Ask any family why they stayed at a school, and they rarely lead with the curriculum. They talk about how it felt — the sense that they belonged somewhere, that their child was known, that they had found their people. A school is a community first, and the traditions we build together are a big part of what makes it one.
Here are a few of the moments we look forward to each year at Montessori of Brea — and why these gatherings matter more than they might appear.
Celebrating peace and light in December
Each December, our classrooms come together for a Festival of Lights — a gentle celebration of the many traditions around the world that honor light, peace, and togetherness. Rather than centering a single holiday, we explore how families across cultures mark this season, and we close with song. For young children, it is an early, joyful lesson that the world is wide and that difference is something to celebrate.
A festive fall together
Autumn brings one of the children's favorite days: our Halloween celebration, full of costumes, seasonal activities, music, and time with friends and families. Days like this are not a break from learning — they are where a lot of the important, invisible learning happens: cooperation, anticipation, belonging, and the simple joy of being part of a group.
Mornings that honor our families
In late spring, we host Mother's Day and Father's Day breakfasts — mornings when children share a special meal and a bit of undivided time with the people they love most. Watching a three-year-old proudly serve a parent breakfast they helped prepare is a small thing that means a great deal. It is practical life, gratitude, and family, all in one morning.
Why traditions matter more than they look
There is real developmental substance underneath the fun. Predictable, recurring celebrations give young children a sense of rhythm and security across the year — the same comfort of "this is how things go" that Montessori builds into the daily routine, expanded to the scale of seasons. They also weave families into the life of the school, so that a child sees the adults who care for them all pulling in the same direction.
Most of all, these gatherings turn a school into a community — a place where families know one another, where a new parent finds a friendly face, and where a child grows up feeling firmly held by more than just their own household.
That sense of belonging is one of the quiet gifts of a small, close school, and it is one of the things we are proudest of.
Interested in becoming part of our community? Schedule a tour and come meet us — or take a look at Parent's Corner to see more of what happens around our school throughout the year.
