Week of November 2, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday: Teacher Workday / No School

• Tuesday: Teacher Workday / No School

• Wednesday (Specials: C-Day)

  • Quarter 1 Report Cards go home

• Thursday (Specials: D-Day)

• Friday (Specials: E-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good Evening Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend–please remember, there is no school for students Monday and Tuesday. We encourage all to get out and vote on Tuesday if you did not vote early!

Inside your child’s folder on Friday, you should have found details regarding Vision to Learn, a no-cost option for students to receive vision services at school. This will provide students with the opportunity to receive a no-cost exam and select glasses. We need 100 completed consent forms to ensure they visit our school. We are asking for ALL families who are willing to consent, even if you are confident your child doesn’t need services. This will help ensure the service is available for those who do. Click Here to Consent TODAY!

School pictures are ready for viewing and ordering! You will be able to view and place orders online using THIS LINK (click for fall picture viewing). The access code will be your child's last name and birthday; for example, my birthday is July 12, so my access would be Aguilar712. Note that there is no leading zero for single digit months. The deadline to order is November 16. 

We’re still looking for volunteers to help plan one of our family nights? Our goal is to have two family representatives on each committee to plan events that are meaningful to YOU! If you are interested, please email Principal Jenn (jennifer_aguilar@dpsnc.net) or AP Bertson (christine_bertson@dpsnc.net). Volunteering would include attending (in person or virtually) 1-3 committee meetings and supporting parent engagement for the event. 

Finally, we are just one week away from our Fall Book Fair! Book fairs allow students and families to shop for books at the school. Hosting book fairs is just one way we encourage students to READ! We want to make sure that cost is not a barrier to any child having the opportunity to pick out a book. If cost is at all a barrier for your family, please complete THIS FORM to ensure your child receives “a golden ticket” that will allow them to select one book at the book fair! You may also complete the form if you would prefer your child not shop at the book fair. 

Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder: 

• Grade level-band newsletter

• Quarter 1 Report Cards will come home with students on Wednesday

• Picture ordering details

Free Eye Exams and Glasses at School!

Vision To Learn is offering vision screenings, and exams and eye glasses when necessary, to students at our school—at no cost to families. Act fast—spots fill quickly! Complete your child’s form today to secure their free vision care. All services take place during the school day. Complete the consent form by Friday, November 13.

Click Here to Consent 

You Belong Here: Help Us Raise $40,000 for a Growing Watts!

9 More Days to Give to the PTA Annual Fund

We're over halfway toward our $40,000 PTA Annual Fund goal, and we've got 9 more days to raise the rest! Thank you to everyone who has already given to support the Watts community this year. 

When you give to the PTA Annual Fund, you support Watts teachers and students all year. Our PTA is the largest source of discretionary funding at Watts, paying for the important things that Durham Public Schools can’t cover: teacher appreciation, classroom supplies, afterschool clubs, field trips, family events, and Backpack Buddies, which sends weekend meals home with students facing food insecurity.

If we reach our goal by November 10, students get to paint their teachers’ faces at Movie Night :) Give today at http://app.givebacks.gives/gw2026 

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SAVE THE DATE: November 10 is Movie Night on the playground field!!!

Week of October 26, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday (Specials: C-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: D-Day)

  • Dine-out at Bull City Burger, 4-10PM

• Wednesday (Specials: E-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: A-Day)

• Friday (Specials: B-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good Evening Families,

Welcome to Quarter 2! I can hardly believe we are already transitioning into the second quarter. We have a few important updates this week:

It’s not too late to provide feedback on our school improvement plan. We invite you to review our plan on our school improvement team website and share feedback using this form. 

Would you be interested in volunteering to help plan one of our family nights? Our goal is to have two family representatives on each committee to plan events that are meaningful to YOU! If you are interested, please email Principal Jenn (jennifer_aguilar@dpsnc.net) or AP Bertson (christine_bertson@dpsnc.net). Volunteering would include attending (in person or virtually) 1-3 committee meetings and supporting parent engagement for the event. 

We need your help… our goal is to keep our car riders and walkers safe during morning arrival and afternoon pickup. To do so, we need your help! If you bike to school with your child, we would ask that you park in front of the school. In the mornings, students coming via bike will be permitted to enter the school through the door by the bike racks. In the afternoons, once parked, you will need to walk around the school to the walker door. Additionally, if you are parking and walking, please do not park directly across from the carpool circle or in the first spot outside of the car rider circle. 

Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

This week in your Family-Connect Folder

• Grade level-band newsletter

• November calendar 

You Belong Here: Help Us Raise $40,000 for a Growing Watts!

We’re Halfway There! (And there's still time to get a sticker pack!) 

Our PTA Annual Fund just passed the halfway mark: We've raised more than $20,000 toward our $40,000 goal! A huge thank-you to everyone who has already given! 

Giving to the Annual Fund is a great way to support teachers and students all year. Our PTA is the largest source of discretionary funding at Watts, covering what Durham Public Schools can’t: teacher appreciation, classroom supplies, afterschool clubs, field trips, family events, and Backpack Buddies, which sends weekend meals home with students facing food insecurity.

Haven’t given yet but want a cool sticker pack? Find us at the morning drop-off line on Tuesday 10/27 and Wednesday 10/28... look for the neon green sign! Make a gift on the spot and take home a sheet of George Watts stickers :)

And remember: if we reach our goal by November 10, students get to paint their teachers’ faces at Movie Night!

Week of October 19, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday (Specials: C-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: D-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: E-Day)

  • 5:30PM PTA Work Session

• Thursday (Specials: A-Day)

• Friday (Specials: B-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good Evening Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! I can hardly believe we are entering the final week of the first quarter. I have a few important updates for you as we go into this week:

Our October PTA work session is on Wednesday at 5:30PM. We invite ALL families to engage with our PTA–the PTA works in a variety of ways to support our school and coordinate initiatives to support families. Join us on Wednesday at 5:30PM in the media center–childcare will be available. 

Did you know that North Carolina G.S. 115C-105.27 requires every public school to develop and implement a school improvement plan at least every two years? In Durham Public Schools, we develop our plans in the even years, including this year, 2026. As part of developing our plan, DPS wants to hear your feedback. We invite you to review our plan on our school improvement team website and share feedback using this form. 

Finally, one of our goals this year is to increase the family and school partnership. It was great to see so many of you on Thursday at our family event! Our next community family event is coming up on November 10–our movie night on the playground field. We invite you to review our full parent engagement plan on our Title I website. 

Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

This week in your Family-Connect Folder

• Grade level-band newsletter

You Belong Here: Help Us Raise $40,000 for a Growing Watts!

Fundraising Is Off to a Strong Start. Let’s Keep It Going!

Our PTA Annual Fund campaign is already more than 25% of the way to our $40,000 goal!

BIG THANKS to the 40+ folks who have already given. PTA is the largest source of discretionary funding at Watts. Your gift to support the PTA pays for extras Durham Public Schools can't cover, including classroom supplies, afterschool clubs, field trips, family events, and Backpack Buddies, which sends weekend meals home with students facing food insecurity.

If we reach our goal by November 10, students get to paint their teachers’ faces at Movie Night!

Learn more and give today: http://app.givebacks.gives/gw2026

Week of October 12, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday (Specials: C-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: D-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: E-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: A-Day)

  • 5:15PM | Fall Family Night

• Friday (Specials: B-Day)

Please note–the printed October calendars showed the PTA meeting for this Wednesday–this was incorrect. The October PTA meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30PM.

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! We have several updates this week–including our Fall family night on Thursday (October 15)! Join us this Thursday for fun parent & child Fall activities on the field and an Odyssey of the Mind parent & child spontaneous challenge. Primary will begin indoors with lower & upper outside at 5:15 and will trade places around 5:45PM. We hope you will join your child for an evening of fun and learning.

Please note–the printed October calendars showed the PTA meeting for this Wednesday–this was incorrect, the October PTA meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 21 at 5:30PM.

This week marks the start of our 2026 Fall Fundraiser for our PTA. See additional information included below–we hope many of you will partner with us to support the PTA in all the ways they support our school!

I did want to share that we had to say an unexpected goodbye to the GWM willow tree on our playground this past week. To say there were feelings all around is an understatement. Unfortunately, in order to pass our stormwater control inspection, we were directed to remove the tree (Willow Tree root systems cause significant damage to underground piping–see example). We will be working with DPS and the city of Durham to determine what could be planted to replace our beautiful weeping willow tree.

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder: 

• Grade level-band newsletter

• Family Advocacy Survey

You Belong Here: Help Us Raise $40,000 for a Growing Watts!

Watts is growing, and that's something to celebrate! Our student body has grown from about 350 to nearly 400 students since last fall. That means more classroom needs and more opportunities for programming so all students at Watts can thrive. Today the PTA is launching its Annual Fund campaign with a big goal: $40,000 by November 10.

The PTA is the largest source of discretionary funding at Watts. Last year we funded every request a teacher or staff member made. Your gift pays for extras Durham Public Schools can't cover, including classroom supplies, afterschool clubs, field trips, family events, and Backpack Buddies, which sends weekend meals home with students facing food insecurity.

Give in the first week (Oct. 11–18) and we'll send you a George Watts sticker pack! If we reach our goal, students will get to paint their teachers' faces at Movie Night.

Learn more and give today: http://app.givebacks.gives/gw2026

Week of October 5, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday (Specials: C-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: D-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: E-Day)

  • Early-Release Day, dismiss at 12:15PM

• Thursday (Specials: A-Day)

  • School Improvement Team Meeting, 4PM

• Friday (Specials: B-Day)

  • Picture Day

  • Coffee with the Principals at 7:45AM

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families,

We turned the calendar last week, and it is officially OCTOBER–wow! We have a few important updates as we go into this week.

Wednesday is our first early-release day for this year. We will begin dismissal at 12:15PM. Students will have the opportunity to eat lunch, albeit earlier than usual, on early release days and the GWM afterschool program does operate beginning at dismissal on early-release days as well. If you utilize a community afterschool program, please confirm their pick-up time and notify your child’s teacher if there is a change in transportation for the day.

Thursday is our school improvement team meeting at 4PM in the media center. We encourage community participation in our school improvement team meetings. This week, we will be reviewing our 2026-2028 school improvement plan and discussing advocacy for public schools and civic engagement in the upcoming November election. Spanish interpretation will be available at the SIT meeting. 

Friday is our quarter 1 coffee with the principals. Join me and Ms. Bertson for a cup of coffee and conversation just after morning arrival in the media center. There is no formal agenda, just an opportunity to connect–you get to come with what’s important to you, and we’ll chat about it! Hope to see you there!

Finally, Friday is PICTURE DAY! George Watts Montessori partners with Honor Roll Portraits for our school photos. Pictures are taken during the school day! There is no need to preorder, as online proofs are available for viewing 2-3 weeks after picture day (details will be sent out when they are ready). Honor Roll Portraits returns in the Spring for a second opportunity for the perfect school picture, as well as class pictures! Speaking of pictures, there are a few spots remaining for family picture mini-sessions–sign up HERE.

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder

• Grade level-band newsletter

• October printed calendar went home Thursday/Friday 

October is Bullying Awareness Month!

Definition of bullying: unwanted, aggressive, and repeated behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance intended to cause physical or emotional harm. 

During the month of October, Ms. Parfitt will be providing anti-bullying lessons in all classrooms.  Students will learn about kind behaviors, what it means to be respectful, and when to use empathy.  Please talk with your students about how their words and actions matter, this month and every month.

Week of September 28, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday (Specials: D-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: E-Day)

• Wednesday: Teacher workday, no school for students

• Thursday (Specials: A-Day)

• Friday (Specials: B-Day)

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families,

After several busy weeks, we finally have a week with just one big update for the week:

Wednesday, September 30, is a teacher workday. Students will not report to school on Wednesday.

Other than that, we’re looking forward to a great week of learning! Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder: 

• Grade level-band newsletter

Week of September 21, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday: Teacher workday, no school for students

• Tuesday (Specials: E-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: A-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: B-Day)

  • 5PM Curriculum Night & Classroom Dinner #2 (see below for specific classes assigned)

• Friday (Specials: C-Day)

  • 8AM Peace Parade

  • Progress reports go home today.

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families,

We have few important updates for the upcoming week:

Monday is a teacher workday–we look forward to welcoming students back to school  on Tuesday morning. 

Thursday, we will be hosting our final Curriculum Night with a classroom dinner. This will be a great opportunity to see your child’s classroom, hear from their teachers, and make connections with other families in your child’s class. Each class was assigned one of the two dates (September 17 or 24), so be sure to check below to see if your class is scheduled this week.

Tomorrow, in addition to being a teacher workday is International Peace Day. International Peace Day is a globally recognized day, established by the United Nations to be a day of non-violence and ceasefire. Each year, Montessori communities pause to recognize our commitment to peace. At George Watts Montessori, we do this with a peace parade. This year, since Peace Day is on a teacher workday, we will have our peace parade on Friday, September 25. Families are welcome to observe–the parade will begin shortly after morning arrival on the track around our playground. Observers are asked to remain on the outside of the track (you’ll want to wear shoes that can get wet in the dewy grass). 

Finally, be on the lookout for progress reports–this mid quarter check in will help provide you a bit of information regarding your child’s early progress this year. 

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder: 

• Grade level-band newsletter

• Information from our neighborhood partner, Watts Baptist, on their “9-5 Day” Friday where free books will be distributed. 

Curriculum Nights and Classroom Dinners:

Each Fall, we welcome families into our classrooms to learn more about their child’s daily experience and learning. We follow this with an outdoor picnic as a classroom community to create an opportunity for families to meet one another. Please see the list below for which night each classroom is assigned.

September 17: primary classes–Duffy, Harris, Hawkins, Watson; lower el classes–Hamilton, WIlliams, S. Zopfi; upper el classes–Oakeley, Orsini, Pryor, Emma Singleton; EC Dev. Needs–Snyder.

September 24: primary classes–Whithaus-Meyers, Zehr; lower el classes–Bogue, Cooper, Joy Mason, Allie Schreiber, White, M. Zopfi; upper el classes–Adair; EC Dev. Needs–Gabriel Vogt.

Are you new to Montessori?

Each week, we are sharing something about Montessori education to help you learn more about what it means to learn in a Montessori school. This week, in honor of International Peace Day (September 21), we are sharing about the concept of peace education in a Montessori School.

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live. ” (Maria Montessori, Education and Peace, p. 31)

American Montessori Institute shares the following on their frequently asked questions: 

How do Montessori schools incorporate education for peace in classroom?

Peace is a natural outcome of Montessori’s Scientific Pedagogy. Not a subject to be taught or a curriculum to add, peace education is intrinsic to the Montessori learning experience at any age. In a well-prepared Montessori Environment, we create the conditions for concentration, normalisation, freedom within limits, social cohesion, non-violent resolution of conflict, collaborative work, and positive, life-affirming social organisation. These are the building blocks of the peaceful revolution Maria Montessori envisioned. To achieve them we must deeply understand and fully apply the essential principles which are the foundation of our work. (https://montessori-ami.org/questions/education-peace)

Week of September 14, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday: (Specials: E-Day)

• Tuesday (Specials: A-Day)

  • 4-9PM Dine-out at Timber Pizza

• Wednesday (Specials: B-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: C-Day)

  • 5PM Curriculum Night & Classroom Dinner #1 (see below for specific classes assigned)

• Friday (Specials: D-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good Evening Families,

We have a few important updates for the upcoming week:

We are settling into the routines of school and learning! This week and next, we will be hosting our Curriculum Night with a classroom dinner. This is a great opportunity to see your child’s classroom, hear from their teachers, and connect with other families in your child’s class. Each class is assigned one of two dates (September 17 or 24), so be sure to check below to see which night to attend.

This Tuesday is our dine-out at Timber Pizza. We'll have delicious pizza and pints of Locopops ice cream. I hope to see many of you there enjoying a great dinner, while also supporting the George Watts Montessori PTA.

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This Week in your Family-Connect Folder

• Grade level-band newsletter

• Details for Curriculum Night + classroom dinner

Curriculum Nights and Classroom Dinners

Each Fall, we welcome families into our classrooms to learn more about their child’s daily experience and learning. We follow this with an outdoor picnic as a classroom community to give families an opportunity to meet one another. Please see the list below for which night each classroom is assigned.

• September 17: primary classes–Duffy, Harris, Hawkins, Watson; lower el classes–Hamilton, Williams, S. Zopfi; upper el classes–Oakeley, Orsini, Pryor, Emma Singleton; EC Dev. Needs–Snyder.

• September 24: primary classes–Whithaus-Meyers, Zehr; lower el classes–Bogue, Cooper, Joy Mason, Allie Schreiber, White, M. Zopfi; EC Dev. Needs–Gabriel Vogt.

Are you new to Montessori?

We want to share some “lingo” to ensure you know what we mean. Over the next several updates, we’ll share each one of the five core components of Montessori Education. This week’s core component of Montessori education is the “Trained Montessori Teachers”.

“A qualified Montessori teacher supports children’s natural development by observing their interests and abilities and introducing developmentally appropriate lessons and materials. Trained in Montessori theory and practice, these teachers skillfully use materials, guide students, and create a supportive learning environment.” (https://amshq.org/the-ams-difference/core-components-of-montessori/)

Obtaining your Montessori teaching credential is a rigorous process. At George Watts Montessori, we aim for every classroom teacher to complete their Montessori teaching credential. The credentialing program typically takes 2-3 years for teachers to complete and includes coursework, residential summer learning, and a classroom practicum. Credentialing programs are accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Montessori Teacher Education (MAC-TE) and are affiliated with American Montessori Society (AMS), American Montessori Internationale (AMI), or International Montessori Council (IMC). 

Because of the time and cost barriers associated with credentialing, only a few teachers can complete the process at the same time. Because of this, we also provide professional development for new teachers through our Montessori coordinator, Melissa Blalock. While teachers wait to participate in formal credentialing, they meet regularly with Ms. Blalock to learn Montessori philosophy, how to use Montessori materials, and more. 

We take Montessori-trained teachers very seriously at George Watts Montessori because we know how important it is for teachers to be equipped to support the Montessori classroom experience.

Week of September 7, 2026

Happening this Week

• Monday: Labor Day - no school!

• Tuesday (Specials: A-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: B-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: C-Day)

  • 3PM PTA work session (child care provided)

• Friday (Specials: D-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good Evening Families!

We had a great second week of school, despite the heat keeping us inside for most of the week! Happy the forecast includes a bit of a cool-down (if we can call the upper 80s and low 90s a cool-down). I will note that after the first 10 days of school, we are all a bit exhausted and excited for this three-day weekend; enjoy your labor day and we’ll see you on Tuesday!

We have few important updates for the upcoming week: 

At George Watts Montessori, we want to ensure students and families have access to available resources when needed. We are a community that cares and works to support the needs families may have. This includes resources such as weekend food bags, help with the holidays, access to mental health care for students, and more. If you would like to explore and sign-up for the ways we can help, complete this confidential form, or email Amanda Melton (amanda_melton-sierra@dpsnc.net). Last year, we were able to help over 60 students each weekend, and we’re prepared to help even more this year!

On Tuesday, the North Carolina School Board certified the results of the 2026 School Report Card data. We are excited to share that George Watts Montessori continued to achieve a B letter grade. We increased proficiency on ALL NC End-of-Grade assessments over 2025 data and maintained a met expected growth rating. While test scores and school report cards tell only a small portion of the story of our community, we remain proud of the hard work of our students and staff in the classroom last year! If you have questions or wonderings about the NC school report card, I’d love to chat!

We have a new data manager this year; Samaya Dawson-Hart (samaya_dawson-hart@dpsnc.net) joined our team in late July and hit the ground running to learn how to support as data manager. If your child is out sick or for an appointment, please make sure to include both our child’s teacher and Samaya on communication, so she can accurately code the absence. School attendance daily is essential to student success, so whenever possible, we encourage you to schedule appointments later in the day, so students can still attend school–we do understand that it is not always possible. 

Thursday is our first PTA work session at 3PM. The PTA collaborates to support learning, family engagement, support for our classrooms, and more. I encourage you to come on Thursday and see how you might be able to get involved!

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder

Be on the lookout for your grade level-band newsletter in Tuesday’s folder.

Are you new to Montessori?

We want to share some “lingo” to ensure you know what we mean. Over the next several updates, we’ll share each one of the five core components of Montessori Education.

This week’s core component of Montessori education are the “Montessori Materials”.

“Didactic materials – Didactic meaning “designed or intended to teach,” these are the specially-designed instructional materials—many invented by Maria Montessori—that are a hallmark of all Montessori classrooms.” (https://amshq.org/the-ams-difference/core-components-of-montessori/)

Montessori teaching follows the progression from concrete to abstract. This means, students begin learning concepts with materials they can touch and explore. This helps develop understanding through concrete learning. As they begin to develop conceptual understanding, students can then demonstrate understanding in more abstract ways such as solving a math problem on paper without the use of materials.

Week of August 31, 2026

Happening this week:

• Monday (Specials: A-Day)

  • Dine-out at Jeni’s, 2:30-5:30PM

• Tuesday (Specials: B-Day)

• Wednesday (Specials: C-Day)

• Thursday (Specials: D-Day)

  • 4PM School Improvement Team Meeting + Title I Annual Meeting

• Friday (Specials: E-Day)

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families!

We had a GREAT first week of school! Students have engaged in learning and community building all week, and the smile and laughter have brought a lot of joy back into the building! From a logistical perspective, thank you for the ways you supported safe and efficient morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals. We are quickly reducing the time it takes to get kids into cars and your support is a huge help! One reminder–we can only load and unload students from the passenger side in the carpool line. This is to ensure safety–carpool small collisions do happen, and we do not want students or staff to be in the middle. If you need to unload or load your child from the driver's side, please park and walk up. 

As we go into this week, we will support our students as they gain independence by saying goodbye outside the building. We will have lots of staff ready to support as kids transition to class.

We have few important updates for the upcoming week: 

First, I hope to see many of you after school tomorrow at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. Enjoying a scoop of ice cream will be both delicious and all sales between 2:30 and 5:30 on Monday, August 31 will support the George Watts Montessori PTA.

Second, our school improvement team will have its first meeting of the year on Thursday at 4PM. This week’s meeting will include sharing the state data release (expected Wednesday, September 2), the Title I Annual Review, and the development of our Parent-School Compact, a shared agreement for the ways parents, students, teachers, and school leaders will partner together to ensure a strong learning community. We want your voice as we create our partnership to support student learning and community this year, so please join us in the media center. 

Speaking of Title I, we are looking for 3 volunteers to serve as the George Watts Montessori parent representatives for the DPS Title I steering committee. You can learn more about this opportunity HERE. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact assistant principal, Christine Bertson (christine_bertson@dpsnc.net).

We believe George Watts Montessori is a safe place to learn and teach! Durham Public Schools ensures we have plans to keep everyone safe in the event of an emergency. Learn more about DPS School Safety, Security, and Emergency Information. This first week of school, we conducted our first emergency evacuation drill (aka: fire drill). Students and staff quickly exited the building in a safe manner. In the coming month (September), in addition to our monthly evacuation drill, we will also have a severe weather drill (aka: tornado drill) and a lockdown drill. Our consistent message to students is, “We believe George Watts is a safe place to learn, and the adults have a plan for emergencies. Today we practiced one of those plans.” If you ever have questions about the required safety drills or want support with how to talk with your kids about school safety, I encourage you to reach out to me (jennifer_aguilar@dpsnc.net) or our school counselor, Melissa Parfitt (melissa_parfitt@dpsnc.net).

We are looking forward to a great start to the school year! Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

This week in your Family-Connect Folder. 

Tomorrow, look for a FULL family-connect folder, as all of the following will be included:

• The 2026-27 Family GWM Welcome Packet

• A GWM September Calendar

• A grade-level band newsletter

Other Announcements

Third grade families: The Panorama student life skills surveys provides important information for our team regarding social-emotional learning and development. If order for your child to take the survey, we need a completed opt-in form. Opt-in forms went home with third grade students at meet the teacher and will also be included in Monday’s family connect folder. Will you make sure to complete and return the form by Friday–your child’s voice matters!

Are you new to Montessori?

We want to share some “lingo” to ensure you know what we mean. Over the next several updates, we’ll share each one of the five core components of Montessori Education.

This week’s core component of Montessori education is the “child-directed work”. American Montessori Society explains it as follows:

“Montessori education encourages children to select meaningful, challenging work that sparks their interest, fostering engagement and intrinsic motivation. The classroom design supports this with calm, uncluttered spaces for both individual and group activities, promoting curiosity. Children are free to move and explore, while teachers guide their learning and ensure a respectful, orderly environment.” (https://amshq.org/the-ams-difference/core-components-of-montessori/)

Child-directed or child-led work is often misinterpreted as “kids can do what they want.” The teacher plays the important role of the guide, ensuring students have meaningful and challenging work options to grow and achieve. 

At George Watts Montessori, child-directed work is guided by individual student work plans. Each day/week, students use a work plan to support the management of their work and learning. Students have agency to choose what to work on when and often have choices between activities to meet their learning needs–for some, a math material is used to demonstrate understanding of a math concept such as multi-digit subtraction, and for others, they are ready for demonstrating their understanding through abstract equations. Ultimately, while students have agency to direct much of their time during the work cycle, they are still expected to complete their work plans (even the parts they might find less appealing). 

Week of August 24, 2026

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!!!
We’re excited you are here!

Happening this week:

• Monday (Specials: A-Day)

  • First day of school for lower el and upper el

  • Primary staggered start for students with last names A-K

• Tuesday (Specials: B-Day)

  • Primary staggered start for students with last names L-Z

• Wednesday (Specials: C-Day)

  • No school for Primary

  • Primary meet-the-teacher, 4-5PM

• Thursday (Specials: D-Day)

  • ALL primary students begin attending daily

• Friday (Specials: E-Day)

From Principal Jenn

Good evening, families!

It is almost time—tomorrow, we will all begin to adjust to the early mornings and getting to school! Our team spent the past week ensuring all of our environments are prepared for student learning and community–all that remains is filling them with students!

If you missed our call on Friday, please take a few minutes to review our arrival and dismissal protocols at George Watts Montessori. The first two weeks, we always have to work to iron out the kinks, but by week three, arrival and dismissal are not only safe but also efficient. Please be patient during these first two weeks, as safety is paramount, and efficiency may be impacted while we work to ensure everyone understands the protocols. **Please note any student who will be dismissed independently (without an adult) will need a signed self-dismiss form for the 2026-27 school year on file.

It is time to vote for parent representatives for our school improvement team. Will you take a moment and vote to approve Liz Constantino to join as a parent representative for 2026-2028 using this form. With one remaining parent representative opening, our PTA will work to fill the final position. If you are interested, please reach out to PTA President Elena Snavely (elena.snavely@gmail.com).

Is your child in grades 3, 4, or 5? To support device sustainability and repair, a $15 annual technology fee is required for students in grades 3-8. Details regarding the DPS technology fee can be found at https://www.dpsnc.net/page/technology-fee. 

• To pay your child’s technology fee, please visit the DPS online payment portal: https://durhampublicschools.givebacks.com/shop/items/5fcb45451ef6

• DPS is committed to ensuring all students have access to the technology they need for learning. If your family is experiencing financial hardship, you may request a waiver of the annual Student Technology Fee by completing the 2026-2027 Student Technology Fee Hardship Request. 

• If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Chiti (melissa_chiti@dpsnc.net, out-of-office until September 3) or Principal Jenn (jennifer_aguilar@dpsnc.net).

We are looking forward to a great start to the school year! Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

Family Connect Folder

Be on the lookout for your child’s Family-Connect Folder. This year, every student at GWM will have a Family-Connect Folder that travels between home and school. Families will want to check them regularly for school-wide communication, invitations to school events, communication from your child’s teacher, learning activities, and more. Our goal is to ensure every caregiver has the information and connection to support their child’s learning and development, as well as having a chance to be an active George Watts Montessori community member. We welcome your feedback as we implement this—are there things you would like to see in the Family-Connect Folders? 

New to Montesorri

Are you new to Montessori? We want to share some “lingo” to ensure you know what we mean. Over the next several updates, we’ll share each one of the five core components of Montessori Education.

This week’s core component of Montessori education is the uninterrupted work cycle. American Montessori Society explains it as follows:

“In Montessori classrooms, the “uninterrupted work period” lets students work at their own pace, respecting their individual learning styles. During this time, students select and complete tasks without interruption, building coordination, concentration, and independence. The cycle involves choosing an activity, engaging with it, cleaning up, and selecting a new task. Teachers support and monitor students, providing individual and small-group lessons.” (https://amshq.org/the-ams-difference/core-components-of-montessori/)

At George Watts Montessori, this uninterrupted work cycle grows in length over the course of elementary school, increasing to more than 3 hours by the time students reach Upper Elementary. During the work cycle, students work both independently and collaboratively through learning activities. As students navigate the work on their individualized work plan, they have agency to determine what they want to work on in the moment, with the structure to know all works on their work plan must be completed by week’s end. Throughout the work cycle, teachers and instructional assistants provide lessons individually and in small groups to set students up for success on the works on their work plan. Through lessons and works, students grow in their mastery of the standards.

We invite you to take an inside look at one of our lower elementary classrooms through this photodocumentary project in Ms. Bogue’s class: https://wondersofwatts.com/stories/weiyee_mock.html.

GWM Update: Details for Arrival, Dismissal, and Transportation

School Hours: 7:45AM–2:15PM

The diagram below is designed to help families navigate the arrival and dismissal procedures at George Watts Montessori. 

To support the safe arrival and departure of students utilizing school bus transportation, we ask that parents and caregivers avoid Watts Street in front of the school between Dacian Ave and Urban St. This block is noted on the map where the school bus is. 

Does your child walk to and from school independently? In order to be dismissed without a parent or bus pick-up, students must have a signed self-dismiss student permission slip on file. 

Morning Arrival

• Students arriving by car, bike, or on foot are welcomed into the school building from 7:25 until 7:45AM through our three available entrances:

  • Bike riders and students walking to school independently enter through the door near the bike racks facing Watts St. (“the bus door”).

  • Car riders enter through the double doors at the car rider circle on Urban Ave–students who arrive by car will be welcomed car-side from the passenger side of the car only. Student safety is paramount, and crossing between cars in line creates a dangerous situation. If your child needs to exit the car from the driver side, please park and walk your child up to the walk-up door.

  • Families arriving on foot use the back door off Urban Ave facing the playground. If you are parking and walking up, this is also where you will enter, but we do ask that you utilize the crosswalks to ensure safety with the many cars utilizing our car loop.

• Please note, beginning the second week of school, we will ask families to help support independence by saying goodbye outside of our building. 

• Students who arrive after 7:45AM will need a parent/guardian to park and escort them to the office to sign in, as instruction begins promptly at 7:45AM. 

• DPS offers FREE breakfast and lunch for all students through the community eligibility program. Our full cafeteria breakfast line remains open until 7:40AM for students to enjoy breakfast prior to the start of instruction. If your child wishes to eat breakfast at school, we encourage you to arrive no later than 7:35 to allow them time to get to the cafeteria and then to class. Students who arrive after the cafeteria closes have the option of cold breakfast in the office. 

Afternoon Dismissal

• Dismissal begins at 2:15PM. After the first week or two of school, we are usually finished with dismissal by 2:30PM. Please be sure to pick your child up by that time. On the rare occasion a student is not picked up by 2:30, they can be signed out from the main office. 

• Cars should line up according to the arrow in the diagram above, eastbound on Urban Ave coming from Buchanan. Please do not arrive early as it causes significant traffic issues around the area, since George Watts Montessori does not have a long drive for car line.

  • Our crossing guard, Mr. Charles works diligently to ensure safety of those crossing the street while also ensuring our car line moves forward as space is available. Please help him by remaining alert to his instructions. 

  • Students will be escorted to their car by a staff member on the passenger side only. Student safety is paramount, and crossing between cars in line creates a dangerous situation. If your child needs to enter the car from the driver side, please park and pick your child up from the walk-up door.

• Students who walk or bike home independently need to have a signed “self-dismiss” form on file in the front office. This form must be completed annually and is available digitally to print and sign, or a paper copy can be obtained from your child’s teacher or the main office. 

• Students being picked up on foot can be picked up at the walker door (behind the school off of Urban Ave facing the playground). If you are parking and walking up, this is also where you will come, but we do ask that you utilize the crosswalks to ensure safety with the many cars utilizing our car loop.

Some Helpful Hints

• Please work with your child to unbuckle and buckle independently. We will ask that those using the car line remain in their vehicle. Students should exit and enter the car using the passenger side. This ensures safety as cars are stopped close together–we have had instances of rear-end collisions in our car line, and we want to ensure both students and staff are safe. If your child is not yet able to unbuckle and buckle independently, we invite you to park and utilize our walker door. 

• Please use your full attention in the carline to prevent accidents such as rear-end collisions. It is helpful if you end cell phone use before pulling into the carline.

• During pick-up, please display your child’s name in the windshield to expedite students coming down to the carline. 

• Finally, please help us by turning right when you depart the carline circle. This keeps traffic moving efficiently and safely. 

• Finally, practice patience–we will master the carline sooner than you think!

Bus Transportation Details

As we begin a new school year, we know that bus transportation can take a little time to settle into a routine. Please review the following important information to help make the first few weeks go smoothly.

1. Download the Edulog App.

   We encourage families to download the Edulog Parent Portal app to receive bus updates and track your child’s bus. You will need your student’s ID number to access the information.

2. Please Be Patient During the First Few Weeks

   The first few weeks of school may bring changes and adjustments as drivers learn their routes and new stops are added.

   Please have your child at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled stop time. The bus may arrive up to 10 minutes before or after the scheduled time. Please allow extra time during the first few weeks as transportation works to establish consistent routes and schedules. New bus Transportation requests can take up to 10 school days for students to be assigned. 

3. An Adult Must Be Present for PK–3 Students

   For students in PK through 3rd grade, an adult must be present at the bus stop when the student is dropped off. The student will not be let off the bus.

4. Please Have Your Child Ride the Bus Regularly

   Please make sure your child rides the bus a few times during the first few weeks of school.

   If a student does not ride the bus for 10 consecutive school days, the student may be unassigned from the bus route.

5. Need Help With Your Bus?

   The George Watts Montessori office closes at 3:15 p.m. each day.

   If you are experiencing a transportation issue after the office has closed and cannot reach someone at the school, please contact Durham Public Schools Transportation:

   Transportation: 919-560-BUSS (2877)

   If you have any questions or concerns about your child's bus transportation, please reach out to Ms. Bertson.Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to make the start of the school year a smooth one for all of our students and families.

Week of August 17, 2026

Happening this week:

• Back-to-School Bash, Wednesday from 5:30-7:00PM on the GWM playground

• Meet the Teacher, Friday from 8-9:30AM for lower el and upper el

From Principal Jenn:

Good Evening Families!

We are just ONE WEEK from the eve before day 1 of the 2026-27 school year! We have lots happening this week to prepare for our new school year, so please take a moment to review all of the details included!

Teachers will be reaching out via email, text, or phone call to introduce themselves this week! Expect to hear from them between Tuesday and Thursday. On Friday morning, you’re invited to drop in between 8 and 9:30 to see the classroom and say hello to your child’s teacher.

Be ready for school with your school supplies. School supply lists are ready for all grade level bands, as well as teacher wishlists. We believe all children should have what they need for school, and if you are unable to contribute, it is OKAY! We have supplies ready for any child who might need a little assistance. This even includes a fresh, new backpack! We’ll have supplies ready to give away during the first week of school! Want to help? School supply donations will be accepted at our back-to-school bash AND at meet-the-teacher!

We are still accepting volunteers as nominees for our School Improvement Team. We have two open parent positions. Our School Improvement Team meets monthly to discuss continuous improvement, school initiatives, school data, and problem-solving. If you are interested in nominating yourself, please email me ASAP. We will close nominations on Friday, August 21 to allow voting to take place the first week of school.

Look for an additional message from me later this week to review our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal procedures–this topic warrants its own message! We are looking forward to a great start to the school year! Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Principal Jenn

Upcoming Events

You’re Invited to our Back-to-School Bash: Wednesday, August 19, 5:30-7:00PM

Join the PTA, with Principal Jenn and Ms. Bertson, as we celebrate the return to school! We’ll gather on the playground for play, popsicles, and a chance to reconnect with others! Additionally, the PTA will share and vote on the 2026-27 PTA budget. 

Please note: we will not have access to the building for restrooms during this event–please use the restroom before coming!

Are you new to Montessori?

We want to share some “lingo” to ensure you know what we mean. Over the next several updates, we’ll share each one of the five core components of Montessori Education.

This week’s core components of Montessori education is the mixed-age level classroom. American Montessori Society explains it as follows:

“In Montessori schools, multi-age groupings allow younger children to learn from older peers and face new challenges through observation, while older children reinforce their learning by teaching and developing leadership skills. This setup fosters cooperation and reflects real-world interactions across ages.” (https://amshq.org/the-ams-difference/core-components-of-montessori/)

At George Watts Montessori, our classrooms are set up as follows:

• Primary Classrooms: Our primary classrooms include 4-6-year-olds in preK & kindergarten.

• Lower El: Our lower el (elementary) classrooms include 6-10-year-olds in grades 1-3.

• Upper El: Our upper el (elementary) classrooms are made up of 9-12-year-olds in grades 4-5.

GWM Update: Back to School Updates

Hello Families,

For those of you who are new to George Watts Montessori, WELCOME! We are so excited for your family to join our community! I hope everyone is having a fun and relaxing summer! I wanted to connect with some summer updates as you prepare to return to school in less than a month–the summers go by so quickly!

Welcome Samaya Dawson-Hart to our front office! We said goodbye to Ms. Rebekah (Woods) at the end of June. Ms. Dawson-Hart will now serve as the data manager for George Watts Montessori. She is busy learning all of the ins and outs and will be available to support our families!

Key dates for the back-to-school season:

• Wednesday, August 19, 5:30-7PM: Back-to-School Bash. Additional details will be shared soon, but save the date.

• Friday, August 21, 8-9:30 AM: Meet the Teacher for Lower El and Upper El Classrooms. Students in grades 1-5 are invited to stop by and meet their teacher and see their classroom in preparation for the first day of school. Primary students (preK & K) will have their meet-the-teacher event on Wednesday, August 26, 4-5PM.

• Monday, August 24, First Day of School. Please note, students in preK and kindergarten will start on a staggered schedule–detailed communication will be provided within the next week.

School supply lists are now posted on our website! While purchasing supplies for your child is helpful, we also have many community partners who will help if you are unable to purchase any supplies. See our supply list HERE.

Opportunities to get involved:

• George Watts Montessori PTA (parent-teacher-association) is an active group of parents seeking to connect the community of GWM and make our school the best learning environment possible for students to engage in learning! The PTA is seeking community volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, both small and medium. If you are interested in learning more, please contact PTA president, Elena Snavely. (elena.snavely@gmail.com).

• George Watts Montessori School Improvement Team (SIT). We are currently seeking nominations to fill two parent-representative positions on our school improvement team. The SIT meets monthly to review school data, discuss improvement ideas, and monitor the progress and implementation of school-improvement initiatives. Additionally, the SIT will discuss topics of interest to the community. SIT positions are two-year positions and a great way to connect with the school and impact school decisions. For more information or to volunteer for nomination, please contact me (jennifer_aguilar@dpsnc.net).

• It’s time to register to volunteer for the 2026-27 school year. Each year, volunteers must re-apply for volunteer approval, which includes a background check. This process can take up to a few weeks, so we encourage you to take a minute to apply now to ensure you have approval to volunteer in time for the 2026-27 school year! You can learn more and register HERE.

We are excited for the upcoming school year and look forward to connecting with each and every one of you! I hope the remainder of your summer is filled with fun, relaxation, and connection. Our offices are open from 8AM-2PM Monday through Thursday this summer–please let us know if we can serve you in any way!

Jenn Aguilar, GWM principal

Week of June 8, 2026

Good Evening Families,

Wow–this is the final weekly update for the 2025-26 school year. Before sharing our final update, I want to thank each one of you for the role you have played in the George Watts Montessori community this year. There were so many highlights in this school year, and I am grateful for you! 

We have several fun celebrations this week to round out the school year, including our 5th grade promotion ceremony where we will send off our fifth graders and field day. 

Second grade families, our Advanced Academics team wants to offer an brief session on understanding the CogAT score report and AIG identification. We apologize for not getting this in sooner. Jen Pryor, our lower AIG specialist will host a session at 8AM on Wednesday (I know, it’s the very last day)--it will likely take place in the media center. 

Since this will likely be the final update before Summer, I want to share a few important notes:

First, for those returning to George Watts Montessori next year, you can expect a mid-Summer update from me in early to mid-July with more regular communication starting in mid-August. 

Second, we operate on limited office hours during the summer months. Our office will be open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8AM-2PM throughout the summer. Email is usually the best way to get in touch with our office team in the Summer. 

Third, mark your calendar for our summer playdates on our playground at George Watts–we will have a playdate on June 20 and July 11, from 9-10:30AM (beat the heat!). 

Finally, if your child has medication at the school, please be sure to stop by the office this week to pick it up, as we are unable to store medication over the summer. 

Let’s make this a great final three days–we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week:

• Tuesday, June 9 – 5th grade promotion ceremony

• Wednesday, June 10 – 8AM CogAT info session

• Wednesday, June 10 – Field Day

• Wednesday, June 10 – Last day of school

 Specials Rotation:

Tuesday is our final day of specials: Monday is an E day and Tuesday an A Day

Last Day:

Wednesday, June 10, the final student day of the 2025–2026 school year, will operate as a full instructional day for students. Please plan for normal school hours, transportation, and dismissal procedures. Thank you for your support as we close out a strong school year!

Last call for feedback on policy proposal:

DPS is seeking feedback from stakeholders on drafts of updated student code of conduct policy 4301. The turnaround is very short, as the board is working to pass updated policy before the transition on July 1. We invite you to read about changes and communicate your feedback using this form. 

 Support the PTA

Enjoy 20% off everything at Minted using our exclusive code and they'll donate 10% of sales back to us! https://www.minted.com/ OUR CODE IS: FUNDRAISEGWATTS

Week of June 1, 2026

Good Evening Families,

Tomorrow marks the start of June and the last full week of school for this school year. This last quarter has flown by. Thank you to 3rd through 5th grade parents–we had a great start to our EOGs on Thursday and Friday. We’ll continue through this week. 

Join the PTA on June 4th @ 5:30 on the Playground! We will celebrate the end of the year here at George Watts with popsicles and community. We will also be electing next year's PTA officers and getting feedback on our budget.

This Saturday, June 6, is our Rainbow Party. Join the Rainbow Club on our playground from 10 until noon for fun activities and a time of connections and pride!

Heading into these last couple weeks of school, we have a lot of things happening–EOGs, end-of-year celebrations, our Rainbow Party, field day and more! Be sure to be on the lookout for all the details!

I do want to highlight, the last day of school is a full day this year. For as long as I have worked in DPS (20+ years), the last day has been an early release day, but this year we will dismiss at 2:15. 

Have a great week and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week

• Tuesday, June 2–Grades 4 & 5 Math EOG

• Wednesday, June 3–Grade 3 Math EOG 

• Thursday, June 4–Grade 5 Science EOG

• Thursday, June 4, 5:30PM–PTA popsicles on the playground

• Saturday, June 6, 10AM-Noon–Rainbow Party (see details below!)

 Specials Rotation:

• Monday: E**

• Tuesday: A

• Wednesday: B

• Thursday: C

• Friday: D

**Primary only, Monday will be a C day and resume usual schedule on Tuesday with an A day.

Feedback on policy proposal:

DPS is seeking feedback from stakeholders on drafts of updated student code of conduct policy 4301. The turnaround is very short, as the board is working to pass updated policy before the transition on July 1. We invite you to read about changes and communicate your feedback using this form. 

 Support the PTA:

Enjoy 20% off everything at Minted using our exclusive code and they'll donate 10% of sales back to us! https://www.minted.com/ OUR CODE IS: FUNDRAISEGWATTS

Week of May 25, 2026

Good Evening Families,

I hope you are enjoying your weekend! Tomorrow is Memorial Day, so we have a bonus weekend day–stay dry and enjoy!

We all want to say a HUGE THANK YOU for an amazing staff appreciation week at George Watts Montessori–we had so much fun and everyone enjoyed the different ways we celebrated!

As we head into these last couple weeks of school, we have a lot of things happening–EOGs, end-of-year celebrations, our Rainbow Party, field day and more! Be sure to be on the lookout for all the details!

Have a great week, and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week:

• Monday, May 25–Memorial Day, school closed

• Thursday, May 28–Grades 4 & 5 Reading EOG

• Friday, May 29–Grade 3 Reading EOG 

 Specials Rotation:

• Monday: no school

• Tuesday: A

• Wednesday: B

• Thursday: C

• Friday: D

 Rainbow Party

Support the PTA

Enjoy 20% off everything at Minted using our exclusive code and they'll donate 10% of sales back to us! https://www.minted.com/ OUR CODE IS: FUNDRAISEGWATTS

Week of May 18, 2026

Good Evening Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! I have just a couple of updates for this week:

This week we are celebrating staff appreciation week at George Watts Montessori–we truly have the most amazing staff at George Watts and we are excited to show them how much we love them. See details below to know all the ways we are celebrating and feel free to join in with celebration.

Tuesday is the final PTA work session. Feel free to join in the media center after morning arrival.

Have a great week and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week:

• Tuesday, May 19, 7:45AM–PTA work session

 Specials Rotation:

• Monday: A

• Tuesday: B

• Wednesday: C

• Thursday: D

• Friday: E

 Spring Pictures

Last call for Spring Picture orders. Orders are due TONIGHT, Sunday, May 17, so check it out now!

View your images at http://honorrollportraits.hhimagehost.com/26SpringGeorgeWatts using these directions:

Input an active email address and your access code is your child's last name and date of birth month and day format, MMDD. 

For Example my last name is Wessell and my date of birth is April 29. 

My access code would be Wessell0429.  

If you have more than one child at George Watts, after you put in the first access code click "add another access code" and put in your next access code.

If you have any questions or problems accessing your pictures, please email photographer, Laura, at honorrollportraits@gmailcom.

Week of May 11, 2026

Good Evening Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! We had SO much fun at our Cultural Celebration on Wednesday and hope you did as well! Getting a chance to connect and learn more about some of our families was truly a delight!

Make sure you have checked out your child’s spring pictures–orders are due Sunday, May 17. Details below for how to log in to view and order pics.

Tuesday is dine-out at Timber Pizza! Come enjoy some award-winning pizza and connect with other George Watts Montessori families at Timber Pizza.

This Friday is our final Coffee with the Principals event. We invite you to join Ms. Bertson and me for a cup of coffee and conversation. There is no agenda–just a time for you to connect and talk about what you want to talk about.!

May is Mental Health Awareness month. With the end of the year comes many assessments. We know assessments can create worry and stress for kids. I encourage you to do everything you can to help create calm this month for your kids. Remind students that assessments help us best understand how we are doing and what kids need. Doing their best is the only thing needed!

Thursday is our final school improvement team meeting for the 2026-27 school year. This month’s meeting is in person, and all are welcome. We will be reviewing newly released teacher working conditions survey data. Teacher working conditions are an important measure of school culture!

Have a great week and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week:

• Thursday, May 14, 4PM, School Improvement Team meeting

• Friday, 8AM: Coffee with the Principals

 Specials Rotation:

• Monday: A

• Tuesday: B

• Wednesday: C

• Thursday: D

• Friday: E

 Staff Appreciation Week

Staff Appreciation Week at George Watts Montessori is just one week away! Check out the flyer in your child’s backpack for additional details–we want to show our educators just how much they mean to us! There are lots of ways you can be involved…

Monday, May 18: help your child write personal notes of appreciation for staff members that they are most connected with! 

Tuesday, May 19: Sweet Treat Bar–sign up to donate candy for a giant treat bar for teachers and staff!

Gift Card Raffle: surprise gifts are so much fun–donate a gift card to be raffled off throughout the week. Our hope is that each staff member will be surprised and delighted at least once during the week! Deliver to the front office by May 15. 

Spring Pictures

Spring pictures, including class pictures, are available to view and order. Orders are due Sunday, May 17, so check it out now!

View your images at http://honorrollportraits.hhimagehost.com/26SpringGeorgeWatts using these directions:

Input an active email address and your access code is your child's last name and date of birth month and day format, MMDD. 

For Example my last name is Wessell and my date of birth is April 29. 

My access code would be Wessell0429.  

If you have more than one child at George Watts, after you put in the first access code click "add another access code" and put in your next access code.

If you have any questions or problems accessing your pictures, please email photographer, Laura, at honorrollportraits@gmailcom.

Support the PTA

Enjoy 20% off everything at Minted using our exclusive code and they'll donate 10% of sales back to us! https://www.minted.com/ OUR CODE IS: FUNDRAISEGWATTS

Week of May 4, 2026

Good Evening Families,

I hope you had a great weekend! I can hardly believe we have crossed into May–June 10 will be here before we know it!

Wednesday is our Cultural Celebration! Our quarter 4 family night is THIS week, Wednesday, May 6 from 5-6:30PM! We will be celebrating the many cultures that are part of our George Watts Montessori community! Come engage in activities, see student work from this year, visit family tables, and shop the book fair! We hope to see all of you on Wednesday! 

While this week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, at George Watts Montessori, we’re celebrating the week of May 18! See details below regarding next steps from our family team to prepare to show our staff how appreciated they are!

Have a great week and we hope to see you around George Watts Montessori soon!

Happening this week:

• Wednesday, May 6: Cultural Celebration, 5-6:30PM

 Specials Rotation:

• Monday: A

• Tuesday: B

• Wednesday: C

• Thursday: D

• Friday: E

Please note, we missed E day on Friday, but the schedule will remain with A day on Monday.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Dear Watts Families:

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming! We look forward to recognizing everyone who makes George Watts Montessori a great place to go to school throughout the week of May 18-22.* We have an exciting calendar of events planned, which we will share with everyone soon.

For now, we invite you to participate in a new-to-Watts Teacher Appreciation Week activity: Watts Teachers and Staff Gift Card Drawing Drive! Throughout the week of May 18-22, teachers and staff will draw from a bucket of donated gift cards of varying amounts from varying businesses as a fun way to brighten their Teacher Appreciation Week. This idea comes from within the Watts teaching/staff community as a way for families to recognize them and their peers.

We need Watts families to donate gift cards! There are 82 wonderful people working at Watts. So, if families donate 82 gift cards, everyone can draw once. If families donate 164 gift cards, everyone can draw twice. And so on. Numbers in between will mean that some get to draw more than others, which will be subject to chance (so, more drawing). Principal Jenn and her team will manage the drawing process.

We need donations of gift cards, delivered to the front office, beginning this Monday, May 4! Gift cards should be for at least $10 and can be to any nearby business. So, coffee shops, local stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. If you're able, please donate multiple gift cards! We'll collect through Friday, May 15, keep a tally of donations, and send gift-card-raising updates.

We look forward to showing our appreciation to everyone working at Watts in this fun and festive way! Please contact us if you have any questions, and please stay tuned for more details on our plans for each day of Teacher Appreciation Week.

With thanks,

Ashley and Caroline, PTA Family Involvement Co-Chairs

Support the PTA

Enjoy 20% off everything at Minted using our exclusive code and they'll donate 10% of sales back to us! https://www.minted.com/ OUR CODE IS: FUNDRAISEGWATTS