Notes from Ms. Alena (Head of School)
Welcome Back to Montessori Pathways School!
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Montessori Pathways School! We are so excited to begin another wonderful school year with our children and families. We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable summer, and we are looking forward to a year filled with growth, learning, friendship, and new experiences.
As we are entering the first days of school, we would like to share a few thoughts about adjustment and transition. The beginning of a new school year can bring many different emotions for children. Some children may walk into the classroom confidently and happily, while others may feel nervous, hesitant, or have difficulty separating from their parents. All of these reactions are completely normal.
The First Days
For some children, the transition back to school may take a few days or even a few weeks. Our teachers are experienced in supporting children through this process and will provide a calm, loving, and welcoming environment.
Please remember that tears at drop-off do not necessarily mean that your child is unhappy at school. Separation can be difficult, even for children who have attended Montessori school before. Once parents leave, many children become engaged in classroom activities and settle into their routine quite quickly.
How Parents Can Help
Your child’s confidence and attitude toward school are strongly influenced by the way adults approach the transition. We encourage you to:
§ Keep goodbyes short, positive, and confident. A warm hug, a reassuring statement, and a simple goodbye are usually best.
§ Avoid sneaking out. Even though it may seem easier, it can make children feel less secure about separation.
§ Speak positively about school. Let your child know that you trust their teachers and that school is a safe and wonderful place to learn and grow.
§ Maintain a consistent morning routine. Predictability helps children feel secure.
§ Allow your child time to adjust. Every child is different, and some need more time than others.
§ Trust the teachers. Once your child is in the classroom, allow our teachers to guide the transition. We will comfort, reassure, and help your child become engaged in the classroom environment.
Consistency Is Important
One of the most important factors in a successful transition is consistency. Regular attendance helps children establish relationships with their teachers and classmates, become familiar with classroom routines, and develop a sense of belonging and independence.
The more predictable the routine becomes, the more comfortable and confident children generally feel.
Our goal is not simply to help children get through the first days of school, but to help them develop a strong sense of security, independence, confidence, and belonging in their Montessori environment.
Please know that we are here to support both your child and your family during this transition. If your child is having a particularly difficult time adjusting, we will communicate with you and work together to find the best approach.
Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are grateful to be part of their journey and are excited about everything this new school year will bring!
Welcome back, and here’s to a wonderful year of learning, growing, and discovering together!
RESPECT AND COURTESY
Respect and courtesy in our Montessori school is the foundation for everything we do and each child will soon learn the following important skills:
§ how to put their work away where they found it
§ how to tidy up after themselves
§ the importance of helping a friend in need
§ the importance of respecting the materials, the teachers and each other
§ how to tuck in their chair when they leave the table
§ how to walk in the classroom
§ how to be self directed and find their own ‘work’ and most importantly,
§ how to be independent!
Each child will feel empowered at Montessori Pathways School and learn how great it feels to do things on their own! Each Montessori teacher is here to nurture, support and guide them each and every day and are committed to making your child’s Montessori preschool, kindergarten, and elementary experience productive, stimulating and fun! We are honored that you have chosen our school and we are confident that this will be a wonderful year for everyone involved!
A Poem for Parents: “Nothing” (Author Unknown)
When children come home at the end of the day,
The question they’re asked as they scurry to play is,
“What did you do at school today?”
And the answer they give
Makes you sigh with dismay.
“Nothing, I did nothing today!”
Perhaps nothing means
I worked with Pink Tower,
Counted to ten,
Or studied about The Parts of Flower.
Maybe I painted or learned to tie my shoe;
Or discovered what happens when you mix red and blue.
Maybe I learned to tuck in my chair and put my work away,
Or maybe I learned to be kind to a friend while I was playing outside today,
Maybe my scissors followed a line and I mastered writing my name.
Maybe I learned some sounds or numbers or learned to play a new game,
Maybe I made a craft or sang a song from beginning to end,
Or maybe I learned to play with a special, brand-new friend.
When you’re in school
And your heart has wings,
“Nothing” can mean so many, many things.
Coming School Events in September
September 2 (W) at 5:30pm - Elementary Class (1st–6th grades) Parent Orientation Meeting It is a mandatory meeting; parents only.
September 7 (M) - No School in observance of Labor Day.
September 11 (F) at 5:30-6:30pm - Back to School Picnic at Veteran Acres Park in CL
We welcome all of our families to meet each other as well as our wonderful team! Let’s begin this school year together!
September 21 (F) at 11 a.m., children from Pathways School will sing "Light a Candle for Peace" in celebration of the United Nation’s Annual International Day of Peace.
Beginning in New Zealand and finishing in the Hawaiian Islands, the song "Light a Candle for Peace" will be sung continuously for 24 hours by Montessori school children around the world.
Our school is excited about joining the many other Montessori schools to “Sing Peace around the World”. It is a chance to connect our regular lessons to encourage the children to treat each other with respect and dignity. To show compassion, patience, and kindness to others are values nurtured in the Montessori environment as the children work together each day for a peaceful classroom. In the words of Maria Montessori, “The child is both the hope and promise for mankind.”
September 23 (W) - Mums Sale School Fundraiser.
Thanks to the generosity of our families during previous years’ fundraisers, we have been able to renovate our playground, renew and update the Practical Life Areas in our classrooms, and make cosmetic repairs to the front lobby, hallways, and classrooms.
This year, proceeds will go toward covering the cost of air duct and carpet cleaning. 🧼✨
If you would like to participate, please return your order forms with payments no later than September 9th. You and your child will be able to choose the color and pick up your plants on 23rd at dismissal time.
September 24 (Th) - Fire Drill
September 25 (F) - Elementary Parent / Teacher Conference Day (North Room)
No School for all Elementary students on Conference Day. It will be Zoom conference. The link to schedule your Zoom conference will be sent to you on Tuesday, September 8th. The link for Zoom P/T meeting will be sent on Monday, September 21st.
