Rheel News at IMS

There is so much to celebrate and even more to look forward to. We are deeply grateful for our families, staff, and students who make Island Montessori such a special place to learn and grow.

At Island Montessori, our mission goes beyond the classroom—it’s about fostering whole-world learning and understanding. Even in times of uncertainty, we come together as a community, staying true to our calling as teachers and students. Montessori encourages us to embrace our emotions, using them as tools for growth and connection. With curiosity, kindness, and resilience, we continue to learn from one another and the world around us.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

In Peace

Alicia Rheel

As we continue our deep dive into the year of discovery, the next phase we want to explore is Innovation. After students have realized their connections to their learning and the world around them, they naturally move into a period of innovation—where progress, growth, and creativity flourish.

In this phase, students are encouraged to take what they’ve learned and try out new ideas. Innovation is the space where they experiment with different approaches, test hypotheses, and build on their discoveries. It’s where growth truly happens—not just academically but also personally, as they learn the value of trial and error, persistence, and creative problem-solving.

In a Montessori classroom, innovation is often seen when students work on projects that allow for creativity and open-ended thinking. Whether it’s designing a new way to solve a math problem, building a model to represent a concept in science, or writing an imaginative story, students are given the freedom to explore their ideas and make meaningful progress.

What’s especially important about this stage is that students learn that innovation doesn’t mean everything has to work perfectly the first time. They begin to understand that trying out new ideas, making adjustments, and learning from mistakes are all part of the innovation process. This mindset helps them develop resilience and a love for learning.

As guardians, you can foster innovation at home by creating an environment where creativity is valued and new ideas are celebrated. Encourage your child to explore different ways to approach a problem, whether it’s building something new, drawing, or thinking through a challenge they face. By supporting their innovation, you help them embrace growth and progress in all areas of their life.

In the next phase of our year of discovery, we’ll continue to explore how innovation leads to new levels of understanding, creativity, and personal development for each student.

Save the Date!

March 21 – Families are invited to come in and see what students are learning about inventors, big historians, and creative inventions of their own.

Children’s School ~ 8:45-9:30, check in at the Children’s School

Lower Elementary ~ 10:00-11:00, No rain - check in at the front office and head to the classrooms, Rain - Head Corrigan’s Cottage

Upper Elementary ~ 1:00 - 1:45, Corrigan’s Cottage

Middle School ~ 2:00 - 2:45, Corrigan’s Cottage

WOW!

I am so impressed with our students and families—what an amazing success this sale was!

A huge thank you to the Gargiulo family for their generosity in donating their winnings back to the school. Because of the dedication and support of our community, we raised an incredible $13,800 this year!

We can't wait to celebrate our class rewards—stay tuned for pictures coming soon!

Congratulations to our top classes:
🎉 Children’s School: Avery’s Class
🎉 Lower Elementary: Lisa’s Class
🎉 Upper Elementary: Meghan’s Class
🎉 Middle School: Steve’s Class

Thank you all for your participation and support!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and came out to cheer on our staff and students at last night’s game! It was an incredible night filled with energy, fun, and school spirit.

We were fortunate to have the space generously donated by the Rec Center in Carolina Beach—our heartfelt gratitude to Eric Jelinski and Bryce Smithson for their support of our school. Thanks to your participation, we raised $580, which will go directly toward supporting our basketball program!

A special shoutout to Ryan West and Elliot Smith for being great sports and joining in on the halftime show!

Thank you to our amazing staff for getting out there, having fun, and making the night memorable. We also appreciate our board members, Emily Elmore and Whitney Wilson, for stepping in, rounding out the team, and providing some much-needed breathing breaks!

And of course, a shoutout to our student players for their enthusiasm, teamwork, and great sportsmanship on the court! Your dedication and positive attitude made the game even more exciting—we are so proud of you!

Events like this highlight the strength of our community and what makes Island Montessori so special.
Thank you all for your support!

We are already looking forward to next year! 🧡💙

We’re excited to partner with Work on Wilmington on Saturday, April 26th, to help enhance our campus!

Projects will begin at 8:00 AM and wrap up by 12:00 PM. You can volunteer for 30 minutes, an hour, or the whole time—whatever fits your schedule!

The more hands we have, the more we can accomplish.
Parents and students are welcome to join in and help make a difference!