Holiday Traditions and More!

We are right in the middle of a season full of traditions. Things kicked off with Thanksgiving and its traditions of turkey and stuffing and taking time to be thankful. We moved quickly (too quickly) to holidays, celebrations, and traditions from various faiths. And, not to be forgotten, New Year’s has its own traditions of late night celebrations, resolutions, and football!

We are also in the midst of another tradition you don’t want to miss -- the tradition of a Montessori education. It was on January 6, 1907 that the first Montessori classroom was established in Rome. Since then, children all over the world have been growing and learning in classrooms that look remarkably similar. They have the same traditions of independent learning, following the child, and focus on growth. Today’s classrooms contain the same traditional Montessori educational work such as the pink tower, the moveable alphabet, and the decimal system.

In a society that seems to change educational approaches every few years (No Child Left Behind, Common Core, etc.), it is nice to know children at Webster Montessori School are benefiting from an approach that has been in place more than 100 years. This is an approach that has stood the test of time, benefited generations of children, and stands on a history of repeated successes. 

This is a tradition worth celebrating!

Wowza!

Wowza, it’s already November! That’s what I’ve been thinking lately. In fact, I even said something like that when visiting some of our Toddler friends during lunch.

"Wowza," I said. "Your lunch looks yummy." They sure thought that was funny; each tiny voice repeating wowza, wowza and giggling.

But seriously, I just can’t believe we are here already. Certainly, we have had a great few months. The children have all settled so nicely into the routines of the school. Our teachers report classrooms full of wonderful students who have beautifully adapted to the classroom and love to learn.

We have had a number of parent education events, social events, and fundraisers. We have a new website and have recently unveiled our new logo. The WMS community is busy!

Take a few minutes to connect with us. Visit our website often, like us on Facebook, attend an event, or schedule a classroom observation. If you thought the last few months flew by, imagine what the next few will be like. Wowza!

I'm grateful; so I give

It may seem counter-intuitive to you that I make a gift to Webster Montessori School when I also pay tuition.  It’s not that the cost of tuition has no financial impact– it does; especially for two kids, year after year.  It adds up.

But on the other side of the equation is something far greater – the opportunity for my children to be someplace wonderful.  

This school means more to me than I think any of the staff realize.  What started as a one-year emergency plan has grown into a three year commitment.  The school helped us through a difficult transition in our family.  Teachers listened to our concerns and watched our kids for signs of distress.  Office staff eased us through the routine.  Parents were friendly and welcoming.

I am grateful that Webster Montessori School is a place where my kids feel happy and secure.  I entrust them to the school each day without a single concern for their well-being.  I know they are in an environment where they are free to lose themselves in learning.

When I think of all I receive, it is evident that tuition is the least possible payment I can make.  So it is with gratitude that I make an annual gift to Webster Montessori School, because what they do for me is priceless.   

Acorn Poem

If you take an acorn, that’s fallen from its cup,

And plant it in the garden, and never dig it up,

The sun and rain will change it, into a great big tree,

With lots of acorns on it, some for you and some for me!

I love this short poem about fall but probably not for any reason you would expect.  Yes, it’s a charming little story and yes, one I’ve actually managed to retain in memory.  But mostly, I love this poem for what it means to my family.  Each of my three children learned it while students here at Webster Montessori School.

I’ll never forget when my oldest, who was probably three at the time, could be heard from her car seat in the back of the van, quietly reciting these words and acting out the motion of planting acorns.  I was shocked at how confidently she knew the words and even more surprised because I’d never heard the poem and certainly hadn’t taught it to her.  Truly, it was one of the first things she learned that I wasn’t somehow a part of.  I loved how proud she was of her accomplishment.  My other two children eventually learned the same poem in the same way and were also so proud to join in reciting it with their siblings.

Fast forward 10 years and this poem is, amazingly, still a part of our family.  Just last week as we sat down to dinner one of the kids admired my attempt at decorating for fall with a huge glass vase filled with acorns.  I was delighted when all three of them immediately and spontaneously began their recitation of this acorn poem. 

Webster Montessori School has given my children many things.  Not just a strong foundation for their future learning but skills, knowledge, and confidence.  And, most importantly, joyous memories including poems about acorns.  That is truly a gift to us.

In a Word. . . Abundance!

It wasn’t too long ago that I saw the morning forecast for Rochester.  Scrolling across my television screen was the prediction for “abundant sunshine”.  Wow, what a great day to look forward to.  And, I thought what a great word… abundant.  Frankly, this is not something I say in regular conversation.  Being an active user of Google, I sought to determine what that word was all about. 

It means to be plentiful and overflowing and profuse and bountiful.  I like it!  It caused me to think about what might be abundant in my life.  It was a pretty intriguing concept.

And, of course, I thought some about what might be abundant here at Webster Montessori School.  We are now a few weeks into the school year.  It has been my pleasure to meet so many new families and children and welcome back good friends.  I am happy to report we are a community with many things in abundance.

I have seen abundant joy on the faces of the children.  I have found abundant opportunity in each classroom.  I discovered there is abundant learning available to each child.  I appreciate abundant friendships being strengthened each day.  I predict a year of abundance in our community.

Yes, I like this word.  Join me in celebrating all we have!

Back to School & Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Wait you say. It’s not January, it’s September. Before you begin to worry that one too many days in the sun this summer has left me confused, let me tell you what I mean.

September and “Back to School” is a busy time for families and a time that I think children and parents view very differently.

For parents, September might come with a sigh of relief. It is a return to a more predictable, scheduled routine. For parents, September might not feel like such a significant new start; it’s just another month with work to be done, errands to run, and tasks to complete.

As a child, this feels more like New Year's than January does. This is when things begin anew. They are getting new shoes, new clothes, and maybe a new backpack. This is when they might have a new room, a new teacher, and meet new friends. For children, this is a fresh beginning, the time to start new habits, a time of significant change. Children experience January as a return to the same routine, classroom, teacher, and friends they left just a week or two earlier. September is their New Year.

Keeping these different perspectives in mind will help you navigate the next few weeks. Celebrate the excitement of a fresh start with your child. Enjoy their anticipation of new things to learn and the goals they have in mind for themselves. Also be aware that a new start can cause anxiety for many children. Be patient as they adjust to new routines and more structured days.

As a school, we are very much in tune with your children. Keep the lines of communication open as we build a strong support system for them.

And, let’s join together in saying Happy New Year!!