the Bala House
Bala House Montessori and / or the Parents’ Association host the following special events throughout the year for our students and their families:
Phasing In for New Students- New students meet with their teachers during a specified time on these three days.
New Parent Orientation - During this orientation, staff, board, and Parents’ Association representatives present our school program and answer any questions. This is a parents only event.
Bala House Parents’ Association Picnic - New and returning families bring a lunch and blanket for a picnic on the field adjacent to the playground. It is a great opportunity to meet Bala House families. Since the staff is busy preparing for the first day of school, they remain in the classrooms.
Phasing In - During our phasing-in period, all morning classes will have a third staff member to assist in the gradual introduction and reintroduction of school procedures. This special adjustment period helps children develop a sense of “inner order” which will grow and refine itself throughout their time spent at The Bala House. It also promotes feelings of independence and self esteem, and enables the children to begin to direct their own lives. These first few weeks are the building blocks for the rest of the year.
Parents’ Social - Line up your babysitter now for this annual parents only event. A Bala House family invites all our parents to their home for an evening of hors d’oeuvres, drinks and conversation. This is a great way to meet new friends and catch up with old ones.
Picture Day - A professional photographer comes to school to take a individual and class pictures.
Muffin Mornings – These mornings are a relaxing way to get to know your child’s teachers and other families in their class.
Fall Festival - Families gather on the field one fall afternoon for games, crafts, food and a costume parade.
Kindergarten Visiting Day – Children eligible for kindergarten the following year, visit our kindergarten class one afternoon.
Kindergarten Curriculum Parent Workshop - Parents attend this annual workshop to learn more about the important third year of their child’s Montessori education.
Grandfriends’ Day - Children invite special grandfriends to visit them in their classroom on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
International Dinner - This potluck and unique service project is a great way to celebrate our diverse community and sample wonderful dishes from around the world. Each family brings and shares a dish from their culture. A small donation is collected for the Heifer Foundation and Philabundance.
Special Person’s Day and Night - Children invite a special person to come to Bala House and witness what they do all day.
Earth Day - Families celebrate Earth Day by coming together to beautify our school grounds. A casual picnic lunch and arts and crafts round out this productive work day.
Bala Gala - The Bala Gala, our annual spring silent and live auction, brings together our entire community for an evening of fun and entertainment. In addition, this event raises significant funds for annual fund initiatives or a specific project. This fun filled evening is for parents only.
End of Year Picnic - Before summer break, families gather one last time on the field for a casual picnic lunch.
Last Day of School Pizza Lunch - All Bala House children are invited to stay for a pizza luncheon hosted by staff on the last day of school.
Kindergarten Breakfast - Kindergarten families and staff gather for breakfast and special performance to commemorate the conclusion of their time at Bala House.
Bala House Parents’ Association (BHPA) Meetings - Attend these meetings to get involved in your child’s school, meet new friends, and help plan various BHPA school events
Coffee Hours - Parents and children can drop in and grab a cup of coffee. This is a great time to catch up with other families and enjoy delicious breakfast treats.
Kindergarten Field Trips - Each month our kindergartners and parent chaperones travel to one of the following locations: Lankenau Hospital, the Philadelphia Art Museum, Colonial Penn Plantation, Japanese House, and Historic Rittenhouse Town.
Monthly Activities - One Friday morning a month a different group performs for our community. Quiver Farm petting zoo, music groups, Mad Science, puppet shows, and Pages to Pirouettes ballet troupe have performed for us in the past. All parents, siblings, and PM families are welcome to join us for these enriching performances.
Big Friend & Me Toddler Class - This special weekly caregiver and child program, for toddlers, 18 months through 3 years old, takes place on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am. It includes music, sensory play, snack time, crafts, and parenting discussions in a peaceful mixed age class.