Namaste Montessori School

March 27, 2025School Eventscaregivers, Community, Montessori, parent involvement, primary

Bring A Caregiver to School Day!

We are excited to bring back a wonderful family event to our school calendar this year – Bring a Caregiver to School Day! This February and March, children in our Primary program invited in a parent or caregiver for a tour and a visit, in which they could show them some of their favorite activities. It is a wonderful opportunity …

March 11, 2025School Projectsalternative education, Montessori, primary, Science

Making Maple Syrup!

The children helped collect sap from the sugar maple trees on our Primary campus to make maple syrup. Each year at least one of our classes participates in the process of making maple syrup. This year, the children from the Bluebird class collected the sap in buckets and watched the sap boil down. After the hard work, the Bluebird class …

February 28, 2025UncategorizedBook Sale, Community, literacy, Montessori

Our “We Love Books” Book Sale was a Success!

Each year we work with a publisher to hold a “We Love Books” book sale in the month of February. This year we partnered with PaperPie, (www.paperpie.com) seller of Usborne books, and through their generous book sale program that offers 50% back in credit we made $354.23 to put toward books for our classrooms! Thank you to all the families …

February 21, 2025School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, literacy, Montessori, primary

Montessori Education and Literacy – Panel Discussion

Join us for a presentation of current literacy research and its application in the Montessori curriculum with Bruce Howlett, reading specialist and author of “Sparking the Reading Shift“, and our Primary and Elementary teachers, Bridgid Beames, Lauren Lougher, and Lex Thompson. Learn more about why some children read easily and some find it more challenging and less enjoyable, what makes …

January 28, 2025School Events, School Projectsalternative education, elementary, engineering, Montessori, robotics, Science, technology

Namaste Robotics Team Awarded FLL Robotic Championship

After months of hard work building and customizing their robot, coding for missions, and preparing a research presentation on deep sea diving, the Marine Masters, the Namaste elementary robotic team, secured two trophies at the First Lego League competition, on Saturday, January 25th. The first award the team received was for the most overall points scored by their robot over …

November 18, 2024School Eventsalternative education, Community, Montessori, Music and Art Education

Namaste Fall Festival

Despite the chill, Namaste families gathered for a fun-filled afternoon of games and activities early this November. The annual festival was larger than ever with the addition of a paper plane launching area and a timed obstacle course. So many parent volunteers helped to make this event a success and the community is so grateful!!

September 22, 2024School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori

Upper Elementary Annual Camping Trip

Each year, the upper elementary heads out on a fall two-night adventure to an area state park. This trip offers valuable experience planning, preparing, and packing, as well as a opportunities to cook meals, explore the area, and bond with peers. Before the trip, the students decided on meals and went on a field trip to Wegmans to purchase food. …

September 19, 2024School Projectsalternative education, child development, Montessori, primary, Science

The Indoor/Outdoor Classroom

The Montessori Primary program incorporates the natural world into the curriculum and prioritizes the freedom to go outside (when the weather is mild), allowing young children to move as needed and participate in activities that are inspiring and meaningful to them! When the weather turns cold, we continue to continue to go outside to explore the playground, and bring in …

September 9, 2024School Eventsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, primary

Namaste Celebrates 20 Years of Serving Children and Families

Current and past members of the Namaste community gathered to celebrate 20 years of excellent early childhood education with shared food, music, activities, and memories! Namaste sponsored free carousel rides for visitors to the park for the day. History Namaste Montessori School was founded in August of 2004 by Bridgid and Stanley Beames. It was initially licensed as a NYS …

August 31, 2024School Projectschild development, Montessori, primary, Science

Butterflies are Miracles!

The primary children raised swallowtail and painted lady caterpillars this summer! They watched the tiny caterpillars eat SO MUCH, grow very fast, make their chrysalis, finally hatch, and then fly off into the garden. Their experience ignited interest in insects and other small creatures we find around the school, such as toads, frogs, salamanders, and arachnids.

July 2, 2024School Eventsalternative education, Community, Montessori

Ithaca Fest Parade

Each year the elementary students help design and create a float for the Ithaca Fest parade. This year the theme was “Let the Sunshine In!” and our float was colorful, with flowers and butterflies! We had record turnout for our little school, with many alumni and families walking with us.

June 30, 2024School Events, School Projectsalternative education, child development, Community, elementary, Montessori, Music and Art Education, technology

Elementary Annual City Trip for 5th and 6th Years

Each Spring our 5th and 6th year elementary students plan a field trip to a nearby city. This year the students chose Philadelphia and planned for a very busy three days of activities, including visits to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Museum (the oldest art museum in the US) for a private tour and art lesson, the Philadelphia Mint …

Montessori