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Dear Montessori Families: This years’ over-arching theme is “Everything is connected…(to everything else!).” We’re expanding on our school’s motto from the great naturalist John Muir: “Whenever we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” (Have you noticed it on our front porch?) One of the ways we are all connected is through families and friends. “From sea to shining sea,’ and beyond, we have members of our families and friends about whom we care. It is good practice to take time to talk about those connections with our children, to honor and cherish these relationships, and teach our children to care about them and to nurture them. (Note: I believe we have gone past the notion of “six degrees of separation” to something more like two or three degrees!) Media attention is being returned to “9/11” [“10th Anniversary] and our younger children have no memory of that time in our country’s history--yet they’ll be exposed to conversation and media that revisit that terrifying experience. Especially now, we need to be sensitive to our children’s need for comfort and support in managing what they may feel, but cannot possibly comprehend. For this reason we are asking families to do the homework with your children about “Family Tree” and if possible, have local grandparents to visit us on Monday for our Grandparents’ Day Celebration. A gathering of loved ones and a celebration of the longevity of our loves and friendships can be very reassuring in times like these. Please have your child bring the homework in on Monday. At Montessori Children’s House we have a traditional song that celebrates family. The song lyrics follow. Ask your children to teach it to you. (It has an “echo” part in the middle): I celebrate my family, people close
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