Welcome to the Magnolia Tree community.

We are so excited to start the year and have been preparing all summer. In this blog, you will find information about our daily schedule, how to get in touch with us, arrival and dismissal procedures, staff bios, birthday celebrations, field trips, afterschool enrichment, music, movement, the phase-in schedule, upcoming events, and what to bring on the first day.

For returning families, I have written NEW THIS YEAR before any information that is… new this year. Hopefully that lets you pick out the things that you may not already be aware of!

Daily Schedule

We will start our days outside- weather permitting- from 8:00-8:35. After transitioning back to the classroom from the playdeck, we will have a short circle then start the morning workcycle from 9:00-11:45. We will have another circle at 11:45 and start lunch at 12:00. We eat from 12:00-12:30 and nap/rest begins at 12:30. Kindergartners have recess from 12:30-1:15 while first and second years rest. Second years who are awake will be invited to recess from 1:15-2:00 while Kindergarteners have K time and first years continue to nap. At 2:00, Kindergarteners and second years start our afternoon workcycle and first years who are awake are invited to recess from 2:00-2:30. Our afternoon workcycle continues until 4:15, when we have a group snack, do afternoon jobs, and then head out to the playdeck by 4:45. The children are outside from 4:45 until they are dismissed. 

Email and Communication

If you have any questions/concerns, please email Maggie and Shawn at magnolia@gtms.org and we will get back to you within 24 hours. We do not use our individual emails for parent communication because we want to make sure all staff have the same information. Please note that teachers are not available for communication during child contact times. 

NEW THIS YEAR: If there are ANY changes in schedule: vacation, your child is sick at home, your child is arriving late/leaving early etc., please email both magnolia@gtms.org as well as the Administrative Assistants at office@gtms.org. 

Arrival/ Dismissal

NEW THIS YEAR: Arrival is between 8:00-8:30. We will be on the playdeck from 8:00-8:35 every morning. Please arrive as close to 8:00 as possible because if your child is at school after 8:30, they will miss our recess. Dismissal will also happen from the playdeck as we will be ending our day with recess as well.

Staff Bios

Ms. Maggie (she/her): This is my fifth year at Greene Towne as a Lead Guide. I grew up in New York City but have lived in Massachusetts, Argentina, Minnesota, and now Pennsylvania. I started my career in education working in traditional preschools while still studying at Smith College where I received my bachelor’s degree in Biology. After college, I moved to Puerto Madryn, Argentina to live and work on a wildlife refuge for a year and a half. When I returned to the States, I moved to Minneapolis where I landed a job as assistant in a Montessori Upper Elementary classroom. I was so inspired by the reverence and respect for children in a Montessori environment, I knew I wanted to become a Montessori guide. I also knew working elementary was not for me! So, I pursued an AMI Primary Certificate from the Montessori Training Center of Minnesota in 2015 and received my MA in Early Childhood Education from St. Catherine’s University in 2016. Outside of school, I love to hike, camp, read, and sing with my choir Sing Slavic. This year, I am hoping to learn more about birds! This is now my ninth year working as a trained Primary Guide and I am still awestruck by the beauty of the Montessori method and fascinated by the process of human development. I am so grateful to be a part of your child’s life and look forward to partnering with you this year.

Ms. Shawn (she/her): (she/her): Hi! I’m Shawn and I’m very excited to be returning for my third year at Greene Towne! I grew up in Bucks County PA and just recently moved to Manayunk. I discovered my love for working with children when I became a tutor in high school. I became a certified yoga and reiki teacher 5 years ago and enjoy bringing mindfulness and movement into the classroom. I graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, cooking, and dancing.  

Teacher Bailey (they/them): Hey there! I am originally from West Virginia, but have since taught in a variety of unique classroom settings in countries all around the world, with instructional experience on 4 continents. Now, I am so excited to be returning to GTMS for a third year. From my first moments on the PADM team, the common mindset shared by GTMS and myself has been clear. Learning is a sacred adventure, and every opportunity to celebrate a child’s hard work deserves to be cherished! When I’m off the clock, I dabble in skateboarding, guitar, woodworking, and any activity that takes place outside.

Ms. Diane (she/her): I am so excited to be joining the Magnolia team at Greene Towne Montessori School.  I have been a teacher for 13 years, 11 years in the traditional classroom and 2 years of experience in Montessori schools.  I have worked on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona as a kindergarten teacher for 5 years.  I taught a year of preschool and 5 years of first grade here in Philadelphia.  I also worked in a primary classroom at Clover Montessori School and The Children’s House of Philadelphia.  I have always had an interest in the Montessori Method.  Two years ago, I took the plunge to get my Master’s in Early Childhood Education and my Montessori certification. I grew up here in Germantown, Philadelphia.  I love this city, and I cannot wait to help give back to my community as an educator.  I am so looking forward to meeting all of you!

Ms. Ruby Joy (she/her): Hi, I’m Ruby Joy! I grew up in NYC and moved to Philadelphia as a teenager. I went to Tyler School of Art for Fibers and Material Studies… but I usually just say I got my degree in papier mache with a minor in pretty decorations and friendship. I first started working with kids when I became a camp counselor for Girls Rock! at sixteen. I love summer camp! I worked with different Girls Rock! programs around the country until 2021, bandcoaching and teaching workshops about disability. For the past three summers I was the Art Program Manager at Odyessy Teen Camp. In 2020 I started working in schools during the academic year; including Friends Select School and Green Street Friends. I learned I loved working with PreK and Kindergarten the best because they are so true to themselves, sweet to each other, and say things that make me laugh. Although I am new to Montessori, I have been drawn to the philosophy because it centers the needs of an individual child and encourages curiosity. I struggled a lot in school, and often felt afraid and disrespected by my teachers. I want kids to feel empowered to be themselves and feel excited about learning in their classroom!  In my free time, I’m in a quilt circle, I hang out with my dog Romeo and cook really elaborate meals for my friends. I love karaoke.

Field Trips

NEW THIS YEAR: We will be going on field trips every Friday from 2:45-5:00. Children cannot be picked up from field trips for safety reasons. On Fridays, you can pick up before 2:45 or after 5:00. In the first month, we will be going on neighborhood walks, riding SEPTA, and learning field trip routines. As the year progresses, we plan to visit area museums, playgrounds, and the library.

Afterschool Enrichment, Music, & Movement

The school will be offering afterschool enrichment opportunities again this year. The majority of offerings are for second years, third years, and Kindergarteners. They are offered Monday through Friday from 3:00-4:00. These classes are open to All Day Primary children and we will coordinate them getting to and from the classes.

NEW THIS YEAR: This year we are also bringing back music and movement classes in the afternoons for the whole class! Movement class will be Mondays from 3:30-4:00 and Music will be Thursdays from 2:30-3:00. Movement will be taught by Madeline Shuron- a new face at Greene Towne this year- and Music will be taught by Settlement Music.

Birthday Celebrations

We love to celebrate everyone’s birthday in the Magnolia Tree community. There is a short circle either in the morning or the afternoon. The child “walks around the sun” holding our painted globe while the class sings a special song then they take questions or receive birthday wishes from their peers and teachers. We invite you to create a birthday poster of photos of your child’s life so far and the people and things they care about. We cannot accept edible treats for birthdays but if your child would like to offer a plant or a beloved book- does not need to be new- we would gladly accept that! 

First year parents: On the day we celebrate your child’s birthday at school, you are invited to attend a snack circle at 4:20 to read a book. You can bring a favorite book from home or pick one from our library.

Second year & K parents: On the day we celebrate your child’s birthday at school, you are invited to eat lunch with your child in the classroom. Our lunch is from 11:50-12:20. You will be seated at the snack table with your child and a friend. 

Phase-in Schedule

CHILDREN RETURNING TO Magnolia Tree: The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 3rd. All returning PADM children will follow their regular schedule. Next Tuesday will help our returning Primary ADM children to remember our routines. We hope it will give the returning children the information and confidence to be the best helpers for the children who are soon to join our community.

CHILDREN NEW TO Magnolia Tree: On Wednesday, September 4th, new children will visit for half an hour in two groups, unaccompanied. Then Thursday, September 5th, all new children will visit from 8:00 until 11:45 (No lunch required). Friday, September 6th, all new children will be welcomed from 8:00 until 2:45pm (Please bring lunch!). Beginning Monday, September 9th, your child will follow your family’s regular school year schedule starting at 8:00. On this day, it is possible that your child may be emotional when it comes time to say goodbye. Rest assured that all Magnolia Tree staff are prepared to receive your child with love and encouragement. We have observed that the briefest transitions make for the easiest transitions. 

Events

• 9/3- First day of Phase In (regular schedule for returning Magnolia Tree children)
• 9/9- First day of school for everyone
• 9/12- Parent Workshop & Social at 6:00 pm
• 9/13- Parent Orientation at 8:30 am

Items to bring on the first day

Please bring the following items on your child’s first day:

-ONLY 2 complete labeled sets of seasonally appropriate clothes (shirt, bottoms, underwear, and socks- because space is limited, items should be easily stowable)

-A labeled blanket for nap or rest time (something light and compact)

-A pair of comfortable, indoor shoes (Here are just a few examples: 1, 2, 3, or 4) *We have found that Tom’s and moccasin-style slippers are not safe indoor shoes for school.* 

-2 labeled epi pens, if prescribed, with a doctor’s note and prescription attached and benadryl

-A labeled reusable water bottle to be sent home daily

**To prevent items being lost, please label all clothes, blankets, shoes, masks, and epi pens with your child’s name**

Because fostering your child’s independence is one of our primary objectives in a Montessori environment, we ask that the items you bring- extra clothes, lunch boxes and containers, and shoes- are easy for your child to use on their own. We want each child to feel a sense of self-confidence and self-determination when they dress themselves, open their own containers, or change their shoes.

NEW THIS YEAR: Our extra clothes storage has changed and we can only accommodate 2 sets of clothes per child. Additionally, we will be sending nap blankets home with children on Fridays. Please return their blanket on Mondays. We will continue to offer and launder the cot sheets. 

Family Questionnaire

We have created a brief family questionnaire that will help us get to know your child and family. Even if your child is returning to the Magnolia community, please take a few minutes to fill it out. Maybe some of the information has changed and it will help us to create a community where every child feels seen and welcomed. 

Thank you for reading all of this! I can’t wait to learn from you about your child and collaborate with you in service of their development.

Warmly,

Maggie