One of the unexpected gifts I found when my son started Montessori school at just 2.5 years old wasn’t just about his education — it was about us, too — the parents.
In a smaller school, you naturally get to know so many more parents by name. You’re not just passing each other at pickup; you’re talking, helping out, building real friendships.
And because Montessori has multi-age classrooms, you end up sticking with the same families for years — moving from lower elementary to upper, then to middle school together. Some of those families truly become part of your extended village.
Smaller school settings also mean more direct access to teachers, and so many more chances to jump in and be involved — whether it’s chaperoning a field trip, helping organize a school event, pitching in at a fundraiser, or just being a point person for newer families.
Sometimes it’s even as simple as sharing advice, offering a carpool, or giving a hand when something unexpected comes up.
Now, it’s not like you become best friends with everyone — and that’s perfectly fine. But what you do find is a tight-knit community that shows up.
If something breaks in the classroom and needs replacing, or the playground needs a little love, or a teacher needs some extra hands for a project — there’s always someone willing to help.
Having experienced this kind of community over the last 10 years — across two different small Montessori schools — I can honestly say it’s something I’m selfishly hoping to keep.
Because when you have a group of families who are all working together with the same goal — helping their kids (and each other’s kids) grow and thrive — it’s something really special.
And it’s one of the biggest reasons I believe so much in small schools like AtlasMHS.
Susi Holland, mom of a 12 year old
