The Best Part of Me Is…

New School Montessori 1st-3rd graders celebrated Valentine’s Day by being paired with a classmate they didn’t know very well. The goal was for each set of students to get to know one another better.  Students asked their partner questions about what they liked, and what they like about themselves too. Students shared about their families, pets, favorite books, vacations and went wherever their interviews took them. Students then created a gift for their new friend, based on what they learned about them.  In the process of learning about each other, students also learned some things about themselves. The next project …

(3-6) classes learned about and celebrated Lunar New Year.

This article is written by TNSM parent members of the Diversity and Community and Engagement Committee (D+CE) and expresses their views. At TNSM, we are grateful to have this D+CE forum that allows opportunities for members of our community to share their own beliefs, always with the goal of  expanding our understanding of each other’s experiences and points of view. Declan’s mom, Erin, came to visit the non-nappers and kindergarteners to share about Lunar New Year, a tradition celebrated by many Asian communities around the world, including Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese people. This tradition lasts 15 days, and celebrates themes …

Presenting “Voices of Our Community”

At TNSM, we are grateful to have the Diversity and Community Engagement (D + CE) forum that allows opportunities for members of our community to share their own beliefs, always with the goal of expanding our understanding of each other’s experiences and points of view. As part of our forum efforts, we are proud to bring to you “Voices of Our Community” –  a once-a-month special feature of our D + CE blog that aims to become a “window” into our unique TNSM community, rich in backgrounds, origins, ethnicities, and thinking. We believe in the power of acknowledging, honoring and celebrating …

(3-6) students replicated a crowd for a MLK march

New School Montessori (3-6) non-nappers learned about Dr. Martin Luther King’s work and replicated a crowd for a march. They created miniature signs, sharing their wishes for our world. Click HERE to see a video short.

Beautiful moments of solidarity and commitment to peace and justice

This article is written by TNSM parent members of the Diversity and Community and Engagement Committee (D+CE) and expresses their views. At TNSM, we are grateful to have this D+CE forum that allows opportunities for members of our community to share their own beliefs, always with the goal of  expanding our understanding of each other’s experiences and points of view.  As MLK Day approaches on Monday, there are many ways to commemorate his legacy, his dream and his truth telling. Cincinnati has been organizing a peaceful march since the 1970’s. This community event has a few purposes. First, organizers want …

Students learn how music adds to one’s life, bringing lifelong joy.

.      Whether you play violin, piano, harmonica or sing – music can bring you lifelong joy! New School Montessori elementary students have been listening to speakers brought in by Johnnyé White, their Appreciating Differences teacher. These speakers have sometimes had a career in music like Lydia Ellis who was a flute player and music teacher before her stroke. She modified an instrument to allow her to continue playing music using the hand that was unaffected by the stroke. Conversely, Ed Oxley never had a formal career in music. He had many jobs throughout his life; an assistant manager …

School House Symphony played musical games with students

Trombone, French horn, cello, flute, clarinet, and violin combined in concert to demonstrate a game of high vs. low, loud vs. soft, and fast vs slow to enthralled students. School House Symphony visited, introducing their instruments and key musical concepts to New School Montessori 3- to 6-year olds. We are so grateful for the magical ways they present their work and love of music to children.

I Love This Place!

Hi Friends, I am so grateful for this community!  Parents dropped off some beautiful gifts to recognize the first day of Diwali, our parent volunteers have been working hard to keep our campus beautiful and flourishing–and of course–our students never cease to astonish! Speaking of our students, we had a lovely kick off for our Annual Fund Giving Week where parents could check out a little something students had been working on to demonstrate what they love about The New School Montessori. And how about this? Over the course of a week, our 6th grade students worked with the Urban Wilderness crew, …

Native American flute music brings healing

Our Appreciating Differences teacher, Johnnyé White, invited guests, Edward and Lydia Ellis, to share Native American flute and drum music along with a story about the character painted on their drum.  Lydia inspired students with tales of overcoming life-changing strokes to regain enough mobility to continue to express herself musically. Lydia was a teacher in a school system for many years and taught flute lessons. Her life changed dramatically 12 years ago when she suffered from 2 strokes within a 48-hour period that left her hand and leg altered in ways that made it difficult to walk – and impossible …

The Diversity + Community Events Committee provided some resources for how to talk with children about tragic world events.

This article is written by TNSM parent members of the Diversity and Community and Engagement Committee (D+CE) and expresses their views. At TNSM, we are grateful to have this D+CE forum that allows opportunities for members of our community to share their own beliefs, always with the goal of  expanding our understanding of each other’s experiences and points of view. Last Friday, nearly a week after intense violence in Israel and Gaza, parents on the Diversity and Community Engagement Committee met. We connected over a shared grief for humanity and a curiosity around how we talk about this decades-long conflict and the …