Cosmic Education

Hello Friends, I wanted to take a moment to delve into an integral aspect of our educational philosophy – Cosmic Education – and specifically, Maria Montessori’s Five Great Lessons that underpin this unique approach. Cosmic Education, in our lower and upper elementary programs, is a cornerstone of the Montessori method that seeks to instill a profound sense of wonder, interconnectedness, and understanding in our students. It goes beyond traditional subjects and aims to provide a holistic perspective of the Universe, fostering a lifelong love for learning and an appreciation for the world we inhabit. Maria Montessori’s Five Great Lessons are …

Happy Birthday, Dr. Maria Montessori!

Hello Friends, Today is the birthday of the visionary educator, Maria Montessori. Dr. Maria Montessori’s innovative approach to education has not only transformed the lives of countless children but has also left an indelible mark on the global educational landscape. Her dedication to understanding and respecting the natural development of each child, her emphasis on fostering independence, and her belief in the immense potential within every young mind have paved the way for the unique educational philosophy we uphold here at The New School Montessori. Today we are reminded of the importance of creating environments that encourage exploration, curiosity, and …

First Day of School!

Dear Friends, I hope this email finds you well and filled with the same excitement that enveloped our campus on this wonderful first day of school! It brings me great joy to share with you the fantastic start we’ve had at The New School Montessori. As we welcomed our students back to the halls and classrooms, the energy and enthusiasm were palpable. Despite the warm weather, our students had an absolute blast both indoors and outdoors. The contagious laughter and wide smiles painted a beautiful picture of a day filled with joy, exploration, and new beginnings. Our dedicated team of …

What staff did over the summer of 2023

  Ann Baumgardner My sister and I had a girls’ weekend with Mom over the July 4th weekend. I also made my annual pilgrimage to my hometown later in the summer for a long weekend during our Carnation Festival and met up with high school friends, cousins, and spent time with Mom. My husband Erich and I spent a big part of the summer grandparenting our 4-month old grandson. Our backs, shoulders and wrists are sore from hoisting him to our shoulders, patting his back and swaying on his favorite squeaky floorboard to lull him to sleep. It’s been fun …

See you next week!

Dear New School Montessori Families, Welcome back to another exciting school year at The New School Montessori! We hope this email finds you rejuvenated after a restful summer break and ready for all the wonderful learning adventures that await your child in the coming months. As we open our doors once again, we want to extend a warm welcome to both returning and new families. Our school community thrives on the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that each family brings, and we are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant learning community. At The New School Montessori, …

Be kind to yourself, and make a plan.

Hello Friends, We are absolutely thrilled to begin a new school year with you!  The summer flew by, but we hope that everyone enjoyed moments of relaxation and rejuvenation. The summer can often provide opportunities to step outside of a demanding pace and routine to simply enjoy the beauty of nature, or relish in a lightness of being that comes from having nothing on your calendar for a week or two. These pockets of time can often serve as a reminder to find ways to incorporate small moments in our day-to-day lives where we set aside an hour or even …

Wow, that was fast!

As we reach the end of another enriching and joyful school year, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for your  support and partnership in creating a truly remarkable learning community at The New School Montessori. It has been an incredible journey of growth, discovery, and camaraderie, and we are immensely grateful to have had the privilege of guiding your children along this path of education. The past year has presented us with unique challenges and opportunities, and together, we have overcome every obstacle with resilience, adaptability, and a shared commitment to our Montessori philosophy. …

Students learned about birds up close!

Our 4th level students have been reading the novel, My Side of the Mountain, which features a boy and his peregrine falcon hunting together. The (9-12) teachers planned an educational afternoon where handlers of birds of prey shared interesting facts about owls, falcons, buzzards and more while circling among the students, birds – in hand and close up. Students learned that barn owls’ eyes take up 80% of their heads and that owls can’t actually rotate their heads all the way around like the cartoons show–just 270 degrees. Barn owls find their prey mostly with their ears. In fact, they …

Let Nature Render You Mercifully Irrelevant

Hello Friends, I love this time of year. Students sit on the grass in a circle under a blue sky for an outdoor lesson.  The trees burst into shades of green that seem to have a luminescence. The campus transforms itself into a kaleidoscope of color. Over the past two years, I have spent a lot of time thinking and writing about TNSM’s commitment to being stewards of the earth and how we are trying to do our part to keep our planet healthy. When writing about our new building, the Kaleidoscope Center, as well as our recently purchased property …

Obtuse, acute, divergent, convergent – All lines and angles are welcome!

The blacktop just off the front porch of the Mansion served as a perfect surface for 1st and 2nd graders to learn their lessons this week as (6-9) teacher Lauren Burke demonstrated a lesson in early geometry in the great outdoors. 1st level students learned about lines (parallel, divergent, convergent and perpendicular), while 2nd level students learned about the different kinds of angles that live within triangles (right, obtuse and acute angles). The entryway to the school is decorated with all manner of lines and angles as each student practiced drawing and labeling their lines and angles with colorful chalk. These …