Back to School


 
As summer winds down and we get ready to head "back to school", we wanted to take this opportunity to offer a few general tips to help ensure a fluid transition. Whether you're a new family just starting out or a current family returning for your second, third or even fourth year, we've put together a list of what we hope are some helpful suggestions. Here's the first:
The Week Before School
Before school starts, we recommend that you talk positively about school. Often, "going to school" can be subjected to negative connotations in our society, especially when high school students are involved in the equation! As adults, the same thing could be said for, "going to work". To combat this, and to foster a positive appreciation of school, you can use favorable expressions like, "Next week, you get to go to school!"
Another tip is to drive by the school, pointing it out as you go about your daily routine. Keep the conversation enthusiastic and upbeat. Try to relate to your own childhood experiences. Here's a sample: "I was always so excited to go to school, meet new friends and learn new things." If you want to add in the part about walking uphill there and back, that's up to you! As school becomes more familiar, it will become less of an unknown.
Also, however hard it is to imagine, it's also probably a good idea to start getting back into a routine, going to bed at a reasonable time, and starting to wake up in anticipation of the many awesome things that are going to happen this school year! With that said, enjoy the last few days of summer!

Natural Playground Visitors at MCH


This summer a group from the new Wildwood Elementary School in Mahtomedi visited our school to research their own natural playground. They were in town to buy trees from Knecht's Nursery and had a nice self-guided tour of the MCH grounds.

Seems like yesterday that we were planning our own natural playground at Montessori Children's House.
 
Kristin Lucas did the design with us and the good folks at Knecht's Nursery did the hard work. They also installed the beautiful landscape areas all around the building. We are very proud of our grounds. Roxanne and John Ludwig are our exceptional caretakers and we are so grateful to them. Recently the awesome contractor, Pete Carlson, has added some fun elements.
Of course, you know who plants the big vegetable garden:
 
But in the summer months our friend Kelly Miland keeps it all going:
We love our outdoor areas at MCH and can't wait to get back out there and PLAY!
 
 


 


Look how they've grown!

Meet Our Staff

Bela says, "when will school start?"

 
As we head into a new school year, we wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to what we affectionately refer to as, "The League of Extraordinary Montessorians". We're enthusiastic, invigorated and share the same philosophy of nurturing the young child in exploration of the world. Together, we're really looking forward to sharing in the joys, adventures and challenges of the new year. Of course, we're always around to answer any questions that you might have, and help in any way we can. Please don't hesitate to get in touch. It's going to be a great year!
 
 
MEET OUR MONTESSORI CHILDREN"S HOUSE STAFF
 
 
MEGAN DURKIN
primary teacher:classroom one
head of school


 
EMMA KLEESE
assistant teacher:classroom one 
 
NICOLE REGAN                                                   
primary teacher:classroom two                                 
 
  
 DANIELLE PEDRETTI
assistant teacher:classroom two
  
 SHANA HODEL
primary teacher:on travel leave
 
 
 PAT ROGNE
ASC teacher
 
PATTY GALLIVAN
float assistant
 
 
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!