Okanagan Montessori Elementary, Preschools & Daycares

Less “let me help,” more “you’ve got this.”

Bubble chasers, puddle splashers, and sunshine seekers. ☀️🫧 🌊The best kind of day is one spent outside!

Our Kindergarten visits have officially begun! 🍎✨
Over the final weeks before summer break, our preschool children will spend time visiting their new Elementary classroom, getting to know new friends, exploring familiar Montessori works, and connecting with their new teacher.

We take great pride in our Preschool-to-Kindergarten transition. Casa is the children’s home away from home, a place where they feel safe, secure, confident, and deeply connected. These visits help make the next step feel exciting, familiar, and joyful. ❤️

Fun fact: we have 26 preschool graduates this year! 🎓 We couldn’t be prouder of this incredible group of children and all they’ve accomplished. We are so excited to see many of them continue their Montessori journey with us as they move into Elementary. ✨

Our flag flew at half-mast this week with the loss of our beloved longest running Directress at Okanagan Montessori Elementary.
A few things about Bonnie:
-She never wanted to retire from teaching
-she had a habit of staying up late to get out new materials for students, and being more excited than the students
-she honoured Maria Montessori through her own teaching and practice
-she taught for nearly 55 years! When she first started, female teachers were required to wear skirts. She 🤨at that
-she stood on picket lines to bring fairness to all children in schools
-she did her in-person Montessori training from 1983-1984.
-she helped start a public Montessori school and came to Kelowna in 1995 as her “retirement job” ,,, or so she thought
-she had an uncanny knack of knowing when to extend a student’s work, or back off.
-even when she didn’t officially teach anymore, she could still do a Math lesson with her eyes closed. She could also guide a new reader with her memorized books. She could, and she did.
-if you were up to no good, she ALWAYS found out about it.
-she could out-wait anyone who thought they’d slack it on any given day.
-she loved her students, and most of the time, their parents too 😂
-she loved singing, especially when children’s faces lit up from singing.
-she loved timelines, and number rolls.

We strive to keep her spirit alive at our little school.
Time to rest now, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma. Friend. Mentor.
We will soldier on.

Celebrating Earth Day 🌎
Our Elementary Students spent time planting flowers and learning about how we can care for our planet, one small act at a time.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”-Albert Einstein

📸: .by.taylorlynn

Last couple of days to purchase beautiful flowers and plants 🪴🌷

Order Deadline: April 9th 12pm
Order Pick up: April 24th 3pm-5pm

https://okmontessorielementaryschool.growingsmilesfundraising.com/home