Montessori Minute

TWO Montessori Battle of the Books teams are going to state!

Please help me congratulate:

5th/6th grade team:

Amelie Roberts

Jameson Danner

Leonora Johnson

Hazel Estes

7th/8th grade team:

Chava Levy

Lilah Gaguine

Lyndley Nakamura

Also - thank you to our amazing Librarian - Raandi Miller - for running Battle of the Books this year!

The restroom policy will not change for next year.

• YD students will use the restrooms downstairs
• JCCS will use whatever restrooms they prefer
• AMP will use whatever restrooms they prefer

HOWEVER, we WILL allow Montessori families to choose to allow their children to use the restroom closest to their learning environment. In other words - we may have parents/families tell us "I don't care where my kiddo goes" - and we will honor their wish.

The downstairs restrooms - to be clear - allow all students to use the restroom with which they identify. That needs to be part of your decision-making.

Please report any restroom "issues" that you observe to the front office immediately, and encourage students to report any issues to the Montessori office immediately as well.

Thank you!

Please click here for a quick survey on whether or not you plan to have your child(ren) come back to Montessori Borealis for the 2026-2027 school year! We must have an accurate count so we know how many spaces to open up for the Lottery - which will be run in April.

We are not anticipating - at this time - a change in our restroom policy. YD will continue to use the downstairs restrooms, Montessori Pre-K through 6th will use the upstairs restrooms, JCCS students will use the restrooms of their/(or parent) choice, and AMP will use the restrooms of their/(or parent) choice.

If a Montessori parent does not care which restroom their kiddo uses, then they will just let us know (we will send out a questionnaire right before school next year) and we will allow that preference as well.

Thank you!

John Paul

Letter from reader:

Dear Clem,

Why won’t my preteen and teenager talk to me?! I feel like I have such good advice and insight to things but once I start saying something it’s like their eyes glaze over. I wish they could see I’m here to help them and be there for them but it’s like they don’t care to talk to me about anything! Help!

Thanks for your time,

Harborview parent

Clem’s response:

Dear Harborview Parent,

Woooof, woof! You sound like a caring and loving caregiver who just wants to connect with their pup and that’s pup-tastic! Here are some ideas on how to connect with your preteen and teenager:

Implement routine “greeting and goodbyes”. This could be something physical (high five, fist bump, a hug) or verbal (“how was your lunch today?”, “what is something that made you laugh?” Asking about a specific time or topic of the day is easier to answer than a broader question like, “how was your day?”)

Here is one I like to do: “Rose, thorn and bud”. You and your pup talk about something “good” (rose) that happened, “not so good” (thorn) that happened and “something they’re looking forward to” (bud). This is a nice one because it can be used to talk about small things or big things.

Try to listen more than giving advice or maybe ask directly, “Do you want me to listen or do you want me to give advice?” Sometimes I use this with my grown pup friends too.

Remember to thank them for sharing with you!

Tail wags for more connections ahead,

Clem

Request nights for the 2026-27 school year are coming next month.

This is the night your student will request courses for their next school year of 2026-2027.

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming course request nights. Our counseling staff will present grade-level information for your planning purposes and give you the opportunity to enter your student’s course requests for the next school year. Please note that all evenings start promptly at 5:00pm in the JDHS Commons.

The Course Description Catalog is available electronically on our

website at jdhs.juneauschools.org, under the Counseling tab Course Request Information

-Bring a charged person device such as a ChromeBook. -Bring a pen for notes and signatures.

• Rising Freshmen (current 8th): Last names A-K. February 24, Tuesday, 5:00pm

• Rising Freshmen (current 8th): Last names L-Z. February 26, Thursday, 5:00pm

Here are the dates for all Site Council Meetings this year.

The Zoom link is below!

February 24th In person

March 17th Zoom

April 21st In person

May 5th Zoom

Site Council Bylaws

Dear Families,

This past weekend, a surprising amount of energy was spent debating a Super Bowl halftime celebration. I found myself smiling at the kerfuffle, not because it mattered much, but because what I saw felt so clear.

What I witnessed was joy, pride, culture, family, music, dance, and love. I saw the Americas named and honored. I noticed history, agriculture, perseverance, and resilience woven into costumes and choreography. I saw famous faces, cultural references, and a final message that read, “Together We Are America.” Even without understanding every word, the meaning was unmistakable. And I will admit, with no shame, that in my next life I would happily return as one of those sugar cane costumes, proudly representing Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots and the endurance of its people.

Many may not realize that Puerto Rico is, in fact, a U.S. territory. Perhaps that is part of why the fuss existed at all. Personally, I was grateful not to understand the outrage. To live in a country where such a wide range of cultures, languages, and traditions can be celebrated on one of the largest stages in the world is an extraordinary gift. We are all richer for the blending, the borrowing, and the becoming that make up the United States, even when our political climate insists on division.

As I reflected on all of this, my thoughts kept circling back to education.

After 34 years in this profession, and as a father of two, I remain convinced that joy is the common denominator of meaningful learning. Whether in a Montessori classroom or an alternative high school setting, curiosity thrives when students feel seen, respected, and connected to a larger human story.

Maria Montessori believed that education is not merely the transmission of knowledge, but a preparation for life. At its heart, Montessori education honors the child as a whole person, rooted in community, culture, and lived experience. It values diversity of thought, respect for differences, collaboration, and the understanding that we learn best together. Our classrooms are small reflections of the larger world, places where many perspectives coexist and where independence and interdependence grow side by side.

When students encounter ideas, cultures, or languages they do not fully understand, that is not a failure. It is an invitation. An invitation to listen, to observe, to ask questions, and to grow. That kind of learning is joyful, expansive, and deeply human.

Thank you for being part of a community that embraces this work. Our children are watching how we respond to difference, how we hold space for one another, and how we choose curiosity over fear. In doing so, we are teaching lessons that will last far beyond any classroom.

With gratitude and optimism,

John Paul

We have an upcoming spring break opportunity that may interest your K–3 students and their families.

During Spring Break (March 23–27), Raven Writes will host its first Spring Break Camp in Juneau.

Sealaska Heritage Institute, in partnership with SERRC, will offer hands-on learning experiences focused on storytelling, harvesting and preparing, and cultural learning.

Above is a digital flyer for families, and physical copies have been delivered to our office!

If you have any questions about the Spring Break Camp, please contact Terra Stark, SERRC Raven Writes Program Coordinator and Camp Director at terras@serrc.org or 907-433-7256.

For more information about SERRC’s Raven Writes Camps: https://serrc.org/raven-writes/

If you are one of our amazing volunteers that regularly come to the school or classroom - and have not already done so - PLEASE fill out the volunteer form through the district (listed below).

​Thank you so much for helping out - this just helps to keep everyone safe!

New families to Montessori Borealis should soon see an email invitation for Transparent Classroom to set up an account. You will need to do this to access lessons your children receive and to view your student's trimester reports. If you have any questions, please reach out to dustin.stogner@juneauschools.org.

Juneau School District

TMMS Middle School Athletic Schedule

25-26

Athletic Teams and Activities meet after school Monday through Thursday from 3:15 – 4:30 pm, during their season. Each season is typically 4 - 6 weeks in length. There will be Activity Buses available to take students home, leaving TMMS at 4:45 if they are out of walking distance. Please see the Falcon Flyer each Friday and the TMMS website for up-to-date information throughout the school year.

Wrestling – Boys and Girls

Season: January 5, 2026– February 20, 2026

Practice begins Jan 5th

Travel tbd-Sitka

Harbin Tournament tbd

Rifle – Boys and Girls

Season: Jan 5,2025- February 20,2026

Volleyball – Boys and Girls

Season: Feb 23- April 10, 2026

Season begins February 23

Travel tbd

Track and Field – Boys and Girls

April 13,2026- May 14,2026

Season begins April 13

Southeast Track meet invitational Thursday May 14th

Folks can check out the Falcon Flyer (daily bulletin) on Fridays for more information and can reach out to assistant principal Laura Zimmerman by email (laura.zimmerman@juneauschools.org) or by calling her at 907-780-1905.

We have a lot of walking field trips! Sometimes they're in good weather, but as often as not, there is something inclement when our kiddos are out and about.

It's important for kiddos to have:

• The right footwear (often they're wearing crocs or sandals or something that isn't "long walk or hike friendly")
• The right outer wear (water proof is important)
• Warm enough outer wear (and socks)!

It's awesome to be outside and be exploring! Let's make sure our kiddos are equipped for it! If you need anything - please let us know!

Thanks!

SEAFOM is a very generous organization (Southeast Alaska Friends of Montessori) that contributes mightily to our school! This year, they are evening funding one entire teaching position.

If every one of our families joined - it'd be about $2,000 that would go directly back to our students in some way, shape, or form! Please consider joining - just scan the QR code below!

Parents - please check with your students to make sure they empty their lockers on Friday - of all of the wet items or lunch things that need to be thrown away or returned home! These things get stinky really quickly! :D

Also, a reminder that if the kids find something that isn’t theirs, they should take it to the office (up or downstairs - either one). They can also tell their teacher - so that those items can get back to the rightful owner.

In other words - "Just because we find something doesn’t mean we get to keep it." LOL! :D

Thank you!

Next time you're in the building - please stop for a bit and take a gander at the growing lost and found rack/pile in the commons. It's growing! Thank you!

After school, it is very important that students are supervised at all times - for safety purposes. We have limited resources and we often make the mistake of thinking the building is clear when, in fact, some students are still here, waiting for rides.

Please, for the sake of student safety:

• Pick up kiddos by 3:15 (or 2:45 on early release Mondays)
• If you're going to be late - please call (907) 796-5800 and let Dustin or Beccah know
• If you're going to be late - please have kiddos wait with bus riders in the Commons

Thank you!

You'll need to log in using student lunch number@juneaustudents.org and the password is the student lunch number!

If you haven't already done so, you should definitely get the mobile app to keep our families and community better informed and connected to what’s going on in our schools. The Juneau Borough Schools mobile app is available for free on both iPhone and Android smartphones. From a smartphone, go to the iTunes App Store® or Google Play®, search Juneau Borough Schools.

The app will deliver real time district news to a smartphone for fast, up-to-date access. The app will feature the latest district and school info as well as push notifications about breaking news, closures, weather, events, and more. This app will work when (at times) our regular communication systems (phone or email) fail due to incorrect data (wrong emails or numbers in Power School).