The Christian Family Community, a small organization of progressive Catholic families in D.C., founded Christian Family Montessori School (CFMS) in 1981. The families created CFMS to provide a school for their children and their neighbors, where the teachers would treat each student with respect and equip them with the necessary academic skills. The school opened with 12 students in September 1981, meeting in the living room of Catherine and Charley Maresca. Rebekah Rojcewicz was the CFMS teacher, who had studied in Rome with Sofia Cavalletti the initiator of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. In March 1982, CFMS moved to St. James Catholic Church in Mt. Rainier, Md. For nearly 30 years, the school provided an education for children aged 2.5 to 12 years old, adding a second Primary class and two Elementary classes along the way. CFMS continues to provide an excellent education and nurturing environment for its students. The school strives to create a community of caring individuals who respect each other and understand their connection with God. CFMS is honored to carry on the original vision of the Christian Family Community, providing an education that is both spiritually and academically enriching.