Heidi Pendleton, director of the Guadalupe Montessori School, will speak to Rotary about the school, which was established in 1979 and has served Grant County families for more than 40 years, providing programming for children aged 18 months through 12 years old that includes a state-funded Mixed Age Pre-K program. GMS is dedicated to delivering an accessible, authentic, high-quality Montessori education in a peaceful, supporting learning environment. The school provides the guidance and freedom for students to develop their current interests and discover new ideas with a curriculum that is built upon the core values of academic excellence, diversity, and social responsibility.
Originally from Wales, Guadalupe Montessori School Director Heidi Pendleton studied and worked in London, England. Pendleton has lived in the U.S. for almost three decades and for the past 25 years, in Silver City, where she raised her two children and developed a deep love for the Gila Wilderness. Pendleton established the USDA National School Lunch Program for the students at Aldo Leopold Charter School, increasing Silver City students' access to high quality meals through her role in the Guadalupe Montessori School kitchen. Pendleton also led the Guadalupe Montessori School pandemic emergency food program for students and surrounding community members.
The Rotary Club meets every Tuesday from 12-1 p.m. for lunch in the WNMU Student Memorial Building, Second Floor, Sunset Room. There is a brief "meet and greet", a short business meeting and then the speaker has the floor. The club welcomes members of the public to the meetings. If lunch is desired, pay the cashier $14 and go through the cafeteria line. If unable to attend in person, a Zoom link for the meeting can be obtained by email to
Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Since its founding in 1923, the Silver City Rotary Club has provided support and service to numerous non-profit organizations and civic causes in Silver City and Grant County as well as supporting and participating in humanitarian projects sponsored by Rotary International.
