Montessori Turns Ten At The Mount

Rachel Louchen reports from Lenox. On Thursday, May 26, The Montessori School of the Berkshires commemorated its tenth anniversary with a gala at The Mount to raise proceeds for the school's financial aid fund. The beautiful grounds of Edith Wharton's former home created the perfect backdrop for the evening, which featured moving and hilarious narratives performed by parents and Montessori faculty members during a standup storytelling performance. Storytelling was the theme of the gala, and “story stations" scattered around the property encouraged guests to interview each other and to create prose. Post literary fun, there were tasting stations by Kate Baldwin, cocktails from Berkshire Mountain Distillery and party tunes from DJ BFG. [Above, Sarah Ober director of advancement and communications with Todd Covert, co-founder and head of school.]

Former parents Lisa Nelson and Stephen Alsdorf with Andy Boino and Zach Talmadge, both of Dana Bixby Architecture.

Montessori children's house guides Rose Bohmann and Patricia Pent with former teacher Leigh Minor; Pete and Jen Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm in Tyringham.

Elementary program guide Gussie Greer with Peter Greer; Montessori parents Dan Neilson and John Coyle.

Parents Fran Arienti, Nick Arienti, Adrian Elliot and and Ailsa Colbert.

Randy Paul with Montessori's office manager, Avie Maloney; Lisa Ciejek and Alex Ciejek are parents of a Montessori toddler.

Gabriel Squailia a.k.a. DJ BFG (a future Montessori parent) spun at the event, here with Sara Mugridge, admission coordinator and art specialist; Jennifer Knodler and Leia Bibiloni-Nelson, afterschool coordinator.