Hello Friends, We were excited to welcome everyone back this week, well-rested and ready for an exciting new year! On behalf of the entire school community, we would like to extend our warmest wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy, growth, and success. As we kick off the year, we are thrilled to share some exciting news that marks a momentous occasion for our school – the groundbreaking on January 2 for our new eco-friendly, arts, and community building, aptly named the Kaleidoscope Center. This building is not just a structure; it symbolizes our commitment to fostering creativity, …

Hello Friends, I was born a Gemini.  I do not put much stock in astrology, however the Gemini Zodiac symbol of twins has always resonated with me.  An inner tension caused by what feels like two people within me pulling in separate directions. How is it that I want to be at the party AND by myself in some remote cabin?  How can it be that I want to live in the city while also yearn for some “off the grid” homestead? A glaring example of this in my youth was wringing my hands on whether I should pursue a …

Dear New School Montessori Families,   I am delighted to share that when we return from winter break, the Kaleidoscope Center will begin to take flight!  As we prepare to welcome the new calendar year, we are thrilled to begin this transformative project that will  be a watershed moment for our community! The Kaleidoscope Center, an eco-friendly arts and community hub, is set to begin construction in early January. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a dynamic space for artistic expression, community gatherings, and collaborative learning. We are confident that it will become a central hub for creativity and connection within our beloved …

  Hello Friends, I can’t believe it’s almost Winter Break!   What a fast, fun, and fabulous start to the year!  Thank you for all the ways you support TNSM.  Most importantly, thank you for being in partnership with us as we work together to raise good citizens and happy humans! I had the pleasure of touring Dean Blase, Deputy of Education at the American Montessori Society, earlier this week. After touring through all of the programs and enjoying one of our AMAZING lunches, Dean observed how “joyful”  the students and staff seemed.  As a former teacher, principal, principal supervisor, and …

Hello Friends, I hope you all had opportunities to share moments of gratitude with those you love over the holiday break. There is much sorrow in the world right now, and it is important to keep our hearts open, and cherish the good in our lives. like a community than a “school.” A place that centers on the child, and from there everything else ripples forward: nourishing healthy food, caring attentive teachers who see the whole child, beautiful outdoor environments that invite children to be children – creative, playful, and deeply connected to nature. Just today, we received a note …

Dear New School Montessori Families, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for each and every one of you. Your support and engagement make our school a truly special place. I encourage you to embrace moments of quiet gratitude. Taking the time to reflect on the things we are thankful for can be a powerful and grounding experience for both adults and children alike.  Thank you to our (6-12) community who participated in this morning’s offering of sound, silence, and gratitude.  I know it was a powerful experience for some of us.  We can take this opportunity …

Hello Friends, I hope everyone is finding the parent/teacher conferences meaningful and helpful as we work together to support these amazing kids. Recently a parent shared a NYT article that illustrated the powerful benefits to student learning when a child has a teacher for multiple years.  As a Montessorian who has seen the profound impact of this, I wanted to forward the article to our community.  Way to go Maria Montessori!   Best, Jeff Groh Director What Most American Schools Do Wrong Oct. 22, 2023 By Adam Grant Dr. Grant, a contributing Opinion writer, is an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School …

Dear TNSM Friends, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the profound philosophy of Maria Montessori and her vision for creating a world without war through peace education. Maria Montessori had a profound belief in the power of education to transform not only individual lives but also the world at large. One of her central goals was to foster a culture of peace, harmony, and understanding among children, as she saw them as the architects of a more peaceful future. Montessori education is built on the fundamental respect for each child as a unique individual. By recognizing …

Dear Friends, Last Thursday our (9-12) students packed their backpacks with a sleeping bag, pillow, change of clothes, and a toothbrush, hopped on a bus and headed out to a bucolic farm in Moscow, Ohio for an overnight camping trip.  After about two months of nearly no rain, it rained. For two days. Almost non-stop. When I arrived in the afternoon to deliver food, I anticipated students huddled in their tents, teachers forcing a smile under hooded rain gear, with both the atmosphere and mood of the event aptly described as “damp.” I could not have been more wrong. A handful of students …