Did you know that MSOW proudly developed a Montessori Teacher Education Program (TEP) in 2019/2020 called Global Montessori Educators Institute® (GMEI®)? GMEI is a program of Montessori School of Waukesha and is dedicated to preparing highly trained, AMS-credentialed, Montessori educators for today’s public, private, independent, and charter schools. Graduates earn an American Montessori Society (AMS) Montessori teaching credential and, for those living in Wisconsin, may also qualify for a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction teaching license. GMEI is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), the same organization that accredits Montessori teacher education programs worldwide in colleges, universities, and stand-alone training centers. 

Led by Program Director, Linda Loomis, GMEI is a flexible, hybrid program designed to meet the needs of busy professionals while maintaining high academic and practical standards. The hybrid program includes three key components: online coursework to build a strong foundation in Montessori philosophy, hands-on in-residence experiences with skilled and experienced instructors, and an immersive classroom practice teaching experience that brings learning to life.

As a distinct advantage, GMEI is integrated into the Montessori School of Waukesha (MSOW), which serves as its lab school during the summer GMEI In Residency portion of the program. This integration provides candidates with authentic, real-world Montessori classroom experiences alongside experienced educators in an AMS accredited school. Many of our faculty members also serve as highly qualified GMEI instructors.

Courses are offered at the Infant/Toddler, Early Childhood, and Elementary levels, making this program accessible to educators at multiple stages of their lives. MSOW is proud to support this meaningful work that strengthens Montessori education and benefits children, families, and our wider school community. Currently, there are 12 GMEI adult learners completing their practice teaching year in schools throughout the United States and 28 adult learners who joined the 2025-26 cohort who will complete their practice teaching experiences in 2026-27. This year, 15 GMEI graduates who started in 2024-25 will be recommended for their AMS Montessori teaching credential!

GMEI is the designated Montessori TEP for the Milwaukee Public Schools which holds the greatest number of Montessori public schools in the United States. GMEI has also trained teachers for Montessori programs in Racine Unified School District, Burlington Public Schools, Palmyra-Eagle Public Schools, Wauwatosa School District, Wausau Area Montessori Charter School, and several private schools.  Through its hybrid teacher education program, GMEI expands access for adult learners beyond our immediate geographic region.  As a result, GMEI has prepared Montessori educators in states across the country, including North Carolina, Texas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota. 

Photos below are from GMEI's 2025 Summer In Residency. Learn more about GMEI on their website: https://gmeinstitute.org/

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an innovative STEM curriculum that uses hands-on learning experiences to engage and inspire students to apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems. MSOW was awarded a grant to have access to PLTW curriculum and training scholarships for teachers. PLTW schools are then responsible for purchasing the kits. PLTW occurs during the afternoon, outside of the Montessori work cycle.

In the Upper Elementary PLTW robotics module, sixth-year students are grouped into mixed-class teams to explore the world of robotics. Students research different types of robots and the many fields they support, including healthcare, education, disaster response, scientific research, and more. Through collaboration, students engage in the engineering design process as they design and create their own toys and robots.

Throughout the module, students explore the history of robotics and investigate specific types of robots while developing skills related to robotics and the use of VEX IQ equipment. The learning is introduced through a fictional story featuring three characters—Angelina, Mylo, and Suzi—who are also discovering how robots are used in real-world situations.

This design challenge focuses on the use of robots in disaster cleanup following a nuclear plant emergency. Working in teams, students design, model, and test a robot capable of safely removing hazardous materials from a disaster site. In addition, students design the layout of the site, including a water source and a hazardous materials collection zone, applying problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills throughout the process.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) offers hands-on STEM learning for students in grades 4–6 through its PLTW Launch and PLTW Gateway programs. PLTW Launch modules introduce students to engineering and science concepts such as structure and function, energy, and automation and robotics, with an emphasis on problem-solving, collaboration, and the engineering design process. PLTW Gateway builds on this foundation with more advanced modules in design and modeling, robotics, computer science (app creation), energy and the environment, and the science of technology, helping students apply critical thinking and technical skills to real-world challenges. 

MSOW started PLTW at the Upper Elementary Level with teachers completing their training last year. This year, Lower Elementary teachers are completing their training. (Note: After considering the PLTW offerings for 4K and 5K, it was clear that our current scope and sequence at that level already encompased and surpassed what was offered.)

MSOW is proud to be a Project Lead the Way school and appreciates the work of MSOW PLTW Program Coordinator Taylor Burczyk, UE3 Lead Teacher.

As you may remember from the November 21st Newsfeed article, MSOW elementary students have been working with a visiting artist to create a large-scale mosaic about Maria Montessori's Five Great Lessons.

Dr. Montessori used the Five Great Lessons as the framework for Cosmic Education because they help elementary children understand the interconnectedness of the world and their place within it. These five broad, inspiring stories - from the origins of the universe to the development of human culture, language, and numbers - engage the child’s imagination while providing a structure that unifies all areas of the elementary curriculum. The Great Lessons spark curiosity, encourage big questions, and help children see themselves as responsible participants in a larger, interdependent world. 

The importance of these foundational lessons to the elementary curriculum is why they are the topic of the art installation and why the mosaics now find their home in the lower elementary hallway.  Visiting artist, Sally Duback, is pictured below between her installation assistant, Jeff Martinka and MSOW Art Teacher, Gina Viola. The three worked together on January 19th to secure the five, 4' x 4' framed mosaics to the wall.

Save the date for MSOW Fine Arts Night on Wednesday, April 29th from 5pm to 7:30pm. Visitors will see art in a variety of media and small group and solo performances on a variety of instruments. A photo display of the making of the mosaic will be part of Fine Arts Night.

The Great Lesson of the Coming of the Universe
This first Great Lesson invites children to wonder about the origins of everything. It tells the story of the universe’s beginning — from the Big Bang to the formation of stars, planets, and Earth itself. Through this lesson, students begin to see the universe as an interconnected whole governed by natural laws, and they develop a sense of awe, curiosity, and gratitude for the orderly beauty of the cosmos.

Lower Elementary 2- Lead Teacher, Sarah Chow

LE2 students explored Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on the world, with a focus on peace and love. They also discussed modern ways Dr. King might have shared his message if he were alive today. Students then created their own ideas and methods for spreading messages of peace and love within their communities.

Children's House 1- Lead Teacher, Sam El-Azem

If these yogurt containers are regulars in your recycling bin, please consider saving them for the PCH classroom.  Drop off your emptied, cleaned, and dried "Oui" Yogurt containers at the front desk.  Ms. BriAnne, Ms. Sarah, and Ms. Ann thank you for your help!

NEW WORKSHOP ADDED!

Workshop:  Oviparous Animals:  Egg Explorers!  

Tuesday, March 24  3:30 - 4:30 pm

Lead Instructor:  Sarah Chow Lower Elementary 2 Lead

Skill Level: 5k - Lower Elementary (limit: 20)

In this science enrichment class, students will explore the fascinating world of oviparous animals—animals that lay eggs. Children will learn the meaning of the word oviparous and discover a variety of animals that hatch from eggs including: birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. The class will end with an exciting egg hunt, where students search for eggs from different oviparous animals.

Workshop:  $30

Oviparous Egg Explorers!

Chess with Mr. Crotteau!

Mondays 3:30 - 4:30 pm February 2, 9, 23; March 2, 9, 16, 2026

Lead Instructor:  Luke Crotteau, MSOW Middle School Lead

Skill Level: Lower Elementary 2nd year - Middle School (limit: 20)

Students are invited to participate in a six week Chess Club session. All levels of expertise are welcome. The only requirement is the keen desire to play chess!  Tournament etiquette and rules will be demonstrated and if enough students enroll, there will be a mock tournament on the last day of the session! 

Six Week Class: $90

Chess with Mr. Crotteau

Painting with Ms. Crystal!

Tuesdays  3:30 - 4:30 pm,  February 3, 10, 17, 24; March 3, 10, 2026

Lead Instructor:  Crystal Thao, MSOW Upper Elementary Paraprofessional

Skill Level:  Lower Elementary 2nd Years through Middle School (Limit 12)

All students need to bring is an open mind and a willingness to see art in new and different ways! Painting is  about the message, the emotion, and the story behind the artwork. 

In these painting classes, students will develop fine motor skills, boost creativity, strengthen cognitive skills, explore emotional expression, and learn a variety of brush techniques. Each class offers hands-on experience and encourages students to trust their creative instincts.

By the end of each class, students will proudly bring home their own original artwork. The pieces shown below are examples of the types of paintings students will have the opportunity to create.

Six Week Class: $140

Painting with Ms. Crystal

Waukesha Civic Theatre’s Musical Madness!

Thursdays 3:30 - 4:30 pm       February 5, 12, 26;  March 5, 19, 26, 2026

Lead Instructor:  Shannon Messplay, Actress and Vocal Coach

Skill Level:  Upper Elementary and Middle School (Limit 15)

Build your musical theatre skills while learning to sing and perform a Broadway tune—and have a lot of fun along the way! Whether you’re preparing for the spring musical or just want to try something new, sign up and let your voice be heard!

Six Week Class:  $140

Musical Madness

Scrapbooking - Create a Lasting Keepsake 

Thursdays 3:30 - 4:30 pm       February 5, 12, 19;  March 5, 19, 26, 2026

Lead Instructor: Jennifer Michaels, MSOW Lower Elementary Paraprofessional  

Skill Level: Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary (limit: 7)  

Capture your favorite memories and turn them into keepsakes! In this creative class, students will learn how to summarize an event, tell the story through both words and images, and bring it to life with unique, artistic details. Each week, students should bring about four photos of a recent event they’d like to highlight. By the end of the course, each child will have a completed scrapbook—an artistic showcase of storytelling and design skills they can treasure for years to come.

Six Week Class: $140

Scrapbooking with Ms. Jennifer!

Valentine Candle Workshop

Wednesday, February 11, 2026  Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm (one time workshop)

Lead Instructor::  Jennifer Michaels, MSOW Lower Elementary Paraprofessional  

Skill Level:  Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary (Limit 12)

Light Up Valentine’s Day!  Join us for a fun and creative candle-making class where students will design their very own Valentine candle. Using kid-safe materials and lots of love, each child will decorate, scent, and create a one-of-a-kind candle to take home.  These candles will be perfect for gifting to someone special or keeping as a sweet Valentine keepsake.

Workshop:  $30

Valentine Candle Workshop

Loom Bracelet Workshop

Tuesday, March 17, 2026  Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm (one time workshop)

Lead Instructor:  Hannah VanEerden, MSOW LE1 Paraprofessional  

Skill Level:  Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary (Limit 12)

In this one-time, hands-on enrichment class,  students will learn how to create friendship bracelets using a simple cardboard loom. Children will practice fine motor skills, patterning, and creativity as they design and weave their own bracelets. Each student will take home both their handmade bracelet and their cardboard loom, allowing them to continue creating friendship bracelets after class!

Workshop:  $30

Loom Bracelet Workshop

Save Sunday, February 22nd on your family calendars because you won't want to miss the first ever Montessori's Got Talent...and snacks! family talent show at MSOW. With emcee Doug Jarecki from Waukesha Civic Theater and our own MSOW stage manager Richard Seibt it is guaranteed to be an entertaining afternoon. Note: this is a fun/casual, family event - not a competition - everyone wins at this fun-filled talent showcase.

Montessori's Got Talent...and snacks! will be held in the MSOW gym on a Sunday afternoon from 2pm-4pm. The event will feature a maximum of 20 MSOW family acts - at least one adult and one child per family act please - sing, dance, act, play instruments, twirl batons (not flaming please), do magic, tell jokes, play spoons or perhaps your family has other hidden talents? Snacks will be available for purchase during the event and the audience will sit at tables - club style!

Families, be reassured that together can look many different ways. While one child and one adult from each family must be on stage, the adult’s role can be as small or as supportive as needed. A parent might introduce the act, turn on the music, hold up an applause sign, assist with a prop, or simply be a steady presence on stage. The goal is not performance perfection, but shared experience, encouragement, and fun. (Or, maybe the child is there to support the adult.)  Families may also join together to form a larger group too - bravery in numbers!

All acts will have the opportunity for a dress/tech rehearsal on Saturday, February 21st - rehearsal sign up will be sent to all registered acts.

All acts will be entered into a drawing for an incredible family-fun gift basket. A separate, second family-fun gift basket will be raffled off to show attendees. No fee/cost to perform AND all act performers receive free admission to the event.

Sign up to perform and get participant Information HERE!

Sign up for back stage volunteers and concessionaires HERE! 

The deadline for performers to enter is January 26, 2026.

Parent Info Meeting - required for all parents who have a student interested in being a part of the production.

Auditions - same as last year, we'll have two days of vocal auditions and one day for dance. Vocal auditions split into 30 minute groups of 6 students each (we can add slots once original batch are nearly full), all students must attend the full dance audition afternoon. 

Callbacks - TBD, only students who need to be seen need to attend, but that notification won't come until the 25th... for perspective, we haven't needed this in any past year.

Production Team Meeting - only for the parents in charge of various production areas (costumes, set, sound, etc.). 

Audition / permission forms will be sent to all Upper Elementary families in February. There will be an $85 participation fee that covers the cost of a t-shirt, cast party, green room water and snacks, and helps cover props and the set materials.

All parents of musical participants will be expected to volunteer in some way and/or donate to the concession area. The musical is a large-scale event and many hands make light work. Volunteering may be as little as supervising a rehearsal dismissal car line, selling concessions, selling tickets, or it may mean taking on a larger role like playbill design/t-shirt distribution/costuming/set building/sound/lighting etc. A sign up will be available in late February.

Each year, we honor our MSOW dads (or a special guest if dad cannot attend) with a morning celebration of donuts, fruit, yougurt, and coffee in the MSOW gym. Children join their dads for breakfast and then return to the classroom. This is a very popular event. A Muffins in the Morning with Mom is scheduled on May 7th.

We will need some help making Donut Date great!  Volunteer to help with Donut Date HERE

Here are a few photos from last year's Donut Date event

Thank you to MSOW alumni parent Scott Kolp for replacing the malfunctioning casters on two storage shelving units. One of the units can now be used by MSOW Wellness Teacher Sara O'Reilly for materials used for Middle School Lessons. The other will be used by the After School Care program elementary students for games.

Thank you to MSOW parent Chris Germain for repairing a toilet seat in the boy's bathroom at the main campus.