Cleveland, OH

Pre-K End-of-the-Year Celebration and Carnival

Each year, preschoolers at Tremont Montessori have an end-of-the-year celebration with songs, plays, and slide shows.  The presentations highlight some of the favorite things they learned throughout the year.  Recently, the preschool team invited kindergarteners to the celebration.  This gives the Pre-K group a way to participate with Kindergarteners in a transition activity.  The music teacher helped them all learn the same songs.

After the program, the students moved on to a carnival that featured bounce houses, popcorn, and snow cones.  Siblings were invited to the festivities on the school yard.  After the carnival, each student received a Get Ready for Kindergarten learning backpack to take home to continue kindergarten readiness activities during the summer.  PNC Bank volunteers assisted with the carnival to demonstrate their commitment to school programs in their Grow Up Great program.

STEAM Family Night

For more than a decade, the Tremont neighborhood in Cleveland has held a monthly community art walk, now called Walkabout Tremont. Art galleries and restaurants open their doors on these evenings to celebrate art, music, and local food specialties. The Tremont Montessori Pre-K has participated over the years by displaying students’ artwork that was completed during the school year.  Last year, the Action Team for Partnerships (ATP), teachers, and leaders expanded their contribution with STEAM Family Night.

Family and community members came to see the many things that students worked on in STEAM subjects (i.e., science, technology, engineering, art, and math).  The main feature was the art gallery where one art project by each student was on display.  Some art projects incorporated principles of math and science, linking students’ artwork with other STEAM subjects.

Keyboard players provided soft background music for an art gallery atmosphere.  Attendees also saw and experienced students’ music concerts and science fair projects.  Books were given away, a storyteller entertained, and refreshments were served.

This activity is in Promising Partnership Practices 2018.