💙 This Week’s Update from the Hammer Montessori Foundation 💙

Hello Hammer Families,

This week brings big news for our community — and we want to share it with you thoughtfully, transparently, and with care.

🏫 Schools of Tomorrow – Board Decision Update

The San José Unified Board of Education has officially voted on the Schools of Tomorrow recommendation.

As part of this decision:

• Several elementary schools across the district will be closing or consolidating (a total of five schools are impacted)
• Programs and students will be reassigned or relocated across the district
• Hammer Montessori will be moving to its own campus at Gardner Elementary

This is a significant moment for many communities across SJUSD.

💛 What This Means for Hammer

Hammer Montessori will be relocating approximately one mile north to the Gardner campus.

While this change is undeniably a disruption — and we want to acknowledge that many families are processing a wide range of emotions — there are also important constants:

• Our staff remains intact
• Our student body remains intact
• Our program remains intact

And for the first time:

✨ Hammer will have a space to truly call our own.

This is an opportunity to build something special — a dedicated home for Montessori learning where our students can continue to grow, thrive, and shine.

🤝 Holding Space for All Emotions

We want to say this clearly:
It is completely valid to feel uncertain, frustrated, emotional, or even overwhelmed right now.

At the same time, we also want to gently remind our community that:

• Five schools are closing
• Many families across the district are experiencing significant loss and transition

Our Hammer community is facing change — but we are moving forward together, with our program and people intact.

🌟 We Are Better Together

If there is one thing that has stood out over the past weeks, it is this:

💙 We have an incredible community.

The advocacy, the care, the collaboration, the willingness to show up — it has been powerful to witness.

That strength does not go away with this decision.
It becomes the foundation for what we build next.

We will continue to support one another, show up for our children, and advocate for what makes Hammer special.

🚶‍♀️ Looking Ahead – Walk-a-Thon as a Moment of Meaning

This year’s Walk-a-Thon (April 24) will take on even deeper meaning.

It will be:
• A chance to honor and say goodbye to our current campus
• A moment to celebrate everything that has been built here
• And an opportunity to look forward to what’s next

Together, we will begin to turn the page — as a community.

📣 What Comes Next

There will be many more details shared in the coming days and weeks as plans are developed and logistics are clarified.

For now, we wanted to make sure all Hammer families heard this update directly and clearly.

We are stepping into a new chapter — and we will walk into it together.

With care, gratitude, and belief in this community,
💙 The Hammer Montessori Foundation