News

We truly appreciate your continued support and generosity. Thank you to our spectacular sponsors!

Platinum: 
The Ambroze Mohr Family

Gold:  
AMA Certified Public Accountants & Business Advisors
Aviva Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
Grin Gallery Pediatric Dentistry
Sandy Springs Endodontics

Silver: 
Abracadabra Travel
The Knott Family

Bronze: 
TMS

And thank you to everyone who has already purchased a ticket. We are so excited to party with you!  At the heart of this special evening is community, and we believe it should be open to all. A limited number of Community Access Tickets are available to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation. If this option would make it possible for you to attend, we warmly invite you to join us—your presence truly matters, and we would be honored to have you with us.

We also invite families who are able to pay it forward by purchasing an additional ticket to support another member of our community. This simple act of generosity helps ensure that more families can share in this special evening together.

To request Community Access Tickets or to contribute a ticket for another family, please reach out to me at kpoyser@springmont.com no later than April 21 (while supplies last).

A special thank you to all of you who have made a donation to the amazing line-up of items and experiences to be auctioned. By donating an item or experience, you are helping to make a significant impact on the success of the Starry Garden Night auction.

Together, we can make this event spectacular, all while supporting our school and enriching the Springmont student experience. Thank you for being an essential part of our community’s success!

Your contributions, whether as a sponsor, donor, volunteer, or champion for others, help ensure mission success for the auction and, more importantly, for Springmont. Thank you!

Visit our auction website to purchase tickets or place bids on some of the items and experiences in the silent auction. Springmont School - Annual Auction

While today’s digital world feels dominated by keyboards and touchscreens, cursive handwriting remains an important and powerful tool for early childhood development. Supported by neuroscience and developmental psychology, as well as Montessori’s emphasis on hands-on learning and early literacy skills, learning cursive is a vital and intentional part of Springmont’s curriculum.

Long ago, Dr. Montessori understood that the hand is a tool for the mind. Today, studies show that writing in cursive simultaneously activates multiple regions of the brain, thereby improving synchrony between the left and right hemispheres (Frontiers Study). This integration stimulates brain synapses and helps children build stronger neural pathways associated with learning, memory and retention, reading comprehension and language processing, and focus and concentration. Neuroscience research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology confirms that handwriting—especially cursive—boosts brain connectivity more than typing (Neuroscience News).

Key Reasons for Teaching Cursive

• Fine Motor Skills: Writing in cursive involves continuous, fluid movements that are more compatible with the natural development of fine motor skills. Unlike print, which requires children to frequently lift their pencils and make separate, disconnected strokes, cursive writing encourages smoother hand motions. This fluidity strengthens hand muscles, refines control, and helps children develop hand-eye coordination, preparing them for more advanced fine-motor tasks. Cursive’s smooth, rhythmic motions also allow children to write faster and focus more on their thoughts than on forming individual letters (The OT Toolbox).
• Focus & Retention: Because it requires deliberate, continuous motion, cursive writing can increase focus and mindfulness. This mindful engagement fosters patience, persistence, and intrinsic motivation—qualities that extend beyond handwriting into all areas of learning. In addition, studies of older students show that notes taken by hand are processed more deeply and are more likely to transfer to long-term memory than notes taken using a keyboard.  
• Support for Reading & Writing: Because cursive letters are connected, children more easily see letter patterns within words and recognize words as whole units, rather than isolated symbols, which aids in the transition from decoding to fluent reading. Montessori teachers often pair cursive writing with phonetic awareness activities, allowing children to connect the shape and sound of letters in a meaningful, multisensory way. Unlike print writing, which can result in letter reversals (think b/d, p/q, and f/t), cursive letters are distinct, reducing confusion and frustration. A study published in PLOS ONE showed that first-grade students who received cursive instruction performed better in reading and writing assessments than those who did not (PLOS ONE Study). 
   

Did you know that Springmont is home to two goats, a few bunnies, and a flock of chickens? If you might be interested in helping out with light-duty Springmont farm animal care April 18-19, April 25-26, May 9-10, May 23-24, or May 25  (Memorial Day), please click the link in Springmont Weekly News to sign up or email Upper Elementary Teacher/Outdoor Science Education Coordinator Thomson Chuites to let him know! (tchuites@springmont.com).  He is happy to provide more information!