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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesAPPRECIATION FOR THE MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE

APPRECIATION FOR THE MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE

Dear Source:
I have to share my morning with you, knowing that it is National Montessori Week this week.
Some days simply start out stressful, and this morning was no exception.
My five-year-old was dragging his feet getting ready for school. I left with my 10-year-old, Skye, so she wouldn't be late, and returned home to get William. We were a good 45 minutes late by the time we got back to Montessori. All the classrooms were deserted and we realized the students and staff were up in the music room in assembly. As the two of us walked up the hill, we heard the principal, Shournagh McWeeney, announcing that they would sing the school song next. A lovely chorus of predominantly children's voices arose and William and I joined in with the wonderful words as we walked in. He went off happily singing and sat down with his classmates. I left, still listening to all these beautiful children singing these universal words, and it brought tears to my eyes, as I felt the morning's frustrations fade away. There really is a little corner of the Virgin Islands where children are setting an example for the rest of us. The words to this song, which sums up the Montessori experience, go like this:
"Let's Join Hands"
VI Montessori School
Is the nicest place to be
On the island of St. Thomas
In the Caribbean Sea
Where we learn to love our planet
And all it's people too,
And to share the earth with everything
That lives, like me and you.
Let's join hands and sing together
Let's all live in harmony.
If we put our hearts together
We will have a land that's free.
If we all could make our minds up
That we want a better life,
Then we'll work at keeping this earth free
From sadness and from strife.
Put your arms around each other
Then you'll always have a friend.
If we'd just respect each other
We'd have happiness no end.
If we'd live in peace together
Then our dreams could all come true.
We would some day have a finer world
With joy for me and you.
I am so happy that my children are in the environment they are in. They truly lend dignity to the human race.
Corinne Van Rensselaer

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