Getting Our Hands Dirty
A Montessori environment isn’t complete without a beautiful garden! Across our campus, learning extends beyond the classroom as children dig in the soil, care for plants, and experience the joy of seeing their work blossom.
This week, many classrooms have been busy cleaning and pruning garden beds, refreshing the soil, and planting for the fall and winter seasons. Guides are preparing lessons that deepen children’s connection with nature, and classrooms are sharing sign-up sheets seeking volunteers. Maintaining our beautiful 18-acre campus is truly a labor of love, but we can’t do it alone! If you have a green thumb, or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, we’d love your help. Please consider sharing your time, knowledge, or resources to support your child’s class garden.
Stay tuned for exciting updates later this year as we continue to enhance our outdoor spaces!
The CMS Board of Directors would like to invite all families and staff members to our first Town Hall of the 2025-2026 school year! Click Here for the agenda.
Tuesday, September 9th
6:00-6:45 p.m.
at the Georgetown Public Library
Chicken Volunteers Needed
We are looking for a few more families to care for our CMS Chickens on weekends and school holidays. Tasks include filling food and water, gathering eggs (which volunteers get to keep!), and yes, scooping poop from the inside of the coop. If you're interested, please contact Rachel at admissions@community-montessori.org.
Staff Highlights
This year we will be introducing you to a different staff member each week. We look forward to sharing things like why they love CMS, how they were introduced to the Montessori philosophy, and what they enjoy doing when they are not at school.
Jody French
Children's House Guide
(at CMS since 2006)
Q) How long have you worked at CMS?
A) This is my 19th year at CMS and my 11th year as a guide in the Lantana Community with my rockstar assistant, Rossy.
Q) How did you discover Montessori and how has it impacted your life?
A) I went to a Montessori preschool! Then after high school I took my Montessori training and taught in Houston before moving here in 1999. Both of my children attended Montessori schools through fourth grade. My daughter, Genessee, went to school at CMS, worked at CMS, and now her two daughters (my grandchildren) attend CMS. I have a passion for sharing nature and animals with the children. I love Montessori's vision of peace through education and having the outdoors as an extension of the classroom.
Q) What advice do you have for families?
A) SLOW DOWN! I know this is easier said than done but childhood only comes once. Put away your phone and take time to sit and explore with your child. Take walks, hike trails, watch bugs, plant gardens, wade in streams, walk in the rain. Your child will appreciate your complete, uninterrupted presence.
Q) What do you do for fun outside of work?
A) I enjoy hiking, swimming, gardening, yoga and music. I am a certified yoga instructor, reiki practitioner and paqo in training. I love animals and recently started a nonprofit senior dog rescue called Ant’s Happy Endings in honor of my son, Anthony, who was senselessly killed by a drunk driver five years ago. My son was a compassionate soul who loved to help the 'underdog'. It is my goal to eventually open a healing center to serve at-risk youth and underserved communities, sharing our dogs' unconditional love. I currently have ten dogs at home and two in foster homes. We have several upcoming events and invite you to join us!
- September 7th, Community Walk and Trash Pick Up, San Gabriel Park (meet at 9:15, walk at 9:30)
- October 18th, First Annual Underdog Fest fundraiser at the Hole in the Wall, Austin 3pm-close.
CMS CALENDAR REMINDERS
- August 14th - 1st day of school
- August 15-29th - Staggered starts for new students
- September 1st - School Closed
- September 9th - Town Hall at Georgetown Library, 6-6:45pm
- September 27th - The Montessori Journey, 9-11:30am
Subscribe to our CMS Calendar: CLICK HERE
The mission of Community Montessori School is to provide authentic Montessori education
in a nature-rich environment that cultivates collaboration, curiosity,
love of learning, and respect for oneself, others, and the world.
