Written by Jay Posick, ParentCamp Coach
On December 12, 2024 from 5:30-7:30PM, Sussex Montessori hosted their second ParentCamp of the 2024-2025 school year. It was a downright amazing evening! 26 people signed in at registration, including 10 children, but it felt like we had more than that due to the wonderful conversations before we started, during the sessions, and at dinner.
ParentCamp is a tremendous opportunity to speak with other families, school staff, and the community about topics of interest. The groups meet in circles that are meant to provide a discussion environment where all are equal. The following topics were discussed in 30 minute sessions- parents’ connection and involvement in Montessori education, discussing the Anxious Generation (a book that had been used as a book study), and the future of Sussex Montessori School. Each of the sessions had great conversations and the sharing of ideas that have helped guide our next ParentCamp.
The following quotes from two of our attendees show the power of the ParentCamp process of facilitation and discussion. One participant said that they were grateful for “The open dialogue about our love of this school and the opportunities to continue to improve the experience for all involved.” This quote shows how important it is to connect families with the school and the school community. Another participant said that they “…appreciated the opportunity to learn about the challenges the school faces in growth and the parent feedback on how to address and meet those challenges.” This is another example of the importance of connection and open dialogue that made all who attended wonder about ways to make Sussex Montessori a better place for students, staff and families..
The adult attendees were able to rest assured that their children would be well taken care of while they were in sessions connecting with other adults who shared their love and support of Sussex Montessori School. The pasta dinner and salad, along with some holiday cookies, made the evening even more enjoyable. The evening ended with some reflection and prizes for all children as well as some prizes for some lucky adults. Our next Sussex Montessori ParentCamp will be on Thursday, February 6th from 5:30-7:30PM (register here) where we’ll kick off “I Love Sussex Montessori” Month and have a chili cookoff. We encourage you to invite a friend or two to join us as we continue to build connections with families, our school, and our community.
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