It is once again time to celebrate and say goodbye to our wonderful graduates. The reality of the end of our time together begins to hit us in May and we realize that these very special little ones will never be quite as they are ever again. Already our graduates have begun to change right before our eyes. They are no longer the pudgy little preschoolers. They seem to be all arms and legs and they are also losing their teeth! It won't be long before their bodies catch up and they look like elementary school students.
We have known some of this year's graduates since they were babies. When they begin their Montessori journey with us at 2 1/2 or 3 years of age, it is hard to believe that they will become the children we see before us today. The majority of our students have the opportunity to be the youngest, middle and oldest children in the classroom. Everyone, even our little three year olds, are looking forward to the day when they will be one of the graduates. Our expectations for our graduates are high, and each year, they surpass them. They set the tone for the classrooms and all eyes are watching them. Thank you for being such wonderful role models for your fellow classmates.
Each year, our June newsletter contains individual tributes to each graduate. Here are photographs of our 2017 graduates, now and then, with excerpts from their tributes.
Our 2017 Graduates
Antonio
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| Antonio |
Antonio
is a very easy-going, happy and knowledgeable boy with a thirst for
knowledge. During his first year,
Antonio was in awe of the graduates. He
would sit with them and observe what they were doing. They knew so much! This year it is Antonio who has an entourage
of fellow classmates who think he knows everything. Antonio makes learning look effortless and is
continually challenging himself. He has
continued to amaze us with his wealth of knowledge on subjects such as
mountains, volcanoes, the countries of the various continents and the planets
and outer space. He always has something
interesting to say. His love for
learning is contagious. It was Antonio’s
enthusiasm that encouraged his classmates to embark on a study of the flags of
North America. Antonio is talented both
academically and artistically. We were
all very impressed when he brought in his drum set for a Show and Tell
Presentation. He is an amazing
drummer! Antonio cares deeply for his
classmates and feels a sense of responsibility towards them. He is a very good friend. He is always there if someone needs help in
the classroom. Outside in the
playground, he often makes sure that no one is on their own, inviting them to
join in the fun.
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| October 2015 - Antonio at the beginning of his first year. |
Freya
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| Freya |
As
the oldest girl in the half day class, she is looked up to by the other
girls. Whether they are choosing their
spots for snack time or deciding on which game to play outside, they will often
ask Freya. Freya is quite the talented
artist and has made many crafts and drawings for her teachers. Her drawings always show bright happy people
with big round faces and huge smiles.
She also loves writing stories at school, as illustrating them is always
her favourite part of the work. Usually
her stories revolve around her family.
Whether it is playing with her older sister, going to Wonderland
or going on trips to other countries, Freya loves telling us about her many
adventures. Freya is quite the
fashionable young girl and loves to show her friends a new shirt or dress she
is wearing, or a fancy necklace or watch she picked out. This year, Freya has become a keen reader and
her goal was to reach the “Choosing Books”.
Each time a teacher would give her a new reading book she would ask, “Is this a choosing book? How many more until I am on choosing books?” She would check the list at the back of the
reading book and count how many were left to read. It was a proud moment for Freya when her
teachers finally announced to the class that she had reached the choosing books!
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| October 2016 - Freya is on the far right. |
Isabella
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| Isabella |
Throughout
her time with us, we have seen a friendly, confident and helpful Isabella
emerge. She is very sensitive to the
needs of the youngest children and is often the first to befriend a child
visiting our school. One of our little
three year olds remembers Isabella’s kindness to her when she visited last
year. She always says that when she is a
graduate, she wants to be just like Isabella.
It isn’t just her younger classmates who are drawn to her. We have two little sisters who always look
for ‘Bella’ when they drop off or pick up their siblings. Isabella holds a
place of prominence at our school as she was the first student in our whole
school to turn six this year. Everyone
thinks Isabella is big! If you spend a
little time with Isabella, you will quickly discover that her nonno
(grandfather) means the world to her.
She is beside herself with happiness if he picks her up from
school. Isabella has been going to
Italian school, ‘asilo’, on Saturday mornings ever since we met her. She speaks Italian beautifully and has taught
Mrs. Pinto many things. Recently, she
gave a lovely presentation to her classmates, teaching them how to count to ten
and say the colours in Italian. We can’t
help thinking that teaching and being with little ones is in Isabella’s future.
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| November 2014 - Isabella working with Cards and Counters. |
Julian G.
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| Julian G. |
As
the oldest person in our half day class, Julian has earned a place of
prominence this year. He is often the
first person chosen for the birthday snack table, selected as a working partner
and looked up to by the younger students.
Julian is the first person to rush to help when someone drops a piece of
work or spills something on the floor.
Julian has been like an honorary big brother to everyone in the
class. He loves telling new children
about traditions we keep at our school.
For example, when you start as a 3 year old your shoes go on the bottom
shelf and each year you return your shoes will move up the shelves until you
finally reach the top shelf and you are a graduate. He has also reminded some of his friends
that, “Next year I will be in Grade One
and you have to take care of my sister and make sure she’s okay.” If you spend some time with Julian you will
quickly learn that he loves his family and loves talking about them. We hear about all the nonnas, nonnos, zios,
zias and of course his new baby cousin.
Julian really cherishes any time he has special days with his mom or
dad. Dad takes him and his brother fishing
and mom takes him to the park and McDonald’s.
Quite the gifted athlete, Julian takes karate, hockey and soccer lessons
and recently gave an enthusiastic presentation on the various karate skills that
he knows. He is also thrilled that his
dad is the coach on his new soccer team.
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| October 2014 - Julian (right) with his older brother, one of last year's graduates. |
Julian K.
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| Julian K. |
Julian
is a kind, gentle and compassionate boy.
He is a good friend to all of his classmates. During snack and lunch times, he often has an
entourage of classmates who want to sit with him. He is very thoughtful and makes it a point to
spend time with everyone. One of our 4 ½
year old girls wrote a story about Julian, writing “He is the big friend.” .
Watching Julian this year, it is clear that he was born to be a
graduate. We have seen him take our
younger students under his wing. He is
particularly sensitive to those who may be struggling. He has been patiently and gently guiding them
both in the classroom and out in the playground. Julian has always been the strong, silent
type, even as a young child. When you
get to know him a little better, you will discover that he has a very dry sense
of humour that keeps all of us laughing.
In the classroom, Julian is quiet, steady and dependable. Outside he is lively and energetic, often
running and daring his classmates to catch him.
They never do, but oh the fun they have trying!
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| September 2014 - Julian (right) with his big brother (June 2015 graduate). |
Lindsay
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| Lindsay |
We
have watched Lindsay grow up before our very eyes and have memories of her
learning to walk and talk. One Halloween, two year old Lindsay accompanied her
brother to school dressed up as a Disney princess. She marched right into the classroom as if
she belonged and sat herself down in the centre of the fun. When 2 ½ year old
Lindsay joined the half day class in January 2014, all of her classmates knew
her because she had been joining them out on the playground at pick up
time. She was so happy to be with her big brother! They were
fortunate to spend a year and a half together before her brother graduated. During the 2015 – 2016 school year, Lindsay
joined the full day class. It was a seamless
fit. As a graduate, Lindsay has
blossomed into a confident and poised girl who loves to learn. She is very gentle, kind and
compassionate. She is always ready to
help or comfort one of her classmates, particularly the younger children. Her classmates are drawn to her lovely nature
and she is everyone’s honorary big sister.
She is often chosen for the lunch table or a birthday table. Earlier in the year, one of her younger
classmates remarked “Lindsay is the best
girl in the whole school.” When
asked why she felt this way, she responded “Because
she is nice and always helps me.”
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| September 2014 - Lindsay with her big brother (June 2015 graduate) and friends. |
Sofia
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| Sofia |
Right
from the start, Sofia has been an exuberant girl with a wonderful enthusiasm
and zest for life. It is present in
everything that she does. At school, her
classmates are drawn to her fun-loving personality and she is usually at the
centre of our classroom happenings. She has relished her role
as a graduate and we have seen blossoming leadership qualities in her this
year. She is always ready to lend a hand to her younger
classmates. All of the girls want to
work with Sofia or sit with her. Throughout her time with us, Sofia has
demonstrated that she is a natural born performer. She has a flair for dancing, singing and
performing. Perhaps we will see her on
the stage one day. In the classroom, she
often sings the latest songs as she works, or dances as she moves from one
place to another. She has amazing dance
moves! Sofia is also always ready to
strike a pose for the camera. During our
Friday music classes, Mrs. Lepik often depends on Sofia to lead the songs and
demonstrate the accompanying actions.
Outside on the playground, Sofia will often gather the girls and plan
singing and dancing concerts for the teachers.
Her friends really love this. In
addition to her creative strengths, Sofia is a very skilled hockey player. She loves playing hockey, particularly
because her older sister also plays.
What a coincidence that Sofia and her dad share the same favourite
hockey team, the Philadelphia Flyers.
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| October 2014 - Sofia during Music class. |
Oh, the places you'll go!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
~ Dr. Seuss
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| Congratulations Graduates |
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| You Made It! |
