New School Update

⛄️ Winter Break Edition ⛄️

Seasons Greetings! I hope you're finding time to relax and connect with family and friends during this special time of year. As we wrap up 2024, I wanted to share a quick update on some of our current happenings, with more details about our plans for the upcoming spring semester coming soon!

Winter Break Improvements

Winter break is the perfect time for us to focus on campus and building improvements. As we continue progressing with our Campus Improvement Plan (CIP), we’re excited to share three key upgrades currently underway, in addition to our regular maintenance and deep cleaning.

Nido Playground

Farewell to the temporary green mesh fencing around the Nido play area! Mr. Erick and Mr. Josh are replacing it with a sturdier, more attractive fence to enhance the children’s play space. We’re very excited for the children to enjoy this upgraded area.

Water Pipe Improvements

We are also proactively upgrading the connection between the new water pipe and the existing infrastructure to prevent potential disruptions from pipe breaks or weather-related issues in the future. This final repair should eliminate further water-related disruptions!

Resurfaced Walkways

One of the key priorities of our CIP is enhancing pathways and high-traffic areas to improve safety and convenience for our children and families. With the water and sewer lines now in place, we have finally been able to replace the pavers and brick pathways from the parking lot to the playground and office with a smooth, paved walkway. We’re all happy to say goodbye to the uneven surface that made it challenging for strollers and young children to navigate (especially after our recent construction projects)!

This new walkway marks the start of a planned network of pathways designed to improve access across our 11-acre campus as part of our ongoing CIP. Additional work on these paths will continue after the winter break. The new walkway will also enable the LE1 and UE classrooms to reclaim their outdoor spaces while enhancing our general security protocols.

Playground pathway under construction

Connection between the playground and upper pathways

Covered deck improvements coming soon

Spring Semester Projects

Once we return from the break, we will continue work on several key projects as part of our CIP. These include playground upgrades, trail development, landscaping enhancements, parking improvements, and security upgrades, along with plans to pursue rezoning. Here are a few of our more immediate goals.

Redesigning the Covered Deck Area

One of our first upgrades of the year will be redesigning the area next to the new covered deck by the parking lot. This space was unavailable during the deck’s construction, and we’re excited to transform it into a welcoming and attractive spot for everyone to enjoy.

Playground and Trail Improvements

Another priority for the spring semester is utilizing funds raised from the Gala and other fundraisers to advance our playground and trail improvements. Plans include making the Early Years playground more accessible and converting the former music garden area into a multi-structure obstacle course with a short climbing wall among other additions. Additionally, we will install reinforced steps on two main trails and begin preparations for surfacing others to ensure safer and more enjoyable pathways. Stay tuned for details on the final draft for these plans coming soon!

Updating our Road Sign

As some of you may have noticed, our road sign has seen better days. Having faithfully served us since 1999, it’s now showing its age, with pieces beginning to deteriorate. Updating it will be a key project in the coming months! We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on design features for the new road sign! Feel free to share your ideas by emailing us at info@montessoricenter.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Many of our upgrades and improvements are designed not only to benefit your child but also to shape the future of our campus for years to come. Your family has a unique opportunity to be part of this legacy by sharing feedback, supporting specific projects, participating in trail naming opportunities, dedicating park benches, purchasing engraved pavers for our pathways, and more. We look forward to sharing more details about these opportunities soon.

Former music garden will transform into an obstacle/climbing area

Future home of outdoor deck and class space

Endless possibilities along our 1100 foot walkway to the creek!

Current Registration Deadlines (Time Sensitive)

Below are details on a few upcoming events that require registration, with deadlines approaching soon:

After-School Clubs

Clubs begin the week of January 6th, so be sure to register during the winter break! With limited capacity, topics include art, crafts, sign language, Lego engineering, yoga, chess, cooking, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokémon, and ukulele. Register by January 5th to secure a spot, as enrollment is first-come, first-serve.

After-school Club Information

Spring Semester Pizza Sign-up

We’re excited to partner with Manhattan Pizza for Wednesday lunches for full-day students! Options include one or two large slices of cheese or pepperoni. Pizza service runs January 8th–June 4th (21 weeks). Please complete a separate form for each child if enrolling more than one. Questions? Email Dawn at dawn@montessoricenter.org.

Second Semester Pizza

Curriculum Open House

Explore our curriculum across various age groups, ask teachers questions, and earn an hour of volunteer time! A minimum of 15 registrations is required to hold this event. Free childcare is available, though space is limited and age restrictions apply. Please register by January 24th.

Open House RSVP

Family Survey

On Friday, we will be sending out our mid-year family survey. We greatly value your feedback and hope you'll take a moment to share your thoughts, as your input plays a crucial role in shaping our future direction and policies.

Special Thanks

I wish to truly extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your ongoing support and participation in our events, activities, and fundraisers! A special thanks also goes to our Community Engagement Committee and the amazing volunteers whose hard work and dedication make these events not only possible but successful and impactful. Your efforts ease the burden on our teachers and staff, enabling them to focus on their primary mission—teaching, guiding, and nurturing your children. We look forward to enjoying more opportunities to come together and make a difference during the spring semester!

Wishing you all a peaceful, fulfilling, joyful, and festive holiday season!

Julie

Upcoming Notable Events

The events below are just a snapshot of what’s happening! Be sure to explore our events calendar for a complete list of activities and opportunities.

Date: Wednesday, January 29

Time: 10 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: School Classrooms

Curriculum Open House

Discover the Montessori approach through hands-on activities and classroom exploration at our Curriculum Open House. Our certified Montessori teachers will be available to answer your questions.

Please click the link below to RSVP for this event. Limited childcare is available for CH and above on a first-come, first-served basis. All in-person participants will receive 1 hour of volunteer time!

Open House RSVP

Date: Friday, March 7

Time: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Location: School Classrooms

International Day

International Day is our longest-standing annual event, where children celebrate a country they have spent the year studying. This tradition allows students to share what they’ve learned through food, costumes, activities, research, and more. The event is open to TNS children and volunteers. Families can also look forward to photos and updates from the event via Child Pilot and our Facebook page!

We will be posting volunteer opportunities soon.

Date: Saturday, March 29

Times:

5k Start: 9:30 AM

Fun Run Start: 10:45 AM

Spring Fling: 10 AM - 12:30 PM

Location: Harris Lake County Park

Spring Fling Information Page

Spring Fling, 5k and Fun Run

We're excited to invite you to join us for our Spring Fling, 5k & Fun Run.

Whether you run or walk the 5k, all are welcome! The 5k will start at 9:30 AM and be an out and back run through Harris Lake County Park. Register early to secure the early bird rate, $35.

The Fun Run will be just under a mile. The cost is $10 and includes the run, a t-shirt, and medal.

If you would like to run in both races, please only register for the 5k.

In addition to the races, come out for some carnival fun at the Spring Fling. We will have games, crafts, and activities for all ages, face painting, the MAP Market, food trucks and more!

Event RSVP