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Peak Ave

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At Peak Avenue, Trunk or Treat looks a little different at every age, and on Friday we got to see all of it at once. Our babies came along in a parent’s arms or a stroller, wide-eyed at the costumes and colors. Our toddlers walked from trunk to trunk holding tight to a grown-up’s hand, stopping to point at anything that sparkled. Our Primary children and kindergartners marched up on their own, chose a treat, said thank you, and headed off to the next trunk. Watching all those ages together is a

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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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Get your costumes ready! Peak Ave Montessori is excited to welcome our families, friends, local businesses, and Morgan Hill neighbors for our Trunk or Treat celebration on Friday, October 23rd! This special fall tradition is one of our favorite ways to bring our school community together for an evening of creativity, laughter, and fun! Children will have the opportunity to explore uniquely decorated trunks, collect treats, and enjoy festive activities alongside their families and friends. Calling All Trunk Hosts! We would love for our families and local businesses to help make this event

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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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Fall is a wonderful time to come together, celebrate the changing season, and create lasting memories with our school community. At Peak Ave Montessori, our annual Harvest Festival is a special opportunity for children, families, and teachers to enjoy an afternoon filled with seasonal activities, meaningful connections, and a little fall fun! In preparation for the festivities, our children have been busy creating their very own Harvest Festival bags. From sweet handprints and footprints in our youngest communities to the unique and creative designs of our Primary children, each bag reflects

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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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