Annual Special Events

Bala House Montessori and our Parents’ Association host special annual events to create a community atmosphere for our students and their families. The largest educational gains occur when teachers, students and parents work together towards the same goals. Our events enable children to demonstrate their experiences in the classroom, parents to meet and greet one another and teachers to build stronger partnerships with parents.

September

Visiting Days for New Students – New students are invited to meet with their teachers and our Extended Care staff during these three visiting days at the start of the school year.

New Parent Orientation (Virtual) – Staff, board, and Parents’ Association representatives present our school program and answer any questions at this parents-only event.

Bala House Parents’ Association Picnic – Families bring a lunch and blanket for a school-wide picnic. It is a great opportunity to meet other Bala House families.

Phasing In – During the phasing-in period, all classes have a third staff member in the classroom 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 the year. 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.

October

Parents’ Social – Line up your babysitter now for this annual parent’s 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 individual and class pictures.

Parent Meet and Greet Mornings – A relaxing way to start the day and get to know other families in the class. (Adults-only, outside)

Fall Festival – Families gather on the field one fall Saturday for games, crafts, food and a costume parade.

November

Annual Campaign – Bala House’s main fundraiser that supports school-wide programs and projects for both students and teachers.

Thanksgiving Classroom Feasts- Children prepare and enjoy a special Thanksgiving feast with their entire class.

Grandfriends’ Day – Children invite special grandfriends to visit in their classroom on the Monday morning after Thanksgiving.

December

Kindergarten Visiting Day – Children who are eligible for kindergarten the following year have a chance to visit our kindergarten classes for an afternoon.

Kindergarten Curriculum Parent Workshop (Virtual) – A parent workshop to learn more about the important third year of a child’s Montessori education.

January

All School Social Hour– 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.

March

International Dinner – A potluck dinner celebrating our diverse community. Each family brings and shares a dish from their culture. A small donation is collected by the kindergarten students for the Heifer Foundation. All students are invited to perform songs they have learned in music class.

Special Person’s Night – Children invite a special person to come to Bala House and witness what they do in their classroom at school.

April

Earth Day – Families celebrate Earth Day by coming together on a Saturday morning to beautify our school grounds.

Bala Gala – Our annual parents-only spring silent and live auction brings together our entire community for an evening of fun and entertainment and raises significant funds for the school.

May

Fun Fair – All Bala House children enjoy this school day filled with carnival games, crafts, and a moon bounce.

June

Last Day of School Pizza Lunch – All Bala House children are invited to stay for a pizza (and popsicle) luncheon hosted by staff on the last day of school.

Kindergarten Breakfast – Kindergarten families and staff gather for breakfast and a special performance to commemorate the conclusion of their time at Bala House.

Recurring Events

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.

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, Philadelphia Zoo and Waterworks.

Monthly Activities – Once a month, a different group performs for our entire school 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 and siblings are welcome to join us for these enriching performances.

Parent Education Workshops/ Book Clubs (Virtual)– Throughout the year, we host workshops on various parenting and Montessori topics.