in and around the creek. WEM Elementary and Middle School students monitor the area to remove invasive plant species. On-site field observation provides resources for follow-up classroom research in botany, zoology, geology, and geography.
Environmental Commitment
At WEM, our commitment to ecological stewardship means living green and engaging with alternative energy as a way of life both in and out of the classroom. These features support one of the WEM goals established in 1986: To nurture in each student a respect for the environment and an awareness of the need to preserve and protect it for all living things.
Environmental Technologies
In the Fall of 2009, WEM opened our first of many GREEN buildings powered by a 16-panel 3.20 kWp solar panel system that works in conjunction with one mile of the geothermal coil using the warmth of the Earth’s core to power both the heating and cooling of the building. An integrated solar panel efficiency monitoring system displays real-time data on the production of the solar panel, including daily kWh production, percentage of solar panel efficiency, the total CO2 emission reduction, and total M.W. production since going into operation in August 2009. In January 2017, WEM completed our new Elementary and Middle School building, utilizing the same green building process to continue our commitment to the environment.
A Timeline Overview of WEM History
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1986WEM is founded by Dianna Galante and hosts one classroom of students.
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1989WEM moves to existing campus property with 2.5 acres, a barn, and a converted garage totaling three classrooms.
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2005Joseph Galante, M. Ed. joins WEM full-time as a co-director with Dianna Galante.
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2009Construction of the Cascade, Olympic, and Rainier Classrooms, and the addition of Solar and Geo-Thermal systems to the WEM Campus. WEM now has six classrooms.
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2010City of Bothell designates Palm Creek on WEM campus as “healthiest section of stream.”
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2011WEM receives initial AMS accreditation.
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2014WEM remodels and adds the "Barn" classroom bringing the classroom total to seven.
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2016Purchase of the adjoining 2.5 acre property brings the WEM campus to a total of 5 acres.
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2017Construction of the Lower and Upper Elementary "Trinomial Cube" building, and the addition of an upgraded, underground fire suppresion and power supply system. Nidhi Oberoi Begins as a Program Director at WEM.
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2019Nidhi Oberoi begins as a Director at WEM. WEM applies for AMS accreditation.
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2022WEM receives reaccreditation from AMS.