Community
Washington Montessori School
New Preston, Connecticut
Parents' Association
WMS families have incredible strengths, skills, talents, and passions. The PA seeks to provide meaningful ways for all families to be engaged in supporting our students collectively and collaboratively.
While all members of the parent body are automatically part of the Parents’ Association, the committee chairs collaborate with the school and the greater body of parents to bring us together. Being involved is a tenet of our culture and there is no set way to do it. Whether you attend an event or help plan one, every time you participate, you model positive action, which helps the students of WMS understand how to make a bigger impact in the world.
PA Committees
Community Culture
Our school culture is rich with traditions in which parents and extended families play a vital role. Acting as a communication liaison between volunteers and the school, the Community Culture Chair engages the community to encourage and promote participation in all aspects of our school. Whether you have limited availability or whether you can give more time, there are numerous volunteer opportunities. The Community Culture Chair is there to answer your questions, connect you with other parents, and help you choose how you want to be a part of our community.
Community Events
The Community and Events Committee creates and holds events that deepen our relationships in and out of the school. This includes planning stay-and-plays, hikes, and casual get-togethers. This is a great way for people who want to give their time to contribute: From organizing a hike after drop off to picking up watermelon for field day, there are ways to get involved that will meet any volunteer’s schedule.
Coffee Cart
The morning Coffee Cart is the best way to meet other parents and school staff. You don’t have to be a coffee expert to participate, and we encourage all parents to stop by when they have time to socialize. This responsibility runs from 8 – 9:30 a.m. one day a week, or one morning on occasion as a sub to run the cart on a rotating basis. Baristas set up, make coffee, engage with parents, and clean up.
Prospective parents are also invited to attend Coffee Cart as a way to meet current parents, ask questions, and get a sense of our school’s vibrant community. You’re welcome to join us anytime!
Community Impact
The Community Impact committee organizes community service projects, including Food Bank Friday, a weekly initiative to help fill the shelves of local food banks with nutritious food. This committee also organizes occasional initiatives like the winter coat drive, a holiday giving tree, and sandwich-making for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House. Volunteers can join this group on a project-by-project basis.
Staff Appreciation and Classroom Support
The Staff Appreciation Committee organizes ways to support and say thank you to teachers. This may involve a note-writing drive, a catered or home-cooked meal, small gifts, or anything else that the volunteers plan. This committee plans simple snacks for staff meetings and back-to-school and end-of-year faculty meetings. Many Montessori materials are handmade. Maps need to be colored, botany cards need to be laminated and cut out, and so much more. Classroom support is a relaxing way to help WMS in a way that directly impacts students and teachers. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to get to know other parents. From baking a batch of cookies to planning gifts for the entire staff, there are ways to get involved that will meet any volunteer’s schedule.
Development & Fundraising Events
This committee works with the school’s Director of Development and our Auction Coordinator to help raise money for our school. Fundraising not only allows us to strategically advance our school, but it also ensures that the makeup of our student body is diverse and inclusive. Key programs include the Annual Fund, a live auction, the Polar Plunge event, and raffles to benefit the WMS Community Partnership Program (CPP) and special events like WMS Presents and parent-hosted gatherings.
This is our largest group of volunteers and a fun way to meet other families. From graphic design and copywriting to running a quick errand the opportunities to volunteer are vast and year-round.
Calendar
Navigate our interactive calendar of enriching events and educational milestones.
Sustainability
The Montessori method inherently cultivates a deep respect for the natural world and promotes environmental responsibility. Washington Montessori School is committed to cultivating a community of students, teachers and families who share a reverence for protecting our natural resources and to empowering them with the skills and knowledge to do so. Many of our sustainability efforts are deeply embedded into the curriculum and occur with little to no notice or fanfare, while other sustainability initiatives—like the installation of our solar panels and the composting program overseen by the student-led Green Team—are concrete examples of our strategic work to be good stewards of the environment.
“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe, and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”
– Maria Montessori
Peace & Justice
The peace and justice mission of Washington Montessori School is grounded in the expectation that all members of our community keep their minds and hearts open to difference as a source of strength and a means of growth. We concur that human dignity is sacrosanct, and it is upheld by fostering a learning environment in which the uniqueness of each person’s experience and perspective is celebrated, thereby giving us peace in our individuality, respect for those unlike us, the wisdom to discern humane values, and the courage to act upon them. We recognize that this is not a journey that we take alone, but an ongoing partnership and collaboration with others. By beginning to understand the limits of our own understanding, we become more compassionate and effective members of our global family.
“Do we believe and constantly insist that cooperation among the peoples of the world is necessary in order to bring about peace? If so, what is needed first of all is collaboration with children…. The figure of the child must be a shining symbol beckoning us on, a symbol pointing not only to the goal to be attained, but also to the one path that will enable us to reach it.”
– Maria Montessori
Learning Opportunities
WMS is a source of support and education for parents, family members, and caregivers. We believe that educating children requires partnership and trust to be built among teachers, administrators, and families. With that in mind, we offer a variety of Learning Opportunities for parents throughout the year, including discussions and education about WMS programs, Montessori philosophy, and relevant parenting topics. Most Learning Opportunities are open to the public, so you are welcome to bring a friend or spread the word.
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