Our Annual FEAST
Our Annual FEAST: A Beautiful Montessori Tradition of Independence, Community, and Joy
Every fall at Community Montessori School, our classroom fills with excitement as the children prepare for one of our most beloved traditions — the CMS Feast. This is not a teacher-planned holiday meal. It is a child-planned, child-prepared, and child-hosted celebration, and it is something our students look forward to — and remember — for years to come.
The Feast is more than a meal. It is a shining example of what Montessori learning looks like in action: independence, collaboration, practical life skills, and the joy of working together as a community.
Planning With Purpose
Weeks before the Feast takes place, the children begin planning.
- They brainstorm menu ideas.
- They vote together on what to serve.
- They make a shopping list — item by item.
- They calculate how many guests and how much food will be needed.
The classroom buzzes with anticipation, conversations, and decision-making. Every child has a voice. Every child contributes.
Preparing the Food — The Montessori Way
In the days leading up to the Feast, the children take on real and meaningful work:
- Washing and peeling vegetables
- Stirring, measuring, pouring
- Baking bread
- Setting the tables with flowers, handmade placemats, and decorations
They are trusted with real tools and real responsibility — and they rise to the occasion with focus, care, and pride.
There is nothing quite like seeing a child beam with excitement when they can say, “I made this!”
Coming Together as a Community
When the day finally arrives, the atmosphere is magical. Students welcome their classmates to the table, serve one another, and enjoy the meal they created together. The Feast becomes a celebration of friendship, gratitude, effort, and the joy of sharing something they made with their own hands.
Many of our alumni — even years later — still talk about it. In fact, our own 16-year-old alumnus recently shared that he vividly remembers helping prepare the CMS Feast when he was little. The smells, the teamwork, the happiness — these memories stay with them.
Traditions like this become part of their childhood story.
Why We Do It
The Feast is warm and fun, but it also builds important lifelong skills:
- Independence: Children learn that they are capable and trusted.
- Collaboration: They work with peers and see how each person contributes.
- Practical Life Skills: Cooking, cleaning, planning, measuring — real skills for real life.
- Confidence & Pride: They experience the satisfaction of meaningful work and community celebration.
In Montessori, experiences like this aren’t extras — they are core to how children learn who they are, how to belong, and what they can do.
A Tradition We Treasure
Every year, the CMS Feast reminds us of the beauty of childhood, the power of community, and the remarkable things children can do when given the opportunity. It is a tradition that brings joy to our students today — and becomes a cherished memory they carry into the future.
We are so grateful to share this tradition with our wonderful children and families.
