Updates for week of September 7 available now!
English: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-ENG
en español: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-SPA

We had a great second week of school, despite the heat keeping us inside for most of the week! Happy the forecast includes a bit of a cool-down, if we can call the upper 80s and low 90s a cool-down. I will note that after the first 10 days of school, we are all a bit exhausted and excited for this three-day weekend; enjoy your labor day and we’ll see you on Tuesday!

This week’s update includes: 

• Information about how to sign up for resources such as weekend food bags, and other available resources.

• The details from the 2026 North Carolina School Report Card for George Watts Montessori.

• Information about communicating absences.

• And our Montessori learning for the week–Montessori didactic materials

Be sure to check out the full update linked above–there so many details to share and we want to make sure you have what you need to partner with us to support your child! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

Updates for Week of August 31 available now:

We had a GREAT first week of school! Students have engaged in learning and community building all week, and the smile and laughter have brought a lot of joy back into the building! From a logistical perspective, thank you for the ways you supported safe and efficient morning arrivals and afternoon dismissals. We are quickly reducing the time it takes to get kids into cars and your support is a huge help! One reminder–we can only load and unload students from the passenger side in the carpool line. This is to ensure safety–carpool small collisions do happen, and we do not want students or staff to be in the middle. If you need to unload or load your child from the driver's side, please park and walk up.

We have a packed full update this week that includes: 

• Details regarding our dine-out at Jeni’s and our school improvement team.

• A call for volunteers to represent George Watts Montessori on the DPS Title I steering committee.

• Details regarding school safety, security, and emergency preparedness

• What to expect this week in family-connect folders

• And, our Montessori Core Component of the week: Child-Directed Work

Be sure to check out the full version of this message–there so many details to share and we want to make sure you have what you need to partner with us to support your child! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

Weekly Update for Families, click here (en español)

Updates for week of August 24 available now. English: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-ENG / Spanish: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-SPA

Good Evening Families, This is Principal Jenn with this week’s updates!

It is almost time–tomorrow, we will all begin to adjust to the early mornings and getting to school! Our team spent the past week ensuring all of our environments are prepared for student learning and community–all that remains is filling them with students!

In this week’s updates:

• Links to details regarding arrival, dismissal, and bus transportation

• Information regarding the technology fee for students in grades 3-5

• An introduction to our new family-connect folders

• And, our Montessori Core Component of the week: Work Cycle

Be sure to check out the full version of this message–there is so much more to share! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

Grounding–an intentional focus on the present

During our staff meeting yesterday, we had professional learning around stress management, including the brain science around sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. This also included tools for managing stress, for both staff and students, such as GROUNDING–an intentional practice of bringing one’s focus to the present moment, in your body or in your surroundings, instead of being trapped by the thoughts in your mind that are causing anxiety.

This morning, our community noticed a rainbow over George Watts Montessori–a beautiful moment in our surroundings on a heavy morning, navigating the real fear in our community brought by increased federal law enforcement activity this week. #gwmpeacematters 

Quarter 1 Family Nights coming up soon! You're invited: https://bit.ly/GWM-Q1Family-2025

You’re Invited: Quarter 1 Family Nights  

5:00-6:30 PM @ George Watts Montessori

• Primary + EC-AU K-2 classes: Thursday, September 25

• Lower El classes: Thursday, September 18

• Upper El + EC-AU 3-5 classes: Tuesday, September 16

Part 1: from 5:00-5:35, parent/guardian and student will visit the classroom to learn more about what the year will look like in the classroom for students. Each grade level band has curated an interactive opportunity for students and guardian.

Part 2: from 5:40-6:30, classroom communities will transition to the playground for a classroom dinner with students and guardians. Look for communication from your room parents about signing up to bring something to share. The PTA will provide pizza and paper plates for all classroom communities. Our hope is this will be a time to build connections with other families from your child’s classroom.