Montessori Academy of London | London, Ontario

A message from our Executive Director, Tina Brown

Dear MA Families, 

“Joy, feeling one’s own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori   

Creating an intentional environment for your child to engage in meaningful work, feel joy and guide them along as they discover who they are, is what drives our work everyday. We can’t wait for the journey to begin this year and look forward to supporting you through all the emotions that a school year can bring (both you and your child!).

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, Sept. 8. 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 arrived here via our 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 we completed a number of smaller internal but important upgrades: kitchen refresh at Westmount, painting 7 classrooms, large installation of garbage sheds across all sites, roof repairs, shelf building and the list goes on! However our most exciting project, which should be nearing completion as I write this, was the overhaul of our Gym space at Colborne St. United Church!

We are very grateful to the numerous donors and the grant we received from The Walter J. Blackburn Foundation, who all made this dream a reality for our students and community. This upgrade also would not have been possible without  the long-term partnership we have established with the leadership team at the church. We are very excited to use this new beautiful space in more ways and look forward to celebrating the opening of the new gym soon, so stay tuned for more details! 

A Farewell, Welcome Back and Introductions

A warm welcome back is extended to Victoria Little, who has returned to the Registrar role from her parental leave, and as such, Jennifer Rayman’s time in the position is complete. We are grateful for Jennifer’s dedication to the role and the support she provided our parents, students and community over the last 18 months. 

We are excited to introduce Shaidon (Shaii) Woods to the MA team as our Elementary French Teacher and Luke Horton as our School Secretary. Luke has just recently joined us, so if you have called or popped by the school in the last few weeks, you may have already met him! Shaii has also spent time in the French classroom over the month of August and is eager to meet his new students. Below are bio’s they have shared with us to get to know them. 

Meet Shaii

Shaii is excited to join MA as a French teacher, bringing a passion for language, culture, creativity, and lifelong learning into the classroom.

Shaii holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in French Language from Western University and spent a year living and studying in France, fully immersing himself in the language and culture. His passion for French has continued through teaching, international travel, and cultural experiences across more than 19 countries on six continents. 

As the founder of an independent dance company, he has over 15 years of experience teaching learners of all ages. Through movement, creativity, and experiential learning, he has developed engaging techniques that help students connect with concepts in memorable and meaningful ways. He believes learning should not only be enjoyable, but also lasting and impactful.

Meet Luke

Luke is already settling into his role as the new School Secretary. Over the past six years, he had the opportunity to work in a variety of educational settings, including the Thames Valley District School Board, BGC London (formerly the Boys & Girls Club), and Western University. Through these experiences, Luke worked in teaching (OCT Intermediate/Senior, History and English), program coordination, and administrative roles, which have strengthened his passion for education and supporting students, families, and school communities.

Luke enjoys creating welcoming environments where children and youth can learn, grow, and discover their interests while building confidence along the way. He is looking forward to becoming part of the Montessori community, getting to know everyone, and contributing to the continued success of our students and families.

New Parent Next Step Sessions

We realize parents who have children moving into a new level of the school, or who are new to our community, may have some nervous or excited energy too! This is why we are hosting a number of parent meetings this week and next week just for you. Be sure to set these dates in your calendar, as these meetings will offer a great foundation for what to expect. 

• New Casa Parent Next Step Session – TODAY: Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m.

• New LE Parent Next Step Session – Thursday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. 
• New to UE Parent Next Step Session – Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. 
• New to JH Parent Next Step Session – Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8 a.m. 

With September and the start of all the routines quickly approaching, I encourage you to stay in summer mode for just a little bit longer. What is the one more thing you want to do? Make it happen! Hold on to those slower mornings, outdoor dinners, throw in one more beach day or take that longer bike ride. We look forward to hearing all about your summer adventures and reconnecting with you. 

Sincerely,

Tina Brown
Executive Director 

Reminders

LAST CALL: Elementary Hot Lunch & Milk orders (Years 1-6)

Our optional Elementary lunch and milk program will start the first day of school, Tuesday, September 8. Lunch and Milk orders opened via the MA Parent App a couple of weeks ago. If you would like your child(ren) to receive lunch and/or milk, please order online by the end of day today (September 1): https://mahotlunch.campbrainregistration.com/ 

Payments can be made online, or you can drop into the Main Office to pay by cash, cheque or credit card. If you need assistance with ordering, please contact Luke in the Main Office.

Discounted Western Fair Tickets 

The Western Fair runs from September 11-20! We have a special discount for our families to use to purchase Western Fair tickets. The deadline to purchase these discounted tickets is September 10, 2026. 

Montessori Academy will receive $1 back per General Admission ticket and $2 back per SuperPass from the Western Fair Association! 

To purchase tickets:

• Follow this link: https://shop.authentigate.ca/store/special/20267GWK4J93  
• Or use this access code: 20267GWK4J93 at https://shop.authentigate.ca/store/wfd/corporate-login

This information is also available in the app under Notices. 

2026-2027 PD Days and Holidays