Year in Review 2025-2026
Congratulations on the Completion of a Wonderful School Year!
The last week of school was full of parties, special ceremonies, and yearbook signings in every classroom, including graduation celebrations for Toddlers, Kindergarteners, and 8th graders. Congratulations to all of our students, and thank you to our families, faculty, and staff for making this such a successful school year. We look forward to the many ways our students will shape our world.
Major Highlights: Year End Celebration & Social Studies Fair
The Social Studies Fair in May and our Year End Celebration in June marked the culmination of a successful year of learning, growth, and making connections. Our year-long learning theme, “Tapestry of Cultures,” united our 13 classrooms, with each classroom showcasing a different element of the theme. The theme was a celebration of our diversity. The Year End Celebration performance of “Tapestry of Stories” at New Jersey City University featured all students from Sunny Yellow (Bridge Primary) to Middle School. Thank you to our teachers, students, and parent volunteers for supporting these spectacular events.
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New School Building Construction Steadily Progresses
It’s been just over one year since groundbreaking began on our new school building, which is being constructed adjacent to the 9 Regent Street building. The new 16-story building will feature the first two floors as new space for our school. We plan to relocate our Elementary and Middle School to this new Liberty Harbor building in the next couple of years.
STEAM Program: Making Connections for Our Students
Learning is meaningful when students understand how their studies are connected to real life. We integrate teaching with experiences and activities that excite our students, fostering improved learning, increased interest, and a willingness to take on new challenges. Our school is a nationally STEM-certified school, with our students making connections across science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics to solve real-world problems. We empower children from early childhood through Grade 8 to become curious thinkers, creative makers, and confident leaders. For example, our students from Elementary to Middle School engage in meaningful scientific research at the Hudson River, collecting data for labs at Columbia University and beyond. Fundamental scientific method learning begins at the Kindergarten level and continues through Middle School, where students are introduced to high school-level science.
Learning Through Experiences: Field Trips & Events
Our students across all age levels attended or participated in over three dozen events throughout the year as part of our engaging curriculum. From older students’ activities at the Liberty State Park Nature Center and the Montessori Model United Nations to our younger students’ trip to the farm and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, each activity helps our children deepen their understanding of the world around them.
Specials Classes Enrich Our Curriculum
Our Montessori STEAM school integrates specials classes, such as music, physical education, art, Spanish, and dance, offering enrichment and a well-rounded complement to our students' academic curriculum. Our students perform at our Holiday Cheer event and Year-End Celebration; their artwork is presented at our annual Art Show, and our older students can join our Middle School basketball team—which boasts an impressive winning record.
More Than Montessori: How Our Students Go Beyond
Our school is a fully certified Montessori school with several components that bolster our curriculum—our comprehensive STEAM program, Singapore Math, the Common Knowledge Language Arts Program, and the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary. These proven methodologies complement and enrich our Montessori curriculum, providing our students with a complete, well-rounded education. The goal is to equip students with all the tools they need to succeed, inspiring them to become lifelong learners, independent thinkers, and problem solvers.
Our Learners Celebrate Their Awards and Accolades
The Montessori philosophy teaches children that the most important kind of competition comes from within. Our students focus on mastering skills and strive to deepen their understanding of how to apply their knowledge to the real world. We encourage our students to challenge themselves, including competition and collaboration with other students and schools in our community. Our young scholars have excelled in competitions, clinching prizes in contests across our region and beyond, including the Hudson County STEM Showcase, the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the Math Olympiad, the Future City Competition, and many more. Read more…
Fostering the Love to Learn Through Fun Activities
Students learn and remember more when they’re having fun. We know that engaging in exciting activities helps sustain a student’s memory, motivation, and attention. Throughout the school year, we foster the love of learning by offering field trips and fun activities, including Spirit Week, the Danceathon, Field Day, and monthly events. We involve parents wherever we can as participants, as an audience, or as volunteers to show how school is important to the entire family.
Year of the Teacher Highlights Our Amazing Teaching Staff
We proudly celebrated the Year of the Teacher throughout the year by honoring the dedicated educators who shape tomorrow's leaders, scientists, and problem-solvers. The parents held a Teacher Appreciation Reception to celebrate our teachers and staff, including recognition of 25 faculty members for 5-, 10-, and 15-year service milestones. Ms. Gina Reeves received special recognition with gratitude for her 11 years as director, and was wished well on her retirement.
Tapestry of Cultures: A Celebration of Diversity
Our school year theme, “Tapestry of Cultures,” helped our students gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of diversity in our society. Cultural studies is one of the Montessori pillars of instruction. The multiculturalism of our teachers and students naturally exposes students to many new traditions and languages and enriches their understanding of a variety of social customs. Many of our teachers are bilingual, including fluency in Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Hindi, Tagalog, Arabic, and more. All students participate in the Social Studies Fair, while our older students participate in the annual Montessori Model United Nations. At the MMUN, our students meet with Montessori students from around the world to learn more about global governance, deepen their cultural understanding of world issues, and propose solutions to create a better world.
Community Outreach, Giving, and Volunteerism: Modeling Empathy
At Hudson Montessori School, we teach the importance of giving back to the community and of volunteerism as lessons in empathy and understanding the world beyond us. To give back to our community, we held our annual holiday drive during Thanksgiving, collecting 250 toys and supplies for the foster children of CASA Hudson County. Our students also participated in beach cleanups and oyster shell cleaning, and our Middle Schoolers developed an annual Innovative Community Outreach Project. The 8th grader’s project was the development of JC Journeys, online, free tours of Jersey City that showcase the city’s rich history, cultural diversity, and vibrant neighborhoods. This initiative aims to encourage social engagement, celebrate local culture, and support neighborhood businesses.
Launch Into a Summer of Discovery at Summer Camp
Hudson Montessori School offers three summer camps for different age levels with engaging themes, hands-on learning, and plenty of outdoor adventure.
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Toddler (ages 2 to 3): “Discovering My World”
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Primary (ages 3 to rising Kindergartners): “Grow It, Build It, Catch It”
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Elementary (rising First Graders to Fifth Graders): “Games People Play”
These camps consist of three sessions: Session 1 (June 22 to July 10), Session 2 (July 13 to July 31), and Session 3 (August 3 to August 14). Sign up here.
Past Issues
Year End Celebration: Tapestry of Stories Coming This Saturday!
The Year End Celebration, scheduled for this coming Saturday, June 6th, at New Jersey City University, is the school’s major culminating event of the school year. Students from Bridge Primary (Sunny Yellow) on up have been practicing their dance routines for many months. They are eager to share this special performance of “Tapestry of Stories” with their families. We know you will be amazed by their enthusiasm and performance! The show will start promptly at 3 pm. Arrival times vary by classroom; please note your student’s arrival time and keep an eye out for the “What to Expect” email from the school office in the next couple of days.
Hudson Montessori Parents Celebrate Our Teachers!
The parents of the Hudson Montessori Volunteers celebrated the Year of the Teacher by honoring the dedicated educators who shape tomorrow's leaders, scientists, and problem-solvers. The school’s parent committee hosted the heartfelt Teacher Appreciation Reception and recognized 25 faculty members for milestone years of service spanning 5, 10, and 15 years. The event also honored Gina Reeves, retiring Director, with a special recognition award for her extraordinary leadership, mentorship, and guidance throughout her 11 years in the role. Click here for more details.
Explosion of a Tapestry of Cultures at Our Social Studies Fair
We welcomed nearly 1,000 people to our 17th annual Social Studies Fair and Street Carnival. From an explosion of cultures exhibited in all the classrooms to the balloons, bubbles, and bouncing on Regent Street, the word of the day was “fun.” Music electrified the event, and face-painted children played the Treasure Hunt game, moving between classroom galleries to complete the game. Special thanks to Provident Bank for sponsoring the street carnival, and Mayor James Solomon and Councilperson Eleana Little for stopping by to marvel at our event. Community partners hosted tables, and food trucks provided the scrumptious eats for all to enjoy. Click here for more details.
Summer Camp Is Filling Fast! Grab Your Child’s Spot!
Summer at Hudson Montessori School takes exploration, creativity, and outdoor fun to the next level! Our summer camp program offers three camps, segmented by age level, from toddlers to elementary-age children. We offer engaging themes and hands-on activities that spark curiosity and encourage discovery. Children enjoy fun in the sun with daily outdoor time and water activities. Elementary campers swim each day in our rooftop pool, while younger campers cool off with sprinklers and sensory water play.
Elementary Maker Camp: Application for Rising 1st graders to Rising Fifth graders
Primary Camp: Application for Age 3 to Rising Kindergarteners
Toddler Camp: Application for Students Ages 2 to 3
Graduations Are Around the Corner
Graduation time is nearly here. In the last week of school, our teachers celebrate the students’ hard work and their advancement to the next class level. Still, at our school, three groups will have special graduation ceremonies—Toddlers, Kindergarteners, and 8th graders. Every child deserves recognition for the strides they made this year, whether they will be wearing a cap and gown (or not)! Graduation schedule:
Toddlers (Orange Blossom & Rosy Red): Wednesday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Zeppelin Hall
Kindergarteners (Ocean Blue, Celestial Blue, Harmonious Orange, Serene Indigo, Peaceful Ivory): Wednesday, June 10, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Zeppelin Hall
Middle School 8th Graders: Thursday, June 11, 10 a.m. to noon, Observatory at 333 Grand
6th Grade Passion Projects
Our 6th graders recently presented their year-long Passion Projects, sharing topics that truly matter to them and reflect their diverse interests. Students researched their topics, wrote research papers, created projects that benefited the community or led to personal growth, and presented their projects to an audience.
57 Students Receive Recognition for Work on Billion Oyster Project
Fifty-seven students from our Elementary and Middle School STEAM program recently joined hundreds of students from across New York City for the 2026 Billion Oyster Project Symposium at Governors Island. Over half of the students received exemplary awards for their months of work, research, and hands-on learning focused on oysters, pollution, marine ecosystems, sustainability, and the future of New York Harbor. Click here for more details.
Sweat, Smiles, and Surprises for Field Day
Our students, from Toddlers to Middle Schoolers, took the St. Peter’s Prep field to enjoy Duck, Duck, Goose, Tug-of-War, Soccer, Dodgeball, and more. They made unforgettable memories during a day full of fun and school spirit. For more photos, follow our social media feeds on Instagram and Facebook.
Comet Connects With Nature at Camp Speers
Our Upper Elementary students recently returned from an unforgettable three-day sleepaway camp adventure in the Poconos, filled with laughter, exploration, and meaningful time together. From canoeing to hiking forest trails to archery and quiet moments spent getting to know the camp’s horses and farm animals, the trip gave students a break from their routines, a chance to embrace nature, and a chance to form lifelong bonds. Click here for more details.
Award-Winning Yearbook Club Publishes Its Largest Book Yet!
The year-end also means the distribution of this year’s yearbook, full of memories, accolades, and photos of all our students with their teachers. Congratulations to the 18 students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade who brought 98 pages to life. Special thanks to the parents for funding the purchase of the book by filling the book with congratulatory ads. In related news, the parent advisors received word that last year’s book entered in a national yearbook competition won two awards for cover design and page layout! Kudos to the Yearbook Club!
Run Club Sweeps the Podium at the Jersey City Spring Race
Huge congratulations to our Hudson Montessori Run Club for an incredible showing at the Jersey City Spring Race! Our students took on the 5K/10K challenge with determination, perseverance, and school spirit, crossing the finish line with pride, several of them finishing in the top three. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer on our runners and support this amazing group of athletes!
Learning Through Animals: The Montessori Way
At our school, learning goes far beyond textbooks. We find that students learn deeply through hands-on experiences. By bringing nature into the classroom, students build curiosity, responsibility, empathy, and a deeper connection to the world around them. This last month was full of nature-filled lessons, with Toddlers and Primary classes watching caterpillars transform into butterflies and Middle Schoolers rearing baby trout and baby chicks and sharing the beauty of these creatures with the younger students in the school. At the end of these lessons, each of the creatures was released back to nature. Click here for more details.
Middle School Alumni Reflect on High School Transition for Outgoing Grads
Last year’s alums returned virtually to meet with the upcoming graduating 8th-grade class to help our students feel prepared for the transition to high school. Moderated by school guidance counselor, Ms. Nicole, the conversation brought together four alums for an open and thoughtful discussion about what to expect in the year ahead. Questions ranged from managing school workloads and preparing over the summer to navigating new social environments and teacher expectations. All of the alums shared how well prepared they felt as they entered high school, crediting Hudson Montessori’s Middle School program for helping them build strong academic habits, confidence, and independence. From note-taking and time management to essay writing and research skills, each student reflected on the advantages Hudson Montessori taught them in preparation for high school.
Progress Continues on New Building Project
From cherry pickers to concrete trucks, construction activity continued at a steady pace throughout May. Our Elementary and Middle School will eventually move to the 16-story building upon completion, which is expected in another two years or so.
Upcoming Events
Friday, June 5: Year End Celebration Stage Rehearsal @ NJCU
Saturday, June 6: Year End Celebration @ 3:00 PM
Wednesday, June 10: Toddler (10:30 a.m.) & Kindergarten (9 a.m.) Graduation Ceremony
Wednesday, June 10: Last Day of School for All Students (Noon Dismissal)
Thursday, June 11: 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony (10 a.m.)
Friday, June 19: School Office Closed for Juneteenth
Monday, June 22: Summer Camp Session 1 Begins
Wednesday, June 24: Summer Homework & Progress Reports Go Out
