Desert Peach Montessori School

Watching little hands do big work 🌱✨
Today our children partnered with Urban Roots to plant seeds and seedlings into our newly refurbished garden beds. A beautiful reminder that when we nurture the earth, we’re also nurturing curious minds and caring hearts 💚

Looking for a Montessori environment rooted in nature and supportive of children’s social-emotional growth?

Desert Peach Montessori is hosting an Info Session for the 2026/2027 school year this Friday, April 24th at 5:00 PM.

Come learn more about our program, our values, and how we nurture the whole child.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected]

We hope to see you there 🌿

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature.”- Maria Montessori

Check out the Western Lights Festival starting next week (Feb 19th)! A must if you reside or visit Northern Nevada!

A free, illuminated festival will transform downtown Reno into an open-air art gallery.
Photo courtesy of the City of Reno
https://www.kolotv.com/2026/02/12/free-illuminated-festival-transform-downtown-reno-into-open-air-art-gallery/

We have almost reached our goal! Donate or share to help us achieve our goal. :)

Donate to Help Rebuild Our Outdoor Classroom & Garden, organized by Denise Rubinfeld Desert Peach Montessori School sits on a beautiful property in Old Northw… Denise Rubinfeld needs your support for Help Rebuild Our Outdoor Classroom & Garden

Donate now: https://gofund.me/d55563033 The school was recently selected as a recipient of the ‘Gardening for All’ program through Urban Roots, a local nonprofit dedicated to urban farming and community improvement. This partnership is an exciting step forward, but it comes with a challenge: the school must fundraise part of the project’s cost to bring the garden back to life. With the support of families, friends, and neighbors, Desert Peach Montessori hopes to rebuild the garden and transform the area into a vibrant, hands-on learning environment.

Once the improvements are made, students will have more opportunities to be active participants in gardening, connect with the natural world, and learn in an outdoor classroom setting. The space will also become a beautiful area for hosting community events, bringing people together and strengthening the bonds between the school and its neighborhood. By supporting this fundraiser, you are helping to create a unique and welcoming space that will benefit children, families, and the entire community for years to come. Thank you for considering a gift to help make this vision a reality.

We are thrilled for your family to join us at the McKinley Arts & Culture Center on Thursday November 20th.

During our reception you will be able to:
Enjoy a pizza dinner, test your luck with our 50/50 raffle, and bid on some art-inspired silent auction items. ALL in support of DPM! 💙
Your participation helps make a lasting impact in our community. 🌟


 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 


🌿 Nature Art with Ms. Zoe! 🎨

Our Desert Peach Montessori children had a wonderful time exploring creativity in nature today under the guidance of Ms. Zoe

Ms. Zoe guided the children in observing patterns, colors, and textures found outdoors — a perfect blend of art, science, and mindfulness. 🌼🪵

The children worked on free abstract drawing with charcoal and white chalk on cardboard.

They also made their own glue made from flour, sugar and water to paste leaves gathered from the ground onto cardboard.

They created beautiful art pieces inspired by the world around them. 🍂✨

We love seeing our young learners express themselves while deepening their connection with nature! 💚

Teacher spotlight day! Meet Tamra Hopkins — our founder, teacher extraordinaire and friend!
Thank you for your vision Tamra and all you do for our amazing community of littles!

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“I have over 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, director, and school leader, and I founded Desert Peach Montessori as Nevada’s first Wildflower school. I am passionate about Montessori because it honors each child’s individuality while fostering independence, curiosity, and a love of learning. What I love most about DPM is our strong community built on shared values of respect, compassion, and equity, and the safe, beautiful natural playground where children can explore and grow together. In our classrooms and outdoor spaces, children learn problem solving, are encouraged to ask questions, and develop the skills to think critically about the world around them. Outside of school, I enjoy wilderness camping, launching high-powered rockets, and exploring the desert with my children as we search for snakes and other wildlife.”

Teacher spotlight!! Meet Ms. Claudia!

Hello, my name is Claudia Dammen. I was born in Peru, raised in California, and moved to Reno in 2019. I took my Montessori Teaching Training at Montessori Institute of San Diego back in 2016. I have over 10 years of experience in Montessori education, I chose this teaching approach because it honors each child’s individuality, nurturing their natural curiosity and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

At DPM, children have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of Montessori materials while also engaging in extensive outdoor learning experiences that connect them with nature and serve as an extension of our curriculum. The community here feels like a second home for children and their families. Getting to know all the children from toddlers to primary students along with their parents and even grandparents creates a warm, united, and homelike environment that reflects the values of our program.

In my free time, you will find me camping with my two children, husband and dog. I enjoy baking, hiking, walking and exploring new places and restaurants with my family.