Parent Education Events

PARENT EDUCATION

2026-27 Parent Education Events

MSD offers unique, thoughtfully designed, informative, adult events during the school year that we refer to as our “Parent Education Series.” These events provide the opportunity to learn more about child development, share best practices when it comes to teaching and parenting, give you a peek inside the classrooms, and allow you to experience the hallmarks of an MSD education.

By attending select Parent Education events, Work Bond may be awarded. For more information on Work Bond, please click here for our volunteer page.

Coffee & Conversations

Arts and Athletics Commons, 8:30-9:30am
Work Bond Credits: 1

Parenting is full of joys and challenges, and it helps to share the journey with others who understand. Our Coffee & Conversation series offers parents and caregivers a chance to gather by program level for informal, meaningful connection. Over a warm cup of coffee, you’ll have the opportunity to talk, listen, and bond with peers navigating the same stage of life. Our Educational Leadership Team will help guide the conversation with suggested topics, or the group may choose to share what’s most on their minds. Whether you’re seeking ideas, feedback, or simply the reassurance that you’re not alone, Coffee & Conversation is a chance to build community and support one another.

School Transitions

September 15: Transitioning to School – Addressing Worries and Avoiding Power Struggles  
Early childhood can be a time of rapid development and a wide range of normal behaviors. Come join Dr. Tori Virlee, Director of Student Support, and Rachel Northrop, Director of Early Childhood Education, to discuss your child’s transition to school or new program (and yours too!), connect with other Early Childhood families, and talk about the ups and downs and ins and outs of these important years of human development.
September 16: Supporting the Elementary Transition
Discover what the Elementary years look like at the Lower Elementary level and Upper Elementary level from academic expectations to social growth, easing back into the school year, and supporting your student at home. This gathering will also be a wonderful chance to ask questions and connect with other elementary parents and caregivers, as we kick off our second year of “Conversations and Coffee” series with Annie Springer and Tori Virlee. We’ll meet in the commons/cafeteria for great conversation and a cup of coffee or tea.
September 17, 12pm (Virtual)
Join Meghan Phillips for a virtual chat to get any burning questions answered or simply connect with other Middle School families.
September 30: Toddlers and Toileting Q&A
Come and learn from the Toddler faculty about child development from two to three years, including how to support toilet learning at home and at school, the Montessori way! They will talk with you about recognizing signs of readiness, independence, and the transition into underwear.

Please save the following Coffee & Conversation dates! Topics and descriptions to be posted in the Important Reminders prior to the event.

Early Childhood (Toddler and Primary)

October 7: Successful Daily Routines with Tia
Join us for this coffee where we’ll explore “Successful Daily Routines” alongside our occupational therapist, looking at how predictable rhythms and sensory-smart transitions help children feel secure and capable throughout their day. We’ll unpack why routines matter for regulation and independence, from morning wake-ups to bedtime wind-downs, plus share practical strategies you can start using at home right away.
December 2: Toddler/Primary Montessori in the Home Q&A
A Prepared Environment is a fundamental tenet of Montessori philosophy. Come learn from Toddler faculty members all about ways to incorporate the Montessori philosophy into your home environment and our approach to discipline at this young age. A recording will be sent out to families prior to this Q&A session; after viewing the recording, come ready with your questions!
January 13: Setting and Holding Boundaries with Tori and Tia
Join us for this coffee where we’ll explore “Setting and Holding Boundaries” alongside our school psychologist and occupational therapist, looking at why clear, consistent limits actually help children feel safe and support their developing self-regulation. We’ll unpack the connection between boundaries and a child’s sense of security from both a sensory and emotional perspective, plus share practical language and strategies for holding limits with warmth and confidence at home.
February 10: Literacy at Home with Chelsea McKinlay
Join Chelsea for an informative Coffee & Conversation focused on supporting your child’s literacy development at home. You will get some background on the science of reading and an overview of MSD’s literacy curriculum. You’ll also learn some strategies and tips for how you can best partner with us outside of school to help your child develop a love of reading.
April 7: Why Motor Skills Matter with Tia
Join us for this coffee where we’ll explore “Why Motor Skills Matter” alongside our occupational therapist, looking at how movement and hands-on development lay the groundwork for attention, coordination, and learning in early childhood. We’ll unpack the connection between gross and fine motor skills and the practical life work you see in the classroom, plus share simple ways to support this development at home.

Elementary

October 14: Literacy at Home with Chelsea McKinlay
Join Chelsea for an informative Coffee & Conversation focused on supporting your child’s literacy development at home. You will get some background on the science of reading and an overview of MSD’s literacy curriculum. You’ll also learn some strategies and tips for how you can best partner with us outside of school to help your child develop a love of reading.
December 9: Social Dynamics with Tori and Anne
January 20: Daily Routines with Tia
Join us for this coffee where we’ll explore “Successful Daily Routines” alongside our occupational therapist, looking at how predictable rhythms and structure support elementary-aged children as they take on more independence and responsibility, from managing homework and after-school activities to handling multi-step mornings and evenings. We’ll unpack why routines matter for executive functioning and self-management at this age, plus share practical strategies for building independence at home.
April 14: Why Motor Skills Matter with Tia
Join us for this coffee where we’ll explore “Why Motor Skills Matter” alongside our occupational therapist, looking at how gross and fine motor development continues to support elementary-aged children as they take on more complex tasks – from handwriting and typing to sports, coordination, and stamina for a full school day. We’ll unpack the connection between motor skills and things like attention, posture, and academic endurance, plus share practical ways to keep building these skills at home.

Middle School

December 16: Planning Ahead – High School with Amy and Kelsey
January 27: Executive Functioning – Organizing the Adolescent Brain with Tia
February 17: How to Support Your Adolescent’s Academic Journey with Kate
Join Kate for an engaging Coffee & Conversation focused on guiding your middle schooler through the evolving academic demands of adolescence. We’ll discuss practical strategies for fostering independence, balancing support with autonomy, and helping your student thrive both in the classroom and at home.
April 21: 1,000 Hours Outside with Tia and Meghan

Specials Silent Walk

March 2 & 3, Specials Classrooms
Work Bond Credits: 1 per hour

The Specials Silent Walk is a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the Specials and Electives classes and see what your student experiences during their time working with Specials teachers. You will have the choice to observe Art, Music/Theater, PE, Spark, Spanish, Technology, Farm, or Middle School electives during these two special days! Stay tuned for more information and details as the date approaches.

Parent Choice Nights

Work Bond Credits: 2

These evenings are designed to offer parents choice and agency in their learning (just as our students have during the school day!). Participants will have the opportunity to select one of several topics, spanning from Toddler to Middle School program levels, presented by MSD Faculty and Staff members. We will begin the evening all together to explore one topic together before breaking into sessions. Childcare will be provided.

September 23, 6-7:30pm

Proactive Mental Health
Join Tori Virlee (School Psychologist), for a mental health discussion, focused on 4th-8th grade or those planning ahead. We will discuss positive mental health practices, protective factors, and ways to proactively support your child’s mental health. We’ll also discuss what to do if you’re concerned and practice distinguishing between typical adolescent mood swings and a larger mental health need at hand.

Early Literacy Development
Christina Graham and Megan Korell (Primary) will give an overview of the key components of early literacy — including print awareness, phonemic awareness, alphabet knowledge, vocabulary development, and comprehension. You will learn how language structures (such as phonology, morphology, and syntax) are interwoven into classroom work and lessons at each level of Primary learning. Learn more about how this key foundation of learning is approached at MSD and what you can do to support your student at home.

Exploring Culture and Identity 
Marissa McCullough (DEIB Coordinator) and Ayme Houston (Primary) invite you to to explore culture, identity, and how we can let our children’s curiosity and openness take the lead. Experience what DEIB can look and sound like in the classroom and how you can get involved.

Navigating Technology as a Family
Danny Goodman (Librarian)  will host a practical workshop designed to help families navigate the opportunities and challenges of the 2026 internet and technology landscape. Win@Social offers research-based tools and strategies for helping young people build healthy digital habits, make thoughtful choices online, and develop the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly connected world. You will gain some conversation starters and guidance for supporting your children as they navigate social media and digital relationships, as well as a firsthand perspective on  your student’s experience in Tech class.

January 14, 6-7:30pm

To be announced: Topics and locations of sessions for this Parent Choice Night will be finalized prior to the event.

MSD Distinguished Speaker Series

November 12, 6-7:15pm, MSD Gym
Work Bond Credits: 2

We are thrilled to introduce you to this year’s Distinguished Speaker, Michael Townsend. Michael is a Rhode Island-based artist known for his innovative, large-scale drawings created with removable tape. A pioneer of the medium since 1989, he has brought collaborative art projects to schools, museums, hospitals, and public spaces around the world. Townsend is also known for helping create a secret apartment inside Providence Place Mall, an art project featured in the documentary Secret Mall Apartment. His work explores creativity, community, public space, and the power of making art together. “I want audiences to walk away knowing that the capacity to use art as a tool for solving problems is already within them,” he says, “and that the opportunity to make art is absolutely everywhere.”

This year’s Distinguished Speaker event is particularly exciting, because our students will be working with Michael Townsend throughout the first week of November as he teaches them the beauty and art of impermanence through tape murals. Each year, MSD brings in a resident artist to work with our students and staff to learn and grow in a new way. Our annual “TCSE Event” is an endowment experience created in honor of Tracy Collins Schwartz, a beloved former MSD parent and friend.

Stay tuned for more details about this exciting week, but certainly save the date for this unique opportunity to learn as a community from this year’s special guest.

Cultivating Belonging

Work Bond Credits: 1

Join Marissa McCullough, MSD’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Coordinator, and members of the DEIB Committee for this series of casual, curious conversations centered around building connections and belonging. These gatherings are open to the entire community, and will feature rotating topics announced in the weekly Important Reminders. Additionally, you are invited to join us for other events centered around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging throughout the year.

Mark your calendars for the following opportunities:

September 23, 6pm: Parent Choice Night workshop – Exploring Culture and Identity
October 13, noon (virtual): Topic to be announced
November 17, noon (virtual): Topic to be announced
January 18: Marade and MLK Day of Service
February 25, 8:30-9:30am: In-Person Parent Coffee
March 19, 8:30-10am: Spring Cultural Community Gathering + Coffee
April 13, noon (virtual): Topic to be announced

Leveling Up