Grand Gathering:  Over 500 total guests, including MSOW students and their grandparent(s) or special guests, attended the MSOW Grand Gathering on either October 9th or 10th. These special generational relationships deepened at the event which featured refreshment offerings of French toast, sausage, yogurt, pastries, juice, coffee, and water in our school gym which was decorated in a fall theme. Photo backdrops and volunteer photographers offered a chance to capture a memory of the day. After hosting their guests in the gym, students extended the special morning with a visit to the classroom. Many grandparents commented that they appreciated the event being spread over two days this year which made parking easier, eliminated long lines, and eased seating congestion. The two day format required twice as many volunteers and the MSOW community came through!

Volunteers played a crucial role in this major event running smoothly. Thank you to the following MSOW parents for signing up to help! In order of the sign up: Sammy Walsh, Lauren Owenby, Jessie Miller, Samantha Sikorski, Erika Kutscheid, Andrea Argue, Jenna Fendryk, Jenny Chung, Rolanda Stevens, Hannah Arneson, Sierra Kumbera, Jaclyn Millonzi, Jean Mogensen, Inge Yuwono, Ashley Angles, Kira Bublitz, Reba Meindl, Brunilda Iljazi, Courtney McCormick, Lucas Klocke, Ashleigh Spitza, Tim Meindl, Rina Kustantina, Kandice Klapperich, Morgan McCall, Jessica Buckhouse, Angela Steinquist, Christy Seftar, Jessica Pearson, Sarah Stettler, Trina Tomczyk, Kellie Lanza, Shannon Messplay, Jamie Marquardt, Mr and Mrs Knutsen, Theresa McClurg, Morgan McCall, Stacy Brown, Sarah McIntyre, Angie Phillips, and Emily Loeffler. Also stepping in to help: Chris Germain, Tim O'Mara, Lauren Dulde, Alex Barta, Mary Ting, Ashley Maher, and Richard and Sarah Seibt.

Please click through all the photo carousels below and enjoy the Grand Gathering.

Thank you to our Volunteers!

Mom's Night Out: MSOW moms gathered for a casual evening of conversation and connection at the Spring City Wine House on Saturday, October 4th. From all reports, the evening was a lot of fun and left many asking for a second event to be scheduled next semester. Dad's Night Out is slated for November 15th - details to come.

Sendik's Cookout:  Thanks to all who supported the MSOW Cookout at the Meadowbrook Sendik's on October 5th from 11am - 4pm. It was a beautiful sunny day, with a breeze that wafted the aroma of burgers, hot dogs, and brats across the grocery store's parking lot. Perhaps that made the difference, as this Meals for Montessori event raised just over $1,000 for MSOW - the highest total yet! 

Volunteering at the event: MSOW Board Members Eric Buckhouse (President), Curtis Meins (Vice President), Tim O'Mara, Alex Barta, Lauren Dulde, and Head of School Brenda Zellmer.

Heritage Folk Fair: You’re invited to join us for the Heritage Folk Fair—a school-wide community celebration of family traditions and cultures—on Saturday, November 8th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

This year’s program is filled with entertainment, including dancers, storytellers, and music from across the globe.  As a special highlight, Children’s House students will perform a traditional Māori welcome song. 

While you enjoy the performances, treat yourself to delicious dishes lovingly prepared by members of our community. Admission is free, and food, drinks, and henna tattooing will be available for purchase with tickets during the event.

The Folk Fair is a potluck-style gathering, and we welcome MSOW families to share family favorites or heritage recipes. To see how you can contribute, please visit the sign-up here:
Volunteer & Donation Sign-Up

Please plan to come celebrate with the MSOW community and experience an afternoon of culture and connection. We can’t wait to see you there!

Enrichment Program Classes:  The first session of the after school Enrichment Program Classes are underway! Below you can see photos from the following classes:  Improv, Cooking Without Heat, DIY Craft Club, and Scrapbooking. Watch future Newsfeeds for photos from the other classes being offered this session. 

Devin Veselenak, MSOW parent and Lower Elementary Montessori teacher shared his knowledge of German and Germany with the Children's House 5K students on Friday afternoon, October 3rd. Devin lived in Germany for many years and taught at the Children's House level there. He speaks German fluently.

After showing the children the location of Germany on the globe and map, and then sharing the German flag, Devin read the children a story in German, sang the ABC song in German, and then they all practiced counting to 10 in German. 

The goal of the World Languages class, as a Specials rotation on Friday afternoons for the Children's House elders, is to the allow the children to experience languages and cultures other than their own and to create an understanding that "All over the world, children speak different languages." This connects nicely to students' cultural studies in the classroom.

Huong Tran, MSOW parent (Long and Anh) and Children’s House 5 Paraprofessional, visited the Children’s House Extended Day (5K) World Languages Class on Friday afternoon, October 10th, to share the language of the country of her birth, Vietnam. 

Huong showed the children many beautiful photos highlighting Vietnamese culture and daily life, including traditional clothing, unique tropical fruits, lush rice fields, sandy beaches, and the country’s most popular form of transportation — the motorcycle! The children were amazed to learn that in Vietnam, it’s not unusual to see up to five people riding on one motorcycle.

During the presentation, Huong highlighted vocabulary words in the Vietnamese language.

Lower Elementary Students Explore the Wonder of Insects at the Urban Ecology Center

Our Lower Elementary students recently enjoyed a hands-on learning experience at the Urban Ecology Center, participating in the engaging Insects Are Incredible program. During this field trip, students explored the fascinating world of insects and discovered how these tiny creatures live, interact with their environment, and play a vital role in supporting plants, animals, and even humans.

Equipped with nets and bug boxes, the children practiced careful catch-and-release techniques, observing insects up close and deepening their appreciation for the diversity of life around them. This outdoor experience beautifully complemented our biology curriculum and is strongly connected to other areas of study through the guiding principles of Cosmic Education.

In alignment with Montessori philosophy, students were encouraged to engage their imaginations alongside their reasoning minds. As they observed and learned about the behavior of plants and animals, they began to develop care and empathy for the natural world. These early experiences foster a sense of stewardship for nature and provide a foundation for scientific thinking and classification.

Through meaningful, real-world experiences like this, our students begin to see the intricate connections among all living things and gain a deeper understanding of the great diversity and interdependence of life on Earth.