St. Augustine Public Montessori School

Happy Last Day of School & Moving Up Ceremony! 🎓

Today, our Kindergarteners, 3rd graders and 6th graders made their way over the bridge, symbolizing their transition to the next plane of development---a tradition shared among many Montessori schools!

Thank you to our teachers, staff and volunteers who worked to make sure today's celebration was extra special, and a big thank you to for lending us the plants and flowers that made it extra beautiful! 🪴🌺

We are so proud of all of our students and the hard work they've done throughout the year. We can't wait to do it all again next year! But for now, we are wishing everyone a safe, fun, and relaxing summer! 😎🏖️☀️🐢

This year's Teacher Appreciation Week is one for the books! Thank you to everyone who helped make our teachers feel extra loved and appreciated, especially:








Thanks to you, our teachers were treated *every single day* this week! 🙌🏻 And it is SO well-deserved!!!

In Montessori schools, you'll often hear the phrase "follow the child" - meaning teachers don't "lead" the classroom in a traditional sense. Instead, they act as a guide, supporting students' curiosity, independence and leadership as they learn.

Our teachers work tirelessly to prepare lessons and materials, and on top of that, they're thinking about how every individual student will connect with it in their own unique way.

So, to them we say: We see you. We see how hard you work and we see how much love you pour into classrooms. *You* are the magic that makes our school what it is. Thank you, today and everyday, for all that you do to help our students grow into the best versions of themselves. 🫶🏻🐢

GIVING DAY STARTS TODAY at 12PM! 🕛 is an initiative that supports local Northeast Florida non-profit organizations with an annual online giving event lasting 24 HOURS ONLY.

When you donate during this 24 hour window (12PM 5/6-11:59AM 5/7) not only are you contributing to our school, but you'll help us win additional prizes!

We're aiming for a few prizes this year:
- Most donors between 9PM-11PM on Wednesday, May 6
- Most donors between 9AM-11AM on Thursday, May 7
- Most donors from different states
- Getting a donor from far, far away

We hope you'll join us in this Giving Day Challenge! In doing so, you're supporting the only public Montessori school in St. Johns County. 🫶🏻🐢

👉🏻 Donate here:
https://www.givingday.us/organization/Saint-Augustine-Montessori-Community

A huge thank you to our friends at for generously gifting us a gorgeous (and delicious) lunch for our amazing teachers! We are so grateful for your support. What a fantastic way to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week! 🐢✨

Every semester, our Lower Elementary students (grades 1-3) conduct research on a country in a specific continent, and this spring it was the continent of Asia! 🌏🌸🦚

Their work culminates with a presentation of their research to the community, which took place last Friday.

Walking through the classrooms, we saw many students sharing various trinkets, artwork and even food and drinks connected to the country they studied! We were blown away by the amount of creativity and information on display!

Alongside the Continent Festival was the History Fair, where Upper Elementary students (grades 4-6) showcased two plays based on ancient history. 🎭

One was a modern retelling of the oldest story ever written, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and the other was an introduction to Ancient Greece and the Greek Gods. 📜🏛️🏺🌬️ Both performances were entertaining and informative, showcasing how much our students have learned this semester!

We are so proud of all of our students and their hard work! 🐢⭐

On this National Directors/Principals Day, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for Ms. Brenda Halpin, our Interim Director. ✨

Ms. Brenda stepped into her role at a pivotal time, demonstrating remarkable leadership and resilience. Having taught at our school for many years as a guide and an ESE specialist, she brought a wealth of experience and knowledge that has greatly benefited our community.

Her passion for Montessori education, professionalism, and poised demeanor have inspired us all. Ms. Brenda’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment, attention to detail, and dedication to the health and wellbeing of our students and school has made a significant impact, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her at the helm during this transition.

Thank you, Ms. Brenda, for your unwavering dedication and for embodying the spirit of leadership we celebrate today! 🫶🏻⭐🐢

It's that time of year where we get to display our gratitude to the folks that bring learning to life... our TEACHERS!

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we'd love to give all of our amazing guides a Visa gift card.

✨Please consider contributing what you can via Zeffy by Wednesday, May 6: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/teacher-appreciation-week-fundraiser--2026

Feel free to demonstrate your appreciation in other ways, too! From student drawings to iced coffees, let's make sure our teachers know how much they are truly cherished!

We also want to remind everyone that this Friday, May 1 is National School Principals/Directors Day! We'd love to celebrate Ms. Brenda, who has graciously stepped into the Director role this year. Friday will be a time to celebrate her dedication and leadership! ⭐

Here is a list of Ms. Brenda's favorite things - along with most of our teachers' favorites, too! 🫶🏻 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CxEg9jNX7d9sx3JWf-jQ8wLlHQ5udKbps3FO6Bn5s48/edit?usp=drivesdk

Everyday, these individuals empower our students to explore, imagine, and develop the skills needed to make the world a better place. We hope you will join us in celebrating them!

National Assistant Principals Week is a time to celebrate those who work tirelessly supporting teachers and students, creating a positive learning communities, and navigating the many unpredictable challenges that land on their desks.

If you're part of our school community, you know that our Assistant Director, Rebekah Andreu, does all these things *and then some*! Her warmth and genuine care shine in all that she does, providing our school with the perfect conditions for everyone to truly flourish. 🌷

Thank you for all the hard work and love you have poured into St. Augustine Public Montessori School, Rebekah! Our school is incredibly lucky to have you. 🤟🏻✨

Don’t forget, tomorrow is our OPEN HOUSE! Please join us from 3:30-5:30pm. Enter through the Turtle Trail. 🐢🐢🐢
This event is for prospective families (or current families who would like to join!) to tour our campus in-person, meet our teachers, see classrooms, and learn more about our Montessori program. We will provide you with information about our school, method of education, enrichments, who we are as a community, and a cup of Kookaburra coffee! ☕️
We can’t wait to meet you!