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A car trunk can become a friendly monster, a pumpkin patch, or an entire story brought to life. At Trunk or Treat, each decorated vehicle gives children a new place to pause, look closely, and collect a treat before moving on to the next. Crescent Montessori will host their annual Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 30th, 2026. Families, community members, and local businesses are all invited. The event will include decorated trunks, shared treats, and Halloween-themed activities. Children can move through the event with their families while spending time with friends,

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Why Continuity and Depth Across the Entire Day Make a Difference for Young Children in California Welcome to the third installment in our series helping California families navigate early learning choices. In previous posts we covered the optional nature of TK and took a close look at curriculum approaches. This month we turn to a practical but powerful question: What does the full day actually look like? For working families especially, the hours between drop-off and pick-up; and what fills them; can be one of the most important factors in choosing care. TK

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Fall is a special time at Crescent Montessori, bringing opportunities for children to celebrate the season, express their creativity, and make memories with their school community. In preparation for our annual Harvest Festival, our classrooms have been busy creating personalized festival bags that children will carry with them throughout the celebration. Our youngest children in Pre Primary are making their mark through collaborative handprint and footprint artwork, while our Primary children are using their creativity to design bags that reflect their individuality. Each bag will include the child's name and year,

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A Blog by Colleen Noll Hey Parents, We’ve talked about the kids’ meltdowns, age-appropriate rules, car rides, restaurants, rainy days, the gift of boredom, and even our own MPO6 stories with refrigerator boxes and Art Night. Now it’s time for the part that often feels hardest: US! Because here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud, it’s much easier to set screen limits for our children than it is to put our own phones down. I’ve been there. You sit down for two minutes, reach for your phone “just to check one thing,” and

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On October 9th, Kindergarten children from each of our California campuses gathered at Spina Farms Pumpkin Patch for a shared fall field trip. The 10:30 a.m. visit gave children from our Cabrillo and Crescent campuses time together away from their usual classroom environments. It also offered a seasonal experience connected to the natural world and the broader community. Practicing Independence in a New Setting A field trip asks children to use many of the skills they develop throughout the school day. They follow directions, keep track of personal belongings, move safely with a

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A blog by Colleen Noll Hey Parents, Last time we talked about why boredom feels uncomfortable at first; and why that restless stretch is actually the beginning of something good. Today I want to show you what that “something good” can look like in real life. These are a few true stories from our own MPO6 household. No perfect parenting here. Just regular family life, a little creativity, and a lot of ordinary moments that turned out better without screens. The Refrigerator Box That Took Over Summer One summer a large refrigerator box made its

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A Blog by Colleen Noll Hey Parents, Let’s be honest for a second. When your child declares “I’m booooored” in that long, dramatic, slightly accusatory tone, it doesn’t feel like a beautiful learning opportunity. It feels like a problem that needs fixing, preferably in the next 30 seconds. And if we’re being even more honest, boredom can feel uncomfortable for us too. We live in a world that constantly offers something to watch, scroll, or listen to. Sitting with empty space feels strange at first. Almost itchy. So why does boredom feel so painful in

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A blog by Colleen Noll Hey Parents, Let’s talk about the real-life moments when the tablet feels like the easiest (and sometimes only) solution. Playdates Car rides Restaurants Rainy days These are the situations where even the most intentional parents start eyeing the glowing screen like it’s a life raft. I’ve been there. And while our MPO6 kids grew up before tablets were a constant option for little ones, we still had to figure out how to get through long drives, restaurant waits, and indoor days without turning every quiet moment into screen

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Childhood is filled with meaningful moments that can be easy to miss in the rhythm of everyday life. Picture Day gives us an opportunity to pause and capture one of those moments, preserving a glimpse of who each child is right now. This fall, our photographer will visit our three California campuses: Cabrillo Montessori, Crescent Montessori, and Peak Ave Montessori. Individual portraits and classroom photos will be taken throughout the morning while our guides preserve the familiar rhythm of the children’s day. In Montessori, we recognize and respect the individuality of every

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Exploring How California’s Public TK Has Evolved and Why Montessori’s Proven Approach Offers Consistency for Young Learners Welcome back to our monthly series on early learning choices in California. Last month we covered the big picture: TK is optional, full of potential, and one of several good paths available to families. This month, we take a closer look at the heart of any program, the curriculum, and how it supports (or sometimes challenges) the natural development of 4 and 5 year-olds. Our goal remains the same: to share clear, respectful information so

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