HOUSTON: DAV Montessori and Elementary School (DAVMES) celebrated its 25th anniversary with a vibrant Annual Day program that brought together students, parents, teachers, alumni, Arya Samaj Greater Houston members, and distinguished guests for an evening of reflection, performances, and exciting announcements about the school’s future.
In her keynote address, School Director Arti Ji Khanna highlighted the school’s mission of nurturing confident, compassionate, and curious learners through a balanced approach that combines Montessori foundations, academic excellence, leadership development, and Indian cultural values. She emphasized that DAVMES classrooms foster creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and hands-on learning experiences that go far beyond traditional textbooks.
The event recognized the dedication of teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents whose partnership continues to strengthen the school community. Special appreciation was extended to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for launching initiatives focused on long-term school growth and community engagement.
Among the school’s notable achievements this year was the PSIA team earning second place at the state level, marking the fifth trophy victory in five years. DAVMES also reported strong enrollment growth for the upcoming school year, supported in part through Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), along with expanded transportation services across the greater Houston area.
Looking ahead, school leadership announced plans to expand STEM education, project-based learning, social-emotional development, athletics, makerspaces, music programs, and advanced science labs. The school is also pursuing Cognia accreditation and exploring the launch of middle school grades beginning with a proposed sixth-grade class in Fall 2027.
One of the evening’s highlights was the unveiling of the school’s refreshed identity, including a new name, logo, website, and updated tagline: “Foundational Montessori & International School.”
A heartfelt parent address by Nidhi Kundalia reflected on the importance of cultural grounding and individualized learning at DAVMES, describing the school as “more than education, it gave our child roots.”
The celebration started with Havan officiated by Acharya Surya Nanda Ji, featured performances by students from preschool through Grade 5 curated by the school teachers, and concluded with blessings and Shaanti Paatha by Acharya Bramdeo Mokoonlall Ji.
