Elizabeth Ann Clune (Montessori School of Ithaca)

The Stewart Park Carousel opens next week, and rides are free all Memorial Day Weekend thanks to Elizabeth Ann Clune (Montessori School of Ithaca)!

The Ithaca Festival Parade is always a joyful celebration of creativity and community, and this year was no exception! A heartfelt thank you to Ryan Zawel and Laurie Cuomo for leading the way, and to all of our incredible EACMSI performers and dancers who brought so much magic, movement, and spirit to the streets. Your energy and artistry lit up the crowd and reminded us all of the power of joyful expression. We’re so proud to be part of such a vibrant tradition!

Exciting news! The Stewart Park Carousel is opening early for special days in May! Come enjoy free rides for the Better Together for Mental Health event this Saturday, May 10th and the Love Living at Home volunteer appreciation event Sunday, May 18th.

Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School of Ithaca is sponsoring the Carousel for the enetire opening weekend May 24, 25 and 26, followed by Child Development Council’s Playdate in the Park June 4 and Friends of Stewart Park’s celebrating the park’s birthday on the 4th of July weekend, with support from Tompkins County Tourism Program. What a start to summer!

If you’d like to sponsor a Free Carousel Day or buy multi-ride passes, learn more at stewartpark.org/carousel

-With Love Living at Home Elizabeth Ann Clune (Montessori School of Ithaca) City of Ithaca, New York Better Together

🎉 Community and school traditions hold a special place at EACMSI. Our founder, Andrea B. Riddle, emphasized the importance of all-school celebrations that connect us through our curriculum and seasonal themes.

Recently, we honored Andrea’s memory with ABR Day, where students, staff, and families wore red—her favorite color—or EACMSI shirts. This day marked our first Buddy Day, where students were excited to discover their buddies for the year.

Big buddies walked alongside their little buddies as we share stories about Andrea and her beloved wolf, Chance. Each buddy pair spent the morning exploring celebration stations on the Field of Dreams. ❤️

We are so happy to have the joyful sound of students back in the building! In these early days of the school year, Montessori principles are coming to life as students eagerly explore their new environments. Names are being learned, friendships are forming and reconnecting, and class communities are blossoming. Each classroom is carefully designed to foster independence, creativity, and collaboration, and we are already seeing students immerse themselves in meaningful work.

It’s an exciting time of year as new routines and rhythms are discovered. The children are actively engaging with hands-on materials, embracing opportunities to follow their curiosity, and beginning to take ownership of their learning. The energy and excitement in the air are palpable as students settle into their environments, ready for the year’s journey of exploration and growth. The foundation for a joyful, successful year is being built with each new day, and we are thrilled to be a part of it!

🌟 What an amazing start to the school year! 🌟 Our wonderful community of students had an incredible first full week back. Students of all ages have joyfully embraced classroom routines, forged new friendships, and filled our days with love and beaming smiles. 💫 Everyone has been on an exciting adventure, reviewing, remembering, and connecting with fresh ideas and concepts, from our youngest explorers to our older learners. Here's to many more weeks of curiosity, growth, and fun-filled learning ahead for all our students! 🌱

🎓 Congratulations to our incredible Middle School graduates! 🎉 It's been an incredible journey, with some students spending 11 amazing years at EACMSI. Today, they shared heartfelt speeches about their time here and their readiness to embrace new challenges. The future is bright, and these remarkable young leaders are ready to shine. Watch out world, here they come! 🌟✨
As the day came to a close, the entire school came together to celebrate these graduating elders. Running through a human tunnel and surrounded by bubbles, we ended the year with a poem and the uplifting sound of "Shalom." The torch has been passed from the second-year students to the first-year Middle Schoolers, symbolizing their new role as leaders of our school. "May we meet again soon. Shalom. Peace." It was a truly beautiful moment.☀️

At EACMSI, music is woven into the fabric of our days. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to our students, caregivers, grandparents, alumni, staff, and friends who stood beside us in the EACMSI Marching Band and Dance Troupe during the Parade. With the guidance of our Director of Music, Ryan Zawel, we shared the magic of Moby's "We Are All Made of Stars." Your support and unity bring harmony and inspiration to our Montessori journey! 🎉❤️🎵

The Stewart Carousel is open for the season!

Rides are free all weekend (including Monday) thanks to Carousel Sponsor Elizabeth Ann Clune (Montessori School of Ithaca)!