For the complete MSOW 2025-26 External/Family Month by Month Calendar please,  CLICK HERE.

Children's House Elders experienced the Hindi language during their World Language session this past Friday with MSOW parent, Khushi Goyal (Naisha, Lower Elementary 3). She explained that in Hindi, every name carries a meaning: Khushi means “happiness,” and Naisha means “a special flower.” Khushi read two stories in Hindi and invited the children to count to 20, explore color vocabulary, and name foods and animals in the Hindi language. Students also learned about the country of India. Held in the MSOW library, it was an enriching experience for all. World Languages is one of the Specials classes experienced by MSOW Elders (5K) each week. Other Specials for our 5K students include gym and art.

Lower Elementary 1 students have been studying Early Humans and the Prehistoric Era during the month of November.  Fundamental Needs of Early Humans has also been a focus area. To celebrate the conclusion of the focus area, students take part in an annual Foraging Feast - families bring in many staples that sustained hunter gatherer communities long ago, such as game meat, unleavened bread, wild berries and foliage. For the extra brave, Lead Teacher, Devin Veselenak even offers edible insects (packaged for this purpose) for students to try!  The LE1 community sits together as a "tribe" as they enjoy their simple meal and discuss a month of study and what was learned about their prehistoric ancestors.

On Monday, Lower Elementary 2 Students worked on the practical life skill of peeling and cutting potatoes in preparation for their community feast on Tuesday. Mashed potatoes are a popular item on the menu! Students, with invited family guests, then enjoyed traditional holiday dishes for lunch in the MSOW gym.

MSOW Students enrolled in the Turkey Bowl Enrichment Program class hit the field after school on a crisp fall day to compete in flag football games.  Elementary and Middle School students combined to play on Thursday, 11/20 and Monday, 11/24.  MSOW Physical Education Teacher Sarah Harvey and Upper Elementary 3 Paraprofessional Crystal Thao coached and refereed the games.

Middle School Wellness class Service Group students enjoy their task of helping to socialize Maple, a therapy dog in training! Maple is a member of the family of MSOW Wellness Lead Specialist Teacher, Sara O'Reilly. Students spend time learning about the role of therapy dogs in providing comfort and connection, and practiced how to respectfully and safely interact with animals in a school setting. As part of the Wellness curriculum, this experience encourages students to explore empathy, mindfulness, and service to others. 

Maple returned for another visit this week. Both she and the students slipped right back into the familiar routine. The group quickly reconnected, and Maple eagerly moved from student to student, enjoying gentle attention and calm social time. It was wonderful to see how comfortable and confident everyone felt as their relationship with Maple continues to grow.  

The group will continue to follow Maple’s training journey and reflect on the ways animals can support well-being in schools and communities. 

Children's House

CH students created their own turkeys in PE this week! 

Middle School

For their first cycle theme this year, called 'Changes and Transformations,' the Middle School students have been working on large-scale geological concepts in science.  These concepts include plate tectonics, types of plate boundaries, mountain building, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, the rock cycle, rocks, minerals, and gemstones.  

In addition to regular classroom lessons, several students recently traveled to the Gem Shop in Cedarburg to buy rough rock for tumbling to see the effects of accelerated geologic time.  The class just began their first of several tumbling cycles, starting with red, yellow, and green aventurine, green tree agate, and Botswana agate.  Each cycle will take 4-5 weeks, each consisting of five distinct steps, hopefully resulting in beautiful polished specimens for the students to keep.  

Several students also broke open geodes to see the crystals inside.  Lastly, we covered the science behind mineral fluorescence this past week, completing a lab with 365nm long wave UV light.  The students were amazed at the results! 

Please Scroll Through these Photos from the Middle School 

Please consider dropping off donations December 1st - December 17th.

Last year, Middle School student Angelina Lanza organized a toy drive in Upper Elementary 2 to help an organization called Chosen in Love www.choseninlove.org that gives toys to foster children when their families can’t afford to purchase gifts. Students collected over six giant bins of toys (see the photo below) and it helped the organization immensely, Angelina reported.

This year, Angelina decided to help support the organization again, by doing another toy drive. The toys that are donated must be brand new and in the original packaging, but gently used clothes and shoes (sizes 3T to youth 12 for clothes) are accepted. There will be bins by the gymnasium and in the hallway on the upper level starting on December 1st. Thank you to everyone who is able to contribute!

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. Hosted by Waukesha Civic Theater's Doug Jarecki in the MSOW gym on a Sunday afternoon, the event will feature a maximum of 20 MSOW families - at least one adult and one child per family act - sing, dance, act, play instruments, twirl batons (not flaming please), do magic, play spoons or perhaps your family has other hidden talents? Snacks will be served during the event and the audience will sit at tables - club style. All entries will be entered into a drawing for an incredible family fun gift basket. Sign ups and event participation details will be published before winter break. The deadline for performers to enter is January 19, 2026.