On Wednesday, April 29th, from 5:00–7:30 PM, Montessori School of Waukesha hosted a child-centered, well-attended Fine Arts Night, celebrating the creativity and talent of our MSOW students.

The Main Campus Gymnasium was transformed into an active art gallery, showcasing artwork from every student age 5 and older. Families and guests enjoyed exploring a wide variety of pieces throughout the evening. The Library became a captivating Poetry Museum, inviting visitors to engage with student-written works, while the Lower Elementary upstairs hallway featured a special mosaic art installation centered on Maria Montesori's five great lessons. It drew much admiration.

At Campus West, the Music Room and Middle School classroom were reimagined as recital halls, where students performed in a series of musical recitals held every 30 minutes. Each time slot featured a unique group of performers, offering audiences a chance to relax and enjoy a diverse range of musical instrumental and vocal talents. Poetry readings were also incorporated into the recital schedule this year, adding another meaningful artistic dimension to the evening.

The Montessori Marketplace in the gymnasium was a popular element at the event, with student vendors proudly offering hand-crafted items for sale. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to support student entrepreneurship while purchasing one-of-a-kind creations.

With so much to see and experience, Fine Arts Night was a true celebration of student expression across multiple disciplines. Thank you to all the students, staff, and families who contributed to making this event such a success.

Special thanks to our fine arts specialists, Lygia Topolovec, Violin/Orchestra and Sara Schmitz, General Music/CH Violin and Gina Viola, Art.

As a special thank-you celebration for Upper and Lower Elementary Students who participated in the Poetry Museum for Fine Arts Night, Librarian Eve Bruce, hosted a Poet-tea at lunch time on April 30th in the MSOW gym. The young poets gathered to eat lunch, talk with one another and enjoy a delicious spread of cookies and punch provided by Ms Eve.  Students who attended were also treated to a poetry reading from Head of School, Brenda Zellmer.  After the event, one enthusiatic attendee commented, "I can't wait to do this next year!"

Eve Bruce, MSOW school librarian, recently hosted author David A. Kelly for a special visit with Lower Elementary students. Kelly, best known for his popular Ballpark Mysteries series, spoke with students about his books and shared insights into the writing process and what it takes to become a successful author.

Blending baseball, history, and mystery, Kelly’s stories follow young characters Mike and Kate as they explore major league stadiums and solve intriguing cases. A former Little League right fielder, Kelly said he was inspired by his own sons to create the series.

During his visit, Kelly explained how he travels to ballparks across the country, searching for unique details at each stadium to inspire new story ideas. Two recent books were inspired by his visits to American Family Field in Milwaukee, home of the Brewers:

• The Sausage Race Chase (#22) features the disappearance of the Brewers’ famous Racing Sausages and a stolen bratwurst sauce recipe.

• The Bobblehead Bunt (#23) centers on another Milwaukee-themed mystery.

Kelly also emphasized the importance of persistence in writing, sharing that his first mystery manuscript was rejected three times before being accepted—with revisions—by his publisher.

The visit concluded with a book signing, giving students a chance to meet the author and celebrate their excitement for reading.

Sonia Beccaria joins the Middle School team as our Spanish teacher for the remainder of the school year, stepping in while Evelyn Les is on medical leave. Sonia brings over 10 years of experience teaching and tutoring Spanish, along with a strong background in developing engaging, standards-aligned curriculum. Sonia is passionate about fostering student engagement, promoting cultural awareness, and creating an inclusive environment that supports equity and opportunity for all learners. We are excited to welcome her to our school community as she works with our students through the end of the year. 

From Middle School Lead Teacher, Luke Crotteau

During the week of April 13th, the students of the Middle School went to Washington DC for a week-long, out-of-state trip. In five days, the students navigated through four different airports, saw numerous museums with items and artifacts important to our nation's history, visited locations of major historical moments, explored the many memorials and monuments within our nation's capital, and participated in wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also at George Washington’s Tomb at Mount Vernon.

All of these experiences align with the two year cycle of the middle school program, connecting with the classroom learning in matters of social studies, civics, and science. Additionally, students were able to practice invaluable skills like independence, time-management, communication, and decision-making while away from home. 

The outcomes of these trips are numerous. Besides just walking away with fun stories and memorable experiences, the students return with a better understanding of the world and their role within it. 

Special thanks to the many families that helped with fundraising efforts, the parents that volunteered to drive to and from the airport, and to the chaperones: Middle School Lead Teachers Brian Bednarek and Luke Crotteau, Middle School Paraprofessional Jackie Kascht, and MSOW Director of Students Bethany Mueller. All of their collective effort helped to make this fantastic experience for our children possible. 

The footprint of the expansion is truly beginning to take shape. It is now clearly visible where the gymnasium, stage, and library will stand, making this an especially exciting milestone for our community.

Favorable weather played an important role this week, allowing crews to continue pouring foundation walls and making steady progress despite challenging, rocky soil conditions that required ongoing removal and hauling. Each step forward brings the vision of these new spaces closer to reality.

In a thoughtful show of appreciation, our Middle School students supported the construction team by collecting water, energy drinks, snacks, and handwritten notes. Their gesture was a meaningful reminder of the strong sense of community behind this project. (Below) Student representatives Lilikoi Burczyk and Grace Aiello present some of these items to VJS Project Manager Ben Adams. He graciously accepted the items and transported them to the construction trailer on the building site.

Looking ahead, concrete work will continue next week, and we anticipate the start of steel framing for the gym. This next phase will bring even more visible progress as the structure begins to rise. 

Eve Bruce, MSOW School Librarian, led an engaging cultural exploration with Extended Day students last week. Students reviewed the continents of the world and enjoyed a reading of What We Wear: Dressing Up Around the World.

During the session, Ms. Bruce shared images of traditional clothing from various countries, introducing students to their names and cultural significance. The pictures were passed around, giving students a closer look at the diverse styles.

The activity concluded with a creative coloring project, where students colored clothing from different countries alongside their national flags to take home.

Retzer Nature Center Storytime for 5K Students – Spring Has Sprung

Extended Day students recently visited Retzer Nature Center for a special program celebrating the arrival of spring. During their visit, naturalists shared an engaging seasonal story and led hands-on activities to deepen students’ understanding of the natural world. Highlights included an indoor scavenger hunt exploring textures found in nature—such as feathers, bark, and snake skin—as well as close-up encounters with live animals in the center’s habitat enclosures. Students also had the unique opportunity to handle walking sticks and cockroaches, making for an interactive and memorable experience.

Kumihimo bracelet making with Lower Elementary 2 Lead Teacher, Sarah Chow.

Kumihimo bracelet making introduced students to a traditional Japanese braiding technique that blends artistry, patience, and pattern recognition. Using a round braiding loom and colorful cords, students followed specific sequences to weave intricate designs, watching simple strands transform into beautifully structured bracelets. The process required focus and perseverance, while also offering opportunities for creativity through color choices and pattern variations. Beyond the finished piece, students experienced the satisfaction of working through a step-by-step process and creating something both meaningful and wearable. 

To Register as a golfer or a diner please click this link www.eventregisterpro.com/event/msow 

From Board of Trustees Secretary, Kate Winchell

MSOW Parents, faculty, and staff are invited to attend Montessori School of Waukesha’s annual Board of Trustees' Semester Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM. This meeting offers a valuable opportunity to stay informed, hear updates on school initiatives, and connect with MSOW Board members as we continue working together to support our school community. We hope you’ll join us!

We still need your help! Please see the April 17, 2026 edition for more details and photos of the Spring Fix It Projects that could use your time and attention.  Thank you!

MSOW Parents Ashley Maher, John Imig and Lori Slocomb lend their artistic talents to the back drops for the MSOW Spring Musical,  Anastasia.

POD Squad to the Rescue! Special Thank you to MSOW parents- Eric Buckhouse, Tim Smart, Olivia Giles, Paul Giles, Tom Meindl, and Jenna Fendryk for arriving bright and early on Tuesday, May 5th to load a delivery of beautiful, donated office furniture for the brand new MSOW administrative offices, library, and classrooms into the PODs. 

A special thank you to MSOW parent, Kevin Moore for arranging the donation of the high quality, like-new furniture including office desk systems, white boards, office chairs, guest chairs, and small rolling file cabinets which double as seating with cushioned tops.