Montessori of the Epiphany

07/19/2023

To look at the world in wonder as children do…
…

01/16/2023

Today is the day I announced to our community that, after 30 years, we’ll be closing our children’s house at the end of May. It’s not easy to set aside work I so thoroughly enjoy… but truly, the time has come.

With heartfelt gratitude for all of the wonderful parents who understood what we were offering and shared their delightful children with us, I now release a joy as exalted as this evening’s beautiful clouds. May every child thrive and continue on your true path into the future!

With deepest thanks to CoDirector Glenda Sue Camp. We could never have done it without your wisdom, devotion, energy and sense of humor! And to our charter family, who have been our unfailing benefactors and friends, we are forever and profoundly grateful ❤️🙏🏼

05/24/2022

Every day IS a day to thank Maria Montessori for placing herself at the feet of the youngest children in order to discover how best to support their development. She says she began this work like a “peasant” and what she uncovered was “pure gold”.

Today we witnessed it all again at our spring feast: “The Great Feast” the children call it. They prepared it all themselves, and as they sat happily and reverently enjoying it for almost an hour, they blessed parents and grandparents with their sweetness, respectfulness and joy.

Every day is a day to thank Maria Montessori for her thoughts on human development, and interconnectedness of everyone and everything on this exceptional .

6 May is a special day to embrace this legacy: it is the day she died in 1952, in Noordwijk. On a warm and sunny day, in a holiday home overlooking her beloved sea she lay down in the afternoon for a nap, never to wake up.

Following her wishes to be buried “wherever” she died, the funeral services took place in this small seaside town of Noordwijk at 08:30 in the morning. A historical newspaper of 8 May 1952 reports that honouring the wishes of Maria Montessori the funeral was an unostentatious ceremony, attended only by family, co-workers and friends – As per Dr Montessori’s request no government officials had been invited to attend or speak. At the church the Gregorian Requiem Mass was sung by a local church choir. After mass and prayers Maria Montessori found her last resting place in the Catholic Cemetery of Noordwijk.

During tumultuous times, Maria wrote, ‘We look upon the child as the builder of a new world. We conceive him as a power who holds a secret of life, hitherto unknown. We strive to put aside the obstacles which hinder this treasure of the child’s soul from revealing itself. We do this not only in order to ensure the wellbeing of the , but to achieve a betterment of humanity in general, because these revelations can furnish a positive hope for a new world. We are deeply convinced that all children, whatever their background, wherever they live in the have something in common that can help unite the world.’ (1939, Monthly Letter February)

08/31/2020

Today is the 150th Birthday of Maria Montessori. She famously said, “I did not invent a method of education, I simply gave some little children the chance to live”.

We are profoundly grateful for her life and work. How many children and families continue to benefit all over the world!❤️

Maria Montessori was born on 31 August 1870 in the town of Chiaravalle, Italy. Her father, Alessandro, was an accountant in the civil service, and her mother, Renilde Stoppani, was well educated and had a passion for reading.The Montessori family moved to Rome in late 1874, and in 1876 the young Mar...

01/05/2020

January 6 is the Feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the honoring of the Child by the Magi (or Wise Ones). In 1907, this is the day Dr Maria Montessori opened the first Children’s House in Rome.

Happy 113th Birthday, Montessori!
The children still thrive, and find their joy and peace in your care. We are SO very grateful!❤️

07/01/2019

Our Children’s House is blessed to reside on eight acres of land - which we manage as a Certified Habitat for wildlife. The abundant rain this year has made our rich wildscape better than ever.

This morning a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher was spotted, catching insects. It’s a male, with a bright red patch under its wings. Hopefully it will stick around until the children’s return next month!!

05/26/2019

As teachers and parents, our children often initially respond to the invitation to learn or try something new with some version of “I won’t do it”. If we can see this as a first step to success, we will hang in there and coach them up the staircase.

Each time I am honored to encourage a child in climbing these steps, my spirit soars with theirs when they exclaim, “I did it!”

This is one of my favorite memes. It truly is one step at a time, but you have to climb those steps!