2021 – Parkside Community School

The Parkside Connection - November '25

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 23:05:51 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Fall (and winter?!) days are upon us, and we are really in the swing of things, having just wrapped up some of our long-time favorite Parkside events - Fall Fest and Ghosts of the Past! Fall Fest is a wonderful community-building opportunity and FUN for the whole family. And the Ghosts we meet each year thoroughly educate and entertain us, so kudos to the hard-working Elementary children and guides for treating us to another epic event!

If you're a Parkside alum or former parent, we would love to hear from you about your experience here. We hope you'll consider submitting one of these surveys to help us best serve current and future Parksiders.

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is GivingTuesday , the start of the charitable season and when many folks focus on their holiday and year-end giving. In order to help us continue to serve more children and families for the next 35 years and beyond, we hope you'll consider a tax-deductible gift to Parkside's annual fund this Giving Tuesday, December 2nd.

To donate on GivingTuesday, please visit our Amplify Austin fundraising page HERE . If you're considering a large gift or have any questions about fundraising at Parkside, please contact Courtney . We appreciate that some are in a better position to give than others, but every gift is gratefully received and will benefit our whole community.

SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, April 25th, 3-6pm

It's Parkside's 35th Anniversary!

We will be celebrating Parksiders past and present and sharing memories from across the years of this most special community. Please make plans to join us on campus for a good ol' family reunion and casual afternoon with food, fun, and of course, music! Stay tuned for more details this spring, and if you'd like to be part of the planning committee (we would love to have some alums!), please let us know .
See you April 25th!

This is always a special time of year at Parkside, for many reasons, and we are full of purpose and deep gratitude. Coming together each day to do this beautiful work is an honor and a gift we do not take for granted. Thank you all for being part of this community, now and through the years, as we truly would not be here without you. Our best to you and yours for a happy and healthy holiday season and a joy-filled new year.

Preparing Children for a Life of Caring

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 19:15:00 GMT

“Today we need an education that is about human development, about all the great things that humans do, because knowledge is not enough. It is about looking at children and saying: with what we’ve got, let’s create something that’s going to help them flourish.” Watch this beautiful video created in collaboration between Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and BrightVibes on how a Montessori approach to education prepares children for a life of caring.

Benefits of Montessori

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 03:12:01 GMT

Montessori education helps your child develop independence and a sense of empathy and social justice. Here , the American Montessori Society shares more benefits of choosing this method of education as well as parent testimonials on what makes Montessori special.

This in-depth article from Letty Rising and Trillium Montessori also examines 15 (of the many!) benefits of providing your child with a Montessori education. From inspiring a lifelong love of learning to cultivating long-term happiness and wellbeing, the gifts of Montessori are endless.

The Parkside Connection - September '25

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 02:16:08 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Happy 35th school year, Parkside! What a milestone! We are back in the swing of things with some new faces and some familiar ones, and it's wonderful to see the children exploring and enjoying the classrooms and the campus again. We have an event calendar packed with opportunities to foster community and hope to see you on campus, too, sometime this year.

In addition to the routine maintenance we do every summer, you might notice some extra improvements the next time you're here. Thanks, in part, to your donations during Amplify Austin 2025, we have a resurfaced parking lot, new picnic tables, and Building 2 got a fresh paint job! Many of the colors and design elements of this campus are reminiscent of our original campus on Toomey Road and all of the love and good memories we brought with us from there. We're planning to celebrate our entire history and community at an on-campus anniversary party Saturday, April 25th, 3-6pm , so stay tuned to your Parkside channels (including following us on Instagram!) for details and reach out with any questions. .

The start of the school year provides time for inspiration as well as reflection, so we begin by reaffirming our core values and our dedication to this mission. At Parkside Community School, we value:

- Our Sacred Obligation to honor the child, partner with families, and be good stewards of the environment.

- Community - We work and grow together as a dynamic, inclusive school family.

- Education - We foster a culture of lifelong learning for children and adults.

- Communication - We demonstrate grace and courtesy in our interactions and welcome candid sharing of ideas and opinions.

- Integrity - We are impeccable with our words and deeds and treat all with respect.

Our aim is to embody these values in all that we say and do, and by holding ourselves and each other accountable, we can continue this beautiful work and sustain this loving learning environment, just like we have since 1991. Your support makes it all possible, so we can't wait to say hello - and thank you - this spring.

Work or Play? A Peek Inside the Montessori Classroom

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

You know Montessori classrooms are different than most. You’ve heard the rumors: children run around doing whatever they please. It’s all play and no work. Or perhaps you’ve heard the opposite: our structures are so rigid we stifle creativity and natural childhood behavior.

What’s it really like?

We can practically guarantee that once you step inside a classroom for yourself, sit quietly in a corner, and observe the children and adults at work, your impressions will be transformed. We encourage parents to do so whenever possible; the children are used to visitors and we have tips on how your presence can be unobtrusive to them but informative for you.

In the meantime, this post will give you some idea of what you might see in a typical, high fidelity Montessori classroom.

Arrival

From the moment they step in the door, expectations are different for Montessori children, even as young as toddlers. Children are responsible for hanging their own bags and coats on hooks. They learn to change their own shoes, with some classrooms requiring that children wear either slippers or a special pair of shoes designated for indoor school use only. This is done in part to keep the classrooms clean, but also to give children a sense that their classroom feels more comfortable and home-like.

Guides greet students upon their arrival. They often make a point of shaking a child’s hand, looking them in the eye, and saying their name along with a friendly hello. By doing this, we are intentionally modeling polite human interactions. Before long, the children learn how to greet us back, and they are even able to apply this skill outside of school.

The Work Period

Also called the morning work cycle, this period of time is a hallmark of the Montessori approach. We believe that children need a longer stretch of time to involve themselves deeply in independent work, so we honor this need by providing an uninterrupted block of time each morning.

How much time? That depends on the age of the child. Typically, for children ages 3 and up, the work period is between two and three hours long. It’s not quite so long for younger children, and older children may have a second work period in the afternoon.

During this time children work independently while guides give small group or independent lessons. Sometimes it may appear that a child is playing, and while that is true, certain types of play are critical to learning. It is also important to note that Dr. Montessori developed her educational materials to appeal to children, so what may look like a simple puzzle could actually be a manipulative biology diagram. What looks like pretty colored beads are, in fact, tools for exploring complex mathematical concepts.

Montessori children are able to make a lot of choices during this time. We allow freedom of movement: that is, they may sit where they like, stand and walk around the room if their bodies require a break, and use the restroom safely without needing an adult’s permission. We provide a range of seating options as well. Some children prefer to work alone or with others, some like to sit at a table or on the floor. Adults appreciate having choices while they work, and we believe children should be afforded the same respect.

What types of work might you see? You may be surprised to see even very young children working on the following subjects:

Math
Language
Biology
Geography
Practical life skills
Sensory refinement (up to age 6)
Geometry

Socializing

Montessori education takes the perspective that we must nurture the whole child. This is a popular concept with parents and teachers across a wide variety of settings, but Montessori schools have structures built into their programs that allow for deeper exploration and support of the social self.

The aspects of choice are one way we support children’s social development. Rather than assigning seats or requiring children to work alone or in pairings that are predetermined by adults, we generally let children choose if they would rather work independently or cooperatively, and with whom they would like to work. That being said, in any group of people, some personalities work well together, while others do not; we help guide children to differentiate between what makes a positive complementary work partner for them, and what constitutes a fun friendship that can be developed outside the work period.

As children grow older, they begin to place a stronger emphasis on friendships. The process of figuring out what healthy friendships should look and feel like is a major work of children in the elementary years. Attachments form, and children come to rely on the company of one another. Of course, another reality of these years is that all children will face social conflict at some point or another.

One benefit of a Montessori environment is that the guides are able to set aside time and space to help children navigate conflict. We teach mediation strategies, inclusivity, and conflict resolution. We are able to assist children both proactively and reactively. We often use stories to teach children important lessons about social skills. Role play is another tool used in classrooms when negative patterns begin to form; when children are able to have fun and remove themselves personally from an experience, they can learn positive approaches to resolving common dilemmas.

The Guide’s Role

Another often surprising element of the Montessori classroom is the role our guides take. To begin with, they are typically referred to as guides, rather than teachers, as we believe the name is a far better descriptor of the task. Instead of feeding children a stream of information we expect them to internalize, we lay a path before them, open the door, and give them the tools to explore and learn.

In the primary years (ages 3-6), lessons are usually given individually. This allows the guide to give their full attention to the child before them, and to honor their individual needs. In the elementary years, lessons are typically given to small groups of children, honoring their developmental desire to work alongside their peers.

Another delicate task of the Montessori guide is to know when to step in and assist a child, and when to stand back and allow them to find a solution themselves. Generally speaking, we tend to take the latter approach. We believe that children are capable of much more than we often give them credit for, and given the opportunity, they will rise to the occasion. This approach helps build resilience and confidence.

Lastly, the guide’s job is to observe. We watch the children in our care to learn which skills they have mastered, which they are progressing in, and which they may require additional support with. Though we may not always intervene, we notice what they are doing, both academically and socially. We take copious notes to inform our practice, record their progress, and to share our findings with parents.

Montessori guides don’t consider themselves the center of the classroom. We are merely there to support the learning of the children.

Still curious? Good! Call today to schedule a time to observe. See a Montessori classroom in action for yourself. We know it will be an amazing experience.

Thank you to Nido Marketing for this post.

Why Montessori?

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

How does a parent prepare their child for an unpredictable future? Don’t we all just want to give them every possible advantage?

How do we define success in our children’s lives? Is it about being able to provide for oneself or is it finding joy in the work we do? Is it about contributing to our communities or perhaps continuing to learn throughout our lives? Couldn’t it (shouldn’t it) be a little bit of all of those things?

Goals

We think Montessori is one beautiful way to work toward all of these goals, and we are prepared to make some bold statements:

Montessori gives children a strong understanding of basic math and language skills, starting earlier than most methods and using materials that support their development and methods that correlate with current research findings.
Building a sense of independence and confidence is a major component of what we do. We know that children of all ages are fully capable of doing more for themselves than they are often given credit for. We have learned to sit back, observe, and assist only when necessary. This allows children to grow in incredible ways, amazing their parents (and frankly, us, too!).
Respect for and connection to the earth is built directly into our curriculum, especially in the elementary grades. We know that around age 6,children start to think about where they fit into the bigger picture. We teach them about the universe, our solar system, the beauty of our planet, and the variety of life on it, just at a time when they are seeking those answers.
Choice and freedom are important for all human beings. We give both to children because we believe they are capable of knowing what they need and want, and the more practice they have the better they will get at making decisions when we are not there to support them.
We value teaching responsibility and time management skills. This goes hand in hand with focus and attentiveness. The ability to make choices about one’s learning must be balanced with accountability; as the children in our classrooms get older, they know there are certain expectations. For example, they may be able to choose the order of their work, but they know that they have to do grammar at some point during a specific time period, even if it’s not their favorite subject.
Rather than drilling arbitrary facts into children and forcing them to memorize information that may not serve them in the future, we take a different approach. All children are exposed to a wide variety of basic scientific, geographical, and historical information, and are given extensive opportunities to more deeply explore the topics that they find fascinating.

Graduates of Montessori schools go on to be successful in other settings, whether they go on to attend other private schools or their local public schools. They tend to view the world a little more creatively than the rest of us, and their contributions are often felt throughout society. There are many notable public figures that credit their early Montessori education to the successes they experienced later in life. To learn more about some of these people, take a look at this article .

Research

Montessori-specific research is a fairly new field, but the initial results in recent years are fascinating.

One study conducted in Hartford, Connecticut, took a look at preschool students in a public Montessori magnet school. Federal magnet grants are awarded to public schools who commit to special, high-quality educational programming (in this case, Montessori) in an attempt to create a socioeconomically diverse school community within an urban setting. In the study, two groups of preschool-aged children were observed over time: 70children in the Montessori setting and 71 who were in other settings. While the children tested similarly at the onset of the study, eventually the Montessori children outperformed the others academically, as well as notable increases in their enjoyment of work, social understanding, mastery orientation, and executive function. Subgroups within the study showed some other interesting findings that suggest Montessori education might help close the gaps on certain factors that typically hinder children’s success (such as income and executive functioning).

Another study in public Montessori schools in Milwaukee concluded that a Montessori education has long-lasting positive benefits for children. The study also determined that when Montessori-educated children eventually transitioned into more traditional educational settings they were successful and the transition was positive.

While there are other great studies out there, we will touch on just one more here . This study took a look at the effects of a high fidelity Montessori environment versus a low fidelity Montessori or conventional classroom environment. Children who learned in a classic Montessori program in which the guides adhered to traditional methods made significantly higher gains during the school year than their counterparts in conventional classrooms or Montessori classrooms that were supplemented with other types of learning materials and methods.

Community

Montessori schools are also something unexpected: they provide a community for more than just the children. Parents, educators, students, and local community members gather together in support of common goals. They work together, socialize together, and find ways to solve problems together. In our society today, many people have lost the sense of community that is so important to our well being; Montessori schools serve an important function of not just educating children, but giving like-minded adults a way to connect and form meaningful relationships.

Thank you to Nido Marketing for this post.

The Parkside Connection - June '25

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 01:31:37 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Summer is here, and we have put the finishing touches on the 2024-2025 school year. It was another one for the books, and we have so many people to thank for that. We are truly a community school, with staff, families, and friends all coming together in service to the children and each other. Our success and longevity result from this shared effort, which is one of the many things that makes Parkside so special. We are also humble enough to know there is always more to learn and improve, so our doors are always open for your ideas, feedback, and questions. It continues to be our absolute pleasure to do this work - and have this FUN! - with all of our Parksiders, past and present, so thank you again for your ongoing support.

The spring semester was packed with adventure and tradition! Our Third-Year Lower Elementary students enjoyed their much-anticipated day trip to Emma Long Park and returned with stories to tell and new nicknames to share. And in what has become an annual event, both Lower Elementary classrooms had a very successful Fun Run and raised over $9000 for the Central Texas Food Bank! Finally, we wrapped up the school year with amazing displays of bravery and talent throughout five Cultural Challenge performances!

The Parkside Campout was also a big hit! We hosted over 100 Parksiders on campus for a night of food, fun, and family, capped off by a fireside Simple Gifts and pancake breakfast the next morning. Now that we've done it two years in a row, camping as a community is officially a tradition again!

We'd like to again say thank you to those of you who donated to our Amplify Austin campaign in March. In just 24 hours, 75 Parkside families and friends, past and present, pledged their support for Parkside, and we raised over $15,000! Year after year, our community continues to come together and help us make Parkside the special school that it is. We know that it takes all of us to grow these magnificent children and prepare them for their bright futures, so Thank You to:

Joe and Claire; Gloria Bruno; Leslie Hunt, The Moore Four; Zeke Holst; Shinn Family; Julia and Bulent; Shannon Sheppard; Liz and Hiram Sibley; Christina Paulson; Charles Bray; Estrada Family; Merrill Family; Herschel Thomas; Patin Family; Kyle Campbell; Cunningham Family; Pearce Heydt Family; Erik Rivas; Jeff and Christina Haladyna; Goebel Family; Schoen Family; Kevin Weiler; Katherine McCoy; Erin Ryan; Diane Len; Yost Family; Banh Family; Lincoln Thomas; Hughes Family; Stacey Buchanan; Dreise Family; Sefcik-Schroeder Family; Paes-Leme Family; Nolan and Jennifer Hertel; Henderson Family; Oelschlegel Family; Laura Agnew; Van Dyke Family; McMillan-Stiles Family; Shannon, Carter, and Ellis Thompson; Theresa Anastasia; Stephenson Family; Noah and Sally Seger; Camille Hartman; Melissa Friesen; Sue and Patrick Madden; Margaret Hynds; Tomasetta Family; Bloor Family; Stephanie and Mike Hahn; Bryant Tran; Riemondi Family; Cathy Oehler David; Weaver Family; Lisa Boggs; Chris and Lisa Schulz; Veronica Holmquist; Vergara Family; Christie Horne; Mark and Lisa Burr; Maya Castillo; Whittington Family; Sleiman Family; Riley Family; and 10 Anonymous Donors!

Is Montessori Right for Your Child?

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 15:02:35 GMT

Montessori education is a “whole child” approach to teaching that encompasses all areas of child development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. It encourages children and adolescents to learn at their own pace in an environment that fosters independence, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration.

That said, parents may find that Montessori schools do things a little differently than traditional schools. This is not right or wrong; it is simply a different way of encouraging children to learn, and one that may or may not be the ideal fit for your family.

Let’s look at the questions from this quiz and which answers resonate most with Montessori parents. This will give you a better understanding of the Montessori classroom so you can decide if it is right for your child.

1. Children learn best when they are:

Given rewards, like stickers
Connected with internal motivation and interests

We believe learning should be an exciting and joyful experience for children—something they choose to do without the expectation of rewards for academic outcome, participation, or cooperation.

Instead of stickers or other prizes, the reward a child gets from the Montessori classroom is the self-assuredness that comes from reaching a new level of independence or learning a new skill.

2. I am choosing a school to:

Prepare my child for a traditional kindergarten
Prepare my child academically, socially, and emotionally for school and life

Montessori education is more about preparing children to become thoughtful and well-adjusted adults and less about making sure they advance to the next grade or academic level. This is achieved by creating a consistent pathway for learning that begins as early as infancy and carries through to elementary education and even beyond.

Therefore, it does not make sense to enroll your child in a Montessori Primary program, for example, if you intend to transfer them to a traditional kindergarten classroom the following year.

3. When considering education, I:

Am open to learning about all methods and want to find one that is the best match for my child
Believe traditional methods are the best option

Some parents prefer the structure and familiarity of a traditional classroom setting. This is absolutely fine.

However, because children tend to learn in different ways and at different paces, they often benefit from being in an environment that allows them to learn in the way that works best for them. The Montessori classroom is a great example.

A parent whose child may thrive in a Montessori school setting is one who believes in giving their child the freedom to make choices and guide their own learning journey in an environment that fosters imagination and independent thinking.

4. My child learns best when in an environment that is:

Orderly, bright, and peaceful
Noisy and full of visual stimulation

You will notice that Montessori classrooms have a calm, inviting atmosphere that tends to be quieter than walking into, say, a typical elementary school classroom; there are a couple reasons for this.

First, because Montessori students are given the freedom to choose their own activities, they are more likely to be fully engrossed in those activities and less likely to be asking the teacher for direction. Children move at their own pace throughout the classroom, and teachers are there primarily to ensure children are engaged and learning.

Second, because quieter environments have been shown to foster quality learning, Montessori students are encouraged to speak softly with each other and with their teachers. In this way, they learn to respect those around them and promote a positive learning environment.

5. The most important outcome for my child is to:

Be prepared to achieve in elementary school and beyond
Be a happy, well-adjusted, and self-motivated human being

Again, the Montessori method of education places a greater emphasis on self-paced, independent learning over making sure children advance to the next grade or academic level.

We believe learning should be an enjoyable experience that encourages children to work beside and respect one another while at the same time developing their individual personalities and unique talents.

6. The ideal school schedule for my child would be:

A few hours a couple of days a week
A consistent schedule 5 days a week

The Montessori program is thoughtfully structured to help children maximize their potential in an environment where they feel content and well adjusted, and a big part of that comes from consistency.

Children thrive on routines and knowing what to expect each day, which is why families who can commit to a consistent, 5-day-a-week schedule are those who benefit most from a Montessori education.

7. It is important that your child completes worksheets and memorizes facts at school.

True
False

Although often used in traditional school settings, worksheets and similar memorization and repetition tools are rarely (if ever) used in the Montessori classroom.

We believe children learn more effectively through hands-on experience and independent exploration rather than regurgitating facts onto a sheet of paper. Students are also more likely to retain important concepts when they are able to apply them to different situations and test their validity for themselves.

8. You want your child to:

Learn at their own pace and be challenged according to their unique ability
Learn according to a curriculum based upon their age

In a traditional education setting, parents are often told that a child is not “reading at their level” or that they should be “further along by now” in a certain subject or task because of their age.

In the Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to learn at their own pace and given the time and space necessary to fully understand each concept. Children naturally want to learn and understand things, and giving them the freedom and the opportunity to do so is the key to helping them achieve their learning goals.

9. I want my child to be in an environment that:

Encourages them to explore their interests, without interruption
Has an external curriculum taught at specific intervals each day

While traditional classrooms are very structured in terms of time (e.g. 30 minutes each day for Math, 30 minutes each day for Reading, etc.) the Montessori classroom is not. Instead, children can choose which activities they want to participate in and for how long, so as not to interrupt the learning and exploration process.

10. At school and home, I want my child to learn to be:

Independent and do things for themselves
To rely on adults for everyday life skills

One of the primary goals of the Montessori method is to teach children to think and do things for themselves instead of relying on adults for everything.

In the words of the American Montessori Society, “Given the freedom and support to question, probe deeply, and make connections, Montessori students grow up to be confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens, accountable to both themselves and their community.”

Montessori students learn at their own pace through observation, exploration, and experimentation. Although it is the perfect fit for many families, it is not the perfect fit for all families.

If you are interested in learning more about Montessori education and its unique benefits, we encourage you to schedule a tour or visit our blog to learn more.

Thank you to Nido Marketing for this quiz and post.

Montessori Minute

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 22:18:45 GMT

There are a lot of choices out there when you're looking for Montessori education, so how do you know which one is "right" for your child? Here are some helpful questions to ask and things to consider when you're in the search:

Guide to Choosing a Montessori School

Montessori vs. Daycare

What Your Child Will Get Out of Montessori

For families coming from more traditional environments who want to understand “the difference” between that and a Montessori environment, this chart from AMI includes some of the bigger distinctions and is a great jumping off point for that conversation.

The Parkside Connection - February '25

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:44:01 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

How sweet it is! Last week, we welcomed over 100 grandparents and other special family members and friends to spend a Friday morning with us on campus for Generations Day! We all enjoyed Simple Gifts and tours of the classrooms with the children. This is such a wonderful event, and we love nothing more than having all members of our community together, which includes you! We look forward to more opportunities for you to experience Parkside.

In campus news, we are so thrilled to share that after long, long last, Parkside now has SWINGS! We held a grand opening celebration on a recent chilly weekend, but there was nothing but warm smiles and giggles as children and adults took a turn. This has been a dream of ours since before moving to this campus, so to see swings finally installed, and our whole community enjoying them, is a true Simple Gift. Please try them out the next time you're on campus!

We are now just TWO WEEKS away from Amplify Austin , Parkside's primary annual fundraiser. For the children's part, we kicked off Pennies for Parkside this week, so they are collecting and counting coins and bills in their classrooms, and their totals will be added to our school total during the 24-hour day of giving, March 5th-6th .

As we look ahead to our 35th anniversary next year, and a family celebration on campus (stay tuned for details!), we're setting an "Amplify Parkside" goal of $20,000 to fund improvements for our community spaces. On our wish list are new picnic tables and a water fountain/bottle filler for the Elementary playground, cosmetic updates for Building 2, and a community mural to mark this special milestone. We are so grateful for our beautiful home away from home, and your tax-deductible donations will help us lovingly maintain it for the benefit of our community now and in the future. All families and friends of Parkside are invited to contribute to our efforts, and every gift is much appreciated and gratefully received.

Thank you, as always, for your belief in our work and your support of Parkside. It is our honor and pleasure to continue the traditions and culture of this learning and growing community that Joe and Claire have lovingly fostered since 1991. You all have a part in making that happen, and we hope to acknowledge you in person soon.

Montessori Children = Happy Adults

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:06:58 GMT

Further proof you've made the right choice for your child's education! A paper published in Frontiers in Psychology provides more evidence that a Montessori education may be superior to traditional methods of education, especially on measures relating to students’ long-term psychological health and well-being. Renown Montessori researcher, Angeline Lillard, and her team found their study to be "one more data point in a growing body of research suggesting Montessori pedagogy is better for humans than is the common model.” Read more about their work here in Psychology Today and check out this one-pager on The Social Benefits of a Montessori Education .

Casa dei Bambini

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:05:59 GMT

January 6th is a historic date on the Montessori calendar as it marks the opening of the first Casa dei Bambini in 1907 .

What those first Case dei Bambini demonstrated so clearly, while Maria Montessori was developing her ideas, is that the environment is one of the major players in her approach. Click the link to learn more about what happens inside a Montessori classroom (links to information by program) and see how beautifully these unique environments serve children.

The Parkside Connection - November '24

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 23:44:04 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Fall (and winter?!) days are upon us, and we are really in the swing of things, having just wrapped up some of our long-time favorite Parkside events - Fall Fest and Ghosts of the Past! Fall Fest is a wonderful community-building opportunity and FUN for the whole family. And the Ghosts we meet each year always educate and entertain us, so kudos to the hard-working Elementary children and guides for treating us to another epic event!

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is GivingTuesday , the start of the charitable season and when many folks focus on their holiday and year-end giving. In order to help us continue to serve more children and families for the next 34 years and beyond, we hope you'll consider a tax-deductible gift to Parkside's annual fund this Giving Tuesday, December 3rd.

To donate on GivingTuesday, please visit our Amplify Austin fundraising page HERE . If you're considering a large gift or have any questions about fundraising at Parkside, please contact Courtney . We appreciate that some are in a better position to give than others, but every gift is gratefully received and will benefit our whole community.

Another way to support Parkside is through the purchase of our special edition Parkside hoodies! Just in time for the holidays, we are bringing back last year's sweatshirts and hoodies and adding a zip-front version, too! All items are available for a limited time through the Bonfire website ONLY at these links:

Big Logo Sweatshirts and Hoodies (youth and adult sizes)

Small Logo Zip-front Hoodies (adult sizes only)

Click through each link to see all the styles and colors, and place your order. Payment and shipping are through Bonfire, and a portion of each sale is given back to Parkside. Get your holiday shopping started and wear your Parkside Pride all year!

Again, this is a special time at Parkside, for many reasons, and we are full of purpose and always, gratitude. Coming together each day to do this beautiful work is an honor and a gift we do not take for granted. Thank you all for being part of this community, now and through the years, as we would not be here without you. Our best to you and yours for a happy and healthy holiday season and a joy-filled new year.

What is Montessori?

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 19:53:50 GMT

An Interesting and Important Question.

In this video from Nido Marketing , Montessori students, families, guides, and school administrators share what Montessori is to them.

I've Got Five Minutes. Explain Montessori to Me.
Seems like an impossible task, right? It can be done! To further elaborate on the video above and add to what you already know about Montessori education, take a look at this resource and make sure to "Take the Montessori Challenge," which is included at the end. You'll be well on your way to becoming a true Montessorian!

Montessori Minute

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:03:14 GMT

Have you ever wished to be a fly on the wall in a Montessori classroom? Are you stumped by some of the terms you hear? Would you like a better understanding of just what is going on here? You're not alone! Since this grand experiment began, Montessori families have hungered for more insight into their child's day and for direction on how to support their learning and development at home. We want to help, so we share short articles, videos, and other resources to explain and demonstrate aspects of Montessori curriculum, theory, philosophy, and more. By removing some of the mystery, we hope to reinforce the choice you've made to give your child this incredible education.

First up, vocabulary! Check out this handy terminology list from the American Montessori Society.

Next, we dispel some of the common myths about Montessori - how many have you heard?

And here's a helpful place to start in your school search - Montessori or Conventional: What's Best for Your Family?

The Parkside Connection - September '24

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 20:25:28 GMT

A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Happy 34th school year, Parkside! We are back in the swing of things with some new faces and some familiar ones, and it's wonderful to see the children exploring and enjoying the classrooms and the campus again. We have an event calendar packed with opportunities to foster community and hope to see you on campus, too, sometime this year.

We will soon begin the admissions cycle for the 2025-2026 school year, so if you are considering schools for your child or grandchild, or know someone who is, please reach out! Courtney is *always* available to talk about Parkside, so she is happy to answer any questions or show you around our beautiful home away from home. Admissions information can also be found on our website here.

- Community - We work and grow together as a dynamic, inclusive school family.

- Education - We foster a culture of lifelong learning for children and adults.

- Communication - We demonstrate grace and courtesy in our interactions and welcome candid sharing of ideas and opinions.

Brain Development in Young Children

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 21:09:00 GMT

The Montessori Foundation , in partnership with the Montessori Family Alliance, has created a wonderful series of Montessori Family Life webcasts that offer information and support for families and caregivers. We encourage you to check out the list of topics, starting with this 30-minute video on Brain Development in Young Children, featuring local parenting expert and friend of Parkside, Carrie Contey, PhD .

Save the Date for a Parkside Party!

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:08:23 GMT

We are so excited to announce that we have a date for the best party of the year - Parkside's 30th Anniversary! On Saturday, April 9th, we will celebrate Joe and Claire's 40+ years of dedication to Montessori education and 30+ years of love, support, and Simple Gifts at Parkside. You won't want to miss the chance to say thank you to the guests of honor and reconnect with Parksiders from across the years, so make sure to SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, April 9th

10am-12pm - We're hosting an Open House on the Parkside campus and all are invited! Come see us down on Slaughter Lane to tour the classrooms, catch up with current and former staffers, and join us in everyone's favorite Parkside tradition, Simple Gifts! Bring your voices, instruments, and dance moves, and let's start the day off right - together!

7:30-10pm - To continue the fun, we're having a party on top of the Austin Central Library, just across the river from the Toomey Road campus. It will be a night of reminiscing and rejoicing with Joe and Claire, as well as raising funds to help sustain their dream for the next 31 years and beyond. Such special people deserve a special night, and your presence will certainly make it so.

Tickets go on sale February 1st - stay tuned for purchase information coming soon!

It takes the whole community to pull off such a big endeavor, and we are looking for helpers of all sorts. Whether or not you are able to join us in person, here are ways you can support this event right now:

- Event donation or corporate sponsorship
- Donate auction items - goods, services, experiences
- Alumni outreach - help spread the word to fellow Parksiders
- Join the planning committee - we'd love to have you!
- "30 Seconds for 30 Years" - this is your opportunity to share a message with Joe and Claire - through photos or video - and we will compile them for presentation at the evening event. Start gathering your Parkside-era memories, and we'll post instructions for submission in the coming weeks.

If you have questions or would like to help in some way, please contact Courtney Moore , our Head of School. We have been looking forward to this night for an extra long while, and we know it will be a Parkside party to remember. See y'all on April 9th!

So Much to Celebrate!

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:56:05 GMT

We had a glorious morning with so much to celebrate! We started with Simple Gifts, where we love to sing and dance together - including a few special songs for Halloween and Joe and Camille's birthdays. The children made banners and cards for Joe and then we gathered on the patio for one more surprise for both Joe and Claire. In honor of their 31+ years in creating, nurturing, and inspiring the Parkside community, and in recognition of their well-deserved retirement, we have dedicated and renamed the Community Room. It shall here and ever after be known as The Joe and Claire Bruno Community Room . This space speaks to the love they have for coming together with the Parkside community, and they can't wait to do that again.

Thank you, Joe and Claire, for dreaming the impossible dream and making it come true for all of us. We love you!

A Special Announcement from Claire and Joe

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 20:55:00 GMT

Dearest Parkside families and friends,

Now that the school year is firmly underway, Joe and I want to share some personal plans that will be unfolding over the rest of the year and into the next. After 28 years of creating and growing our dream, the beautiful living and learning community of which you are all a part, we have decided it is time for us to transition into retirement. Breathe … This is a wonderful, bittersweet moment, and we want you to be a part of it. It will be a thoughtful process, and as we have more details, we will update you along the way. The most important piece, however, we can share with you now: We have every intention and desire for Parkside to continue for generations to come, and our goal is to take this time to put in place the people and plans necessary to make that happen.

To begin, I will be working a four-day week this year, reserving Wednesdays to try on post-retirement life. Later this month, Joe and I will be taking a long-awaited two-week trip to Italy – our first ever vacation during the school year! We are looking forward to the adventure as well as our first opportunity to leave the day-to-day administration of the school in the capable hands of others, all of whom you are familiar with and we trust implicitly.

As Joe and I transition into our new roles as Directors Emeritus, we are happy to announce that Courtney Moore, our current Director of Communications and Development, will be stepping in to the role of Head of School in the fall of 2019. Courtney is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary’s University School of Law, and she has been a member of our community for 13 years as a parent, classroom assistant, and administrator. She brings a deep love for Montessori education and the Parkside culture in addition to the business experience and professionalism needed to maintain the core values, academic standards, and overall health of the school. I plan to work closely with her this year, mentoring her in all aspects of my position and broadening her knowledge of the Montessori method and its implementation at Parkside. In Courtney and the rest of our dynamic administration team, we are fortunate to have the future leadership of our school already working within our ranks, and we believe this will allow us to create as seamless a transference of responsibilities as possible. We also know there will be additional needs created by our absence, so over time, we will be searching for new faces to join our team to ensure that the children, the staff, and the Montessori curriculum are all held and honored with equal care and respect.

Joe will continue mentoring the staff and sharing his vast knowledge and experience with us as well as the greater Montessori community in Austin and beyond. And, of course, he will be front and center at Simple Gifts. We are in deep conversation about what “stepping away” will ultimately look like for us, and we will share any further clear plans when we have them. That said, Parkside is our home, and you are our family, so we will never truly be gone. Thank you for your love and support of our dream, and we look forward to a long, bright future for all of us.

With much love and gratitude,

Claire and Joe

25 Years and Beyond …

Wed, 17 May 2017 20:34:00 GMT

Our 25th Anniversary celebration was a huge success, and we were thrilled that so many members of our community could join us! It was a brisk, spring day, but the rain held off, so we were able to enjoy our incredible outdoor spaces and offer classroom tours to our guests. The children’s beautiful artwork decorated the campus, and we were all entertained and inspired by musical performances from current and former students. Seeing sweet faces from years past was a highlight for Joe and Claire, as well as a testament to the loving impact they and the school have had over the past 25 years. (Rene Renteria gifted us with a lovely album of photos here. )

We are closing this school year soon, and we will end it with our annual Gates of Life ceremony on Friday, June 2nd at 11 am in the Simple Gifts area. This is a sweet tradition in honor of the children moving up to new classrooms or moving on beyond Parkside’s gates. Former students are invited up to form the gates to walk through, and each “graduating” child is recognized and celebrated. We look forward to this bittersweet day each year and would love for you to be a part of it. In order to make sure you receive more information about this and other events, please submit your current contact information here , and we’ll begin sending you our quarterly newsletter, The Parkside Connection.

Thank you all for your continued support and belief in us, and we look forward to Parkside’s next 25 years – and beyond!

Welcome to the New Parkside!

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 16:13:42 GMT

Welcome to the new and permanent home of Parkside Community School!

We are grateful and elated to have the opportunity to experience remaking ourselves in such a fantastic way. The hard teamwork of many people has manifested a wonderful place for all of us to work and grow. Our classrooms are beautiful, the land is spectacular, and it’s a joy to see the children settling into a natural setting with fresh air and lots of room to move.

Parkside’s first Simple Gifts ceremony was conducted out in the fresh air on a beautiful Friday morning, and this beloved community gathering was a magical experience for all. We have made the move and are busy settling in, attending to many final details. Our classrooms are working very well, and we all love the wide open spaces. This is the beginning of a long and exciting journey that will benefit our whole community, but especially our children. We truly appreciate the support you’ve given us throughout this challenging but successful transition.

We continue to be dedicated to making the best Montessori school we possibly can and a place for our community to connect to each other and to the land. Thank you to all for your trust and steadfast support. We look forward to serving the Austin community for many decades to come.

Joe & Claire Bruno

Founders, Parkside Community School