• 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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In order to support a high level of independence, parents and caregivers drop off their children at the door at Namaste Montessori School, much like most primary Montessori schools. This practice allows the child to have ownership of their time and space at school and have a clear separation from their parents and caregivers. However, this means that the parents and caregivers rarely get to see the classroom or their child in action, unless they come to observe. This event is meant to allow interaction and celebration of the children’s work/

During their visit, parents and caregivers followed their children around to watch them display their favorite tasks. The children were so proud to share their skills with their loved ones! They played games, described their activities, and answered questions. Several guests commented on how independent their children were and on their high level of understanding of their work. The morning visit ended with a gathering and songs. “Bring a caregiver to school day” was a great success!

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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 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.

The post Namaste Celebrates 20 Years of Serving Children and Families appeared first on Namaste Montessori School.

Exploring the natural world is an important part of the Montessori curriculum. The children enjoy observing the amazing changes in the world around them. Often these projects just arrive when a child finds a caterpillar in their garden! Or a child asks to bring in a tank of tadpoles. The children often find praying mantises and walking sticks in our outdoor courtyard. There is so much to discover in our world! Bringing some of these amazing seasonal experiences inside supports their sense of wonder and their love of the environment around them. Raising butterflies also offers opportunities to develop patience, gentleness, responsibility, and the ability to let go. The children feel the simultaneous joy and sadness of letting the butterflies out into the world where anything can happen.

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The spring festival is an opportunity for the children to share songs, rhythms, and dances from their music classes with their families. It is also an opportunity for our community to come together to share a meal and enjoy each other’s company. We were fortunate again this year to have some great music, and to do a little family-friendly dancing! The Ditch Lilies (Rosie Newton, Paul Martin, Lloyd and Valerie Graves) played traditional old-time string band music while Nancy Spero called some family-friendly dances. Special thanks to Jennifer Birnbaum for her work with the elementary children as their music teacher and to Valerie Graves for her work with the primary classes!

Namaste greatly values our community of families and all the positive energy and warmth they share. Events like the spring festival provide an opportunity to celebrate our community! Making food to share and joining hands to dance deepens our connections. Thank you to all our families for helping organize events such as these, and for prioritizing gathering with our community. There are so many activities calling to parents and children, we are happy to be one of the communities our families value in their lives as well.

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We are grateful for all the people that participated in our “We Love Books!” Barefoot Books, Book sale last month! With the credit we earned, we were able to purchase some beautiful books for our classrooms. To fit with the Montessori theme of Grace and Courtesy and building community, we selected some sweet short stories. These books included short chapter books with themes of friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and grit. The stories are wonderful to read aloud for all ages, and are a manageable length for early readers to enjoy.

Our new weather and song books are perfect for toddler and primary classrooms. And they are hardcovers versions, which will help them last in little hands. Our library keeps growing and improving thanks to all the community support for our annual book sale – Thank you!

Barefoot Books was chosen this year because of their commitment to high quality children’s books. They are a women-founded, independent publisher with a mission that is very much in line with Montessori! They are often featured at Montessori workshops and conferences. If families know of other publishing companies they would like to feature, they can contact the school! We are happy to work out book sale plans with small, independent publishing companies.

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Who needs candy when you have a book that keeps giving love and sweetness throughout the year! You can purchase books for your family, for friends, or even for your child’s classroom, and each purchase will give Namaste 20% in credit toward more books!

“We Love Books” Online Book Fair
Event Start Date: 01-24-2024@12:00 pm EST
Event End Date: 02-14-2024@11:00 pm EST

Follow this link to shop:
https://www.barefootbooks.com/event/?id=23974&redirect=bookfairordering

Thank you for your support of Namaste and your children’s love of books.

Barefoot Books was chosen this year because of their commitment to high quality children’s books. They are a women-founded, independent publisher with a mission that is very much in line with Montessori! They are often featured at Montessori workshops and conferences. If families know of other publishing companies they would like to feature, they can contact the school! We are happy to work out book sale plans with small, independent publishing companies. Namaste plans to run an online book sale each year to help refresh our library but also provide resources for families for high quality children’s books!

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