Welcome back!

Welcome to all new and returning students. We are nearly finished phasing in the new children and the casas are beginning to settle. This is an exciting but also sometimes overwhelming time for small children who are coming to school for the first time. Each Montessori parent remembers that first day they dropped their little person off at school. In Montessori, a child begins their journey right there on the threshold with literally their own two feet and it is up to parents to turn around and walk away with confidence. It seems counter-intuitive to say a quick goodbye and head out the door but that is in fact the best thing you can do for your child. Give them the information that you are secure in your choice and that you will be back at the end of the day. At first, there may be tears (on both sides of the door) and drop-offs in the first week can be quite dramatic so this is the reason for the phased in starts. For those of us who have been there, now is the time to lend support to families just starting out. Sometimes just an encouraging smile is enough to remind someone that they are not alone in this experience. I have been touched to see seasoned parents lending support each day at the top of the stairs and outside after school.

Our upper year children are providing good guidance for those smaller children, helping them put their things away or manage their lunch dishes. These incredibly confident and capable young people were once that little child standing in the doorway too and they seem to remember that while they have been called upon quite a bit to help out this week. In most cases, they have risen to the challenge with empathy and kindness.