• Engage with classroom materials and see how the prepared environment supports children’s curiosity and independence.

• Discover how Montessori practices nurture each child’s social, emotional, and academic growth.

• Through guided discussion and shared reflection, we will explore how these practices are applied in the classroom and at home.

Event is open to the public!

What: Montessori: How and Why It Works
When: Wednesday, February 11, 5:45 to 7:30 PM
Where: 1608 Trumansburg Rd, Ithaca NY

Each year, we host regular educational events or discussions for adults in our community. Many of these events are also open to the public. These “parent nights” offer opportunities for adults to meet other adults in the community and learn, and discuss aspects of Montessori philosophy.

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Montessori observed that children want big, meaningful tasks that help them engage in their culture and community. Carrying large buckets certainly is big work! And being trusted with the tools and appliances is very engaging for young children.

Activities like collecting sap to boil help bring meaningful work to the outside environment, and connect the children to the natural world and the changes of the seasons. Food is a wonderful way to engage young children and support concentration because of the sensory experiences involved in food preparation. The Bluebird class expressed excitement as they felt the heaviness of the sap, smelled the boiling sap, smelled the cooking pancakes, felt the warmth of the food, and finally tasted their treat. Additionally, through their efforts, the children felt immense pride when they accomplished their goal!

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What: Montessori Education and Literacy – Panel Discussion
When: Thursday, March 13th, 6 to 7:30 PM
Where: Jacksonville Campus (1872 Trumansburg Rd), Elementary Classroom
The school will provide childcare with pizza for Namaste primary and elementary students.
Childcare space is limited, RSVP required.

Each year, we host regular educational events or discussions for adults in our community. Many of these events are also open to the public. These “parent nights” offer opportunities for adults to meet other adults in the community and learn, and discuss aspects of Montessori philosophy. Literacy is often an important topic as there is a lot of pressure on children and parents. But brain development supports the development of literacy and cannot be rushed! This evening will help caregivers know how to support their student and recognize if the child is struggling.

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The Marine Masters, the Namaste elementary robotics team, secured two trophies at the First Lego League competition, on Saturday, January 25th. The robotics championship arrived after months of hard work building and customizing their robot, coding for missions, and preparing a research presentation on deep sea diving. The first award the team received was for the most overall points scored by their robot over their three trials. The final award was for the overall championship, awarded to the team that performed best overall. They not only scored well in the robotic competition, but also presented their research project skillfully, and demonstrated the core values of the league: discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun.

The team researched suits for deep sea diving with the hopes of supporting human efforts to understand and care for the earth’s oceans. The robot tasks included pulling, pushing, turning, striking, and gathering of objects on the table of challenges. The team members built custom attachments for their robot and coded the robot to move carefully through obstacles. Small groups of two students controlled the robot for each timed run of the competition. This early introduction to robotics and coding supports the students in their future building and engineering goals!

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For the last 4 years the toddler, primary, and elementary families plan and gather for this fall festival to build community and enjoy activities with each other. The children earn tickets for activities they participate in and then use their tickets to “purchase” treats as prizes! The parents supplied an impressive spread of delicious treats again this year, with everything from fruit and popcorn, to muffins and brownies. Activities included face painting, pumpkin painting, ball toss, and cornhole. Children could also decorate masks with paints and jewels. The pretzels on a string were a big hit as usual!

So many parent volunteers helped to make this event a success and the community is so grateful! The obstacle course and paper plane launching station required a lot of lugging and set up! The decorations made the pavilion inviting and the tables were set up beautifully. We are also grateful for the use of Jacksonville Community park again this year. The park now has a bathroom, which is a wonderful addition.

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The annual camping trip helps to solidify the community of older children and strengthens their friendships. The work they do together to plan, pack, set up, and make meals gives them opportunities to take responsibility for the care of their peers. They have many adventures, helping them build respect for each other’s strengths and abilities compassion for each others worries and fears. All of this in the context of a meaningful learning experience of being outside and exploring the natural world! We are thankful to our teaching and administrative teams and the parents and caregivers who support this important opportunity for the older elementary students!

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The primary environment is connected to a fenced courtyard that includes tables, gardens, and work benches for using tools. The outside activities often include things like painting and washing cloths. Garden work includes activities such as weeding, watering, and cutting flowers and herbs for the classroom. There are tools, such as hammers, saws, and hand drills, that offer the children fine motor practice. Children can also choose to bring their work or snack outside to a table. The children enjoy hearing the birds and feeling the warm sunshine and cool breezes!

The indoor/outdoor classroom is somewhat weather dependent, but the children go outside year-round! When the weather turns cold, the children continue to go outside to explore the playground, and bring in things from the natural world to explore. The take hikes around the property and help collect sap for maple syrup. However activities like using tools or easel painting have to move inside or await space in the spring.

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History

Bridgid and Stanley Beames founded Namaste Montessori School 20 years ago, in August of 2004. The initial licensed program was located in the Beames’ family home, 3011 Halseyville Road, Trumansburg, NY.  It has been Bridgid’s lifelong dream to open her own Montessori school. This dream, combined with the high need for day care and overwhelming community support inspired the Beames to open Namaste.

The need to expand

In response to overwhelming interest in the program and an extensive waiting list, the Beames expanded the program in the spring of 2005.

Soon after the expansion Bridgid and Stan created a long-range plan and blue print for the growth of school.  The next phase in the growth of the school required moving the program to a larger site. In December of 2006 the building and property at 1608 Trumansburg Road was purchased.  The completed renovations in the spring of 2007.

In the June of 2007, Namaste Montessori School became a NYS licensed day care center and moved  into their new facility. The program expanded from a capacity of fourteen students to two classrooms with a capacity of thirty-one students. The program now included a primary and toddler classroom.

Adding the Elementary Program

In 2010 the school took a close look at the needs of their families and the community. After careful reflection a decision was made to continue to expand the school. Therefore, they established a long-range plan to grow the school through middle school and add more primary and toddler classrooms.

In 2011, the Beames purchased and renovated the property located at 1872 Trumansburg Rd. This property became the Namaste Montessori School’s Elementary Campus.  The founding elementary class opened its doors in September of 2011.

Facing a Pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Namaste Montessori School quickly re-openned, with careful health and safety measures in place. The school has been able to provide an essential childcare service to families of young children. They simultaneously provided a vibrant place to continue learning and being with peers for our school-age children!

Looking to the Future

In the future, the school hopes to build additional classrooms and a community space at the Primary campus. Long term goals include relocating the elementary classroom to the Primary campus, and establishing a Middle School program.

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Making a parade float is no easy task. Our community has to assemble the float at the last minute as there is no place to store it! The children share ideas and help design the float during their class time. Parents and staff help with the large physical tasks, like building and painting the base. Then the community makes a group effort to assemble the float, which involves lots of cooperation and efficiency! Parents help plan what people in the parade can carry or wear and the school sells shirts each year. The school also invites current and past families are invited to attend!

The Ithaca Festival Parade is a wonderful opportunity for our families to show their love and support for the school! It also raises awareness of the alternative education options in the area. The Ithaca Festival runs through the weekend and celebrates everything the community loves about our city – music, art, activities, goods and services… etc. The parade kicks of the festival!

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Each Spring, our 5th and 6th year elementary students plan a field trip to a nearby city. This year the students chose Philadelphia and planned for a very busy three days of activities. The activities included a visit to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum for a private tour and art lesson. The students visited the Philadelphia Mint to learn more about the minting of coins. Additionally, they chose to visit ‘The Art of the Brick’ exhibit at the Franklin Institute after their work with First Lego League Robotics. They ended their excursions with a visit to the Adventure Aquarium to further their research of ocean biomes for this year’s robotics competition.

The Importance of Going Out

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that learning is not limited to the classroom. The students need to explore the wider world to better understand and connect what they are learning with life. Each year the students help plan a city trip as part of their practice of “going out”. Through these excursions, the children apply practical math and language skills and deepen their understanding of topics they are studying. They also build confidence in speaking to adults, moving through public places, and managing time and money. They practice essential skills, like working with a group, compromising, and taking responsibility for themselves by planning and packing.

This is truly a student led and planned trip. The school provides the students with a budget and, with some adult guidance, plan for housing, meals, transportation, and sightseeing. This year, the students found a rental downtown and could shop and prepare meals in the apartment. This allowed them to accommodate dietary preferences and use budgeted money saved from not eating out for additional sightseeing activities.

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