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.