Each year, our Theme Kickoff Event, held with students and parents in their respective classrooms, marks the beginning of our deep exploration into a schoolwide, yearlong theme that guides learning across all programs. This year’s theme, Tapestry of Cultures, invites students to explore how people, traditions, and histories are beautifully woven together across the world.

In November, we ask all our students (age 2 to Middle Schoolers) to share their reflections on this year's schoolwide theme, Tapestry of Cultures. We ask our children what they are thankful for regarding their own cultures/family heritage—from traditions and celebrations to foods, language, and attire—what resonates with them? Parents, please ask your children, help them respond to this prompt: "What from your family's culture or heritage are you thankful for?" Submit responses now through Sunday, November 30, 2025, to:https://forms.gle/jHGZoPWFw3d243ki7

In our Teacher Insight series, we share more about our school through the words of our teachers. Ms. Samira, lead teachers in Celestial Blue and Constellation, respectively, who explain mixed-age classrooms, the three-year cycle, and give other highlights about the Primary and Lower Elementary programs. Click here to learn more from Ms. Samiraand Ms. Adinah.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Hudson Montessori Book Fair with their children and supported our classroom libraries by purchasing books from the teachers’ wish lists. We extend a special thank you to all our incredible volunteers and members of HMV for dedicating your time and energy throughout the week. Your help with setup, sales, and organization made everything run smoothly and created a warm, welcoming environment, extending the love of reading for all.

Our school once again took part in the annual Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor event on October 15, serving as a proud host site at Jersey City’s Morris Canal Basin. This was the 23rd year for this large-scale event organized by Columbia University and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Our students were among the thousands of students who collected data along selected sites along the Hudson River, contributing to real-world science in action, gaining an appreciation for conservation, collaboration, and the interconnectedness of natural systems.

Parents of Toddler, Bridge, Primary, and Lower Elementary students visited their respective classrooms in October to learn how their children learn by using the Montessori materials. This hands-on experience gave parents greater insight about the Montessori methodology works. We thank our parents for spending the evening with your child’s teachers!

We are proud to partner with Hudson CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, a non-profit organization that assists children in foster care. One of our Hudson Montessori parents is a CASA volunteer advocate who suggested we steer our attention to CASA for our annual holiday drive. We will collect holiday gifts and provisions for children in the foster care system. We will announce all the details, including collection dates and suggested donations, shortly.

We’re noticing great progress at the construction site at the end of Regent Street (250 Morris Boulevard, adjacent to Zeppelin Hall), where a new building will house our older students. The rebar supports are going up!

The Jersey City Fire Department visited our younger students this week with helpful lessons about “Stop, Drop, and Roll” and how to dial 911 in the event of an emergency. It was a memorable experience for our children who climbed up into the fire truck and tried on the fire gear with the assistance of our local firefighters heroes!

As a non-sectarian school, we don’t celebrate one religion or culture, we honor the holidays important to our families. We welcome our parents to come into the classroom and talk about their cultures and religious celebrations, broadening our students’ understanding of the world around them. From Spanish Heritage Month, Jewish holy days, and Diwali in October, we launch into the celebration of Thanksgiving and the upcoming winter holidays. Our students love when their parents come into their classrooms to give in-class presentations! Email your teachers to set up a presentation in the coming months.

Each year, we provide an outlet for our families who are looking for a good place to offload their children’s Halloween candy. This year, we’re partnering with VAMSA, the Veteran’s and Military Support Alliance, who will distribute the candy to local veteran’s groups. The drop-off location is in the 50 Regent main office from now until November 10. Veteran’s Day falls on November 11th this year—when the candy will be distributed.

Our Middle Schooler offers two extracurricular sports for our students to keep active after school—Run Club and the Basketball Team.

• Run Club: We congratulate our Middle School Run Club participants who ran a 5K in Liberty State Park on October 19th and earned medals! The Run Club is a fun opportunity for our older students to get out in nature, get wonderful exercise, and strive for their personal goals.

• Middle School Basketball: Our team’s current record is 3-0 in the Hudson County Sports League, a group of local private schools. Come out to support our team, playing every Wednesday, now until December 10 (the championship). Come and cheer them on at the next game vs. Hoboken Dual Language Academy on Wednesday, November 5th at 6:30 p.m. All games are played at French American Academy at 209 3rd Street in Jersey City.

Our teachers are preparing for the first Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 13 and 14. All of our teachers have been teaching, observing, and assessing your students. They are excited to sit with you to share their observations and discuss your child. Emails already went out to schedule these important sessions. If you still need to sign up, please reach out to your teachers to get a meeting time on the calendar.

In November and December, teachers will host orientation meetings for the parents of children who will be moving up to a new program. Primarily, these meetings are for Toddler and Bridge parents, third-year Primary parents (Kindergarteners),and parents of third graders and fifth graders. All meetings are in the 50 Regent Multipurpose Room. Here’s the upcoming schedule:

• Thursday, November 6, 8:30 a.m.: Moving Up to Upper Elementary (Third Grade parents)

• Wednesday, November 19, 8 a.m.: Moving Up to Middle School (Fifth Grade parents)

• Wednesday, November 19, 9 a.m.: Moving Up to Lower Elementary (Harmonious Orange and Ocean Blue Kindergarten parents)

• Thursday, November 20, 9 a.m.: Moving Up to Lower Elementary (Celestial Blue, Peaceful Ivory, and Serene Indigo parents)

• Wednesday, December 10, 9 a.m: Coffee & Chat for Toddler/Bridge/Primary (3 year-old) parents

• Thursday, December 11, 9 a.m.: Moving Up to Kindergarten Program for Primary (4 year-old) parents

Join the Adventure Club, led by Ms. Susan Wallen, for a 3-mile easy hike in Hacklebarney State Park on Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m. in Long Valley, NJ. The Adventure Club meets a couple times a year outside of school for active fun. Participating students must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. If you’re interested to join, email Ms. Susan W. at constellation@hudsonmontessori.net.

• Wednesday, November 5: Middle School Basketball Game (@French American Academy vs. HOLA, 6:30 p.m.)

• Thursday, November 6: Moving Up to Upper Elementary for 3rd Grade Families (8:30 a.m.)

• Friday, November 7: School Closed for Staff Development Day (NJMAC Conference for teachers)

• Saturday, November 8: Adventure Club’s Hacklebarney Park Hike (10 a.m.)

• Wednesday, November 12: Middle School Basketball Game (@French American Academy vs. The Hudson School, 6:30 p.m.)

• Thursday, November 13: Noon Dismissal for Full & Extended Day students for Parent Teacher Conferences

• Friday, November 14: School Closed for Parent Teacher Conferences

• Wednesday, November 19: Middle School Basketball League Semifinals (@ French American Academy, 5:30 p.m.)

• Wednesday, November 19: Moving Up to Middle School (8 a.m.)

• Wednesday, November 19: Moving Up to Lower Elementary for Harmonious Orange and Ocean Blue (9 a.m.)

• Thursday, November 20: Moving Up to Lower Elementary for Celestial Blue, Serene Indigo, and Peaceful Ivory (9 a.m.)

• November 26 - November 28: School Closed for Thanksgiving Break