How Does a Montessori School View Valentine’s Day?

Dear Oak Knoll Families,

As we enter the month of February, we would like to share some important information regarding our school's approach to celebrations, specifically Valentine's Day.

At Oak Knoll, we work to incorporate the Montessori philosophy into all of our activities. This includes our commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment for all our students. Like many Montessori schools, we delve into the concept of Peace each and every day, thanks to the Montessori curriculum’s underlying message that we are all connected, and that we are all an integral part of nature. 

By refraining from traditional Valentine's Day celebrations, we aim to ensure that no child feels excluded or experiences pressure to conform to societal expectations associated with this holiday. Instead, we focus on promoting kindness, empathy, and friendship throughout the entire year.

We believe that every day is an opportunity to cultivate a sense of community, appreciation, and love among our students. Our dedicated educators integrate lessons and activities that foster positive relationships, communication skills, and emotional intelligence in our students.

We encourage parents and guardians to join us in reinforcing these values at home and to discuss the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect with their children. As always, your support in creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in fostering a positive and respectful community!

Sincerely,

Keri Aspegren

Director of Inclusion

How Children Learn About Race

Dear Oak Knoll Families,

Last week, the OKMS community spent some time learning how children understand and perceive race. Our faculty and community DEIJ committees invited a guest speaker, Dr. Erin Winkler, who presented separately to our faculty and parent communities on the topic of “Understanding How Children Develop Ideas about Race, and What This Means for Our Teaching & Learning Practices.”

During the session for faculty and staff, our goals were to:

• Describe the (often counter-intuitive) ways ideas about race form for children; understand how these ideas are tied to children’s cognitive development and environments; and discuss why all of this matters.

• Name and explain some broad tools to discuss race, racism, and racial inequity with children.

• Think about how to adapt these broad tools to engage with the children in their program in age-appropriate and context-specific ways.

• Apply the information from the presentation to our everyday work and lives with children by workshopping real-world scenarios.

• Create a list of possible next steps and articulate what resources and/or support faculty and staff need to keep working productively on these issues over time.

The faculty found the presentation enlightening and eye-opening, and we are eager to continue doing this vital work with the children. 

Dr. Winkler’s community presentation had similar goals. Towards the end, parents reflected on their personal journeys with race, discussing and asking questions about how we can all prepare our children for their own experiences of race and inequity. Dr. Winkler provided a list of resources for parents that you can access here. We will add these resources to our parent portal for everyone to view at their convenience. 

Dr. Erin WInkler will speak to us again on March 14th at 6:30pm about “Understanding Racial Identity Development and How it Affects Us.” We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Martha Georgie

Interim Head of School

2024-2025 Tuition Information

Dear Oak Knoll Families,

Happy New Year, and welcome back from the winter break!

We appreciate your continued support of Oak Knoll Montessori School and the Montessori education we provide to your children. After a careful evaluation of our school's financial needs, we have decided to implement a modest tuition increase for the 2024-2025 academic year. This adjustment is crucial to maintaining and enhancing the quality of education at Oak Knoll.

Beginning August 2024, the new tuition rates will be as follows:

We understand that tuition increases can be challenging for families, and we want to assure you that we have carefully considered this decision. It is part of our mission to invest in each child to guide them to be confident, bright citizens of the world. To carry out this mission, Oak Knoll provides your children with:

• Montessori-trained professionals—our talented staff have completed rigorous training in child development and understand how children learn. These professionals love what they do. Additionally, we support their continued growth by providing professional development opportunities. 

• A top-tier classroom environment—the design of OKMS classrooms is based on years of scientific research. Each is an inviting space rich with materials and furniture that are uniquely designed for children.

• Authentic Montessori curriculum—we teach to the individual needs of your child, not to the entire class or to one group of children. We want each child to thrive and learn every day.

• Parenting support—it benefits children when home and school work in harmony. To that end, we offer parent education throughout the year and believe that the parent and school relationship is a true partnership.

Specifically, the additional funds will be allocated towards improving facilities, increasing faculty salaries, enhancing educational resources, and much more. We remain committed to providing an exceptional and authentic Montessori learning environment for your children and believe that these changes will contribute to our school community's continued growth and success.

Oak Knoll Montessori School provides financial aid to qualified families in an effort to support families in completing a Montessori education. Financial Aid is offered on an as-needed basis. Priority is given to returning families and those who complete the application on time. The Financial Aid Priority Deadline for the 24-25 school year is February 8, 2024. Click here to apply. 

We understand the importance of financial predictability for families, and we have made every effort to keep the increase as minimal as possible while ensuring the sustainability and growth of Oak Knoll Montessori School.

Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership with us. We value your trust and are dedicated to providing your children with the best educational experience possible.

Sincerely,

Martha Georgie, Interim Head of School

Rupert Grant, Board President

October 1, 2023

So you're all set to volunteer, but you don't know how? Go to our Volunteer Opportunities form!  Fill it out and someone will be in touch with you.

Meanwhile, here are just a few ways you can get your volunteer hours for the year:

• Volunteer for Coffee & Conversation. Pick up coffee (paid for by us), help set up a table, and talk with your fellow parents - 2 hours.

• Be a Room Parent - 10 hours.

• Join our auction committee! While the event is in May, we start planning in the fall. You could help get sponsorships! You can do the work from your home and on your own time.

• Got a special skill that you could turn into a short class for our Adolescents? Earn hours for preparing and teaching. Need help with how to work with tweens? We got you!

• Do you like all things fall? Sign up for our Fall Festival. You can create signs, run games, facilitate children eating donuts off a string…the possibilities are endless!

• Do you like showing up and moving things around? Set up or clean up for any of our events. You get a chance to chat with fellow parents in a low-key way while you get an hour or two of volunteer credit.

• Do you love to socialize, but don't feel like using your place? Host a Parents' Night Out! Pick a date, pick a place and send an email. Need help to create the flier? Contact jmaclean@oakknollmontessorischool.org and we can take care of it for you. Talk with your room parent about how to invite your class or your entire level! The volunteer hours include your planning time and socializing time.

• Do you enjoy caring for plants? Join our watering crew! We need help to keep our plants looking happy and healthy at our Loma campus. Bring your child and have them help you give our thirsty plants a drink. Contact jmaclean@oakknollmontessorischool.org for more information - 1 hour per visit .

• Serve on a committee. It's not as dour as it sounds!  We like short meetings with agendas and action items. For example, if you join the development committee, you clock an hour for every meeting AND you help us grow the school. We can always use folks who are good with a turn of phrase or have experience with grant writing. Every hour you help us find extra dollars goes towards your volunteer hours.

• Are you a designer, painter, sculptor, picture framer? Help our students create their classroom auction projects. Our room parents will start reaching out in January/February to find out if anyone with artistic abilities can help bring dreams to fruition.

• Are you a whiz with putting things together, hanging things, building garden boxes? We can always use folks who are good with their hands to build furniture, put together sheds and help with small repairs. Get the satisfaction of a job well done and however many hours it takes for you to work your magic.

• Are you a Toddler or Primary parent? Your classrooms will need support with laundry and shopping.  Each time you shop or do laundry for a class you'll clock an hour!  

• Do you have an “in” at a restaurant? Would you like to provide coffee and goodies for our Winter Concert or End-of-Year Celebration? How about doing an eat-in fundraiser? We bring the people who buy lots of your delicious food and we get a percentage of what you make. Meanwhile, you earn lots of volunteer hours.

• Are you looking for something to do at home? Our auction offers lots of opportunities to work from home. Weekly meetings on zoom, emails to prospective donors, updating our spreadsheets so we stay on track... Lots of these can be done after your child is in bed or whenever you have a few spare moments.

• Are you a decent photographer? We always need photos of events, items for our auction catalog, or photos of happy children in the classroom.

Don’t forget to get credit for all your hard work! Recording your hours helps us in two ways:

1. We can give new volunteers an idea of the time commitment for specific jobs.

2. We can show our board and potential donors the incredible commitment of our parent community, which ultimately leads to more dollars for the school.

People want to support strong communities, and when you record your hours, you help us prove our strength.

Please contact Jennifer MacLean if you have an additional idea. And be sure you’ve filled out our Volunteer Opportunities form so we can learn more about your skills and preferences.

Thank you for your service!

Jennifer MacLean

Director of Enrollment Management and Development

September 17, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Before taking over Head of School duties last year, I reached out to every family. My goal was to develop a deep understanding of the existing culture, and to learn more about our families’ experiences with the school, both good and bad.

Something I heard repeatedly was concern over the number of days we are closed during the school year. As the parent of a toddler, I have a personal understanding of this issue.

Our staff-only days are important, because they allow our team to connect and to learn, finding new ways to be our best selves for your children. Our school isn’t a “copy-and-paste” environment. The Montessori approach invites ongoing learning and development of both the child and the guide, and one of the reasons our guides choose to work at OKMS is that we are seriously committed to their professional development.

While we want to support our guides, childcare is a pressing concern for parents. As a result, this year’s calendar contains two additional days of childcare—October 9 and March 11. There will be no class, but childcare will be available on those days from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., allowing our entire team to meet for end-of-day meetings.

The signup for childcare on Oct. 9 is coming soon. If you have any questions, you can email me at mgeorgie@oakknollmontessorischool.org, or you can find a time for us to chat here.

Martha Georgie

Interim Head of School

August 27, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

One of my first impressions of Oak Knoll was the amazing strength and warmth of the community. When you choose Oak Knoll, you’re not just sending a child to class—you’re joining a family.

We strive to create a sense of belonging, for your children and for you. We realize that getting to know other families can be intimidating. But when someone shows you they understand your struggle (“you mean my child isn’t the only who throws a tantrum when it’s time to leave?”), a bond is created.

To help you meet other parents, we host Coffee & Conversation events at each campus. Check the school calendar to find the one for your campus, and then join us for the coffee, treats, and great conversation!

We also work to build community through events where we demonstrate exactly what your child is learning. We toss around a lot of terms like “prepared environment” and “hands-on learning” at our school. In these events, you’ll see exactly what we mean! We hope you’ll join us on Sept. 23 9-11am for one of our “Silent Journeys.” Parents will observe classrooms (silently), and work with materials, starting with the Toddler class and continuing until we end with the Adolescent class. Click here for more info and to RSVP—space is limited.

I can’t wait to see you at our next event!

Martha Georgie

Interim Head of School

July 2, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Many years ago, I worked at a pediatrics sensory integration occupational therapy clinic. (Please note that the observations below DO NOT replace medical advice—I am not an expert in occupational therapy.) The concepts I learned had a profound impact on my personal and professional life. 

For example, most of us know that humans have five senses. In reality, there are two more! I’m bringing this up because these two senses, the proprioceptive and vestibular senses, are extremely important to children’s development. An understanding of them can help parents and teachers support the children in their care.

The proprioceptive system is the awareness of where our body is in space. We have receptors in our skin, joints, and muscles that send messages to the brain. The vestibular system helps a person control their sense of motion, changes in movement, equilibrium, and balance. The vestibular system is located in the inner canal of a person's ear and has receptors that send feedback to the central nervous system. 

Lately, I've been reviewing these senses through articles, blogs, and occupational therapy websites. We all know that children develop differently; these two systems play a big role in the differences we see. Also, some children may experience developmental delays with one or both of these senses. It may show up as a lack of coordination or as frequent bumping into walls or objects. Different children, even those with fully functional proprioceptive and vestibular systems, desire different activities. Some need more movement, such as hiking, biking, or playing a sport, to feel a sense of calmness and groundedness. Others require more fine motor activities, such as playdough, puzzles, and drawing, to keep them grounded, and the differences can be explained by variances in these senses.

The summer is an excellent time to learn and think about these senses and how they affect our children’s lives. Also, outdoor play offers so many opportunities for them to tap into their vestibular and proprioceptive systems, supporting their development and sense of wellbeing.

As mentioned, I am not an expert, but I would recommend the following articles for more information:

• The Sixth and Seven Senses: The Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems

• How sensory processing issues can affect motor skills

• Proprioception/Vestibular Senses and Why They Matter

Additionally, these articles list activities you can do at home or when you're on vacation:

• Vestibular vs. Proprioceptive Sensory Systems Explained

• Developing the Senses—Vestibular

I wish you and your family a summer of happiness and growth,

Martha Georgie

Interim Head of School

June 4, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

We have come to that time of the year when the endings begin. The last trip to the library, the final week in a beloved classroom, practicing songs for the End of Year Concert, and thoughts about transition ceremonies and how to honor a child’s time in the classroom. All of these things mean the school year is coming to a close. For our graduating 8th years, it means the end of their time at Oak Knoll—the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Endings are strange things. There is a feeling of sadness about the end even while there is excitement for what is coming next. The students who are graduating from Oak Knoll are eager to spread their wings and fly, but also nervous about that first step out of the nest. We know that they are ready and we watch eagerly as they take those first tentative steps.  This is a natural part of the ebb and flow of life and a school year.

The rhythm of a school year is familiar to me and I know that the end of year allows time for reflection and renewal. This end is different, however, as it represents the end of my time at Oak Knoll Montessori. 

Martha Georgie has already taken on the work of being your Interim Head of School. We have had eight months to work together and she has shown herself to be ready for the task. Many of you have had the opportunity to engage with her at a coffee, through a phone call, or on campus and know that she is thoughtful, reflective, and is going to be a wonderful steward of our beloved school. I know that Oak Knoll is well situated to continue offering a high quality Montessori education under Martha’s leadership, and I am grateful. 

This is a very special school. Tucked into unexpected spaces, with simply the best faculty, staff, families, and children, and a board that is out of this world. I am sad to be leaving and excited for my new adventures at the same time, just like the 8th years. 

I will miss this community deeply and want you to know that Oak Knoll Montessori School will always be part of my heart. I am profoundly grateful for the time I’ve had here and for the community that has supported me. Please know that I will continue to support and lift up Martha and Oak Knoll, even from a distance. 

See you next week.

Kira

May 21, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Student transitions are an exciting time. Having spent the last year as program coordinator, I have a personal interest in these transitions, since a big part of my job is to work with the guides to review the progress of each child. 

Together, we look at their academic progress and social-emotional readiness for the next phase of their education. We want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to help the child be ready for the challenges that await! I think the guides and I will be almost as emotional as the parents in the transition ceremonies.

As you know, I’m getting ready for my own transition, moving from program coordinator to Interim Head of School next year. With three years’ prior experience as a Head of School, and all of last year shadowing Kira in her work, I’m happy to say that I feel more than ready to move into my new role! As Head of School, I’m looking forward to continuing the work of streamlining communication, increasing parent education, looking closely at student progress, and growing our school through increased marketing. 

I’ve spent the last few months reaching out to all of our families to ask for feedback. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me; it helped me understand our beautiful history as well as opportunities for growth and improvement. In conversations with families, I found many common themes. I’m working on plans to address the areas of opportunity, and I will work to continue the things that are working. For the last few days of our year, please consider me your primary point of communication. Kira is here to support me and to complete our transition, but I am ready to begin acting in my new role.

Finally, I want to say a huge “thank you” to Kira for her outstanding leadership and help. I am privileged to have had eight months to work alongside her, and she leaves the OKMS administration in excellent shape to take on the 2023-2024 year.

Sincerely,

Martha Georgie

Program Coordinator, 2022-2023

Interim Head of School, 2023-2024

May 14, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Last weekend, the board spent hours reviewing our progress towards our Strategic Plan. This plan was forged two years ago in response to parent surveys, focus groups, and a lengthy review process. We have come a long way on many fronts (more on that in a moment), but we have not been able to complete our goal of opening a classroom at 914 Claremont. Today, I’d like to bring you up to speed on what has happened and why.

We signed a lease on 914 Claremont, next door to our Lake campus, nearly 18 months ago with the vision of adding a classroom. The 2022 auction supported necessary renovations and classroom materials. We excitedly applied for the appropriate license in the spring of 2022, expecting to have everything finished in time for the fall.

Since then, we have been stymied nearly every step of the way by various governmental agencies. Last summer, we hit a series of roadblocks, beginning with issues around the sprinkler system installation. While some of the problems were manageable, others seem to have no solution. Despite countless hours spent talking to various heads of city departments, and long conversations with City Council representatives, we have reached a dead end. 

At present, we have stopped pursuing the change of occupancy at 914 Claremont and are rethinking its use for other purposes, including parent and child classes, Admissions Tours, and other administrative uses. As we pursue other options for 914 Claremont, we will keep you informed.

Happily, we were able to open a Primary classroom at Loma Alta this spring, partially supported by the funds raised for 914 Claremont. The setbacks did not stop us from realizing the larger goal of adding a classroom, and we found a way to direct funds and effort to where they could make an immediate, positive difference.

Despite the challenges, the board was able to look back at many huge successes during our day-long meeting:

• We have improved our data collection and reporting.

• We have formed a Development Committee and a Finance Committee, both of which are working hard to plan for the future.

• We have opened two new classrooms in the last two years.

We’ll provide more updates on the Strategic Plan, the board’s work, and various transitions in the coming weeks. But I wanted to explain the situation at 914 Claremont first. As in life, sometimes the path to a goal is linear. Other times it is definitely not.

If you have any questions, Martha, the board, and I are always happy to speak about our vision for Oak Knoll. 

In partnership,

Kira

P.S. I hope you can tell that I am very proud of our strong, unique, growing community. If you want to learn more about our focus and our Strategic Plan you can find it here.

April 23, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Last week, I ventured into the wilderness as a chaperone on the Eagle Owl camping trip to the desert! It was an amazing experience filled with adversity, beauty, and remarkable teamwork. For me, it was a very different experience from my 15 years of camping with lower and upper elementary groups. When you’re with a group of Montessori adolescents, you’re well taken care of!

Camping trips mean you deal with whatever nature has in store—the ups and the downs. For me, pulling ticks off children in Connecticut and chasing four-inch centipedes out of children’s cots in Hong Kong are mixed in with memories of watching children build a fire or climb a tree for the first time. 

On an adolescent trip, the adults play a different role. There are no camp supervisors planning the activities; it is a combination of the guides’ planning and preparation, melded with their knowledge of the adolescents’ strengths. This balance makes for a wonderful journey.

I watched as the group set up their tents and regrouped into cooking teams. Together, they made some of the best food I’ve had recently, let alone while camping! We had a tomato sauce that the chef insisted needed to simmer until it thickened more. They were right—it was delicious! The cooks deftly managed gluten free orders first, followed by kosher, and then even took requests for less meat, more meat, no cheese, more hot peppers, etc. I felt like I was at a restaurant! 

I should mention that all of this happened despite one of our stoves not working. The next morning, potato latkes were on the menu. No grater? Problem solved—get more friends to dice potatoes! The clean up crew washed and dried the dishes while others chopped wood and built the fire. 

Nature handed up more challenges on Day Two. Silty, sandy roads ensnared the vans’ tires, threatening our trip to the Painted Canyon. Once we solved that problem (digging out the tires plus tow assistance), the group faced an adventure with small spaces between rock faces and narrow ladders, forcing each of us to find ways to maneuver while also helping others. Everyone was a little delirious with joy when we got to the end. After a dinner of chocolate chip and fresh fruit pancakes, we enjoyed stories around the fire. It was a great day, but the campsite was very quiet that night after everyone went to bed!

The next day, as we drove through Joshua Tree, I thought of how much had happened in just two days. This was one of the most memorable camping experiences of my whole Montessori life. There was drama and there was beauty…all of which was shared by our community. I’m so happy to add these adventures to my Montessori memories, and I want to thank the Eagle Owls community for allowing me to join this adventure and for teaching me so much! 

With gratitude,

Keri Aspegren

Director of Inclusion

April 9 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

One of the most common questions I hear from prospective families is: “what does the transition from Oak Knoll to a traditional school look like?” It’s a great question, and I’m happy to say that I’ve got a great answer!

Our alumni go on to a wide variety of institutions—traditional public and private high schools, arts academies, and schools with a specific focus, like the environment. This variety is a testament to the wide range of interests and priorities we see in our community. It’s also a testament to how a Montessori education empowers children to be the architects of their own future.

Whether the school is small or large, private or public, traditional or progressive, I am thrilled to see children making this choice based on what they know about their own learning style. These choices are powerful statements about how they want to explore their world. These children know what they need, and that is truly a beautiful thing.

Of course, the adjustment periods vary. Some longtime OKMS students are eager to get into the wider world, while others are sad to leave their close community. Some jump right into activities and classes without a bump. Others need time to adjust to new friends, grades, and timed tests.

My own children transitioned from Montessori schools to traditional education after 12th, 10th, and 8th grade, respectively. The oldest two made the transitions seamlessly, jumping into college and 11th grade college-prep assignments with hardly a wrinkle. My youngest struggled to complete tests in a timely manner and got a D on his first Algebra test. After brushing up on test-taking skills, he had a B+ by the end of the semester. 

I hear a few stories of students who experience bumps, like my younger son. But mostly, I hear of students adapting to new environments with flying colors. I hear of young people who move confidently in their new worlds. I hear of students who understand how to really apply themselves and learn. The occasional academic missteps are easily overcome, while the sense of self and the resilience they got from their Montessori backgrounds are priceless. 

I’m happy to say that our earliest adolescent graduates are now in college, and their parents report that their education continues to be an exciting, enriching success. No matter how many twists and turns they have experienced in their journeys, Oak Knoll taught them how to ask for help when they need it, to manage their time, and to reflect on who they are as learners. 

We’re extremely proud of our soon-to-be-graduating eighth graders. As of today’ date, this year’s graduates are set to attend:

• Sequoyah High School

• California School for the Arts

• Alliance Leichtman-Levine Envrionmental Science High School

Additionally, you can click this link to see a list of schools our OKMS alumni have attended since our first adolescent class graduated in 2015.

That was the long answer to “what does the transition from Oak Knoll to ‘normal school’ look like?” So what’s the short answer? It looks amazing.

Onward!

Kira

March 19, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

It’s that time of year again when we gather as a community to raise funds for our beloved school. We hold the auction for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to have fun! The annual auction event is our biggest “grownup” event, and it’s a great party—good food, good drink, and the best company. I can’t wait to see everyone looking “fancy” and to “ooh” and “aah” together over the class auction projects!

As with many other private schools in the area, our tuition does not cover the full cost of an Oak Knoll education. Keeping tuition low is something we are committed to, because it’s one of the ways we make a Montessori education accessible to more children. When we put our efforts into Annual Giving, Comedy Night, and the auction, we’re shifting some of the burden away from families and replacing it with volunteer efforts and contributions. 

Our Auction Committee has worked for months to create a party that will be as delightful as it is profitable. Bidding for the silent auction opened today, but trust me when I say that you won’t want to miss the live event! You’ll be able to ogle the class projects, there’s an exciting live auction, and we announce the winner of our vacation raffle (which might be YOU)!

I look forward to seeing you next Saturday night. Together, we’ll laugh, talk, and discover even more ways we’re all connected…it doesn’t get any better than this. The fact that we’re working together to lower tuition is just icing on the cake.

Until Saturday,

Kira

P.S. Can’t attend the auction, but you still want to support Oak Knoll? Check out the silent auction here and buy more raffle tickets here. Better yet, share the raffle link with your friends and family in the contiguous US.

March 5, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Families,

Every three years, the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) visits our school to verify that we are upholding AMI’s standards. Last year, we had accreditation visits for both our Toddler and Primary programs. This year, it was time for the Elementary visit. 

Continuing our accreditation as an AMI school is a critical part of our mission. But why? What does being accredited by AMI actually mean?

Maria Montessori never trademarked her name or her methods—anyone can add “Montessori” to their school title. The name alone does not guarantee the school uses any of Montessori’s teaching methods. As a result, there are a lot of “Monte-something” schools in the world. 

On the other hand, there are several organizations that can provide Montessori-related credentials to a school. But AMI is the group that was actually started by Maria Montessori herself. AMI is the oldest, with 100 years of history and thought leadership, and they measure schools by the strictest standards. 

We are aligned with AMI’s culture of thinking deeply about what it means to adhere to Montessori principles. We believe that being recognized by AMI means we are realizing the true potential of a Montessori education.

In terms of consistency and continuity, AMI schools enjoy a significant advantage over other types of schools. Because all faculty are trained by AMI, we all start with the same foundation, which greatly facilitates collaboration and connection. Being an AMI school also eases faculty and administration changes, since all AMI-trained educators have common ground in terms of priorities and methods.

For students, AMI ensures certain components exist in every classroom. Among other things, AMI wants to see that students receive:

• Three-hour work cycles (because these aid the development of focus and concentration)

• An AMI-trained guide

• A minimum number of children in each space (to aid development of collaborative and teamwork skills)

And in the Elementary classroom, AMI looks for evidence that children are actively working in groups and that they are engaged in larger projects, called “Big Work,” in the classroom. 

Finally, AMI wants to see that we are providing children with as many opportunities for independence as possible. AMI verifies that we are helping children be responsible with their belongings and peaceful with each other.

We have always been proud to be an AMI school, and I am happy to report that our Elementary classrooms once again passed the accreditation process with ease! We are grateful for the work of Ms. Lily and Ms. Jessica in preparing environments for the children that are beautiful and meet their developmental needs. We are also grateful for the hard work they put into guiding the children every day. 

Congratulations to our whole Elementary team on completing this process and supporting the children.

Joyfully,

Kira Donnelly

Head of School

Feb 19, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

Ever since arriving at Oak Knoll, I’ve been impressed by the warmth of our community. Every day, someone is checking in to see how my transition is going and offering their assistance. I always tell everyone, “Things are great!” And while things really are great, it’s time for me to share the details.

In the last few months, Kira has been taking me through the details of her administrative workload. With each area (payroll, tuition, hiring), Kira shares her process and instructs me as I handle the actual work. Thanks to her support, I’m feeling confident about my role as Interim Head of School next year.

But the Head of School position isn’t just about administration—it’s also about the future direction of our school. To this end, Kira and I have been reviewing what is working well, and what needs to change. And we’ve spent a lot of time talking about how to provide stability and consistency for our Toddler and Primary students.

The summer program we announced last week is part of this focus. For older children, a change of pace can be healthy and exciting. But younger children thrive on consistency. Because we recognize the importance of stability to our youngest students, we wanted them to have the option of a Montessori summer experience. 

We have other ideas, but I bet that you do, too. In fact, I have a goal of calling each family before the end of the year. Expect to hear from me soon! Alternately, you can click here to set a specific appointment for us to speak. 

Thank you so much for the warmth you have shown me, and please do not hesitate to reach out with any concerns or questions. My introduction to Oak Knoll has been comprehensive and welcoming, and I’m prepared and excited about all of the work we will accomplish together.

Sincerely,

Martha Georgie,

Program Coordinator

2023-2024 Interim Head of School

January 29, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll community,

For the past two years, the United States has dealt with huge waves of Covid cases. In January of 2021, we delayed our return to class due to staff shortages caused by illness. In January of 2022, we closed classrooms due to Covid exposures, since that was the protocol at that time. 

This year, the wave has not appeared and we were more prepared. Our Covid protocols are strong and have remained consistent throughout the school year. You can find these protocols on our website, and you can send questions to our Covid Safety team at covid@oakknollmontessorischool.org. In other words, we have a system to make sure questions are answered and best practices are followed. 

Protocols like these tend to be invisible, but they are the bedrock of an effective organization. In recent years, we have implemented numerous activities and procedures to support the long-term health of our school. A partial list of these activities includes:

• Launched a finance committee to consider investment opportunities and other options to enhance the school’s long-term fiscal stability

• Created a development committee to support fundraising and explore opportunities to engage and expand the OKMS community

• Created a quarterly schedule to provide formal feedback to families on student progress

• Worked to increase our elementary and adolescent programs’ alignment with Common Core standards

• Revisited our employee and family handbooks to ensure clear communication and compliance with current state laws

• Improved our communications regarding timelines and requirements for the financial aid and admissions processes

These processes may not be obvious or flashy, but they wind up having a huge impact on our organization. They build confidence. They help us withstand future challenges. They free our guides from administrative details so they can focus on what matters most—your children.

Whether you’ve never thought about our processes and protocols, or you’ve worried about Covid protocols, enrichment classes, and the long-term stability of OKMS, we have a message for you—please rest assured. Our growth and stability are well in hand.

The next time your child shares a story about their day, you don’t need to think about the procedures and protocols that went into it. After all, the point of our work isn’t administrative excellence—it’s to provide your child with the best possible Montessori education. Administrative excellence is simply one way of achieving that end.

With gratitude,

Kira Donelly

Head of School

January 15, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Community,

As we return from break, it is refreshing to watch all the children dig back into the work. Despite the rain (or perhaps, because of it), the classrooms are humming along. This is the part of the year where we see the deep engagement. Children have acclimated to the classroom and are now digging into the more complicated work available to them. It is wonderful to see this unfold.

Equally wonderful is watching those children who are now in their leadership year really come into their own. For children who have spent three years in a classroom, they know the materials, they know how things work, and they are ready to flex their knowledge in a variety of ways. 

Children will lean into this leadership year differently, but for many, this is the moment in the year when they are accessing some of the more advanced work of the classroom. In the Primary room, they might be learning about division by sharing things out equally with a friend or two. In the Elementary classrooms, they might be abstracting multiplication or square root. 

These oldest children become comfortable helping the younger children. This can mean they’re assisting classmates  when a task gets too complicated, or even teaching an introductory lesson to a younger child. Elementary children may feel more confident in gently calling out their peers on inappropriate behavior and leading class meetings. 

Children in their third year develop a stronger sense of self. Because of the stability in the environment, the materials, and the methods of teaching and learning, they have had time to understand who they are as learners and to experiment in that reality. 

This is one of my favorite aspects of Montessori education: giving the child a meaningful and tangible experience of being a leader, an expert, and a role model. 

Journeys always mean more when you can look back and see where you started. The three-year age groupings of Montessori classrooms give younger children something to look forward to. More importantly, they give older children a benchmark that shows how far they have traveled and how much they have learned.

(Primary families with children in their first or second years of a classroom—check out this link to Krista’s presentation on the benefits of the third year.)

As we move further into the spring, all the children will dig deeply into their work and shift their roles in the classroom slightly. It is the comfort and stability of these three-year age groupings that truly allow for educating the child’s potential. In summary, the Montessori third year is an amazing gift to your child and all the communities in which they live.

See you on campus,

Kira Donnelly

Head of School

January 1, 2023

Dear Oak Knoll Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. I am excited to get back to the work and I’m certain that your children are eager to return to school. 

Faculty and Staff will gather on Tuesday, before students return from winter break, to reflect and prepare for the students return. This time is important as it allows the faculty as a whole to meet together to discuss strategic and philosophic matters of concern. Additionally, it means that guides get a full two-week break rather than having to prepare for classes during the break; they can wait and prepare on Tuesday. 

I have heard some questions about the number of days off that we have as well as concerns about teacher retention and I can tell you that these two things are inexorably linked. A school that acknowledges how hard teaching is and that Guides need time to pause, breathe, and reflect in order to be their best selves with students, is a school that Guides want to be a part of. We balance the needs of the adults in the environment with the needs of the children and families. We do our best to provide childcare when we can, but also to hold each adult who works with children in high esteem and ensure that their voices are present and that their time is valued. Everyone needs time to prepare and reflect.

The balance of this is important. You see that, when possible, we bundle days off together so as to create long weekends and less disruption. Additionally, whenever we can, we provide childcare on those days off. While there is no childcare on Tuesday, January 3rd, there will be a sign up for childcare for all levels on Friday, January 13th. Signups for the 13th will be sent out this week.

I look forward to gathering with the faculty this week. On our agenda includes looking at the 2023-24 school year calendar as well as working with students who have additional needs. Levels will have a chance to meet and there will be teacher prep time as well. It’s going to be a great day.

We’ll see you on Wednesday!

Happy New Year!

Kira Donnelly

Head of School