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Welcome Back, AIA Families
The first day of school always feels special.
There are new backpacks and familiar faces. Excited hugs and nervous smiles. Classrooms standing ready. Teachers waiting at the door.
This week, that feeling returned to AIA.
To our returning families, welcome back. To those joining us for the very first time, welcome. We are so glad you are here.
This year is especially meaningful as AIA celebrates 45 years of serving children and families, while our founder, Dixie Oliver, celebrates her 90th birthday. Together, these milestones remind us of the enduring community that has made AIA such a special place since 1981.
As we begin another school year, we look forward to the discoveries, friendships, growth, and joyful moments that lie ahead.
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45
Years of AIA
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90
Years for Dixie
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A joyful year to celebrate together.
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A Message From Our Head of School
A Wonderful First Day
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Written on the first day of school · Thursday, August 6
Dear AIA Families,
What a wonderful first day back! Our morning carpools moved smoothly, there were smiles from students, families, and staff, and a genuine sense of excitement filled the campuses.
I have been touched by how warmly the AIA community has welcomed me. So many students introduced themselves throughout the day, and I was struck by the confidence and sense of self they showed when meeting someone new, a wonderful hallmark of a Montessori student.
I also found a special connection with the children experiencing their own first day at AIA. I could honestly tell them, “Mine too! We’ll learn together and help each other out.” I think that is a fitting sentiment for all of us as we begin this year together.
I am grateful to our faculty and staff for the care and preparation that made our opening day feel so smooth, and I’m looking forward to a year of learning, growth, and partnership with all of you.
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A Quick Reminder
If you are interested in exploring what it means to be a substitute, or you are already a substitute at AIA, I invite you to join me for an information session on Tuesday, August 11, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Classroom 5 on the Lower Campus.
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Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!
Kind regards,
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Sarah Prosser
Head of School
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Sarah brings extensive Montessori leadership experience, a deep respect for the child, and a strong commitment to partnership with families. Families will have opportunities to connect with her at school events and Coffee and Chat gatherings throughout the year.
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A Little AIA History
Happy 90th Birthday, Dixie Oliver
Celebrating 45 Years of Alpharetta International Academy
New to AIA? Here is a little of the story you are now part of.
Some birthdays call for cake. This one calls for a story.
Because without Dixie Oliver, there would be no AIA.
Dixie Oliver studied education, then taught at every grade level she could find: schools in Florida, schools in Georgia, and for several years, schools in Vietnam. In the 1970s she taught education courses at the college level in Canada while raising a family of her own.
Then, in 1980, she encountered the work of Maria Montessori. A long search for a credible, workable, holistic way of teaching children came to an end. She completed her AMI training, and in 1981 she opened her own school.
The early years were hard. She was the only full-time teacher for several years. She moved the school three times. She took no regular salary. From the very beginning, it was an international school, and among her first families were Korean and Vietnamese children.
Forty-five years later, that small school has become a thriving international community serving families from more than thirty countries.
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“We want the time spent here not only to be happy and of worth for the moment, but a continuing influence on the quality of life and the contributions that your child makes to our society.”
Dixie Oliver, Founder
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The memory board below was created by AIA staff in 2003 to honor Dixie and the school she built. We are proud to share it again with a new generation of families.
“Every child who walks through our doors today is part of the legacy Dixie began in 1981.”
Forty-five years ago, AIA began with a single educator, a belief in children, and a vision for what a school could be.
Today, that vision lives on in every classroom, every teacher, every family, and every child who calls AIA home.
Happy 90th birthday, Dixie.
Thank you for creating a place where children are known, valued, challenged, and loved. Your impact reaches far beyond the students who have walked through these doors. It lives on in the lives they have gone on to lead.
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45 Years, 45 Stories
Help us tell the story of AIA.
As part of our 45th anniversary celebration, we are collecting forty-five stories from the people who have shaped this community over the years: alumni, current and former families, educators, staff members, and students.
Perhaps your child attended years ago. Perhaps you remember a beloved teacher, an International Day celebration, a classroom moment, or a conversation with Dixie that stayed with you long after it ended.
The history of AIA is not found only in buildings or milestones. It lives in the memories, friendships, lessons, and experiences shared by the people who have been part of this community.
Throughout the year, we will feature these stories in our newsletter, on our website, and during anniversary celebrations.
We would love to hear yours.
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A Message From the Board
As we begin AIA’s 45th year, we find ourselves reflecting on the people who have made this community what it is today.
To our founder, Dixie Oliver, thank you. Forty-five years ago, you created a school rooted in respect for children, kindness, and a belief in what every child can become. Your vision continues to shape AIA every day, and we are grateful for the lasting impact you have had on generations of students and families.
To Sarah Prosser, welcome. We are grateful for your leadership, your commitment to Montessori education, and the care you have already shown for our community. We look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead.
To our faculty and staff, thank you for the dedication, patience, and encouragement you bring to children every day. The environment you create allows students to grow in confidence, independence, and character.
And to our families, thank you for placing your trust in AIA. We are honored to partner with you and grateful that you are part of this community.
As we celebrate 45 years of AIA Montessori, we look forward with gratitude for the foundation that brought us here and excitement for the future we will build together.
With appreciation,
The AIA Board of Directors
Amit Parkash · Polina Zlatev · Sarah Byrd
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Growing Outdoors
More room to learn under the trees.
A new outdoor learning space is taking shape beneath the trees on our Upper Campus.
Soon, students will have a place to gather for discussions, read quietly in the shade, work together on projects, explore nature, and enjoy learning beyond the walls of the classroom. Designed as a natural extension of the Montessori environment, the space will support curiosity, collaboration, reflection, and community.
While its primary purpose is to serve our students, it may also provide an inviting setting for occasional parent gatherings and community events when the seasons allow.
A rendering of our new outdoor learning space, currently in progress.
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A Fresh Look Online
A redesigned website and a new Family Hub.
Over the summer, we launched a completely redesigned AIA website, making it easier than ever for families to find information, explore programs, register for events, and stay connected to school life.
We also introduced our new Family Hub, a central place for many of the resources families use throughout the year. Extended Day registration, Pizza Friday, summer camp information, calendars, forms, newsletters, FAQs, and important links can now be found in one convenient location. After-school activities are coming soon.
The Family Hub will continue to grow throughout the year as we add new resources and make it even easier to find the information you need.
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Prepared for a New School Year
The environment speaks to every child.
Before students returned, our classrooms were already preparing to welcome them.
Shelves were carefully arranged. Materials were refreshed and organized. Learning spaces were thoughtfully prepared for the children who would soon fill them with curiosity, concentration, and discovery.
In Montessori education, the prepared environment is more than a classroom. It is an invitation. Every material has a purpose. Everything has a place. The space itself encourages independence, responsibility, and confidence.
All of that preparation says something to every child who walks in:
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You belong here.
Your work matters.
You are capable.
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This section will feature moments from across our campuses: children at work in the classroom, projects taking shape, discoveries outdoors, and the everyday moments that make school life so special.
Look closely and you may spot your own child in the middle of something wonderful.
Learning begins with connection. A Montessori guide supports children through observation, conversation, and carefully prepared lessons, helping each student build confidence, independence, and understanding at their own pace.
Learning together through exploration. Children build problem-solving skills, creativity, and social confidence as they explore materials, test ideas, and discover new possibilities alongside their classmates.
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A strong foundation starts early. In our Toddler community, children develop concentration, coordination, independence, and language through hands-on experiences designed for their stage of development.
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Pink Tower. Concentration, precision, and confidence in action. A Primary student works with one of Montessori’s most iconic materials.
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Watering the flowers. Children take pride in nurturing the spaces they share, developing responsibility, independence, and respect for the world around them.
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Volunteer Hours
Eight hours per family. A stronger community for everyone.
One of the things that makes AIA special is the willingness of families to contribute their time, talents, and energy to the life of the school.
As a nonprofit Montessori school, many of the events, celebrations, and community experiences our children enjoy are made possible by parent volunteers. From festivals and classroom support to special projects and campus events, volunteer involvement helps strengthen the community we share.
Each family contributes eight volunteer hours during the school year. Whether you enjoy helping behind the scenes, assisting at events, or sharing a special skill, there are many ways to get involved.
Thank you for helping make AIA the welcoming and connected community it is.
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Looking Ahead
Tue, Aug 11 Substitute information session with Mrs. Prosser, 9:00–10:00 a.m., Classroom 5, Lower Campus
Wed, Aug 19 Coffee and Chat with Mrs. Prosser, 9:00–10:00 a.m.
Ongoing Pizza Friday and Extended Day registration, open now in the Family Hub. After-school activities coming soon
This year 45th Anniversary celebrations and the “45 Years, 45 Stories” series
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Ask Your Child About...
“What was the first thing you chose to work on this week?”
In Montessori classrooms, children choose their own work. Asking what they chose, rather than what they were taught, often opens a much richer conversation, and tells you what captured their attention in these first few days.
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See you at school,
Sarah Prosser
Head of School, AIA Montessori
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