Hello, Friends. I am writing this on a bus ride back from a 4-day trip to Washington D.C. with our 6th grade students. I’m tired. So are they. 🙂 Some are currently dozed off in their seats, while others giggle at almost anything said. We have seen a lot, walked a lot, and slept a little. Just to give you a quick understanding of how ambitious our itinerary has been, we traveled 8 hours by bus and visited the White House and the Supreme Court. We went on a Capitol building tour, walked the grounds and home of George Washington …
New School Montessori 3rd Grader Wins Grant from Little Tree Huggers
One of our industrious 3rd grade students decided to apply for a grant from Little Tree Huggers to help fund a landscaping project at The New School Montessori. With the addition of the Kaleidoscope Center being built this summer and the new garden property next to the Ginkgo House, we have new opportunities to beautify our space with interesting and biodiverse plants and trees. When asked why she thought to apply for a grant, she said, “At first I was going to sell lemonade, but it appears you need a permit for that!” Luckily her mom found Little Tree Huggers …
Hard Lessons
Hello Friends, I have a personal story to share. My hope is that it has broader appeal than just sharing my own experience. I also find sharing personal stories an exercise in vulnerability, which in my opinion is always a muscle worth stretching. As many of you know, my wife and I have two children. We have noticed our son (who turned 10 today) becoming more aware of the social dynamics at play during gatherings or sporting events. It seems to matter more if he wins or loses than it did a year ago. How he is “seen” by others …
TNSM’S ABAR Statement
Hello Friends, For the past two years, TNSM has been exploring how our strategic goals align with our mission related to equity and justice. With the help of our community, including staff, students, board, and the parent-led Diversity Committee, we have created an anti-bias/anti-racist statement that will be incorporated into our strategic plan. We are grateful for the time and energy our Diversity Committee chairs (Meredith Dixie/Sarah Corlett) and the rest of the committee members have put into this important work. As we begin our “self-study” for the accreditation process with the American Montessori Society and the Independent Schools of …
Students delivered Valentine Day gift baskets to Ronald McDonald House
Families from all over the United States (and sometimes the world) travel to Cincinnati to receive life-saving care for their children. While here, they need a place to stay. The Ronald McDonald house in Cincinnati provides that home for these critically ill children and their families and always appreciates when our community extends a welcome by donating items that make their guests’ stay more comfortable. New School Montessori 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders planned amazing Valentine’s Day care packages for families currently living at the Ronald McDonald House. They organized and filled 26 gift baskets with books, games, snacks, crafting …
Hanging out with friends
There is an oft repeated phrase here at The New School Montessori “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” This quote is from author Alfred Wainwright and applies to the way we look at recess and outdoor time. Children bring raincoats, snow pants and extra clothing to school. It doesn’t matter if you’re 3 or 12; it’s good to be prepared for the adventures of the outdoors. In our preprimary woods, we carve out well-placed footholds on honeysuckle bushes to make great natural climbers for the little ones, and we have junior-sized trees for older children to …
Bloom
Dear Friends, As you may have noticed, an email invitation was sent out for you to join the TNSM community at our annual auction party (March 11). This year we will be in Northside at the Factory. I absolutely love this TNSM event. Staff, along with current and alumni families, come together for a truly delightful evening. The insanely talented Montvales will be providing live music, and Eatwell will be serving up delicious bites. A free valet service will be provided as well, so you don’t have to worry about parking! So what are you waiting for? Secure your babysitter, …
“Do not look at my finger, look at the child.”
Hello Friends, At a recent AMS conference there was a lot of discussion around how the Montessori method is particularly suited to foster creativity and innovation during a time when we are asked less and less to think for ourselves (Google searches, AI platforms, etc). Children are naturally curious and creative, but it is imperative that we keep this flame alive into adulthood, not only for our success, but our personal fulfillment as well. At the New School Montessori, we believe that our culture fosters a spirit of discovery and exploration that we hope lasts a lifetime. Montessorians take a constructivist …
Learning Together/Growing Together
TNSM Gala: BLOOM (Saturday, March 11 @6:00 p.m.) Secure your babysitter, save the date, and be prepared to enjoy yourself! Let’s party like a Montessorian! ☺ Join us for one of TNSM’s social highlights of the year! You are invited to have a rockin’ good time while supporting one of your most cherished non-profit organizations; The New School Montessori! This year, we will gather in Northside at The Factory. This gorgeous (very cool) venue is only 10 minutes away from TNSM with valet parking. The event will be catered by Eat well (heavy/delicious apps) and includes the live musical stylings …
Notan-style artwork creates balance and harmony
Students in (9-12) created works of art in the Japanese Notan tradition, bringing balance between light and dark elements to create harmony and beauty. The word Notan is derived from 2 Japanese words–combining “Nong” which means strong, thick or concentrated with “Dan” which means weak. As you can see from the works the students created, there is a sense of balance in the repeated image being in the opposite color on the opposite background. It brings to mind the Chinese symbol for yin and yang which embodies the philosophical concept describing opposite but interconnected forces.