Christian Montessori School of Ann Arbor

Our Annual Art Show was a wonderful celebration of creativity, imagination, and hard work!

Over the past two days, families had the opportunity to explore an incredible collection of student artwork from across our school. From paintings and sculptures to mixed-media projects, quilts, garden displays, and even our Elementary space exploration exhibits, every piece reflected the unique talents, interests, and growth of the children who created them.

What made this showcase especially meaningful was knowing that each display represented hours of concentration, creativity, and effort from our students. Montessori education values the process of learning just as much as the final product, and this exhibit beautifully highlighted both.

A special thank you goes to Ms. Rebecca and Ms. Brenda, whose vision, planning, and dedication brought everything together into such a beautiful and inspiring experience. Their passion for nurturing creativity in our students was evident in every corner of the exhibit.

Most importantly, congratulations to our students! We are so proud of the care, imagination, and perseverance you demonstrated throughout the year. Thank you for sharing your work with our community and reminding us all of the beauty that can be created when children are given the freedom to explore, create, and wonder.

💙 We hope everyone who attended enjoyed the show as much as we did!

This month for our Community Spotlight, I had the opportunity to sit down with Pietruck Therapy Services founder Lindsay Bailey. As we talked, one of the things that stood out almost immediately was just how many similarities there were between the work they do in the world of therapy and the work we strive to do each day here at CMSAA.

One example we discussed was something as simple, yet deeply meaningful, as the very first phone call. For many families, reaching out to a therapy practice can feel vulnerable and emotional. Lindsay shared how intentional their team is about creating a welcoming and compassionate experience from the very beginning, recognizing the courage it often takes for someone to ask for help or support. In many ways, we related to that deeply as a school community. When families call CMSAA for the first time, they are entrusting us with one of God’s greatest gifts, their children. That first interaction matters. Feeling seen, heard, and cared for matters.

Lindsay’s path into the field of therapy began with a natural love for connecting with people. After earning her Master’s in Social Work, she spent time working in home-based therapy, school social work, and even teaching within the University of Michigan’s Social Work program. Over time, the desire to build something of her own continued to grow. When the opportunity finally presented itself, she stepped forward in faith and launched what would eventually become Pietruck Therapy Services.

This year marks the practice’s 10-year anniversary. What began as a single shared office space has steadily grown into multiple locations filled with like-minded professionals who share the same heart for client-centered care. Lindsay shared that one of the biggest priorities throughout that growth has been maintaining what she described as a true “wow client experience.” From the first phone call to ongoing care, the team works intentionally to meet people where they are emotionally, mentally, and practically. Every detail matters, from creating a peaceful, home-like environment to thoughtfully pairing clients with therapists who are the best fit for their needs.

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we also spent time talking about the changing conversation surrounding mental health. Lindsay reflected on how far society has come in reducing stigma around therapy and mental health support. She shared that therapy does not always have to begin because of a major crisis. Sometimes it is simply about processing the “noise of life,” navigating transitions, exploring personal growth, or having a safe sounding board during difficult seasons. Some people benefit from short-term support, while others find value in longer-term care and reflection.

One particularly meaningful part of our conversation centered around children and emotional development. Lindsay emphasized how important it is for adults to validate children’s emotions before immediately moving into problem-solving mode. Statements like, “I hear you, and that must feel frustrating,” help children feel safe, understood, and emotionally grounded. She also encouraged adults to model emotional regulation openly themselves, even verbalizing moments of frustration or the need for a break. Children learn so much from observing how trusted adults respond to emotions in healthy ways.

We also discussed the important role schools can play in helping normalize conversations around mental health. Just as we teach children to care for their physical health, emotional and mental health deserve the same attention and openness. Creating environments where feelings can be expressed safely helps remove shame and stigma while building lifelong emotional awareness and resilience.

Lindsay also shared a perspective that I found especially impactful: seeking support is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes our minds and bodies alert us that something deeper needs attention long before we fully understand it ourselves. Therapy can be an investment not only in the present moment, but also in one’s future well-being, relationships, and personal growth.

When asked about some of the most rewarding moments in therapy work, Lindsay smiled and explained that they celebrate both the large and the small victories. Sometimes progress looks like finally speaking aloud about something that once felt impossible to discuss. Other times it may simply mean responding differently to a situation that previously caused overwhelming emotional reactions. Those quiet “ah-ha” moments matter deeply.

Lindsay gave me a tour through the different therapy spaces, and once again I found myself noticing strong parallels to Montessori education. Each room had its own unique feel and personality, carefully and intentionally prepared to create comfort, peace, and safety for the people who would spend time there. In many ways, it reminded me of the intentionality we place into preparing Montessori environments for children. Even small details communicated care and purpose. One room even overlooked a bald eagle’s nest visible through the window, offering a quiet reminder of the beauty, calm, and sense of reflection that intentional spaces can provide.

By the end of our time together, it was clear that the heart behind Pietruck Therapy Services aligns closely with many of the values we hold dear at CMSAA: intentional care, respect for each individual journey, meeting people where they are, and creating environments where growth can happen safely and naturally.

Today we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their courage and sacrifice have shaped the freedoms we enjoy each day, and we are deeply grateful for those who gave everything for others.

Wishing our CMSAA community a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

For the last 21 days, one of our classrooms at CMSAA has been carefully incubating eggs as part of a hands-on learning experience… and it looks like today might finally be the day! 🐣Here is where you can watch with us LIVE: https://www.youtube.com//live

At around 4:00am this morning, the green egg on the right made what is called the “first pip,” which is the very first small crack in the shell as the chick begins its journey into the world. After this happens, the chick will often rest for several hours while getting used to breathing fresh air before continuing the hard work of hatching.

On average, hatching is completed within about 12 hours of the first pip, though sometimes it happens sooner and sometimes it takes a bit longer. We’ll just have to “follow the egg.” 😊

We are excited to invite our community to watch the process live with us! See the livestream link at the top. We will try to post another quick update as things begin progressing further.

Today the Head of School found out that not only do we have a loving community… but a very sneaky one too. 😊

Joe and his wife are preparing to welcome their third child, a baby boy, any day now. And today our families and staff successfully pulled off a “Surprise Carline Sprinkle” filled with gifts, smiles, hugs, and so much kindness.

Staff flooded the office with presents and Children proudly carried gifts at carline from families who kept the secret for several weeks. It was a special reminder of the beautiful community that surrounds our school. Joe shared that he feels completely overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this moment so meaningful for the Henkel family. CMSAA truly is something special. 💙

What a beautiful day for our Bring Your Parent to Plant event! 🌱💚

Thank you to every family who came out to dig in the dirt, plant flowers, share smiles, and spend time together in our school community. We were especially thankful that the weather forecast ended up being far more dramatic than reality. Instead of heavy rain, we were treated to just a few small refreshing sprinkles while we worked together outdoors.

The space looks absolutely beautiful, but even more meaningful than the plants themselves are the memories attached to them. Long after today, the children will walk past the flowers at the entrance and see the plants growing in their classroom environments and remember this special time spent together with the people they love most.

Thank you again for helping make our campus feel even more alive, welcoming, and full of joy. 🌼

Our neighbors Grace Ann Arbor West right next door to CMSAA, invited our school community to join them for their upcoming Parent’s Night Out event on Friday, May 15 from 6–8 PM!

This is a free community event for families and sounds like a wonderful opportunity for parents to enjoy a couple hours to themselves while the kids enjoy games, activities, and fun in a safe environment.

Whether you want to grab dinner, run errands, or simply enjoy a quiet evening for a little while, this could be a great chance to do so!

Thank you to Grace Church for extending the invitation to our families and for continuing to be such a supportive community partner. Please register here - https://graceannarborwest.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3502271

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community! 🌷

Thank you for the countless ways you nurture, encourage, guide, and love the children in your lives each and every day.

Wishing you a day filled with love, rest, and appreciation. 💕

This week has been overflowing with gratitude, encouragement, and so many thoughtful acts of kindness for our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week! 💙🍎

Every single day, our amazing parent community has been pouring out love for our teachers and staff. Breakfasts, lunches, treats, kind notes, generous gifts, and thoughtful surprises have reminded our team just how supported and appreciated they are. Families have also been blessing our classrooms and school with helpful items and supplies that make our teachers’ daily work easier and better support the children they serve each day.

Our administrative team also had the joy of providing some extra goodies throughout the week, including a special surprise visit from the Kona Ice truck! 🍧 A huge thank you to Kona for generously providing this free of charge in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.

At CMSAA, we know how much heart, patience, creativity, and love our teachers pour into the children each and every day. It is wonderful to have a dedicated week to celebrate them and intentionally say thank you.

And the fun is not over yet! We still have even more planned for the final two days of Teacher Appreciation Week as we continue celebrating our incredible staff. 🎉

That said, one of the things that makes our community so special is that our families show appreciation all year long. We are deeply grateful for the partnership, encouragement, and support that surrounds our school community every day.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this week so meaningful for our staff! 💛

What a wonderful week it has been at CMSAA.

From creative expression and focused classroom work to outdoor exploration and moments of friendship, each day was filled with meaningful experiences. It is always incredible to see how children engage so fully with their environment, whether they are carefully pouring tea, building words, creating with their hands, or simply finding joy in being together.

There is so much growth happening in both the big moments and the quiet ones. We are grateful to be part of it and to share these glimpses with you.

Thank you for being part of our community.