The Moon Room: Oneness-Family School (OFS)
Yourself
The
Moon
Room
Ages 3 – 6
The Moon Room is the second of our two specially-designed learning environments where we offer our Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten program to children aged three to six years old. Montessori-accredited teachers Matthew Chappell and Carina Sonora guide this class. The Moon Room is twinned with The Sun Room, which is also for children of the same age group.
“Help Me Help Myself”
The core principle of ‘help me to help myself’ promotes independence and self-reliance. The adult prepares the environment so the child can master skills autonomously at their own pace.
Explore Our PReschool & Kindergarten ProgramTake A Look Around The Moon Room
Children take turns leading and listening—building respect and confidence together.
Circle time with movement and song—building coordination, language, and community.
The Prepared Environment: orderly shelves, natural light, and room to work on the floor or at a table.
Everything has a place—beauty and order that invite concentration and care.
A calm, child-sized space with a quiet loft and materials children can choose independently.
Take A Peek
Whenever one peeks into the Sun and Moon Rooms, students wave cheerfully and often come up to tell or show a visitor what they are working on.
Meet Your Teachers
-
Carina Sonora
Primary Program Teacher (Ages 3-6), Moon Room
Email
Biography
As a child from Rio Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina, Carina knew she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and work with children. She began her career at Oneness-Family School in 2002 as a Montessori Assistant & Aftercare Teacher, where she learned the importance of preparing children socially, emotionally, and academically for higher education. Carina earned her MSDE teaching certificate in 2003 and her Early Childhood AMS Montessori certificate in 2011.
Carina believes parents and teachers should work together as allies to ensure children reach their full potential. She embraces the need to create an environment filled with age-appropriate materials and hands-on activities. She encourages children to explore, build social skills, and develop motor skills through Montessori lessons that are fun and positive.
Carina loves hiking in the mountains with her husband and their dogs Honey and Bruno in her spare time. Her favorite hobbies are biking and Pilates. Carina has practiced martial arts (Karate-Do) for many years and earned a black belt in 1998. She also devotes time to bringing awareness and funding to animal shelters or worldwide organizations that provide care for animals in need.
-
Matthew Chappell
Primary Program Teacher (Ages 3-6), Moon Room
Email
Biography
Matthew began his career as a Montessori teacher over 25 years ago after taking part-time summer work at a Montessori school operated by family friends. This experience confirmed something that Matthew already knew, which was how much he enjoyed connecting and interacting with children. Wanting to deepen this experience and pursue a meaningful career led him to begin Montessori teacher training that same year.
The experience of learning while teaching is continually rewarding for Matthew. His love of pursuing and sharing knowledge about many topics carries over to the students, helping them feel proud of what they know while recognizing that adults are still learning, too. He approaches teaching with the hope that he will instill curiosity and confidence to explore in his students so that they will enjoy connecting with their world.
Matthew’s university studies in French later facilitated picking up Spanish, which he now speaks fluently with his Peruvian wife and her family, along with other friends and neighbors.
Matthew appreciates what he calls the “team-oriented approach and atmosphere of unity” at Oneness-Family School, working with and supporting colleagues while enjoying the same from them.
Fun fact: Years ago, he singlehandedly dug and set up a 750-gallon garden fishpond so his father could relax outdoors, watching beautiful carp splash and swim.
-
Cameron Youngblood
Primary Programs Assistant Teacher (Age 3-6)
Email
Biography
Cameron came to Oneness-Family School after five years at Wellan Montessori School in Massachusetts, where he supported children’s growth and learning in a variety of classroom settings. His work there gave him valuable experience with Montessori education and a deep appreciation for the independence and curiosity children bring to their learning. Cameron graduated from Grinnell College, where he honed his skills in research, writing, and communication, as well as his ability to collaborate and think critically.
In the classroom, Cameron brings warmth, attentiveness, and curiosity to his interactions with students. He is committed to creating an environment where children feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and exploring their interests. Cameron believes that learning is most powerful when it is connected to a child’s natural sense of wonder, and he strives to nurture that spark by listening carefully and responding thoughtfully.
Outside of school, Cameron practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and enjoys running, he is also a lifelong fan of the beach, hiking, baking and is a devoted supporter of Boston sports teams. In addition to these interests, Cameron has a rich background in Buddhist practice, he was previously ordained as a monastic under the Thai Theravāda Buddhist tradition and continues to cultivate his practice at Wat Thai Washington, D.C. This grounding in mindfulness and reflection deeply informs his teaching, helping him to remain present, patient, and engaged with each child.
- 37 YearsSince Oneness-Family School was founded in 1988.
- 75 CountriesRepresented by our students, families, faculty, and staff.
- 1 FamilyUnited by a belief in courage, compassion and love of learning.
A Typical Day In the Moon Room
First Impressions
Love is in the air! For the month of February, the students in the Children’s Peace Garden have been learning about love, honesty, and colors. Secret Valentine projects for parents are underway. A healthy snack prepared by the teachers is available.
As there are three age groups in the rooms, a variety of activities are going on at the same time. On any typical day in a Montessori classroom, you will find children working on a floor rug or at the table, and today is no different! A child lays out a three-part picture and nomenclature cards for the frog, matching them to physical models for each stage, while another uses a magnifying glass to examine objects that the students have discovered in nature.
Math Area
In the math area, someone is working on the Hundred Board lesson, arranging number tiles from one to one hundred into a lined grid. A younger child works with Cards and Counters, laying out quantities to match numerals and identifying odd and even numbers. At a table nearby, a child uses the Stamp Game to multiply a number in the thousands, using dynamic regrouping skills in the process and recording his answer on paper.
A staple material and one often recognized as “Montessori” are the sensorial materials such as the pink tower or brown stairs. A child works to construct patterns and forms using the Pink Tower and Brown Stair, as he forms a strong sense of dimension, spatial relations, and patterns.
Language Area
In the language area, a child works on handwriting refinement by tracing the forms of print manuscripts. An older child who is an emerging reader is spending time with a beginning reader book, supported by the teacher as needed, as she sounds out the text and uses sight word skills. A child is matching small objects to written word cards with their names.
How exciting to see an older child who formerly struggled with reading help a younger classmate as they attempt to sound out a word! Both children benefit from the mixed-age classroom—the older child is so proud of being able to help the younger child, and the younger child admires the older student and learns from them.
As Dr. Montessori said, “The essential thing is to arouse such an interest that it engages the child’s whole personality.”
Arrival & Dismissal
Morning Arrival: 8:30-8:55 AM
Arrival is between 8:30 and 8:55 a.m. To help with a smooth transition, please drop off in the carpool line along the front curb, or park and walk your child to the front entrance. Staff will be present to receive your children. Children enter and begin their work right away. We advise keeping goodbyes short and sweet; we want each child to enter independently and with empowerment. Loving and reassuring short goodbyes help them grow much more than long separations and negotiations for a little more time together.
It is essential that children arrive on time (by/before 9 a.m.) daily so they will not miss (or interrupt, such as birthday celebrations) important lessons, activities, or work time
Afternoon Dismissal (3:30-3:45 PM)
Dismissal is 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. The hallways are busy and crowded at this time as students wait for parents or caregivers to arrive. You may wait in the carpool line along the curb or, if on foot, on the sidewalk along West Avenue. Once you arrive, a staff member will call your child’s name over the radio, and a teacher or office staff will walk them out to you.
Parking
Parents who want to accompany their child into the school, or enter the school to pick up their child, may use the school parking lot for up to 15 minutes. Please only use spots marked “Oneness-Family School.” Neighborhood parking is available only for families with local permits.
Please note that the OFS-marked parking spots are primarily for staff members who may arrive at different times throughout the day. The school is not responsible for any cars parked in non-OFS spots or the neighborhood without a permit.
Take The Next Step
If you’re interested in learning more, we can arrange for you to visit the school and take a tour
Book a TourAbout The Moon Room
The Moon Room is a calm, spacious environment where children build deep concentration, independence, and care for their community. With hands-on materials, rich language experiences, and space for big questions, it’s a place where curiosity deepens and confidence takes root.
Building Confidence and Independence
