More than 100 alumni, parents, teachers and staff gathered last month to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Forest Bluff School in Lake Bluff.
The school provides a Montessori-based education for children ages 18 months to 14 years old.
The Montessori approach, according to co-founder and head of school Paula Polk Lillard, is based on a natural process of learning that gives the child the freedom for exploration and discovery, rather than expecting a child to act as a receptacle for an adult’s knowledge.
“Initially, we had 15 parents who placed their trust in us,” said co-founder and current director of admissions Lynn Lillard Jessen. The school now has approximately 150 students.
Forest Bluff School moved to its current location on Scranton Avenue, just west of the Lake Bluff train station, in 1990. Officials say the campus now includes two unique buildings on a property covered with prairie grass, offering students a hands-on connection to indigenous flora and fauna.
The anniversary celebration brought alumni from as far away as Hong Kong, New York City and Houston, Polk Lillard said.
According to school officials, former FBS students have pursued careers in a range of fields, including business, the military, science and medicine.
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FBS alum Jeff Boucher is now a prosecutor living in Columbus, Ohio, and said his experience as a student at Forest Bluff helped him develop a sense of curiosity and independence.
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Anniversary Celebration of Forest Bluff School in Lake Bluff in late December.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.