Childpeace Family Education Events

Montessori Mornings

Second Wednesday of Each Month • 8:45 - 9:45 AM • Childpeace Conference Room

September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13

After drop off please stay and visit with our Early Childhood Program Director, Venus Zaron. She will share Montessori philosophy and method and then open it up for questions and dialogue.

Silent Journey & Discovery®

January 23–24, 2026

The Silent Journey and Discovery is an unforgettable experience which brings adults as close as possible to looking through a child's eyes, from The Toddler Community through Middle School. On Friday evening, parents take a "silent journey" of observation through the environments, followed by group discussion. Saturday morning we return for "discovery," a hands-on learning experience where parents are invited to interact with Montessori materials. Participants are often surprised by what they discover about themselves, their child and the social and cognitive frameworks of the Montessori environment.

WHEN: Friday, January 23rd, 7:00pm - 9:15pm and continues on Saturday, January 24th, 8:30am - 1:15pm 

(Participants must attend both days as it is an experience that builds upon itself. Saturday includes continental breakfast and group lunch.)

WHERE: Childpeace Montessori School & Metro Montessori Middle School

WHO: This event is hosted by Childpeace guides, our Early Childhood Program Director Venus Zaron, and Patricia Oriti. Patricia is a lifelong Montessorian, multiple-time facilitator of the Silent Journey and Discovery, and Childpeace grandparent!

INVESTMENT: $50 per person. Space is limited so we recommend getting tickets early!

"This workshop was amazing. I gained a deep appreciation for what my child experiences, and it inspired me to be more accepting of myself and more compassionate in my child's learning process."

“It was only after participating in The Silent Journey that we fully understood how special a place Childpeace is and how fortunate we were to have found it. We were not specifically seeking out Montessori for our children, but from day one it has been a wonderful education and community for both our 7 year old and 2 year old. When we were unsure where to send our son for elementary school it was The Silent Journey that validated for us that Montessori and Childpeace specifically was the best place for him to grow and thrive. The entire event is a beautiful experience of community and a unique way to see life through your children’s eyes. We highly recommend it!”

The Silent Journey & Discovery® is a registered trademark of BJG, Intellectual Property, LLC.

The Next Step: From Toddler Community to Children's House

Friday, January 30 • 8:45 – 10:00 AM • Childpeace Conference Room

Join Early Childhood Program Director, Venus Zaron, to learn about the transition from Toddler Community to Children's House. Venus will share information about how we support children's development during their Children's House cycle and how the move from Toddler Community to Children’s House is structured. Join Venus to learn what is in store for your child and yourself!

The Culminating Year in Children's House

Tuesday, February 3 • 4:00 – 5:30 PM • Willow Room

Join Maren Thomas, Madrone Room Guide, to learn about the culminating year in the Children’s House. This critically important year in our Children’s House program is when children reap the benefits of their foundational years in the classroom and thrive in new leadership opportunities. The Montessori Method provides a robust experience that exceeds the academic, emotional, and social opportunities of traditional kindergarten!

The Next Step: From Toddler Community to Children's House

Friday, February 27 • 8:45 – 10:00 AM • Childpeace Conference Room

Join Early Childhood Program Director, Venus Zaron, to learn about the transition from Toddler Community to Children's House. Venus will share information about how we support children's development during their Children's House cycle and how the move from Toddler Community to Children’s House is structured. Join Venus to learn what is in store for your child and yourself!

Cooking with Toddlers

Thursday, December 11 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM • Oak Room

Please join Analyn Nguyen, our Oak Room Guide, for a fun and practical event that will support you in involving your young child in cooking at home. For the first half of the event, parents will attend a short presentation on how to support their child in the kitchen and encourage independence. During the second half the children will join their parents in the Oak Room to prepare their own snacks. Analyn will guide the children with simple lessons accordingly for their age and abilities. This event will be an enjoyable and hands-on experience for both parents and children.

Cosmic Education in the Elementary Years

Tuesday, December 2 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM • Myrtle Room

Please join Elementary Guides Rachael Hillery and Daniel Withers as they share key aspects of Cosmic Education, presented through the Great Stories and Key Lessons. The Great Stories open the doors of imagination and inquiry into the physical sciences, biological sciences, human history, and the stories of language and mathematics. The Key Lessons build on these narratives, providing the framework for the more detailed lessons and presentations offered in the classroom.

Cosmic Education is Montessori’s plan for children in the second plane of development, ages 6 to 12. But what does that mean? Grounded in close observation of the elementary child, Cosmic Education begins with presenting the whole universe as the foundation for exploration. By offering this “big picture,” children begin to see the interrelatedness of all things and to integrate their experiences across subjects. In Montessori classrooms, the adult offers the Great Stories and Key Lessons as a guide and point of departure. From there, the child’s curiosity leads the way. What they discover and learn extends far beyond what the adult presents.

Montessori and the Science of Literacy with Guest Speaker, Jess Fraley

Thursday, November 13 • 4:00 – 5:30 PM • Childpeace Conference Room

Jess Fraley will be here at Childpeace to give a presentation on Montessori and the Science of Literacy, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and engage in further discussion. Jess serves as both an AMI Primary (3–6) Trainer and Executive Assistant at Montessori Northwest. Drawing on her experience working directly with Primary-aged children and guiding adults in Montessori practice, she brings a unique perspective to early childhood education.

Toilet Learning: Montessori Style

Thursday, October 23 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM • Childpeace Conference Room

Join Toddler Community Guide Jennifer Lyons to hear how we support toilet learning at Childpeace Montessori School. While using the toilet is something only the child can actually do, we use many supportive techniques to encourage and reinforce this important skill of independence!

Preparing for the Emerging Adolescent

Tuesday, October 21 • 4:00 – 5:30 PM • Metro Building

Please join Metro Program Director Chara Stamp and Upper Elementary Guide Kaelee Kress for a presentation on preparing for adolescence through independence, real-world learning, and social responsibility. They will share how our approach supports adolescents’ physical, emotional, and social growth by offering meaningful work, collaborative environments, extended opportunities for self-directed learning, and guidance rooted in respect rather than rigid instruction.

Adolescents occupy a unique stage of life: no longer children, yet not fully oriented as adults. To support their ongoing self-construction, the guidance of adults (family members, trusted friends, and teachers) must be grounded in a deep understanding of their characteristics and needs. Maria Montessori identified two critical needs of the adolescent: “These two needs of the adolescent; for protection during the time of difficult physical transition, and for an understanding of the society which he is about to enter to play his part as a man, give rise to two problems that are of equal importance concerning education at this age.” -Maria Montessori, From Childhood to Adolescence

What About Kindergarten?

Tuesday, October 14 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM • Cedar Room

Join us to learn about the leadership year in the Children’s House, the Montessori alternative to traditional kindergarten. In this presentation, Stephanie Wiant (Children’s House Guide) and Pam Bishop (former Children’s House Guide, current Licensing and Compliance Specialist) will share about the final year in the Children’s House when children reap the benefits of their foundational years in the classroom and thrive in leadership opportunities. You will also hear from Sara MacRae, one of our Lower Elementary Guides. We offer a robust experience that exceeds the academic, emotional, and social opportunities of traditional kindergarten!

Our Whole Lives: Middle School Parent/Caretaker Orientation

Wednesday, October 1 • 6:00 – 7:00 PM • Metro Building

Families new to Metro please join us for an important meeting to learn about one of the core elements of the Metro curriculum, Our Whole Lives (OWL), which is our comprehensive human sexuality program. We will share an overview of the curriculum and seek your explicit written consent for your adolescent’s participation in OWL. This orientation is required for families new to Metro. Families whose Metro alumni have participated in OWL in previous years are welcome to join us but not required to attend. An OWL permission form can be shared with you via email. Please note that this is an adult-only event and that only one caretaker per family is required to attend but all caretakers are welcome. If you are unable to attend, please contact Jon to arrange an alternate orientation.

Metro's High School Information Night

Monday, September 29 • 5:00 – 6:30 PM • Metro Building

All Metro families (adults and adolescents) are invited to attend this event at Metro to learn how to navigate the high school application process and to meet representatives of local independent schools. The event will begin with a mini-high school fair, between 5 and 6 PM, with admissions representatives from St. Mary’s Academy, Catlin Gabel, Northwest Academy, and OES confirmed to attend, along with Metro alumni who attend their schools. Jesuit and Central Catholic have also been invited, as well as representatives from Grant and Franklin, and we hope they will join us! At 6 PM, we will share an overview of key information for Portland area high schools (public and independent), preview the high school application process for independent schools, and answer your questions. More details will be shared the week before the event.