Welcome Back!

Dear Athena Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!

As we begin our 21st year at Athena, I find myself feeling especially grateful—and especially proud. As someone who was educated in Montessori myself, I experienced firsthand the profound impact it can have on a child's development, love of learning, self confidence, and sense of self. That experience stayed with me, and twenty years ago, it helped inspire me to found Athena: a school where children could grow into capable, confident, compassionate people through the power of Montessori education. What I could not have imagined then was the extraordinary community that would grow alongside the school.

Today, Athena is so much more than the school I set out to create. It is the people who have walked through our gates over the past 20 years: children and parents, guides and administrators, alumni and families who have returned to us in different ways. Together, we have built a community that is warm, connected, loving, diverse, supportive, and fun! I am incredibly proud of what we have created—and deeply grateful to be a part of it.

I am equally proud of the people who make Athena what it is every day.

Our guides are deeply committed to their craft, to Montessori, and most importantly, to the children and families in their care. They are lifelong learners who continually challenge themselves to grow, reflect, and become better educators and better humans. They bring so much thoughtfulness, skill, patience, and heart to their work.

And I could not be more proud of our administrative team. We work together like a family, supporting one another while working toward a shared purpose: creating the very best environment we can for our students, families, and teaching team. We are a learning organization. Every member of our team shows up each day ready to work hard for children and families, and willing to do the work of becoming our best selves along the way.

September is always a special time at Athena. There is excitement and energy everywhere as new relationships begin to form and returning class communities find their rhythm again. As our School Director Mandy shared in her welcome to families last year, there is a great deal of important work happening beneath the surface during these first weeks of school. Children are learning how to be part of a group, discovering the rhythm of their days, developing independence, building relationships, and figuring out what they need to feel safe and successful. Our guides are observing closely, learning each child, and thoughtfully scaffolding their support.

It takes time for each classroom community to find its groove. And then, almost magically, it happens: children begin helping one another, goodbyes become easier, independence grows, and the adults can step back a little as the children begin to take ownership of their community. That foundation of trust, belonging, and independence is what makes everything else we hope to accomplish together possible.

As the Owner and Founder of Athena, I also want you to know that I am here for you.

If you have a question or concern, want to talk about your child, are thinking ahead about your child's education, or simply want to get to know me, please reach out. Over 20 years of running this school, along with my degrees in Psychology and Education, and my experience as a mother (of a now-teenager!), have taught me a great deal about children, education, community, and the sometimes complicated business of raising and educating children. I certainly don't have all the answers—but I have learned a thing or two, and I am always happy to listen, share what I know, and be a resource to our families.

Whether you are brand new to Athena, have been with us for many years, or are part of the larger Athena community from a previous chapter, thank you for being here. You are an important part of our story.

Here’s to another year of learning, growing, connecting, and becoming.

I am so happy to begin it with you.

Warmly,

Lisl Friday
Founder & Owner
Athena Montessori Academy

At Athena, we love giving families the opportunity to learn more about the “why” behind what we do each day. Our parent workshops are a chance to learn more about your child’s classroom, our Montessori approach, and the work that happens behind the scenes.

We’ll have a variety of topics throughout the year, from specific areas of the curriculum to useful tips for supporting your child at home. There will be a little something for everyone! Come join us for a chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with other Athena families.

We’d love to see you there!

For Currently Enrolled Families

For Currently Enrolled Families

The beginning of the school year brings the opportunity to practice transitions. We all struggle with transitions and our children are no different. You may notice that your child is sleeping more than usual or sleeping less; they may be eating more than usual, or almost not eating at all; they may be crying over every little thing, and so might you. We all handle transitions and change differently. We can assure you that no matter how they are adapting to the new school year, it has brought them into disequilibrium. When a child is experiencing disequilibrium, this means that they are in a time of growth. It is best to simplify the rest of their lives during this time. Our recommendation is that you not schedule too many extra activities for a couple of weeks. They need down time, and lots of one-on-one attention from their family members.

The children want their feelings validated. For example, saying, “You feel sad,” to a crying child, instead of “You’re OK,” or “Look at this fun thing!” it might feel strange, but the healthiest thing we can do is to allow them to sit with their feelings instead of trying to distract them. They may decide they love school one day and the next day they never want to go to school ever again. These hard moments are opportunities to validate their feelings about how it can feel hard to say goodbye in the mornings. Maybe you build in a two-minute snuggle with your undivided attention before following through with all the morning steps. Afterwards, if they are still having feelings or putting their foot down about not moving through the morning, then you do your best to navigate the steps while avoiding falling into any power struggles. Remember that at school we will happily receive children in PJs or with breakfast in their hands, and we can complete those morning steps right here at school.

Broaden their feelings vocabulary by naming your own feelings with a rainbow of words (more than “happy,” “sad,” “angry,” “silly”) and talking to them about how feelings are just passing through–they don’t stay all day. Another helpful and simple tool is to draw out each step that needs to occur in the morning with stick figures. This drawing or sketch creates a roadmap for your children and can transform an abstract process to a more concrete one that allows them to feel more control over the process.

The final step in this process is to make sure the adults are taking care of themselves so that you can stay regulated. Make sure you are sleeping, eating, and getting your needs met.

We love listening to and collaborating with parents and supporting you with resources, tips, and tools for better understanding your children’s needs. Please reach out to your lead guide or our Education Director Team if you need anything at all.

Here’s to a wonderful year!

Here are some excellent recommended reads that might help new and returning students cope with some big "Back to School" feelings.

• "Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes
• "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn
• "The Pigeon Has to Go to School" by Mo Willems
• "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson
• "How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?" by Jane Yolen
• "Our Class is a Family" by Shannon Olsen
• "Double-Dip Feelings" by Barbara S. Cain
• "The Invisible String" by Patrice Karst

We encourage support of our locally owned bookstores when purchasing books for your family! Our favorites are Black Pearl Books, Reverie Books and First Light.

Athena Montessori Academy is proud to announce that we have two guides newly working toward their Montessori Teaching Credential! Athena is a learning and growth organization, and has consistently provided opportunities for interested teachers to attain their Montessori training and credential for the last 20 years. The 2026-27 school year is no exception.

It is with great joy that we announce that Jatavia Douglas and Candice Barrera are currently enrolled in separate learning cohorts within the CGMS training center. Jatavia is pursuing her Infant-Toddler credential and Candice is studying to attain her Early Childhood (Primary) Montessori diploma. The Center for Guided Montessori Studies provides a hybrid learning experience that allows the guides to continue working in their classrooms while attending a blend of class sessions online and in person. Zach Newman, T1 Lead Guide, and Monika Weglicka, P5 Lead Guide, are generously giving of their time and expertise to act as Montessori Mentor Guides to Jatavia and Candice, with the additional support and mentorship of our Program Coordinators, Rocio Lopez-Cortez and Kimberly Love.

Both of these exemplary educators are excited to further their knowledge through their commitment to their credential program. It takes true passion and dedication to the profession to take on an academic course load in addition to giving their very best to the children and families of Athena every day.

Athena is SO proud to support Candice and Jatavia on this journey, and we look forward to celebrating their graduation!

Save the date for individual portraits with Paige Wilks!

• Monday October 26th: Movers and Shakers, Tots 1, Tots 2, Tots 3, Tots 4
• Tuesday October 27th: Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3
  
• Wednesday October 28th: Primary 4, Primary 5

Sunday, September 13th is Grandparents Day.

At Athena, we love opportunities to celebrate the people who have helped shape who we are. This Grandparents Day, we will be honoring grandparents, elders, seniors, and ancestors as a whole school community.

As we thought about Grandparents Day and the many different ways families are connected, we wanted to make sure this celebration felt meaningful and inclusive for all of our children and families. While every family looks different, we all have people who came before us and people we can learn from, look up to, and appreciate.

In our Primary classrooms, guides will talk with the children about the many special older people in our lives, including grandparents, family members, mentors, and elders, and the importance of listening to, and showing appreciation for them.

In our Toddler and Infant environments, we will introduce images of seniors and elders into the classroom. Families are also welcome to send in photos of special elders in their child’s life for us to include in the environment!

For currently enrolled Athena families, stay tuned to your Transparent Classroom photos and class newsletters to see how your child’s classroom chooses to celebrate and honor the grandparents and elders in their lives.

We look forward to learning and celebrating together!

Some of the books we recommend for celebrating elders with our age group are:

Both the Early Arrival Program (EAP) and After School Program (ASP) began this past Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. Enrolled families should have received an email with more details on these programs. If you didn't receive the email, please reach out to Rocio Lopez-Cortez at Rocio@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com or Peyton Dame, at Director@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com.

For more detailed information about EAP & ASP, please click the link to visit our website .

Interested in learning more about our safety protocols and drills? Campus security measures? Below is a quick high-level overview of our practices. We aren’t going into too much detail here, so if you are a current family and have questions, feel free to give our office a call.

Athena Safety Protocols

Monthly Fire Drills:

Each month, we conduct a fire drill with the whole school that is scheduled by Admin but a surprise to the teachers. We send a mass text via our Emergency Broadcast system as well as announcing it through our PA System. We exit the buildings in less than three minutes, gather in our designated class spots in the parking lot, do a headcount, and sing our Fire Song (“Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Firetruck!”). The parking lot is closed during fire drills and we will not receive or dismiss students to parents or caregivers during a drill. If you arrive during a drill we will ask you to wait until after the drill is completed to drop-off or pick-up your child. We will not schedule our drills during drop-off or pick-up windows. Our next one is scheduled for September, so be on the look out for a Brightwheel message after!

Quarterly Lockdown and Severe Weather Drills:

We don't do lockdown drills with the children, nor do we use the word "lockdown" with the children. We do, however, do lockdown drills with our teaching staff and administration. We held our first (of this school year) severe weather/lockdown drill during our prep days with the staff. In the case of severe weather, all of our children are well prepared to follow their teachers to our designated safety spots for weather. What the teachers do every day with the children is preparing them: every day in their classroom management (circle time, transitions, lining up, getting their attention with the ring of a bell, “herding cats” :) etc.) they are training the children to listen attentively to the adults, trust the adults, trust that the adults keep them safe, and follow the instructions of the guides. Our belief is that if we spend time preparing the adults for emergencies, and make plans with them to work as a team and feel prepared for anything, then the children will respond to their instructions in an emergency. And in the event of a real emergency, the main message that the guides give the children is that it is the adults’ job to keep them safe, and that they are safe in our care.

Annual Safety Protocols and Security Trainings:

When onboarding a new staff member, and every August during our prep days for all staff, we do an annual deep dive into all of the safety protocols and drills and practice them as a team.

Sending Brightwheel Messages:

On the day we conduct a drill or training on campus, we will send a message on Brightwheel to inform parents and to offer a nugget of information.

Campus Security

We have a number of security measures in place on our campus. Some of these include high perimeter fences enclosing the entire campus with locking mechanisms on each gate (gate codes are changed periodically and only given to current staff and families); security cameras covering the entire campus (outdoors only) with screens monitored by administrative staff; a PA system and emergency broadcast system used to broadcast urgent messages to everyone on campus, or all staff, or all families at once; shatterproof film on windows and doors; and a plainclothes security guard with a concealed weapon who provides both on campus protection as well as consultation and training of staff. If you have questions or want additional information, please schedule a call with Lisl at Lisl@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com.

Current Families

If you have a child you're hoping to enroll in the future (that isn't already enrolled at Athena), please submit an Application for them, if you haven't already.

Waiting Pool Families

2026-27 School Year

If we have openings at any point mid-year, our Admissions Director, Joy, will reach out to eligible families.

2027-28 School Year

Admissions for August 2027 will begin this spring.

Please direct all admissions & enrollment questions to Admissions@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com.

August 31, 2026 marked what would have been Dr. Maria Montessori’s 156th birthday! This week, our classrooms took time to celebrate the remarkable woman behind the philosophy that guides so much of what we do at Athena.

Dr. Montessori was an innovator, a feminist, one of Italy’s first female physicians, and a passionate advocate for peace education. Her ideas about children and how they learn were truly ahead of their time. Through careful observation, she discovered that children have an incredible ability to guide their own learning when given the freedom, time, and environment to explore.

Today, much of what we know about child development and brain science continues to support many of the discoveries Dr. Montessori made through observation more than a century ago. Our classrooms celebrated Dr. Montessori throughout the week through conversations and activities inspired by her life and work, ask your child about her!