Becoming REALLY Real...

Villa di Maria Head of School, Laura Ceretti-Michelman snapped these photos on campus today and shared that the Primary children were absolutely mesmerized by the site preparation.  As a tree went down, they all screamed, "Nooooooo!"  So hard to watch some of our beauties be removed to make room for the new buildings. The Elementary children were also watching the action.  Note to families- every effort was made to save as many as our mature trees as possible while plans were made for the construction.  Also note that new trees will be planted when it's all said and done!

Inside...? Outside...?

Our Upper El contingency, pondering...

Oh, you most extraordinarily-passionate, super-starrish Villa di Maria staff members,What are you MOST looking forward to for the upcoming school year both...1.  INSIDE the classroom (or on campus)?2.  OUTSIDE of Villa di Maria Montessori School?

Mrs. Reghan McAuley and Mrs. Jess Jente- Our Primary One PeepsReghan McAuley, Primary Directress (P1)INSIDE:  Being back with the children, introducing our new frog friend named Camouflage and working with my awesome partner, Mrs. Jente!OUTSIDE:  Meeting Mrs. Jente's baby, the start-up of the MAP (Montessori Adolescent Program) and a mother-daughter trip with my oldest child, Brennah, in her 14th yearJess Jente, Primary Assistant (P1)INSIDE:  Meeting and welcoming all the new families into our community- I love seeing all the new faces and getting to know everyone!  (Also, Pajama Day- my favorite day of the year!)OUTSIDE:  Having a baby!  I cannot wait to welcome Baby Jente into the world in January! I love the fresh flowers in a Children's House (especially when paired with a freshly sewn tablecloth and apron!)Jessie Braud, Primary Directress (P2)INSIDE:  Excited for all the warm fuzzies I get from children working with materials I've presented to them!OUTSIDE:  Excited to (hopefully!) work on some art projects!Cristina Kerr, Primary Assistant (P2)INSIDE:  At school, I'm looking forward to meeting all the new children, working with Jessie and observing all the construction work.OUTSIDE:  I set some priorities this year:  spending more time with family and friends, enjoying the present and finishing our home projects. The two newest "friends" in P3 who will be living with Mrs. Heather SteinmanHeather Steinman, Primary Directress (P3)INSIDE:  Being around my favorite little people every day!OUTSIDE:  Watching how our community grows and changes with all the exciting new happenings.Karolina Hanus, Primary Assistant (P3)INSIDE:  To be in a running classroom (versus empty!)OUTSIDE:  To learn how to park in the crowded parking lot! Mrs. Megan Eilers (right) ready to roll in her NEW role as our second Lower Elementary Directress!Megan Eilers, Lower Elementary Directress (LE 1)INSIDE:  I'm looking forward to getting to know all of the children in my class!OUTSIDE: Looking forward to cooler weather and fall festivities! Mrs. Sophie's favorite place at VdM- the solariumSophie Andre, Lower Elementary Assistant (LE 1)INSIDE:  I can't wait to see the children I already know and notice how they've changed over the summer as well as discover the students I don't know yet!OUTSIDE:  I am very excited to see how my daughter, Lynne, is going to love her own classroom, starting with Ms. Braud in the Primary.Anna Schwind, Lower Elementary Directress (LE 2)INSIDE:  Yooooogggaaaa!OUTSIDE:  Yooooogggaaaa! Mrs. Rebecca Callander and Mr. Justin Shepard- SUPER PSYCHED to lead our Upper Elementary at our Laumeier satellite campus this school year during the first phase of construction at VdM!

Rebecca Callander, Upper Elementary Directress (UE)INSIDE:  Having many eyeballs look at an eyeball during read aloud!OUTSIDE:  Exploring the satellite campus grounds with 30 amazing upper elementary explorers!Mary Eilers, Morning Floater and Early Stay LeadINSIDE:  I am looking forward to getting to know all the students and watching them grow educationally.OUTSIDE:  I'm looking forward to watching the transformation of the campus.Hilary Lord, Director of OperationsINSIDE:  Developing the new outdoor spaces along Simmons and Belva AvenuesOUTSIDE:  Hanging out with our new dogMaria Burr, Development DirectorINSIDE:  I'm excited to see the construction of the new buildings!OUTSIDE:  Two hundred fifty hours of observations with children ages 0 to 3 years! Explanation:  I asked the staff to send pictures of themselves in their environments or in their VdM "happy place" for this blog post.   Well, this spot is my "place," the door to that special land where the Mottl kids' "Montessori-ness" began.  Where K spent three years and B spent four.  Where their natural curiosity and innate drive to LEARN and DO was nurtured and their individual selves were oh-so loved.Meg Mottl, Director of AdmissionsINSIDE:  Seeing all of our brand-new-to-VdM students and families fall in love with the genius of Maria Montessori and soak in their experience at Villa di Maria!OUTSIDE:  All things Mottl kids!Robyn Milos, Director of EducationINSIDE:  I am looking forward to observing in EACH classroom. Each of our carefully prepared environments looks SO beautiful, inviting and well loved. I cannot wait to see them filled with the joy that only children bring.OUTSIDE:  I am feeling bittersweet on this year being Seth's last year at VdM, the final year of an amazing decade!!!  Along with that, it is Ollie's last year in the Children's House.  Where did the time go?!?!  AND, my first year out of the Children's House!!  I am excited to serve Villa in my new role.Laura Ceretti-Michelman, Head of SchoolINSIDE:  I am most looking forward to the return of children and families because they bring our school to life!  I am also super excited to watch the progress of the buildings as construction moves along!OUTSIDE:  I am most excited about the conclusion of the construction/revamping project that has been going on in our home since last February.  Now we get to settle in and enjoy the results!