Montessori Buzz – August 26, 2025
Welcome back message from our Executive Director
Dear MA Families,
“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”
~ Dr. Maria Montessori
Life feels so much better when we get to do it alongside others who believe in the same mission, vision and values; we are so glad you are here to join us as we guide your child along their educational journey this year.
Welcome back to our returning families and we can’t wait to connect with our new ones this fall! The first day of school is Tuesday, September 2, and this will not be the first time our schedule is different from the public school system here in the city, so be sure to stay tuned to this weekly gem, The Buzz, for all the highlights of what is happening across the whole school! You likely got here via the MA Parent App, which will be your go-to for quick access to classroom and school information, as well as reporting absences.
Although most of our environments are a little quieter over the summer without the hum of students, it gets louder with projects! This summer is the first one in eight that the school did not start a large-scale construction project but it doesn’t mean we were idle! Many smaller internal projects were completed and our Westmount outdoor space received a refresh. This March Break, our 718 Waterloo location will undergo a kitchen renovation thanks to our generous donors who made this dream come true for us with their giving last year. Why wait until March for this project? This building runs all year round, so our two-week March Break is the only opportunity we have for capital projects and larger maintenance needs to be completed without interrupting our Toddler programs.
Next up: Launching our Parent & Infant Program
After a year in the making, we are extremely excited to launch a new program this fall, which will allow us to support our families and their children from the beginning! This program will run once a term, with two classes being held each Thursday morning. Casa 1 teacher Tara Protopapas, completed her facilitator training in the Spring and can’t wait to welcome parents and children into our beautiful new loft classroom on Thursday mornings. One class will focus on ‘Infants’ (2 – 10 months) and the other on ‘Movers’ (10 – 18 months). You can read all the details here: https://montessori.on.ca/programs/infant/. Our fall session is already full, so stay tuned for winter registration.
Upcoming New Parent Next Step Meetings
We realize parents who have children moving into a new level of the school or are new to our community, may have some nervous or excited energy too! This is why we host a number of parent orientation meetings this week. Be sure to set these dates in your calendar; these meetings will offer a great foundation for what to expect.
- New Casa Parent Next Step Meeting – Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m.
- New UE Parent Next Step Meeting – Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
- New to JH Parent Next Step Meeting – Thursday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m.
- New to LE Parent Next Step Meeting – Thursday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
We look forward to hearing all about your summer adventures, reconnecting with you and getting your children settled into their classroom routines. Everyone knows September is really the New Year, so cheers to new beginnings, curiosity and discovery as we cultivate experiences that inspire compassion and a love of learning for your children.
Sincerely,
Tina Brown
Executive Director
Friendly reminders…
Elementary and Junior High Activity fees due Monday, Sept. 1
This is a reminder that Elementary and Junior High activity fees are due by September 1, 2025. If you have not yet submitted payment, please do so at your earliest convenience.
- Lower Elementary – $150
- Upper Elementary – $800
- Junior High – $1,350
Elementary Hot Lunch & Milk: September-January (Years 1-6)
Our optional lunch and milk program will start the first day of school, Tuesday, September 2. If you want your child(ren) to receive lunch and milk during the first week, please order through this link on or before Tuesday, August 26 (that’s today!) – https://mahotlunch.campbrainregistration.com/
Payments can be made online, or you can drop into the Main Office to pay by cash, cheque, credit card or Apple Pay. If you need assistance with ordering, please contact the Main Office before the deadline.
Western Fair ticket discount for MA families
The Western Fair runs from September 5-14! We have a special discount for our families to use to purchase Western Fair tickets.
This information is also available in the app under Notices. “Fair Share” ticket sales end on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:59pm.
- Use this link to buy your tickets: https://shop.authentigate.ca/store/special/2025KMHDXMGY
- Or use this access code: 2025KMHDXMGY at https://shop.authentigate.ca/store/wfd/corporate-login
