Connections Pines Montessori School
Issue 15 January 2026
Winter Cultural Festival
Pines Montessori School Our NEW Lower and Upper Elementary Building
grand opening 20 FEBRUARY 2026* 6-8 PM
celebrate with us!
our night will include
HONOR OUR PAST ENJOY OUR PRESENT DREAM OF OUR FUTURE!
HORS D'OEUVRES MUSIC DOOR PRIZES
MIX AND MINGLE WITH THE FOLKS THAT MADE THIS BUILDING A REALITY AND SEE WHAT’S UP NEXT! *yes...this is a NEW date :)
IF YOU ARE READING THIS... YOU ARE INVITED!!!!
e s a e HELP US l P Celebrate! Super simple! Start with your name. Tell us who you are and how you know about Pines... and then share your Congratulations about our NEW Elementary building!
We want to make a video with as many
Well wishes as possible to celebrate the
Grand Opening of our New Elementary Building.
Record your 10-15 seconds video and
Simply upload HERE
un ou Ro R nd dt t t ta n n ab e e bl r r le a a e P P u r o T eac d by
ste Ho
her s
Thursday, January 15th 6-7 pm
naviga o t te w o Sign up in H tr the App
a n s it i o n s
Let's face it... whether you are a child or an adult... transitions can be hard. Together let's explore how to navigate transitions at home, school and in the WILD! We have some tips and we are sure you do too!
Here are some behind the scenes that you might have missed during Winter Cultural Festival.
Ms. Kimberly photobombed an Ancient Inca!
Ms. Lupe was there hugging Ms. Alexandra!
Look at the feet of this kilt wearer!
These are the countries that Middle School has researched and represented at the Montessori Model United Nations over the past 14 years. This year we are Japan!
MS created these with their 3D printer. Primary artwork and research. WCF is a great day for GRAND parents and GRAND graduates!
Family Focus
The Hull family had 10 questions to choose from and here are the 5 they picked.
What is your favorite Pines event and why? Our favorite Pines event is the Winter Cultural Festival. It is wonderful to follow the students journey as they learn about a specific country; it’s always fascinating when they come home sharing a new fact or a word in another language. I love how this event opens their minds to other cultures and inspires them to explore. Walking through classrooms that transport you to different places around the world and tasting new foods is such a joy. It is a day where the hard work of the children, teachers, and parents truly comes together. How long have you been at Pines and what is your favorite memory? We have been at Pines for six years and have gathered so many wonderful memories. Two favorites stand out. The first was a pickup day at Studios when Lower Elementary only had one classroom. I walked in to find that the kids had been allowed to paint the walls! They were taking group photos and laughing; seeing that pure joy was contagious. It reminded me that Pines is a place where children can truly be themselves. My second favorite memory is from my time working at the school. During recess, a group of Primary kids found a frog and were absolutely fascinated. As I went to find a jar so they could observe it better, I passed a Lower Elementary student playing the drums while another student in the Zen garden danced to the rhythm like no one was watching. In that moment, I realized that is the essence of Pines: a place to learn, a place to connect across different ages, and a place where joy simply abounds. If you could choose a word to describe Pines, what would it be? If I had to choose one word to describe Pines, it would be Support. This support comes from both the faculty and the parents, creating an environment where we feel truly comfortable asking for advice. Being surrounded by like-minded people makes it so much easier to navigate the journey of parenthood. We have experienced firsthand how much the teachers care about their students through their tailored approach and the thoughtful guidance they provide during difficult situations. It is wonderful to have a community where we share core values and experiences with other families who have similar goals for their children. each academics; it nurtures each child’s unique potential while deeply respectingt
Family Focus How do you feel Montessori has benefitted your children? The Montessori approach has fostered a deep love of learning in our children; it’s incredible to see how each lesson sparks their imagination every day. We see them constantly refining their problem-solving, time management, and social skills while learning to care for the environment and see the best in others. To us, Montessori has provided our children with a compass for life, giving them a head start by turning these values into daily practices.
How were you introduced to Montessori and why do you feel it was the best fit for your family? My introduction to Montessori began while I was pregnant and looking for nursery ideas. I fell in love with the simplicity and the way the environment is designed to be accessible to children, truly setting them up for success. We wanted our children to be independent and resourceful from the start, rather than relying on adults to reach things for them. Montessori is the best fit for our family because it encourages children to fall in love with learning, to be productive, and to be helpful to others. We love that they are exposed to a vast range of subjects and challenged without the constraints of a traditional school. Its holistic approach does so much more than teach academics; it Interested in featuring in Family Focus? nurtures each child’s unique potential while Please email frontdesk@pinesmontessori.com deeply respecting who they are.
Our Contractor Shane Johnson
KAustin and Associates
With o ur buil d com end we ing to though an t we w ask Sh ould ane an d Keit h abou t Pines!
How did you first get involved with Pines? How long have you partnered with them? We were called out in October or November of 2009 to look at replacing some sinks and cabinets. We provided pricing but did not get the job. Fast forward to 2015 and we were asked by a good client of ours and Pines Board President Connie Chandler to come out to help Pines refresh the original main Class 4 during 2016 remodel building. Since 2015 we have been working side by side with Pines and team to help complete the vision Patty and the Board has to update Pines’ facilities and learning experiences in line with Montessori teachings and philosophy. All of this while maintaining compliance with City of Houston regulations and building codes. How does working with Pines
Middle School 2024 remodel
differ from other projects that you have worked on? Is there something unique to the way that Pines approaches their work? I appreciate the Montessori philosophy of open learning, lots
of natural light and a connection to bringing the outdoor space inside as much as possible. It is amazing to walk through and see children learning and working outdoors in various places throughout the campus. What have you learned about Montessori from the teachers or children at Pines? It’s amazing how the teachers and staff are so well connected to the students and learning environment. From preparing meals in the kitchen, working in the outdoor gardens to making sure the classrooms are in line with learning objectives, the overall experience is setting the student up for success as they grow older. As someone that did not grow up in Montessori education, I think it’s more of a well-rounded education than the traditional school system. I admire the teachings and learning environments provided to the students vs the public education system of today.
Our Contractor
Could you share a time when there was a challenge with this project and the way that Pines approached it surprised you and/or was helpful? When KAustin first began working with Pines in 2015, it was very evident that Patty and staff were well familiar with the City of Houston regulations, building department contacts and the red tape associated with trying to tackle projects within the City of Houston. Most of our customers are unaware of the process. I admire the determination and desire Patty and the Board have to fight for what they believe to be right. Building codes are generic and managed by people that will never ever step foot on your project. Sometimes what is logical on paper is not logical in reality. This can cost time, money, and valuable geography on the site. Forcing conversations and respectfully requesting site visits from people in charge to see the reality of what they are asking has led to productive conversations and logical outcomes to satisfy both the regulatory requirements and what is best for Pines. This not only benefited Pines financially but the students did not lose some of the outdoor elements used most every day. What contribution are you most proud of? I actually have 2. 1 - I don’t take it lightly that Pines has asked us to partner with them over the past 10 years. We pride ourselves on listening and learning from our clients and providing a service that fits the needs of the projects we work on. To be able to do that with the staff at Pines has been a real blessing for me and for everyone at KAustin & Associates. Construction is not always easy but with open and transparent conversations, anything can be accomplished! To be able to partner with Pines for over 10 years has been amazing! 2 – “Contractor for a Day” - I have thoroughly enjoyed taking the students that were contractor for a day through the construction process. They may or may not remember the things we did but for me to be able to share my passion for construction with the next generations is absolutely rewarding.
We are losing people that want to go into the trades and if we can inspire kids to consider entering the building and construction field in some form or fashion, that makes me excited. Not only did we walk through the construction site, see the heavy equipment and materials used in constructing the new building, we also looked at the architectural and engineering drawings….all of which are necessary to build the building. Truth be told, I got more out of the contractor for a day than the kids did, it was an honor doing so!
The EVENT
Under Construction
Parking Lot Striped
Next up: Our Backyard
We are in the last few weeks of our build! The walls are painted, the ceiling grid is hung and the fixtures (12 toilets, 20 sinks and 4 dishwashers) are thoughtfully being installed.
Lower and Upper elementary students and their teachers took a private tour of their new building before the Winter Break! Most of the construction fencing has been removed. Now the work of rehabilitating the backyard begins! We will reseed the property to green it up and reestablish backyard boundaries for each of our communities. Installing our Pines Pathways, which will designate our new play areas, will follow that!
Our Architect How did you first get involved with Pines? How long have you partnered with them?
Keith Gendel
We were introduced to Pines by Shane Johnson of KAustin & Associates in May 2021. Our first collaboration with Pines involved remodeling the existing Lower Elementary space, followed by renovations to the second half of the Middle School building. To date, our partnership spans more than four years and includes three completed projects. Working with Pines has been a joy and we hope to continue in the future!
How does working with Pines differ from other projects that you have worked on? Is there something unique to the way that Pines approaches their work? Pines is very hands-on and collaborative in every stage of the building design and construction process. We really appreciate their focus and strong opinions – it makes our job so much easier! In particular, Patty's leadership style fosters a positive and can-do attitude that is infectious across the entire team.
Our Architect What have you learned about Montessori from the teachers or children at Pines? Montessori building design should be child-centered and requires larger amounts of working space per child. A Montessori school doesn’t need a lot of architectural ornamentation because the children are the decoration.
Could you share a time when there was a challenge with this project and the way that Pines approached it surprised you and/or was helpful? When the new upper elementary school building was being planned, the City of Houston had very difficult storm water management requirements. I was particularly impressed by the rigorous determination and innovative ways Pines worked through those challenges.
What contribution are you most proud of? I am most proud of the outdoor patios and the impromptu stage located under the stairs; they are my favorite parts of the building because they represent the spirit of community and flexible use that we aimed for in the design.
Supporting Pines at
Harry Gendel, Principal Architect and his wife Diane (center).
The EVENT
Kitchen Connections
Chunky Guacamole & Corn Tortilla Chips A refreshing dip that supports healthy growth and development, along with crunchy tortilla chips.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped 1 teaspoon kosher salt The juice from 1 lime 3 ripe Hass avocado 1 plum tomato, cored and chopped into small cubes 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions: In a mixing bowl combine the chopped onions, salt, and lime juice. Cut avocados in half around pit, remove pit, and scoop avocado from skins onto cutting board. Cut avocados into ½ - inch pieces. Add avocado chunks to the mixing bowl, mash and mix with the rest of the ingredients Add the tomato and cilantro to the bowl and use a rubber spatula to stir until well combine and serve.
Corn Tortilla Chips
Ingredients: Oil spray 6 (6 inch) corn tortillas ¼ teaspoon salt Instructions: Set the oven to 350 F prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place tortillas on cutting board. Cut each tortilla in half. Cut each tortilla half into 3 equal wedges. Place tortilla wedges on baking sheet in a single layer, alternating point up and point down, so they fit on baking sheet. Spray tortilla wedges generously with vegetable oil spray. Make sure wedges are evenly coated and shiny. Sprinkle salt evenly over tortilla wedges. Place baking sheet in oven. Bake until chips are golden on edges, 12 to 15 min. Use oven mitts to remove baking sheet from oven and place on cooling rack (ask an adult for help). Let chips cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Serve. Chips can be stored at room temperature in airtight container for up to 4 days.
Upcoming Events
This Month
Upper Bake Sale - Friday 1/16 (At dismissal, until sold out) Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday 1/19 School closed SNOWBALL RUN Rising Meetings Tuesday 1/27- Rising to 3rd Year Primary Wednesday 1/28- Primary rising to Lower Elementary Wednesday 1/28- Upper Elementary rising to Middle School Thursday 1/29- Lower Elementary rising to Upper Elementary
Next Month
Continued Enrollment Begins - Continued Enrollment packets will be sent home to continue your child’s education for the upcoming school year and must be returned by Friday 2/6 to ensure their placement Upper Bake Sale - Friday 2/13 (At dismissal, until sold out) GRAND OPENING- Friday 2/20 6- 8 pm RSVP Adults only Casa dei Pines - Friday 2/27 Come and walk around the school to observe and participate in activities from ToddlersUpper Elementary After dismissal, until 4:30 PM