News

As the end of the first semester nears, some parents may already be thinking about their child’s next school year, especially if he/she is at the end of a three-year cycle. As a Montessori teacher and the parent of two Montessori children, I want to share my perspective about the benefits of staying at Springmont, most of which comes directly from reflections my boys, their friends and former students have shared with me.  

Earlier this fall, I was delighted to receive a message from a former student preparing to begin college. He had moved to Mexico and then Belgium with his family and is now enrolled in his dream school, Imperial College in London, where he will study electrical engineering. He wrote to thank me for helping him find his path. He remembered making a poster of the Periodic Table of the Elements; I still have it!  He also recalled “playing with the Montessori math toys.” He wrote, “I really think that Montessori is where I discovered my passion for Math and Science.” After wiping away happy tears, I realized that this boy was given one of the greatest gifts offered to Montessori children - the chance to explore and develop a sense of who they are and who they want to become.

Eight of my former students, now young adults, graduated from high school this year, and many of them have reached out to me to share excitement about their next stage of learning. Many are still connected with each other, which speaks to the strengths of the relationships that develop at Springmont, thanks in part to the three-year cycles. These are benefits unique to a Montessori education!  I know because when my boys went off to high school, I often heard from other parents who marveled at their uncommon ability and desire to talk with adults. My older son had a girlfriend who said she was uncomfortable talking with adults, and my younger son’s teachers remarked on how he forged relationships with them simply by treating them as people.  At Springmont, we sometimes take the development of these important interpersonal skills for granted.
Springmont teachers get to know their students deeply and over three years have time to build trust and coach children about building relationships with each other. Students learn to negotiate, collaborate and genuinely appreciate the uniqueness of each of their classmates. Students observe their peers learning new things and share in their ‘growing up.’ In a recent birthday circle, one of my students remarked that the celebrant had grown in resilience. Another child asked what that meant and was told that the birthday girl had gotten much better at ‘letting go of upsets’ which truly is one of her biggest areas of growth.  Seeing that skill as valuable and being able to articulate it kindly shows remarkable empathy and maturity for a third-grader!

As my students go on to Upper Elementary and Middle School, it’s delightful to watch them become even more distinctly who they are, discovering their interests and passions and who they are as learners. They are ready to take on more responsibility, and with teachers as their guides, explore relationships and learning on a deeper level. When my oldest left Springmont for high school, he was shocked to hear his peers spending so much time talking about sex and drugs. He thanked me for keeping him in the small, safe space of our Middle School.  As I watch our current Middle School students move around campus, I am impressed with the kindness they exhibit toward each other and the younger children.  Unfortunately, this is novel in a world that asks kids to grow up too fast!

In addition to these soft skills so important to 21st-century success and happiness, Springmont students are getting an excellent academic preparation!  Make sure to come see for yourself at Academic Fair on December 10!