As we were brainstorming blog ideas recently, I was stumped for what to write about this week. In fundraising and marketing, it is often said that when you aren’t sure what to talk about, the best thing to do is reconnect with the mission and remember the “why”. Why our mission? Why this school? Why Montessori?

There are many reasons why a parent might choose a Montessori education, especially at St. Paul’s, for their child. Maybe your child thrives in a more open environment, or prefers a more hands-on learning opportunity. Perhaps you and your child were drawn to our music program or the focus on outdoor learning and nature-based play. Or maybe it was just the general welcoming feeling that you received from the teachers, staff, and other parents when you came for your first visit. Whatever your reason for choosing St. Paul’s, we are grateful for everything you do to help build our community and we know that there are many things to love about our school.

Sometimes, though, it’s what you don’t see right away or can’t find in a marketing brochure that is the most important. I decided to take a walk around the school to reconnect with all those “whys” and to remember just how important our mission here really is and why Montessori is a critical part of our futures. While I walked through, I saw toddlers on the playground each taking a turn on the slide, not because a teacher was standing next them telling them to do so but because they wanted each friend to have a turn. The fairness was built into their play.

In one of the primary classrooms, a child was crying over an upset and her teacher gave her a hug, reassuring her that everything was okay and that her teacher and friends were there for her to help her feel better. The student chose to take a few minutes in the peace area to breathe, recenter, and calm down. When she was ready to start working again, she did so.

Walking over to elementary took me outside, past the primary playground and across the parking lot. I passed the tree that Upper Elementary students just planted for Peace Day and the many other plants that make up their garden. Inside Lower Elementary, I was quickly approached to look at several projects and take a tour of the classroom. The students were confident and proud of their work and everyone had contributed something to the classroom. In Upper Elementary, I watched the students work together to prepare for lunch, with each child taking on a different task, working together for the common good. Ms. Macleay didn’t have to tell them what to do, they were willing and eager to work together within their community.

There are many reasons to choose Montessori and every family’s reason is unique. The most important reason that I can see has nothing to do with academic achievement, however, and everything to do with who we want our children to be and how we want them to treat themselves and one another. Montessori encourages grace, courtesy, and kindness, something we could all do with more of in our lives.