Namaste Montessori School

March 27, 2025School Eventscaregivers, Community, Montessori, parent involvement, primary

Bring A Caregiver to School Day!

We are excited to bring back a wonderful family event to our school calendar this year – Bring a Caregiver to School Day! This February and March, children in our Primary program invited in a parent or caregiver for a tour and a visit, in which they could show them some of their favorite activities. It is a wonderful opportunity …

February 28, 2025UncategorizedBook Sale, Community, literacy, Montessori

Our “We Love Books” Book Sale was a Success!

Each year we work with a publisher to hold a “We Love Books” book sale in the month of February. This year we partnered with PaperPie, (www.paperpie.com) seller of Usborne books, and through their generous book sale program that offers 50% back in credit we made $354.23 to put toward books for our classrooms! Thank you to all the families …

February 21, 2025School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, literacy, Montessori, primary

Montessori Education and Literacy – Panel Discussion

Join us for a presentation of current literacy research and its application in the Montessori curriculum with Bruce Howlett, reading specialist and author of “Sparking the Reading Shift“, and our Primary and Elementary teachers, Bridgid Beames, Lauren Lougher, and Lex Thompson. Learn more about why some children read easily and some find it more challenging and less enjoyable, what makes …

November 18, 2024School Eventsalternative education, Community, Montessori, Music and Art Education

Namaste Fall Festival

Despite the chill, Namaste families gathered for a fun-filled afternoon of games and activities early this November. The annual festival was larger than ever with the addition of a paper plane launching area and a timed obstacle course. So many parent volunteers helped to make this event a success and the community is so grateful!!

September 22, 2024School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori

Upper Elementary Annual Camping Trip

Each year, the upper elementary heads out on a fall two-night adventure to an area state park. This trip offers valuable experience planning, preparing, and packing, as well as a opportunities to cook meals, explore the area, and bond with peers. Before the trip, the students decided on meals and went on a field trip to Wegmans to purchase food. …

September 9, 2024School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, primary

Namaste Celebrates 20 Years of Serving Children and Families

Current and past members of the Namaste community gathered to celebrate 20 years of excellent early childhood education with shared food, music, activities, and memories! Namaste sponsored free carousel rides for visitors to the park for the day. History Namaste Montessori School was founded in August of 2004 by Bridgid and Stanley Beames. It was initially licensed as a NYS …

July 2, 2024School Eventsalternative education, Community, Montessori

Ithaca Fest Parade

Each year the elementary students help design and create a float for the Ithaca Fest parade. This year the theme was “Let the Sunshine In!” and our float was colorful, with flowers and butterflies! We had record turnout for our little school, with many alumni and families walking with us.

June 30, 2024School Events, School Projectsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, Music and Art Education, technology

Elementary Annual City Trip for 5th and 6th Years

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, including visits to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum (the oldest art museum in the US) for a private tour and art lesson, the Philadelphia Mint …

June 23, 2024School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, Music and Art Education, primary

Annual Spring Festival

What a joy to be together as a community this spring, to spread blankets across the lawn and watch performances! The Spring Fest was an opportunity for the children to share songs, rhythms, and motions from their music classes with their families and for us all to share a meal, enjoy each other’s company, listen to great music, and do …

June 18, 2024School Projectsalternative education, Careers, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, Science

From Seed to Loaf

Our elementary students learned about the growing of wheat and milling of flour, the creation of sourdough starters, and the kneading, shaping, and baking of bread this spring! With guidance and support from staff from Wide Awake Bakery and Farmer Ground Flour, the children enjoyed in-class visits and field trips to gain hand-on experiences with the processes of farming grain …

March 19, 2024Uncategorizedchild development, Community, literacy, Montessori, primary

Thank You for Making our Book Sale a Success!

We are grateful for all the families and friends that participated in our “We Love Books!” Barefoot Books, Book sale last month! With the credit we earned from Barefoot Books publishing company, we were able to purchase some beautiful books for our classrooms, including short chapter books with themes of friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and grit. These books will be wonderful …

January 23, 2024School Events, School ProjectsCommunity, elementary, Montessori, robotics, technology

The Elementary Robotic Team Wins First Place at First Lego League Competition

The Namaste Elementary First Lego League Robotics Team, The Tech Animals, was awarded first place in a FLL qualifying tournament they competed in with 22 other teams from the area. The event was held in Auburn, NY on Saturday January 20, 2024. Tech Animals will move on to compete in the Fingerlakes Regional Tournament in Buffalo on February 10, 2024. FIRST® LEGO® League …

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