October 2025
Year of the Teacher at Hudson Montessori School
We are proud to celebrate the teachers who power the academic, STEAM, and social/emotional needs of our students all year long! We share their stories about our school through our Teacher Insight series. In this series, starting in October and spanning the year, they will reflect on the students, their classrooms, and the motivations behind their teaching. We’ll share why they chose Hudson Montessori School, and what drives them to teach. Our teachers will tell the story of Hudson Montessori School. Thank you to our teachers who shape our school and form the foundation of our community. More…
Primary Students Get Set for a Trip to Fosterfields Farm: Friday, Oct. 3
Hudson Montessori’s Primary students (Ocean Blue, Celestial Blue, Harmonious Orange, Serene Indigo, and Peaceful Ivory) will be going to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown, this Friday, October 3. All students are expected to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. Dismissal for all students (including half-day students) will be 3 p.m. All students will need a brown bag lunch (sandwiches, finger foods)—no lunch boxes. Please note: If your child is unable to join the event, they will need to stay home that day, as all staff will be chaperoning the children during the trip. For more information, please contact your classroom teacher directly. If you haven’t done so already, please sign the permission slip that your teacher sent.
Parents: Join Our Montessori Journey Event on October 8th
We look forward to welcoming you back to the classroom for Our Montessori Journey on Wednesday, October 8th, at 6 p.m. This event is for Toddler, Bridge, Primary, and Lower Elementary parents. During Back-to-School Night, teachers discussed general information about the day’s schedule, expectations, and the Montessori environment. At this upcoming event, you will have the chance to explore how children learn. This hands-on experience will provide you with greater insight into how learning unfolds during the Montessori work cycle—something parents often inquire about. Please save the date, as you will not want to miss it. Childcare will be offered by Luna de Papel from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Picture Day Is Coming Soon!
Next week, Lifetouch Photography will come on Thursday, October 9, and Friday, October 10, to take photos of students in the Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School programs. Place your order by going to https://mylifetouch.com/, using the following Picture Day ID: Picture Day ID: EVTSZVJ3N. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping. Special Note: Students in Bridge and Toddler classrooms will have their photos taken in early spring. We have found that younger children need a little more time to get settled before they can sit calmly for their photos.
Virtual Parent Education Night: Recognizing Signs for Self-Regulation and Anxiety in Children
We are pleased to announce our partnership again this year with Advanced Therapy of America (ATA). The ATA therapy team has worked with our school for years to help our parents recognize signs of stress in children who might need additional assistance during their development. Learn more about sensory processing, and how it may be connected to attention issues, speech, self-confidence, fine and gross motor skills, and emotional regulation. Join Maria McNish on Wednesday, October 15, for this parent education seminar on October 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Zoom. Register here for the Zoom login link.
It’s Time to Start Getting Our Students Excited for the Book Fair
Our highly anticipated Hudson Montessori Book Fair returns on Friday, October 17, spanning the whole week, until Friday, October 24! Our book fair is open to students and families of Hudson Montessori School. Like last year, we welcome back Literati as our book vendor, joining Paperpie (formerly Usborne Books) to offer our students a fantastic range of books. Make time to visit the fair with your child and encourage a love of reading! Every purchase supports our school's library and classroom bookshelves. Teachers will have wishlists from each classroom. Check your email and classroom newsletters for book fair hours. Here's the link requesting parent volunteers for hour-long shifts: https://signup.com/go/TkuDAkw.
Later This Month: Parents Are Invited to Theme Kickoff Day
On Friday, October 24, we welcome our parents back to your child’s classroom for the big reveal of our school-wide, yearlong theme. Each year, our school dedicates itself to exploring a connected theme throughout the school. Each classroom takes one facet of the theme, which is woven throughout the school’s curriculum. We look forward to the unveiling of the theme on October 24th and are excited for the interesting studies that will come from this theme throughout the year. Our yearlong theme culminates with our Social Studies Fair in May and our Year End Celebration in June.
Theme Kickoff Schedule:
-
Middle School - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
-
Upper Elementary - 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
-
Lower Elementary - 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
-
Primary - 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
-
Bridge - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
-
Toddler (Farmer's Market) - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
.png)
New Building Update
Work on the new building at 250 Morris Boulevard, adjacent to Zeppelin Hall, is continuing full steam ahead. It will feature at least two stories, approximately 12,000 square feet, for our Lower and Upper Elementaries and Middle School. Completion is still a couple of years away; we remain actively involved in the planning process.
Middle School Bonding Commences at Camp Mason
Our Middle School students arrived for their three-day adventure at Camp Mason in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on Monday. They’re enjoying hikes, wilderness survival training, canoeing, and so much more! This annual trip is a highlight for our sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students at Hudson Montessori School. This yearly trip allows students to step outside the classroom and immerse themselves in nature, teamwork, and personal growth—one canoe at a time.
Lower Elementary Students Explore the Pond Habitat at Liberty State Park
Our first-, second-, and third-grade students (from Constellation, Galaxy, and Aurora) recently embarked on an exciting field trip to the Liberty State Park Nature Center, situated along the Hudson River estuary. This trip allowed them to apply the scientific method in real-time, expanding their scientific knowledge, sense of wonder, and respect for the environment. Through observation, collection of information, and review of data, students deepened their understanding of the natural world while connecting their studies to hands-on experiences. More…
Open House Schedule Starts October 7
We welcome prospective new parents to tour our school and learn more about Hudson Montessori starting this coming Tuesday, October 7, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. We have announced our full schedule for the Open House. Please share this information with your neighbors who may be interested. More here…
Adieu to September: A Month of New Beginnings
We’ve reached the one-month mark, and our Hudson Montessori students are in the midst of the normalization process, settling into their new environment and routines, with some new faces joining them. Meanwhile, parents met with teachers, other parents, and school administrators at welcoming events in September, such as the Parent Welcome Breakfast and Back-to-School Nights. These meetings go a long way in fostering connection, collaboration, and understanding—the cornerstones of a successful school year.
Upcoming Events
-
Friday, October 3, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Fosterfields Living Historical Farm Field Trip (Primary)
-
Wednesday, October 8, 6 p.m.: Our Montessori Journey (Toddler through Lower Elementary)
-
Thursday, October 9, & Friday, October 10: Picture Days for Primary through Middle School
-
Monday, October 13: School Closed for Indigenous Peoples Day
-
Wednesday, October 15, 6 p.m.: Virtual Parent Education Night With Advanced Therapy of America
-
Friday, October 17, through Friday, October 24: Book Fair
-
Friday, October 24: Theme Kickoff
-
Friday, October 31: Wear Orange Day
Past Issues
Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year!
It was wonderful to welcome back our returning families and meet our new Hudson Montessori students at our Meet and Greet event today! Hugs and handshakes filled the school as children met their teachers, parents chatted with other parents, and school administrators dropped in to welcome the Hudson Montessori community back to school. We wish everyone a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. See you for the start of school next week!
“First Day of School” Schedule for Next Week
Here’s a helpful reminder about the staggered “First Day of School” schedule for our programs. Please make sure your child arrives on time, setting your child up for success on day one.
Tuesday, September 2:
Middle School & Upper Elementary: Arrival 7:45 to 8 a.m.
Lower Elementary (Constellation, Aurora, Galaxy): Arrival 8:00 to 8:15 a.m.
Primary (Peaceful Ivory, Serene Indigo, Celestial Blue, Harmonious Orange, Ocean Blue): Arrival 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.
Wednesday, September 3:
Bridge Primary (Sunny Yellow): Arrival 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, September 4:
Toddler (Orange Blossom, Rosy Red): 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m
Brewshot Meetup for Parents of Children Transitioning to Our School
For children new to Hudson Montessori, the Hudson Montessori Volunteers (HMV) invite parents and caregivers to the Brewshot coffee shop at 9 Regent Street for refreshments as your child begins school and transitions into their classroom. Teachers and administrators will report back to Brewshot with an informational update on how the children are settling in. Parents from the HMV will be there all week in the mornings to answer questions and give parental guidance. Now, the normalization process begins!
HMV Hours at Brewshot
Tuesday: 8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
Thursday & Friday: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Join Us for the Parent Welcome Breakfast
The Hudson Montessori Volunteers welcome all parents back to school. Join us on Wednesday, September 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Zeppelin Hall (enter at 9 Regent Street, Zeppelin Hall door next to Brewshot). We welcome parents from all classrooms—new and returning—to meet other parents, catch up from the summer, and learn about upcoming events. Our school administrators and parent-led Hudson Montessori Volunteer group will be on hand to meet with everyone and discuss upcoming events and what to expect. For now, please mark your calendars. Next week, we will send out a link to RSVP.
Make Plans to Attend Our Back-to-School Nights
Please plan to attend Back-to-School Night for your child’s classroom. Please note the dates below, depending on your child's age level. This event is for parents only. At this event, the teachers will explain specifics about the curriculum, the structure of your child’s day, and other essential classroom procedures and expectations. Get all your questions answered and so much more! Upcoming dates:
Thursday, September 4: Upper Elementary (Comet), 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 10: Lower Elementary, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 11: Middle School, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, September 17: Toddler, Bridge, Primary, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Middle Schoolers Get Ready for Camp Mason!
Middle School can start gearing up for a three-day visit to Camp Mason, where students will rekindle friendships, encourage bonding among new Middle Schoolers, and enjoy fun team-building activities at the YMCA camp in the Delaware Water Gap region. This year, the camping trip takes place from Monday, September 29, to Wednesday, October 1. Middle school parents: Parents, if you haven’t filled out the consent forms yet, please send them back ASAP!
Our Montessori Journey
We invite new and returning parents to learn more about your student’s “Montessori Journey,” an in-person, parents-only evening event on October 8th, to learn how our students learn Math, Language Arts, Practical Life, and Sensorial Work in the Toddler through Lower Elementary levels. Our teachers will explain everything you want to know about the setup of the classroom and how your child will learn throughout the year using the Montessori approach.
Please note this event differs from the virtual Montessori Philosophy Parent Education Night (Zoom session on October 15), which addresses how the Montessori Method works.
New Building Update
Since the groundbreaking of our new school building this April, we eagerly await seeing that new building go up—although we know we have about two more years or so. We have seen a lot of construction activity over the summer. We know from past construction projects in Liberty Harbor that we can expect some temporary street closures from time to time. We will keep you informed as soon as we hear from the construction team.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, Sept. 4 (6 p.m.): Back-to-School Night (UPPER ELEMENTARY)
Wednesday, Sept. 10 (8:30 a.m.): Parent Welcome Breakfast (ALL SCHOOL)
Wednesday, Sept. 10 (6 p.m.): Back-to-School Night (LOWER ELEMENTARY)
Thursday, Sept. 11 (6 p.m.): Back-to-School Night (MIDDLE SCHOOL)
Wednesday, Sept. 17 (6 p.m.): Back-to-School Night (PRIMARY, TODDLER, BRIDGE PRIMARY)
Monday, Sept. 30, to Wednesday, Oct 1: Camp Mason (MIDDLE SCHOOL)
Wednesday, October 8 (6 p.m.): Montessori Journey Event (TODDLER, BRIDGE, PRIMARY, LOWER ELEMENTARY parents)
