
Updates for week of September 21 available now!
English: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-ENG
en español: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-SPA
Good Evening Families, This is Principal Jenn with this week’s updates!
First, Monday is a teacher workday–we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday morning.
Thursday, we will be hosting our final Curriculum Night with a classroom dinner. We hope to see the assigned classes here on Thursday at 5PM. See the full message for remaining class assignments.
Tomorrow, in addition to being a teacher workday is International Peace Day. Each year, Montessori communities pause to recognize our commitment to peace. At George Watts Montessori, we do this with a peace parade. We will have our peace parade on Friday, September 25, just after morning arrival.
Finally, be on the lookout for progress reports–this mid quarter check in will help provide you a bit of information regarding your child’s early progress this year.
Be sure to check out the full version of this message in your email or linked in the text–there so many details to share and we want to make sure you have what you need to partner with us to support your child! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

It's almost time for the George Watts Montessori Family Picture Fundraiser!
Honor Roll Portraits, our school picture photographer, provides an opportunity for families to schedule mini-sessions for family portraits. The sessions take place at nearby locations and benefit our school! A great chance to update family photos while also supporting George Watts Montessori! This year’s sessions are on October 3, 11, 25, and November 14. Sign-up HERE today! Sign-up is first come and will fill up fast!

Updates for week of September 14 available now! (English: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-ENG/en español: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-SPA)
We are settling into the routines of school and learning! This week and next, we will be hosting our Curriculum Night with a classroom dinner. This will be a great opportunity to see your child’s classroom, hear from their teachers, and make connections with other families in your child’s class. Each class is assigned one of the two dates, September 17 or 24, so be sure to check the full version of this update or communication from your child’s teacher so you know which date to attend.
This Tuesday is our dine-out at Timber Pizza. This will feature both delicious pizza and pints of Locopops ice cream. I hope to see many of you there enjoying a great dinner, while also supporting the George Watts Montessori PTA.
Be sure to check out the full version of this message in your email or linked in the text–there so many details to share and we want to make sure you have what you need to partner with us to support your child! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!

Updates for week of September 7 available now!
English: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-ENG
en español: https://bit.ly/GWM-Weekly-26-27-SPA
We had a great second week of school, despite the heat keeping us inside for most of the week! Happy the forecast includes a bit of a cool-down, if we can call the upper 80s and low 90s a cool-down. I will note that after the first 10 days of school, we are all a bit exhausted and excited for this three-day weekend; enjoy your labor day and we’ll see you on Tuesday!
This week’s update includes:
Information about how to sign up for resources such as weekend food bags, and other available resources.
The details from the 2026 North Carolina School Report Card for George Watts Montessori.
Information about communicating absences.
And our Montessori learning for the week–Montessori didactic materials
Be sure to check out the full update linked above–there so many details to share and we want to make sure you have what you need to partner with us to support your child! Hope to see you around soon–have a great week!



Register Now: https://bit.ly/DPS_SOTD

The first day of school for our traditional calendar students is Monday, August 24, and we’re getting ready to welcome our scholars back for an exciting 2026–2027 school year!
Be sure to visit www.dpsnc.net to view the full Back to School Guide for everything you need to start the year strong! #WeAreDPS

Join us on March 7, 2026 at Southern School of Energy and Sustainability (800 Clayton Rd, Durham, NC) for a full day of ideas, creativity, and community focused on building a more sustainable future.
This isn’t just a summit. It’s a chance to see sustainability in action.
You’ll experience:
• Student projects that bring real-world solutions to life
• Practical tips you can use at home right away
• Community partners sharing the work happening across Durham
• Food trucks, arts and crafts, and fun activities for all ages
• An inside look at sustainability efforts across Durham Public Schools and our local community
🎟 Your FREE ticket includes a $5 food voucher to use at the food trucks during community time.
Bring your family. Invite a friend. Come curious. Leave inspired.
Register now and secure your food voucher:
👉 https://bit.ly/Sustain2026
Marca tu calendario para el DPS Sustainability Summit 2026 🌎
Acompáñanos el 7 de marzo de 2026 en la Southern School of Energy and Sustainability (800 Clayton Rd, Durham, NC) para un día lleno de ideas, creatividad y comunidad, enfocado en construir un futuro más sostenible.
Esto no es solo una cumbre. Es una oportunidad para ver la sostenibilidad en acción.
Podrás disfrutar de:
• Proyectos estudiantiles que muestran soluciones reales
• Consejos prácticos que puedes aplicar en tu vida diaria
• Organizaciones comunitarias compartiendo su trabajo en Durham
• Camiones de comida, arte, manualidades y actividades divertidas para todas las edades
• Una mirada interna a los esfuerzos de sostenibilidad en las Escuelas Públicas de Durham y en nuestra comunidad
🎟 Tu entrada es GRATIS e incluye un cupón de $5 para usar en los camiones de comida durante el tiempo comunitario.
Trae a tu familia. Invita a un amigo. Ven con curiosidad. Sal inspirado.
Regístrate ahora y asegura tu cupón de comida:
👉 https://bit.ly/Sustain2026

Grounding–an intentional focus on the present
During our staff meeting yesterday, we had professional learning around stress management, including the brain science around sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. This also included tools for managing stress, for both staff and students, such as GROUNDING–an intentional practice of bringing one’s focus to the present moment, in your body or in your surroundings, instead of being trapped by the thoughts in your mind that are causing anxiety.
This morning, our community noticed a rainbow over George Watts Montessori–a beautiful moment in our surroundings on a heavy morning, navigating the real fear in our community brought by increased federal law enforcement activity this week. #gwmpeacematters

Quarter 1 Family Nights coming up soon! You're invited: https://bit.ly/GWM-Q1Family-2025
You’re Invited: Quarter 1 Family Nights
5:00-6:30 PM @ George Watts Montessori
Primary + EC-AU K-2 classes: Thursday, September 25
Lower El classes: Thursday, September 18
Upper El + EC-AU 3-5 classes: Tuesday, September 16
Part 1: from 5:00-5:35, parent/guardian and student will visit the classroom to learn more about what the year will look like in the classroom for students. Each grade level band has curated an interactive opportunity for students and guardian.
Part 2: from 5:40-6:30, classroom communities will transition to the playground for a classroom dinner with students and guardians. Look for communication from your room parents about signing up to bring something to share. The PTA will provide pizza and paper plates for all classroom communities. Our hope is this will be a time to build connections with other families from your child’s classroom.


