Fraser Woods Montessori School Head of School Myriam Woods began her time with the Newtown-based school in 1990, and retired from the position on June 30.

Her time at the school included expanding grade levels and moving the school from its original location in Dodgingtown to its current 173 South Main Street location.

"[Ms Woods] has devoted the last 25 years to inspiring staff to pursue excellence and relentlessly planning for the Fraser Woods Montessori to move into the future," a brochure printed this school year by the school to celebrate Ms Woods reads. "[Ms Woods'] dreams led us from a tiny red school house to the campus we enjoy today."

The brochure announced a Dream for the Future campaign at the school to raise funds for projects to enrich education at the school.

Ms Woods said the Dream for the Future campaign would fuel projects like enhancing after school programs, adding a stage for student performances and adding to the music room. The campaign will also offer opportunities to hold more school programs at the school, Ms Woods said, but one program she said she hopes is never moved to the building is the annual eighth grade graduation ceremony, held at the Newtown Meeting House. The ceremony being held at the Newtown Meeting House, Ms Woods said, is a tradition.

Moving the school to its current building was another dream completed in her tenure, according to Ms Woods, with a lot of effort by the school community.

When the school was finally open at its new location with children running around, Ms Woods said, "those are the moments to remember."

Every time a new wing of the school was opened after construction there was a celebration, and each time a new grade level was added there was a celebration.

"Every growth was a celebration," she said.

Ms Woods moved to the United States from Brazil, where she was a head of a school in Rio. After two years in Connecticut with her husband, Ms Woods said she completed graduate study work. When she and her husband decided to stay in Connecticut, she began looking for a job with a Montessori school. After seeing a small advertisement in a newspaper, she applied and was given the position in Newtown.

"From that point, I believe, it is history, basically," said Ms Woods. "I became very connected with the school mission."

She saw the job as an opportunity for her to spread the philosophy of Montessori school education.

"I had this opportunity in my hand. And I never thought of moving to another school, because it became my mission to grow the school," she said.

Together with the school's board, Ms Woods said the mission to grow the school was met over the years.

The Proud Moments

While moving the school to its current location and overseeing the expansion of the school to new grade levels were two of the biggest moments in her career at Fraser Woods Montessori School, Ms Woods said some of her proudest moments were student celebrations each school year.

She is also proud of traditions at the school that support peace and world citizenship that maintain the school's mission to cultivate "compassionate, self-confident, joyful citizens of the world."

"Those are kind of the proud moments, when we have been able to create occasions that will leave the memories on the children as they become adults," said Ms Woods. "We are hoping we are planting the seeds."

This year's eighth grade graduates also wrote cards to Ms Woods thanking her for "always making the school a better place," "always caring," and "always helping out with students."

Ms Woods said she was surprised when the eighth grade graduating class shared memories of how Ms Woods helped them, and when she found comments in this year's yearbook about her. It was an emotional end of the school year, she said.

The yearbook entries prompted students to share their fondest memories of Ms Woods or describe the head of school in one word.

"It would be caring, because she will always care if something goes wrong," one student wrote to the one word description prompt.

Another students wrote, "She is beautiful, loving, and kind."

Another wrote, "My favorite thing about [Ms Woods] is she understands me like family."

A search committee was created to find and hire a new head of school. Christopher Robertson, who is moving to Newtown from Virginia, will fill the position, according to Ms Woods.

"It's funny, because I'm moving to Virginia and he is coming [here]," said Ms Woods, smiling, "like a trade off."

Ms Woods said she is moving to be closer to family.