Camp Pegnita: Banzai!

Camp Pegnita is officially over for the summer, with many VdM students extending their summer camp experience throught Camp Lite for the remaining weeks. But we couldn't let another day go by without highlighting Camp Pegnita's main event: Banzai! Banzai (or what's known at Camp Pegnita as Bonsai) celebrates the oldest running camp tradition, and refers to the traditional Japanese toast wishing 10,000 years of life and happiness. By far the favorite and most popular of Camp Pegnita's events, children from the community and school often sign up just for this one day. It's certainly a fun (and messy) one, and this year was no exception!The big event starts in the afternoon, mostly to keep all sorts of food out of the swimming pool! Children gather around the Magic Circle, where they are directed to close their eyes while camp counselors hide all around Villa's campus. The object of the game: to find and collect all seven colors of rubber bands from the various hidden counselors, all while avoiding getting hit with a sock full of flour by the "Temple Guards," five of the fastest, scariest, rowdiest counselors who chase the squealing children.Once children have been tagged, they must head back to the Magic Circle, where all sorts of goodies are poured onto their heads, backs, and shoulders.As you can imagine, many of these treats must be sampled!Once a child has found all seven hidden counselors and each corresponding rubber band, he or she reports to the Camp Director (our very own Megan Eilers) to receive the last clue. Whoever finds the hidden flag first wins Banzai!Somewhere along the way, children are hosed off, which is a big part of the fun:The whole campus smelled like the inside of an ice cream shop by the end of the hour!

Above: the hidden flag...

... found after many attempts, by a determined and driven former Villa student! Congratulations, Beacan!

And thank you to all the counselors, the runners and the pourers, the hiders and the planners. Without you, none of this would be possible!... and thank you to the trusty megaphone, of course! Until next summer!

The Great American Eclipse is Coming- Are You Ready?

photo credit: Space.com

The Great American Eclipse is coming Monday, August 21st, and St. Louis happens to be in the path for perfect viewing of the rare event, finding itself smack in the middle of the "totality band." The event will take place (depending on where you are in the St. Louis area) between approximately 1:15pm and 1:20pm, and will last about 1.5 minutes. This is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a chance to inspire awe in the universe in our children. We've compiled a few tips on viewing the eclipse below.  Above: Map showing the path of total eclipse (photo credit: GreatAmericanEclipse.com)

Part of what makes this eclipse significant is that for the first time in American history, a total solar eclipse (where the moon will completely obscure the sun from view) will only be seen in the United States. Also of note: it is the first total solar eclipse since 1918 to move from coast to coast. Many of us may have observed partial solar eclipses, but be sure -these are a completely different experience. This one is not to be missed.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the ground. Normally, the moon reflects sunbeams off its surface, which is why darkness during a total solar eclipse is like nothing you’ve experienced before. The reflected light will disappear and all other light is blocked out. Because of this, the temperature will drop 10 - 15 degrees quite suddenly, and the sky will appear nighttime-dark (stars will be visible, but it will not be pitch black). Many scientists believe that animals will react to this event as well. Be sure to use all your senses during the eclipse; it may become eerily quiet as birds and insects fall quiet.

To understand the specialness of this day, it is important to reflect upon the universe and its ever-expanding nature:

"The moon wasn’t always where it is now, which makes the coincidence even more special. The moon has really just arrived at the 'sweet spot.' It’s been departing from us ever since its creation four billion years ago, after we were whacked by a Mars-size body that sent white-hot debris arcing into the sky. Spiraling away at the rate of one and a half inches per year, the moon is only now at the correct distance from our planet to make total solar eclipses possible. In just another few hundred million years, total solar eclipses will be over forever." -Wired

So how can you be sure that you and your family are prepared to view this phenomenal event? One important way to prepare for the eclipse is to be sure to have eclipse glasses on hand. They will protect eyes from the damage that could occur from viewing the sun just before and after the total eclipse, and can be bought on Amazon, or at the Science Center (while supplies last).  Just be sure that they are ISO and CE certified. Explain the importance of wearing the glasses to your children beforehand. It is safe to remove eclipse glasses once the sun is completely obscured, but everyone should put them back on once a sliver of sunlight is again visible.

One way to build anticipation with children is to check NASA's official event site, where they will show an eclipse live stream. This will allow for viewing the world’s first live-stream of a total solar eclipse from near-space! There will be many visitors arriving in St. Louis and the surrounding area, so plan out your day in advance, being sure to leave plenty of travel time if you are planning to drive anywhere.

photo credit: HULTON-DEUTSCH COLLECTION/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES

To find the perfect spot, can enter your location (even your address) at www.stlouiseclipse2017.org to determine best totality viewing sites. And be sure to check out this site for a great list of activities celebrating the event. Let's hope for clear skies on the 21st!

A Tribute to Dr. Annette Haines

It is with great sadness that we share the death of Dr. Annette Haines, director of the Montessori Training Center since 1989 and advocate for children everywhere. Dr. Haines personally trained hundreds of Montessori Guides from all over the world, including all of the Primary Directresses at Villa di Maria. After a month-long battle with cancer, Dr. Haines left this world in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 22nd surrounded by her loving family.Laura Ceretti-Michelman, Head of VdM, expresses:"There are no words to express the sadness that I (and many, many others) feel. Dr. Haines has done so much for so many of us and for the Montessori community around the world. Annette was an impressive woman of substance. She was strong, fiercely intelligent, endlessly curious, witty and fun. She also dedicated so much of her life working tirelessly to train teachers, mentor trainers in training, support AMI and to bring more high-quality Montessori to the world. David Kahn, a Montessori legend in his own right referred to Dr. Haines as a 'Montessori Goddess.' I think he was right. Dr. Haines will be sorely missed but I know that Robyn and Lakshmi will work alongside Dr. Haines' husband, Lew, to do all they can to ensure that Dr. Haines’ legacy is preserved and to ensure that her vision of Montessori in St. Louis (and maybe around the world) is realized."Dr. Haines was loved by so many, who describe her as uplifting, inspiring, and captivating, with a marvelous mind. She had a passion for Montessori, but also expressed interest in conservation of natural resources, children, and animals (and horses in particular, as she and her husband Lewis owned and managed Red Fox Paso Finos, where they bred, trained and showed Paso Fino horses since 1995).The outpouring of love for Haines was evident at her viewing and funeral, which took place last weekend. Of the Villa di Maria staff, many wanted to share memories and thoughts of their late mentor and friend.Rebecca Callander, Upper Elementary Directress:"Seventeen years ago, before I had chosen to take the path of Montessori, and feeling decidedly unclear on whether or not I should pursue Elementary Education, I sat in a theory lecture by Dr. Haines on Freedom and Discipline, when the training center was at CMS.  I had observed a lower elementary room for several hours and, while moved by the experience, was also a little skeptical because it seemed a little too good to be true, a little too crunchy. 

Upon hearing my reservations, Anita Chastain recommended that I sit in on a lecture by Dr. Haines to see the deeper side of Montessori. And, boy was it deep. I was so taken by Dr. Haines' intellect, clarity of vision, and commitment to the theory and pedagogy of Montessori--what I had been concerned was missing. I left the lecture feeling electrified and clear that Montessori was the way, not only for me, but for all children.  

I will forever cherish the memories of her hosting the first seven of our new Upper Elementary class at her farm in 2012.  She took us all around and photographed each child sitting so proudly on their horses. Indeed, she wanted one of them, Lorenzo, to come back again so he could care for her barn cats!  

And finally, I was honored to work with her on the Pearl Gallery project. During openings, I was in awe of Annette's ability to engage with the art crowd - always asking questions of artists, offering reflections - she possessed a seemingly insatiable curiosity for culture, artwork, and beauty. Her commitment to the intersection of art and life and Montessori was palpable. 

These are my reflections- her passing is such sad news and will be felt deeply by Villa and all in the Montessori community. She filled a space in our collective Montessori hearts that cannot be replaced.  Indeed, she resonated with so many of us.  We are so fortunate to have had Dr. Haines be such a strong part of Villa di Maria’s legacy and of her friendship with our school.  So many lives touched and transformed by Dr. Haines."                           Cristina Kerr, Primary Assistant:"The impact that Dr. Haines had over my life is pretty big. She is the reason I returned to the US to finish the training...I could not have imagined changing training centers and learning under another trainer, it was out of the question. Her brilliance and wisdom got under my skin so deeply that nothing could have shaken it off me. I had to return to continue with her, no matter how many barriers there were in the way -and there were many. Oh but it was so worth it...She just was the best. When I found out I could not return to continue the training with her,  she was very supportive and encouraged me not to give up my dream."

 Heather Steinman, Primary Directress:

"To me, Dr. Haines was larger than life. The first time I met her I was working as an assistant in Robyn's classroom. There was an AMI consultation that year at Villa and Dr. Haines was the consultant. I was new to the job and knew very little as to what I was doing. On the day of the consultation, Dr. Haines flowed in and out of our room a few times to observe. Each time I tried to make sure everything looked "just right" and that all of the children were busy, things were clean, etc. At one point, as I flitted around the room nervously, I felt a presence approaching behind me and then a soft, stern voice say in my ear..."sit down." I didn't even turn around, I sat down in the next chair I could find and I have been sitting ever since. With two words she taught me one of the most important things I've ever learned in the world of Montessori. While I would come to learn the how and why of it over the years I still hear her voice telling me to sit when I am in the children's way. 

I am grateful for that. And so many other lessons that she taught me.

The finality of knowing that she is gone has been hard to reckon with but I realized today as all of her trainees stood up at her funeral that she is not gone at all. And she never will be. She is indeed larger than life, and I feel so honored to be a part of keeping her here on earth for others to experience through my work with children and their families."   

Maria Burr, Development Director:

"Annette had such a tremendous impact on my life. She was a great friend, mentor, and my guiding light. She was such a gift to this world, and I am deeply grateful for the time I had to get to know her. Annette was such an inspiration to so many people, but, I find comfort in knowing that her work will carry on exponentially around the world."

Robyn Milos, former Primary Directress and Director of Education:

"I have so many memorable moments of the past 18 years that I have had Dr. Annette Haines as my mentor and friend. When asked to share one now, I realize I must set aside my own need for privacy to share an intimate and personal but most impactful memory with you.

 When I was in the first summer of my Primary Montessori teacher training, I was a young mother of two young boys. I was well into the course when suddenly, my personal life fell apart in an instant. Having been up all night and in tears every minute of that night, I found myself at a complete loss for what to do. I did the only thing I knew, I got dressed, drove across the river, and went to training. As I entered the building and was greeted by Dr. Haines, she invited me into her office to see if I was alright. After listening to my story, sharing her confident words of wisdom-which included ‘get a position in a Montessori classroom right away’, she looked at my swollen eyes and said this “Now, let’s go and do some Sound Boxes.”

We stood up together and walked, head-held-high, into a full room of eager learners and she presented a lesson on Sound Boxes (a sensorial material that aids in refinement of the auditory sense). I tightened my boot straps and held my strength with Montessori as my spine, holding me upright. I focused on the purposeful work of Montessori and within, found all the things I needed.

In this time of tremendous loss, Dr. Haines’ true intellect has been revealed. The stories being shared, world-wide, of how she changed the lives of so many are nothing short of astonishing. Her gift of being able to cast a light for each one of them, to show them just what they needed and nothing more, changed their lives.

In my life, I have used that sentiment of wisdom many times to help others when they needed a light cast on their inner strength. As we mourn the loss of Dr. Annette Haines, a true Montessori Giant, I know exactly what she would say to us. “Now, let’s go do some Sound Boxes.”                  

In an interview she conducted with Baan Dek Montessori, Dr. Haines shares her favorite Montessori quote:

"My favorite quote comes from a little pamphlet called “Peace and Education.” In it she talks about how our age represents a time of crisis…a period of passage from one era to another comparable only to the opening of a new biological or geological period in which new conditions of life will be realized which have never existed before. The natural boundaries of mountains, deserts and seas no longer limit man, “now that he can fly over them.” (1975, p. 30) In this new age, she says, “laws and treaties” will not be enough; the limits will have to come from within.  For this, we need a fundamental change in education, for —

“the child who has never learned to act alone, to direct his own actions, to govern his own will, grows into an adult who is easily led and must lean upon others. (1975, p. 23.)”

She also shared her favorites from the 1946 Lectures:

"Just imagine what a society would be like that was quiet, a society without movement. Think what would happen if all men stopped moving – if only for one week. What would happen? Everyone would die. It is not a question of social life, but of work. It is not a question of individual gymnastics. If the whole society of men all over the world made nothing but uncoordinated, jerky movements they would die in a short time. All their energies would be consumed for nothing.

Society is a complex arrangement of individuals, each of whom moves differently from the other. Keep in mind the construction of the world – each organism moves to suit its own purpose. Imagine what it would be like if all the plants stopped moving. There would be no more fruit or flowers – there would be too much poisonous gas in the air. If everything stopped – if the birds remained motionless in the trees or if the insects fluttered to the ground and remained still, if the wild beasts did not move through the jungle or if the fish stopped swimming in the water – what a terrible world it would be. 

Immobilization is impossible. Nature gives a useful purpose to each animal. This is the philosophy of movement: all life is movement. Each organism has its own movement for its own purpose. The creation of the world is a harmony of all these purposeful movements."

She will be greatly missed, but we are certain that her legacy will carry on through those she inspired, trained, and touched.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the scholarship fund at the Montessori Training Center of St. Louis, for children to attend the Montessori Lab School of St. Louis.

A Glimpse into Camp Pegnita

We're more than halfway through summer break, and the fun at Camp Pegnita is going strong! The swimming, the games, the songs, the friends - check out what these kids have been up to below. The Elementary building is the place to be in the morning! Every day during drop-off, friends gather in the shade and pack like sardines onto the porch swing that faces Magic Circle. Catching up and socializing first thing in the morning is a favorite way to start the day.Perhaps the favorite part of most campers' day: swim time! Children receive group swim lessons, honing their kicking skills on the wall, practicing swimming the length of the pool, and trying to pass the deep water swim test (which requires that swimmers be strong enough to tread water for at least one minute). But don't worry; those who don't pass still have a blast in the shallow area of the pool, where they can touch the bottom of the pool easily!The new and improved space surrounding the pool has made all the difference in the world! There are more tables with umbrellas for shade, benches, more deck space, and most important, the pool house, which offers changing rooms and restrooms right next to the pool. How did we survive without it?The school grounds are looking beautiful. Those flowers the Villa di Maria Primary children planted on Earth Day are going strong! Many are quite tall now, and the gardens are bursting with color. Look at how tiny these pink zinnias used to be only three months ago!In addition to all the fun and games, campers practice their archery skills daily. This is a favorite, which they take quite seriously. There is, after all, the "Golden Arrow" award to try for!The friendly camp counselors are always quick to wave hello. Many of them were once Pegnita campers years ago!Let us not forget that Camp Pegnita is celebrating 70 years of summer fun. Though the campus has grown and changed, many of the traditions have remained the same, and it is wonderful to see parents, who were once campers themselves, dropping off their children to experience the same fun they remember having as kids. What a fantastic place to make memories!Check back in next week for a glimpse into Montessori Mornings to see our youngest campers learning, socializing, working, and enjoying themselves within the Montessori Primary Classroom.

Field Day 2017

The morning after Villa di Maria's spectacular Spring Concert, the tired but happy staff, students, and parent volunteers gathered at Kirkwood Middle School's lush green fields to partake in our annual Field Day celebration. The weather could not have been more beautiful! Get ready for lots of photos of all the fun below!

School spirit at its finest

Half the gang...

... and the other half!

In the week leading up to Field Day, the Directresses, Guides, and students all worked to create their own team t-shirts in cheerfully bright team colors. They were proud to show off their hard work!

Villa's Field Day is only possible with the help of many parent volunteers, who took time off of work and busy schedules to run various stations and keep the games running smoothly. Above, the blue team (from Primary) listens to instructions on how to soak a sponge, run it to a bucket, and fill the bucket with rung-out water, relay-style.

Patiently waiting their turns

There was Giant Jenga, an outdoor favorite that makes its appearance at many Villa di Maria events. Part of the fun is the danger in that tall tower toppling over! Don't worry; these kids are fast!There were events to make kids dizzy...... and others to get them wet, perfect for a hot day!

Flag Tag

And of course, there was plenty of goofing around!

Future VdM-er, taking notes and looking adorable, as always

One of the favorite stations was the water balloon launch, where children sent water balloons soaring into the outstretched hands of their peers!

Ready to catch

The parents took turns, too!

But perhaps the overall favorite, where the most laughter was heard, was tug-of-war:Thank you, Villa di Maria parent volunteers and staff, for an amazing last day of school, and thank you to all the dads who fed these hungry mouths at the Dad's BBQ at VdM afterward! We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Jam Buns: A Summer Baking Adventure

With summer in full swing, the students and staff at Villa di Maria are up to all sorts of adventures! We're peeking in on some of our families to see what they've been up to. Today, Upper Elementary Directress Rebecca Callander shares what her son Winston has been up to (hint: it involves sticky fingers and small victories).Rebecca is full of good ideas, like the violet jelly she encouraged her students to make earlier this spring! Her son Winston has clearly inherited the make-it gene. He came up with the idea for jam buns and planned, prepped, and executed most of the task on his own!He made good use of his family's raspberry-blackberry jam (homemade, of course).The recipe came from Julia Turshen's cookbook, Small Victories. Look at these beautiful photos from the book!

The book also includes many variations of the jam bun, including cinnamon rolls, garlic buns, herb-goat cheese buns, monkey bread, salami bread, or buttery dinner rolls. Are you hungry yet?

The finished product:

Amazing job, Winston! They look delicious!

You can listen to an interview with author Julia Turshen, who talks about taking some of the stress out of home cooking, here on NPR. Thank you, Rebecca and Winston, for sharing a piece of your summer with us!

Spring Concert 2017

This year's Spring Concert was a fantastic production! Every year, parents are treated to songs, dance, music, and drama from the smallest children on up to the sixth-year graduating class. It is always such a treat, and this production was no exception. The Primary students gathered with their specific classes just before the show, all dressed up in their finest spring attire!The Lower and Upper Elementary children and staff met in separate classrooms to prepare for their performances. Here, the Lower Elementary children put on costumes chosen by the "costume crew" in the weeks leading up to the show. All preparations, including set design, costumes, dialogue, music, (and in the case of the Upper Elementary, lyric research and memorization and dance choreography) was conducted from start to finish by the students themselves.

Suspender application

Success!

Waiting so very patiently!

The Extended Day Primary students started the show with the Proclaimers' 500 Miles; Count on Me, by Bruno Mars; and The Way I Am, by Ingrid Michaelson. The rest of Primary joined in to sing This is My School, What's a Friend For?, Simple Gifts, Everyone Makes Mistakes, It's a Small World, and I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing. Nathan Jatcko accompanied the children on piano.

A necessary piece of keeping it all together? The Directresses and Guides on the sidelines, who deserve a big round of applause for their behind-the-scenes work on helping the children memorize all the lyrics to these songs!

Next up, the Lower Elementary, who put on a play about the Titanic, which covered class differences, dancing, a bit of history, and plenty of humor (also, dancing! There was dancing!):

And last but not least, the Upper Elementary, who presented on the graduating class, adding personal touches for each of the nine graduates:Some of the sixth-years got the audience moving (and laughing) with their rendition of Weird Al Yankovic's "Word Crimes," a parody of the 2013 single "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke. The song spoofs misuse of proper English grammar and usage.The Upper Elementary also performed Medley of Farmer Refuted and You'll be Back, I've Been Everywhere, and Four Chords. Luke, Ben, Seth, Matthew, Liam, Daisy, Dominic, Emily, Marguerite, and Bella also did percussion throughout the performances, while Ben also did bass; Kamryn, Cameron, Katelyn, Elle, and Chase played piano; Joe and Ella played guitar; Klaus, Julia, and Kaylee played violin; and Lia played flute. What a musical group of kids!The whole show was a memorable, fantastic, tear-jerker of a night. Thank you to all the students and staff who made it all come together!

Happy Last Day of School!

Today is the last day of school here at Villa di Maria, though we still have a lot of fun events to look forward to: from the Spring Concert tonight to Field Day tomorrow, followed by our annual Dad's BBQ to our beloved 6th Years' Graduation. And just like that, summer is here! We look forward to hearing about (and sharing) your adventures, travels, and funny summer stories. Be sure to check back for posts on parenting, introductions to Montessori for those new to our school, and glimpses into summer in St. Louis and beyond!

Tadpoles!

In every classroom at Villa di Maria are some very tiny, very cute visitors: tadpoles! When Directress Jessie Braud discovered an abundance of the tiny creatures at her parents' unopened swimming pool (and after a month straight of record-breaking rainfall in St. Louis), she took it upon herself to save as many as she could. The mass email exchanges that followed between Jessie and the other Directresses and Assistants was heartwarming; everyone agreed to adopt the tadpoles, giving them homes in every classroom for children of all ages to observe, care for, and learn about. Though difficult to photograph (they are so very tiny right now!), we will document their progress as long as they survive to their next stages of development as the summer wears on.If you are interested in studying the life cycle of frogs, below are some good resources and materials to check out:

Growing Frogs, by Vivian French

Life Cycle of a Frog kit, by Safari 

Simulated Frog Dissection Kit

Also, if you're planning to spend time near ponds and in the woods this summer, be sure to check out Washington University's guide: Frogs and Toads of Missouri on this site. Have a hoppy day!

The Best St. Louis Summer Camps

Are you ready for summertime? It's just around the corner for Villa di Maria students - can you believe it's the very last week of school?! If the end of the school year has snuck up on you (as it has for many of us), and you're scrambling for summer camp ideas, rest assured that the St. Louis area is full of them. Below, a comprehensive list of the best summer camps in the area. Camp PegnitaWe may be biased, but we are very proud of Camp Pegnita- not only its rich history (it has been going strong for 70 years!) but also its dedication to keeping many of the great camp traditions alive over all these years. This is an old-school camp in which children spend nearly every moment of the day outdoors, enjoying archery, games and weekly themes, swimming, and more on the beautiful 6 acres of Villa di Maria's wooded green campus. This year is going to be even better, with new facilities and a beautiful big playing field!ArtScope St. Louis's Art of NoiseArtScope's most popular 4-day camp, Art of Noise, will explore sound, the idea of music, instrument making and alternative instruments in Tower Grove Park from 9am to 3pm daily for children ages 5 - 11. Sign up soon, this camp starts May 30th and runs through June 2nd! Check out ArtScope's other summer camps, including Planes, Trains, and Rickshaws, Magic and Mystery Camp, Printastic, Culture Club, and more here.The Magic House Summer CampsThe Magic House offers three different summer camp themes from which to choose: Electrify and Energize, Booms and Blast Offs, and Fantastic Feats. They also offer art-based sessions: Camp Artist and Camp Make-It. For the 4-5 year age range, there are Storybook Adventures, Fantastic Five Senses, and Naturally Curious sessions. Check out more here.Chess Summer CampSt. Louis is home to many Grandmasters (the highest level chess players), and we are lucky to be close to the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, a non-profit, educational organization committed to making chess an integral part of the St. Louis community. Chess is a valuable educational tool that helps teach important lessons including problem solving, critical thinking, sportsmanship, patience and goal setting. Camps are offered all day, or mornings or evenings only. Check out the details and register here.Circus Harmony Performance CampLocated at City Museum, Circus Harmony Summer Performance Campis an amazing experience. Campers learn actual circus arts, including trapeze, juggling, wire-walking, and more! Then, these aspiring circus stars perform in the Circus Harmony ring daily during the second week of each session. After seeing these guys in action at our annual Circus Night, we're ready to sign up!COCA Summer Arts CampCOCA is one of St. Louis' premiere organizations for new artists and masters alike, creating an innovative environment for campers to learn, perform and appreciate the arts. This summer, the camps available include poetry, dance, drama, sculpture, songwriting, videography and much more. Options include week-long full or half-day sessions. COCA camps are held at two locations: at COCA's University City campus and in Creve Coeur at Whitfield School. Before and After Care is available. Check out the camp guide here.Dave Simon's Rock SchoolFor the musically-inclined, Dave Simon's Rock School is the place to go! Campers are placed into rock bands as they work together to record and prepare for their end-of-camp concert. Campers take private lessons on their instruments as well as every instrument in the band (guitar, bass, drums and piano). Summer Camp also includes workshops in songwriting, improvisation, and percussion. They have programs for kids ranging in age from 4 to 18. Check it out here.Endangered Wolf Center Summer CampFor your animal lover, check out The Endangered Wolf Center for their summer camp program. Located in Eureka, this camp provides children with the ability to explore the world of the wolf by visiting these amazing animals, playing fun games to learn about wolf behavior, and making crafts. Exciting hikes explore nature and some of the interesting places at the Tyson Research Center. There is also an option for younger campers, ages 4 -5, through the new Summer Pup Camp. Read more here.J Day CampsIn addition to swimming, lunch, field trips, and traditional sports, arts, and gymnastics, the J has added STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) Academies at and in partnership with Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School.  The J offers eleven weeks of camps and programs for kids ages 3-10th grade. Sign up here.Laumeier Sculpture Park Summer Arts CampA place that has become very near and dear to our hearts, Laumeier provides opportunities for campers to learn about artists throughout history, explore Laumeier's woodland trails and find inspiration in the artworks on view for drawing, painting, sculpting and more.Each weekly session features a different theme, and an Extended Day option is available for full-day sessions. Summer Art Camps are taught by local, experienced Artist-Instructors and are structured to encourage artistic development and self-expression through social and individual skill-building experiences. Check it out here.Summer Science Blast at St. Louis Science CenterSummer Adventures include flying a real airplane, building a robot, developing your own video game and much more! They offer eight weeks of programming for Pre-K through 10th grade. Half-day, full-day, and flexible extended care options.Whatever you decide to do this summer, be assured that there is plenty to do in our neck of the woods!

May at Villa di Maria

The Villa di Maria campus is bursting with color - especially all shades of green - thanks to all the rain that has fallen this spring. There are some wonderful changes happening on campus. Check in below to see all the beauty of spring here at VdM! Five beautiful young saplings have been planted on the west side of the Elementary building!There's also a new gazebo on the playground, the perfect spot to find some shade on those extra sunny days!The flowers, fruits, and veggies the children and guides planted last month are filling in and ripening up. We're surprised this strawberry hasn't been gobbled up yet!Here is the new Magic Circle, complete with sturdy benches and plenty of new green sod. We're hoping it lasts, but we'll settle for wood chips again if it doesn't!

A snack in the afternoon helps the transition from nap time to playground time

The outdoor prepared environment is the perfect place to work these days!

All the children, from Primary all the way up through Upper Elementary, have been busy preparing for the Spring Concert right around the corner, as well as the graduation ceremony at the end of the month. There's a lot to look forward to as the school year comes to a close, and to celebrate what a wonderful year it's been!

Circus Night 2017!

Circus Night at Villa di Maria has been a favorite event for many years for children, parents, and staff, and luckily, this year was no different! Magically, despite record-breaking rainfall leading up to the event (and immediately following the event), we were graced with one sunny, warm day to have our Chipotle, and eat it too! Below, a plethora of pictures and the low-down on our very popular Annual Circus Night at Villa di Maria.The days leading up to Circus Night were full of trepidation, as flood waters kept rising around the St. Louis area, shutting down roads and completely flooding areas near the Meramec River, including the original site chosen for Villa di Maria's off-campus location. Thanks to the quick-thinking VdM staff, the last minute location change turned out to be perfect (and dry)!The evening started with free standing stations for children to try as they arrived, including hula hoops, plate spinning, juggling, tightrope walking, bean bag toss, and ball toss games.There was also a temporary tattoo booth that parent volunteers helped run smoothly. Thank you, parents!There were also a few new additions this year, including a photo booth, where children could dress up and use props to take funny photos:The ball toss, a leftover from last year's event, sadly did not make it through the night, as it kept blowing over, then finally succumbed to the stomping feet and giggles of the masses.But perhaps the biggest hit of the night? The Upper Elementary's fortune-telling booth, which they worked very hard on leading up to the event. They managed to raise a good amount of money for their upcoming Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) trip.The fortunes were clever, and the children particularly enjoyed the process of the palm reading combined with the dramatics by the Upper Elementary children. What a fantastic idea!The small circus tents were a hit with all ages, and ended up rolling down a few hills as the night wore on!Face painting and balloon animals are always a big hit with the youngest children:Parent volunteers made the dinner portion of Circus Night a huge success, and it ran even more seamlessly than last year, with shorter lines for food and a reduction in food waste. Fantastic job and shout outs to everyone who helped with the planning, transportation, and execution of the delicious dinner from Chipotle!The final portion of the evening included a fantastic show by Everyday Circus, an offshoot of Circus Harmony. The three performers juggled, did a contortion act, performed acrobatics and chair balancing, hula-hooped a ridiculous number of hoops at once, and made the crowds laugh, cheer, and bite their fingernails with worry!Thank you, Villa di Maria, for putting on another fun night, and thank you, Jay, for taking many of these beautiful photos for our special night!

Every Child is an Artist: VdM Art Show at Reese Gallery

This past Saturday, Villa di Maria celebrated with an art exhibition, Every Child is an Artist. The quote, inspired by Pablo Picasso's quote, Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up, plays on the Montessori philosophy that children live in a natural state of curiosity and it is at first the process of art that is important. We adults tend to focus more on the finished product than the process, but to a child, it is the learning and the doing that means the most (until the child grows older, of course)! This art show was a great opportunity to present some glimpses into the process (the Primary children's artwork) as well as the more deliberate art that was created by the Lower and Upper Elementary students. It was a wonderful success for our little community!Ruth Reese and Tim Gebauer, Villa di Maria parents, artists, and gallery owners of Reese Gallery, which is located in the colorful Cherokee Arts Neighborhood just off Antique Row, so graciously hosted the opening. They renovated the building after it had been abandoned for more than 20 years, back in 2014. The space is beautiful - from the light-filled front room with finished wood floors, to the cozy second room where refreshments and appetizers were served. Tim's studio is upstairs from the gallery.The Villa di Maria Art Show, which was open from 12 - 4pm on Saturday, drew a great crowd, from staff and students to parents and grandparents and friends! Both Lower and Upper Elementary students took shifts welcoming the guests as they arrived.

Above: guests enjoying the paper mosaics from Megan Eilers' Lower Elementary 

Below: Some beautiful paintings from the Children's House

Above: Mobiles from Anna Schwind's Lower Elementary

Below: Left: Children's House paintings; Right: Framed design work from Anna Schwind's Lower Elementary

Above: A few of the Upper Elementary Photographs (see some of the process here) The Upper Elementary students also prepared artist statements of which they were quite proud!

Ruth Reese's pottery was also for sale, with 100% of all proceeds going back to Villa di Maria. What beautiful work, and such a generous gift! At the top of the display case are a few more Upper Elementary photographs.The Lower Elementary students prepared some delicious food, and Anna Schwind so graciously delivered it to the show (along with Hilary Lord, who filled out the offerings of refreshments and snacks). The food was a hit among all ages!

He did it.

Starting at 2pm, certain Lower Elementary students performed for the crowd. There was a poetry reading, a violin performance, and even a puppet show! The Upper Elementary students also performed later that afternoon.Thank you to all the families who came out to support their children, to the staff who worked so hard behind the scenes (and especially to those who put in extra hours after work), to all the children who put their all into their artwork and performances, and most of all, to Ruth Reese and Tim Gebauer, who not only offered up their space and time, but also did an amazing job hanging all the artwork and welcoming us all into their beautiful gallery. We are such a lucky community!

Montessori At Home: An Infant Space

Montessori education typically starts in a school setting when a child reaches around 2 1/2 years old. However, the Montessori environment is also accessible to parents who are just starting their families! Jess Jente, Villa di Maria's beloved P1 Assistant, who is currently on maternity leave (but returning to the classroom soon!), invited us into her home to meet her new baby boy Sam, and to share with us her infant Montessori space. A tenant to the Montessori visual experience is a calm, non-cluttered space. Walking into Sam's room, I was struck by how quiet, peaceful, and visually appealing it was. There were no bright flashing lights and noisy battery-operated toys, just a calm, soothing space, which is preferable to a child who is in the midst of the period of the Absorbent Mind. Sam, who is nearly 3 months old, takes naps on the mattress above, but still sleeps in his parents' room. Eventually, he will sleep in his bed at night as well.Jess shared that she and her husband purchased this thin, comfy mattress at Ikea. It is close to the floor to facilitate Sam's independence, and for safety.On one wall, many beautifully-colored mobiles hang. Jess switches them out frequently for Sam to look up at while he is on the floor. The blue Gobbi Mobile consists of 5 spheres that gradually change color from light blue to dark. The octahedrons seen in the first photo of this post are an introduction to geometric proportion, and make an interesting Montessori mobile for an infant.Above is a large bell hanging from a ribbon, which will encourage Sam to coordinate his movements once he bumps it by accident a few times and hears the sound it makes. He's getting closer - look at those little arms waving! There is a simple basket of board books beside Sam's bed, which will be easy for him to access once he starts crawling. A Montessori infant's bedroom should facilitate movement. The low shelves, low bed, and items that are within reach, will create this environment. As the child grows older, his space will adapt; "There is a mirror that can be hung on the wall that has a bar (similar to a ballet barre) that Sam will be able to pull himself up on for support when he gets older," Jess shares.The mirror on the floor next to the movement area provides an infant with stimulation. He can see and study his own reflection as well as begin to connect his movements with those he sees in the mirror. When he has "tummy time," the mirror can also encourage him to lift his head to look directly at himself, providing an opportunity to strengthen his neck and body.Jess shares that Sam's favorite mobile right now is the one that holds the butterflies, which he finds mesmerizing!The materials above are within a crawler's reach. Notice that the shelves are open and uncluttered.From left to right: Ball cylinder, basket full of bell on a ribbon, interlocking discs, ring rattle. A set of all 6 the items on the shelf (both top and bottom) can be found here. Above, from left to right: Ball teether, bell cylinder, and bell rattle What a lovely space for an infant. Thank you, Jess, for sharing Sam's beautiful space with us!For more information about creating an infant Montessori space, check out The Bambini Guide located right here in St. Louis! 

50 Ways of Giving: Walk for Wishes

Photo credit: Walk For Wishes MissouriThis weekend, on Saturday, April 15th, marks the 2017 Walk For Wishes event in St. Louis, which will be held at Forest Park's Upper MUNY Lot at 8am. The Make-A-Wish Foundation works to strengthen and empower children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. All are welcome to join the VdM team for the one-mile walk, or feel free to sponsor any of the walkers with a donation.Read more about how it all started, and we hope to see you on the Villa di Maria Walk for Wishes team. To register for the walk, click here. For more information on the Walk For Wishes, read this.

Who We Are: Cesar Garcia

As part of a series we’re calling Who We Are, we’re working to build and connect our community by interviewing the talented, dynamic parents and staff who make up the people of Villa di Maria. Today, we meet Cesar Garcia, father of Amaya, Elena, and Ben. He's a serious workhorse at Villa di Maria, always willing to volunteer his time to help with the many community activities throughout the year. Thanks for sharing with us, Cesar!Villa di Maria: Can you tell us a bit about your background and education?Cesar Garcia: I grew up in NYC, attending NYC public schools from kindergarten through high school. Interestingly, in my senior year, my high school, which was not known for its academic achievements, ended the year ranked second in the city in dropout rate.After high school, I enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY, but never attended. A few weeks before the start of the fall semester, there was an unfortunate mix-up with the financial aid office. Long story short, I ended up enrolling at the City College of New York (where tuition was about a tenth of that at RPI). There, I earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.

For graduate school, I attended a then newly-developed interdisciplinary

program in electrical engineering, computer science, business administration, and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, where I earned a Master of Science in Information Networking.

VdM: What do you do career-wise?

CG: I build IT infrastructure for a large investment bank in NYC. What our team does is comparable to what cloud vendors like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft do, except we do it in support of the firm's various lines of business. For the last 4 years, I've enjoyed the privilege of working from home here in St. Louis. I've happily traded 2+ hours of daily commuting for occasional trips back to NYC.

VdM: Do you have any hobbies? How do you enjoy spending your spare time?

CG: Oldest hobby - eating ethnic food (how I wish I was a better cook!).Newest hobby - kayaking. I just started last summer. Finishing up by watching the sun set on the lake is pretty cool. Well, it was a little nerve wracking the fist time, as it wasn't exactly something I had planned.

Renewed hobby - biking. After years of not riding, I got my old road bike and mountain bike tuned up, just before the end of the riding season and managed to get some good miles in before the weather turned cold.

VdM: How were you introduced to Montessori?

CG: Amusingly enough, I have an old friend who was a Montessori "teacher" back in the nineties. At the time, she was also starting on a career in comedy. During an improv skit where the comics rotate through the development of a story where each sentence starts with a successive letter of the alphabet, she inadvertently skipped the letter "L." I didn't know what to make of Montessori at the time.

So I was really first introduced to Montessori when Anne and I were searching for a school for Amaya, and soon for Elena, to attend as part of our move to St. Louis. We weren't specifically looking for Montessori, but we feel very fortunate to have stumbled into Villa.

VdM: Do you have any "Montessori Moments" you can share with us? (In other words, examples of when your children have done or said things outside the classroom that struck you as unique to the Montessori experience)?

CG: More of a story than a moment, but it reflects our Montessori and Villa experiences nicely…

Amaya had started pre-school in NYC, attending the better half of her first

school year there. Every morning at drop-off, her teacher would greet her with a "good morning" and a hand shake, but not once did Amaya reciprocate. Later, I would ask her about her day, and she would casually respond with something along the lines of "it was good, I didn't talk to anyone today". That more or less characterized her first year of school. Not once did she speak a word to any of her teachers or, as far as we know, to any other children in her class.

Contrast that with her very first day at Villa, where she opened up to Mrs.

Milos summarizing her life story and our current circumstances - about just having moved to St. Louis, having a little brother and sister at home, Dad still in NY trying to sell the house and IIRC us living with the grandparents during our transition.

VdM: What is your favorite thing about Montessori?

CG: Perhaps the multi-aged classrooms and their progressing relationship to their classroom over the three years in the same class, and how the cycle repeats as they move from primary to lower and upper elementary. For our kids, it's a nice contrast from their situation at home where Ben is always the youngest, Elena the middle sibling, and Amaya the eldest.

Thank you, Cesar, for always being such a team player for our little community. We are so happy to have your family here at Villa di Maria!

Who We Are: Richard Laforest & Qiaoni Jing

As part of a series we’re calling Who We Are, we’re working to build and connect our community by interviewing the talented, dynamic parents and staff who make up the people of Villa di Maria. Today, we meet Qiaoni Jing and Richard Laforest, parents of Antoine, an energetic little boy currently in Directress Heather Steinman's Children's House.Villa di Maria: Can you tell us a bit about your background and education?Qiaoni: I grew up in China, lived in Japan and Switzerland as an exchange student, then studied Engineering and Economics in China. My pursuit of an MBA at Northwestern University lead me to the U.S. During an expatriate assignment in Argentina, I became pregnant with Antoine. Before he was even born, he traveled to Argentina, Brazil, and China before being born in St. Louis in 2012.Richard: I grew up in Quebec, Canada. I dreamed of becoming a physicist as a little kid, and followed that dream to become a PhD of Nuclear Physics. My research brought me to the U.S., France, then back to the U.S. I later "defected" to the medical world due to some fascinating application of my physics training in saving people's lives.If there is one word to describe our family, it's diversity. Lots to learn for Antoine language-wise as we regularly use three languages in the home: Chinese, French, and English.VdM: What do you do career-wise?Qiaoni: I've held a variety of different roles in the corporate world, from marketing to supply chain to R&D to corporate strategy. I'm currently the Chief of Staff Senior Director of Global Corporate Affairs at Monsanto.Richard: I am an Associate Professor of Radiology at Washington University.VdM: Do you have any hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?Richard: So many, and the challenge is to find time! We met each other because of the common interest in road cycling. We participate in and support charity cycling events like MS 150 and Pedal the Cause. We both also enjoy running. While I prefer more formal events like Half Marathon, Qiaoni is more practical and focuses on small steps.Qiaoni: My goal is to run a full marathon distance each month, and I've been doing pretty well in the past couple of years! When I was a child, I had the dream of becoming a journalist, but being an obedient daughter and influenced by the idea that "smart kids go to STEM schools" in China at that time, I became an engineer. However, recently I have recently made an endeavor to write and publish in English. My first series of articles are about some amazing Chinese words: the meaning behind the pictures, and its implications on life and business. (Amazing Chinese Word #1: Harmony and Amazing Chinese Word #2: Crisis) Richard: I love bird-watching and star-gazing, so my favorite investments are in binoculars and telescopes. I want our next house to have a dome on top!As a family, we enjoy traveling, hiking (around St. Louis and afar), playing board games. Antoine went to the top of the Great Wall of China when he was 18 months old, sitting in a backpack on my shoulders. He went down into the Grand Canyon when he was three, coming back up in Qiaoni's arms. We ski during the winter, and Antoine and I sometimes skate.  VdM: How were you introduced to Montessori?Qiaoni: Almost accidentally, by Sophie Andre! Sophie's husband is Richard's colleague.  Sophie found Villa di Maria when she was searching for child care for Lynne.  Ever since, every time we met, Sophie kept talking about Montessori.  We had never met any parent who was so passionate about their kid's school so we decided to check it out.  Kudos to Sophie!VdM: Do you have any "Montessori Moments" you can share with us about Antoine?Qiaoni & Richard: We noticed that Antoine says "I can do it" a lot more often almost right after started in Montessori.  And he does all the things all by himself. For example, he asked to do dishes before we even think about asking him.  We attribute that to the practical life philosophy of Montessori.VdM: What is your favorite thing about Montessori education?Qiaoni & Richard: The passion the parents and teachers show for Montessori on a daily basis.  We're only 9 months in, so honestly we feel that we are still learning about all of the philosophies and practices of Montessori.  We count on the passion of others who have been into Montessori longer to keep us educated and motivated.We also enjoyed all the parent education and participation opportunities.  They are almost therapeutic, letting us linger a bit in the learning world of the little children and imagining how they grow there each and every day.Thank you, Qiaoni and Richard, for your thoughtful answers! We look forward to seeing you around campus!

Who We Are: Carrie & Carissa Sweigart

As part of a series we're calling Who We Are, we're working to build and connect our community by interviewing the talented, dynamic parents and staff who make up the people of Villa di Maria. Today, we meet Carrie and Carissa Sweigart, parents of the adorable Gwendolyn, who was welcomed into Primary this past January.Villa di Maria: Can you tell us a bit about your backgrounds/education?Carissa: I grew up on Cape Cod,  MA and graduated from Bourne High School in 1997.  I played college soccer and basketball at Nichols College in Dudley, MA and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management.  After graduation, I received an internship with USA Hockey and worked for them thru the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.Carrie: I grew up in Hannibal, MO and graduated from Hannibal High School in 1995. I played softball at Culver-Stockton College, graduating with a BS in psychology, with a minor in athletic training and health. To complete my masters in sports management with an emphasis in marketing, I interned with the United States Olympic Committee – Sports Partnerships during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.VdM: What do you do (career-wise)?Carissa: I'm a senior national account manager for the Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams Beer) and a certified cicerone. I'm in charge of Boston Beer’s Branded Concepts program, where I design and sell in Sam Adams brewhouses to airports and military installations as well as selling Boston Beer product to national casual dining chains like Red Robin, Old Chicago, Houlihan’s, Hard Rock and AMC Theaters. I cover the entire country and travel from coast to coast each week.Carrie: I am the chief operating officer for Pedal the Cause, a local nonprofit raising critical funds for cancer research through an annual cycling challenge. I joined the organization just three months after their inaugural event when the organization was in its infancy and feel privileged to be a part of the leadership team that has taken the founders vision and brought it to fruition, as the region’s largest cancer fundraiser raising $15.8M in 7 events, funding 84 projects in both pediatric and adult cancer. Before Pedal the Cause… I served as the vice president for the Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region focused on both operations and fundraising for the organization.When Carissa and I were looking to move back to the Midwest to be closer to family and start our own, I started my own consulting company with the Boys & Girls Club as the primary client. Looking to establish deeper roots in the St. Louis community, I joined Pedal the Cause, seeing the opportunity as the perfect blend of my passions (sports, events, charity, children’s causes) and could not be more proud of the Pedal community that I find myself a part of.VdM: Do you have any hobbies? How do you like to spend your free time?Carissa: I'm an avid Cross-Fitter and fitness enthusiast. I also enjoy cooking and pairing beers.  I love the outdoors and enjoy hiking or enjoying time on the ocean.  I'm also a home brewer and won my company's home brewing competition in 2008 with my Cranberry Wit beer, which was produced by Boston Beer for a year. I won a trip to Germany during Oktoberfest!Carrie: I enjoy all things outdoors… be that taking a family walk, going for a run (I ran my first half marathon last spring and am now training with my Pedal colleagues for the KT82 in June), or riding my bike (a hobby I picked up quickly working for Pedal). Planning events is a passion that extends beyond work, so I am always planning the next gathering from volunteer activities, to backyard BBQ’s. Any excuse to bring people together!VdM: How were you introduced to Montessori?Carrie: Sara Krenski was a colleague of mine and often shared her experiences, activities that her daughter Marley was involved in and overall, their satisfaction with the decision to introduce their daughter to a Montessori education. It did not take long before we found ourselves referencing “Montessori” ways, from the toys and activities we were setting up in our home for our daughter in her early months. As she started approaching one year old, and the thoughts of pre-school were beginning to surface, we asked Sara for more guidance/resources on a Montessori education. From various readings, to visits to several programs including VdM and connecting with other Montessori families, we felt that this was the right path for our family. Gwendolyn started the program in January.VdM: Do you have any "Montessori Moments" you can share with us?Carrie: Our Montessori moment was within the first few days of Gwendolyn starting VdM. We immediately saw her independence start to shine. As an only child, we were eager for her to start, as we knew that starting preschool would allow her to expand her social skills and within the Montessori setting, expand her independence as well. But we had no idea that we would see it shine through so immediately. Not sure if it was the first day or the second day, that we found her pulling out her activities from her cubbie, and playing on her own without calling mommy and ma to come sit with her and participate. She was sorting, counting and more all on her own and we could see her happiness and excitement as she started to accomplish/learn/discover new things…and it hasn’t stopped since.She enjoys and takes a sense of pride in getting her own plate, cup, silverware out of the cabinet when it is time to eat, to wipe up her mess, and to put the dirty into the sink… she gets so excited about accomplishing those independent tasks. We knew that this was on the horizon as part of the Montessori process, but it is simply unbelievable to watch with your own eyes. We can remember setting foot into the classroom for a tour and being in awe that these little people were being so quiet, doing their own activities, compared to our visions of a typical daycare setting with kiddos running all over the place and more of organized chaos. So to witness our little girl blossoming with the passing of each day, and thriving in her own beautiful way is a continued Montessori Moment for us as parents. We know that her journey to being the best Gwendolyn she can be in this world is just starting to unfold, and we could not be more excited for her!VdM: What is your favorite thing about Montessori education so far?Carrie: Having classmates that range from her age of 2 ½ to 6, given that she is an only child (and the youngest in the classroom) is an incredible asset in our minds… she is reaping the benefits of interacting with kiddos her age (Jackson is her buddy, he is the next to youngest in class) but also the modeling and support of older kids. As an only child, socializing with other kiddos is important to us, and having children who are older or have advanced to other lessons, who are setting examples for her is one of our favorite things about Montessori.VdM: Do you have any advice for parents who might be interested in Montessori education?Carrie: We both grew up in traditional, public education settings. We felt like we were straying from that system (my mom is a retired public school teacher and many family members still are), but we felt it was important to explore other programs like Montessori when it came to giving our daughter Gwendolyn the best environment for her to thrive in.  We encourage others to do their research, create a pro’s and con’s list of the programs you are exploring, and not be afraid to think outside the box (the traditional education system).Thank you, Carrie and Carissa, for opening up and letting us get to know you a bit better, and welcome to Villa di Maria! 

Who We Are: Justin Shepard

As part of a series we're calling Who We Are, we're working to build and connect our community by interviewing the talented, dynamic parents and staff who make up the people of Villa di Maria. Today, we meet Justin Shepard, the charismatic, funny, deeply adored Upper Elementary Assistant here at Villa di Maria.In Directress Rebecca Callandar's words, Justin is a "Ripsnorter. Magician.  Factoid.  Friend. Justin is every bit of these words and more.  Who else could dazzle our room with card tricks, pull twenty tricorn hats out of a hat for our winter concert on the Revolutionary War, and perform kitchen magic by baking bread in our teensy kitchenette?  Justin is deeply connected to our community, which he deeply enriches on a daily basis.  Children adore him. When I first met him, I felt at though the stars had aligned!  Finding an individual who wants to work with children, embraces all aspects of caring for the prepared environment, and will research Montessori in his spare time, is rare enough, yet when he began working in the fall, I quickly became aware of just how special Mr. Justin is to the room."He engages with children lovingly, offering children support, while also looking out for developmental learning opportunities.  He is knowledgeable in diverse fields of inquiry and peppers conversations with little lagniappes of information. He is an expert at mediating social conflict-resolution, helping children to hear both sides of an argument.  He takes his job as chaperone quite seriously—following the lead of the child. In navigational terms, this translates to following the children’s directions to a T, which means Mr. Justin has spent an inordinate amount of time turning around in the lower parking lot near our building.  “You didn’t tell me which way to go,” says Mr. Justin with an impish smile.  Finally, Mr. Justin has added so many layers to the fabric of our room, that it can best be summed up by how much richer our music has been this year—a baritone is just the perfect note!"I interviewed Justin a couple of months ago about his life and his pathway to Villa di Maria. Justin with his lovely wife, looking tough before braving the caves in New ZealandVilla di Maria: Can you tell us a bit about your own education growing up?Justin Shepard: I went to public school growing up. I was born in a town called Ojai and lived in Ventura California until middle school, then moved to a farming community three hours inland. My grandma had orange and olive trees. I have fond memories of unclogging the sprinklers in the orchard with my sister!After high school, I served a mission in North Carolina for my church for two years, then attended a junior college when I returned. Then I headed to BYU, where I met my wife on the International Folk Dance Team, which was a lot of fun - they were so upbeat and I really felt like I was with my type of people! I got my degree in Communications, and I supplemented that with a lot of psychology. During all this, I worked at a 24-hour care facility for kids with everything from autism to schizophrenia. That was amazing. The relationships they built with those kids reminds me a lot of Montessori; they really focused on the whole person and building trust.VdM: How did you get into the Montessori world? JS: When I moved out here with wife, I worked and volunteered at a couple of places for at risk youth; one of the places was in downtown St. Louis working with refugee children trying to learn English, which was a really great place. I shadowed at Villa di Maria in 2015 and I was completely blown away. What really struck me was the uniqueness and flexibility of the method. Also, there were aspects of working at the treatment facility that were similar to Montessori, like the embrace of natural consequences for children's actions.My wife was in medical school and we were in a real limbo time period. One morning, a year after shadowing at Villa, I found out they had a job opening and I jumped at the chance. I love working here. I've never worked at a place where staff communicated so much, and so well. It's awesome.VdM: What is your favorite thing about working in the Upper Elementary classroom?JS: Interacting with the kids. I'm also so grateful for Rebecca. Her direction and her insights are amazing. This classroom is really special. The jokes they come up with, the insights they have, it's so much fun. I also love how receptive to information they are, and how curious they are.VdM: What is your favorite time of day in the classroom?JS: I'd say right around 10:30, because that is really when they seem to hit their groove. It's in the middle of a work cycle and they don't want to be interrupted.VdM: What are your hobbies?JS: I love sports, being in the outdoors, talking with my family, volunteering at my church, surfing (which I don't get to do very often), and most of all, I love to travel. Most recently, last March, my wife and I traveled to Southeast Asia. We started in New Zealand, repelling down into a cave, then went bungee jumping. It was awesome! I now have a goal to try wingsuit flying off a mountain someday!From there, we stopped off in Sydney in a hostel, then we went on to Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Thailand.VdM: What else do you want the Villa di Maria world to know?JS: I love these kids. When my wife and I have kids, we absolutely want them to do Montessori. The environment here is so different, so unique. The principles that are taught, the way we treat each other, it all sets the tone and the foundation they need. Whenever we take them out, people are so impressed with their behavior.Thank you, Justin, for opening up to us all! We are so happy you are part of our community!Oh, and... he knows magic! 

50 Ways of Giving: Clothing Drive

Photo credit: Helping Hand-Me-DownsThere is one week left to participate in Villa di Maria's current community outreach project: Children's Clothing Drive for Helping Hand-Me-Downs (HHMD). HHMD works to enhance the quality of life for children and families in the St. Louis area by meeting their immediate needs, then connecting them with life-changing resources that foster independence. Immediate needs include clothing and other essential items needed to care for young children. Villa di Maria is collecting gently used and/or new clothing for children of all ages, and clothing for any season is accepted: sleepers, onesies, shorts, pants, shirts, skirts, dresses, socks, coats, hats, scarves and mittens. With spring around the corner (and seemingly at our back doors), now would be a wonderful time to enlist help from your children to go through closets and drawers to collect clothing that has been outgrown.Please drop off clean clothing at VdM during drop-off or in your child's classroom, and thank you!