February 2026 PA Post
New Year, New Guiding Principles
A thriving Montessori school is built on partnership.
I hope many of you were able to join the Strategic Plan unveiling on January 15 (and if not, we’ve shared links below to help you get caught up). One of the pillars that stood out most clearly was our role as parents and as a Parents Association: that we are co-stewards of the mission.
“At Austin Montessori School, families are not clients of the school, they are co-stewards of the mission, united by shared purpose, trust, and care for children.” - Grae Baker
This is an ambitious vision—and it only works if it’s shared. The school cannot bring it to life without an engaged, connected parent community, and that means each of us showing up in ways that are real and sustainable for our families.
When I stepped into the role of PA President last year, my goal was simple but important: to strengthen our sense of community and help re-establish the PA as a place where connection, support, and stewardship live side by side. As a volunteer team, we believe this moment marks the beginning of a powerful next chapter for Austin Montessori School, and we would love for you to be part of shaping it with us. - Claire Neeley
Strategic Plan Presentation Graphic
AMS Guiding Principle #5:
CULTIVATING A PARTNERSHIP OF TRUST
Adaptive/Tactical Priorities
1. Develop a family partnership framework
2. Parents Association integration
3. Enhance communication and transparency
4. Create shared experiences that build connection
5. Establish a Parent Ambassador program
6. Link engagement to stewardship
7. Align the family journey across all levels
8. Make learning excellence visible
9. Orient families to the benefits of the holistic approach of Montessori
10. Support whole-child well-being
You’ll experience this principle through:
Clear expectations and open communication.
Strong support during transitions between levels.
Opportunities to engage in ways that feel meaningful to you.
A deeper sense of belonging within the school community.
An elevated partnership between you and the school.
You’re Invited!
Introducing our new PA Merch Page
What began as a humble back-office page on the AMS website—with inventory rotating between living rooms, trunks, and the occasional very patient volunteer—has officially leveled up. Over time, merch found its way into school storage, gained proper inventory tracking, and (dare we say) organization.
And now… we’re proud to introduce the shiny, official, very-clickable AMS Merch Site—curated by our CTO (yes, we have one of those now!)
This glow-up wouldn’t have been possible without the many parents who took this effort from spare closets to spreadsheets. Their time, energy, and “I’ll just store this at my house for now” spirit helped turn AMS merch into an important fundraiser for the PA.
So don’t walk—run—to grab your AMS swag, rep the school you love, and support the work ahead. Your closet (and the PA) will thank you. Sweaters coming soon.
Valentine’s Day is all about sharing appreciation—and if you love our school community like we do, this is a sweet (and simple!) way to show it.
If you feel inclined, we invite you to write a 2-minute positive review about your experience at AMS. Reviews help future families discover our school and strengthen our broader community presence.
💌 Participation is completely voluntary, and even a few heartfelt sentences make a big difference.
Thank you for helping spread the love for AMS!
You can share your love on:
Community Spotlight
Join us in celebrating amazing things happening in our AMS Community! This month we are celebrating…
We interviewed current Coffee Shop Manager, Connor Buchanan, a full cycle student at Gaines Creek, to learn more about a day in the life of a Montessori entrepreneur.
Approximately 120 coffee drinks are made in any given coffee shop day. That makes for a very busy barista. So busy that they recently enlisted an “assistant to the barista” at the last coffee shop.
GC chicken’s eggs are used in their Kale and Quinoa Bowl, but 6-8 dozen additional eggs are bought per event to make their breakfast tacos.
Connor’s favorite dish to make AND eat is the crepe. There’s nothing like seeing the crepe maker, or crepier, get into their groove. “Martin was on fire at the last coffee shop”, says Connor.
Collaboration + Community + Continuous Growth After their last customer leaves, the students clean up, sit together to rest, share leftovers, and discuss the things that went well and things that can be improved upon.
Connor’s favorite thing about the Gaines Creek Coffee Shop is when alumni (students, staff, and parents) visit the coffee shop and being able to see and reconnect with their friends.
Keep up the great work Connor and team!
Upcoming PA Events & Initiatives
The PA is thrilled to announce our inaugural Spring Festival is on the books for April 2026. Stay tuned for final date and timing.
As planning continues, we’ll be reaching out for parent volunteers to help bring the Festival to life. If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to us. More details to come — we can’t wait to grow this new AMS event together! 🌱💛
We’re so excited to put together an AMSPA Community Cookbook — a beautiful collection of favorite recipes shared by families across all of our AMS communities.
This cookbook is more than meals on a page; it’s a celebration of culture, tradition, and the everyday rhythms that nourish our children and bring us together.
The cookbook will be available for families to purchase, and all are invited to contribute! Thank you in advance for the generosity of all families that decide to submit a recipe.
We are kicking off our Coffee with the PA series in 2026!
Join members of the Parent Association Board for a casual, come-as-you-are morning to sip coffee, connect, and build community on Wednesday, April 8th at Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar after drop off.
This informal gathering is a chance to meet the PA Board, ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about how the PA supports our families and school. Also we are kinda a big deal and pretty fun to hang out with!
Whether you’re interested in getting involved, sharing your ideas, or simply want to put faces to names, we’d love to see you there.
Additional events coming up:
2/20 - Gaines Creek Coffee Shop | 7:15 - 10:00am
2/20 - Breakfast with Jinny Gonzalez | Great Northern 8:30 - 10:00am
2/21 - AMS Fiesta! - 6:00 - 10:00 PM
2/28 - STEM Girl Day at UT Austin
2/28 - Gaines Creek Italy Trip!
Community Building
Sign up to be a PA Volunteer!
In order for the Parents Association to achieve our goals & live out our mission, we will need volunteer support from our community of parents. Whether it’s a tiny bit, a whole lot, or somewhere in between, we are so grateful for any amount of time you are willing to contribute!
Our WhatsApp community is thriving!
We have several subgroups, including "AMC Parents Handwork Group", "AMC Buy/Give/Sell/Swap", "AMC Positive Discipline Parenting", "AMC Crafternoons", and MORE! The subgroups often have meet-ups, playdates, advice, and are all-around a great resource for AMS parents and caregivers.
Community Care
We all know it takes a village for each family and child to thrive. Do you know a family welcoming a new baby? Is there a family that could use a little extra nourishment right now? Fill out the Community Care request form below and we will take care of the rest!
Giving
AMS Annual Fund
Donate to the Parents Association
100% of the proceeds from your donations are used towards PA events, staff appreciation, the printing of family photo placemats, meal trains, and more. The PA accepts Cash, Check, and Credit Card. Your purchase is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!