VdM Class of 2020: Milo
At the end of a typical school year, we honor and celebrate our sixth-year graduates and their families on campus with a graduation ceremony and after party—lovely speeches, delicious food, laughter, tears and lots and lots of Fitz's root beer. This year the pandemic forced us to change our plans and get creative. Graduating families came in their cars, to watch a parade put on by our community and a screening of their pre-recorded speeches, all the while maintaining a safe distance (and yes, there was root beer!).
While we did put on a pretty magnificent social-distancing ceremony (if we do say so ourselves), we think the graduates deserve to be celebrated just a little bit more. Over the next few weeks we'll highlight each of our sixth-year graduates on the blog. You'll meet some of the best people we know, children we love and have watched grow and develop into thoughtful, funny, curious, exciting and vibrant young people. And you'll get to watch their graduation speeches! Today, we'll meet Milo.
Milo is adventurous, incredible, very, very smart, always willing to help, and a great friend. There are so many things I will miss about him. When he's in the classroom, he will always be kind to everyone. He also supports people in every way. And he's an amazing person to be with. Upper Elementary fifth-year student
Villa di Maria: Introduce yourself! Tell us something you think everyone should know about you.
Milo: Hello all! I'm Milo, and I have gone to Villa for 6 years.
VdM: What are your hobbies and interests? What do you like to do for fun?
Milo: My hobbies are probably playing video games, making YouTube videos, and jumping on the trampoline. I also went to the circus before the COVID-19.
VdM: Do you have a favorite book or movie (or both)? What is it and why?
Milo: Oh, that's such a hard question! I'll have to say that I can't really choose for either question, because I have read so many good books thanks to the book club at Villa.
VdM: Tell us something about yourself that you are proud of.
Milo: I would say that I am proud that I am a natural leader, although I don't like to say things like that.
VdM: How old were you when you started at Villa di Maria? Where did you go before VdM?
Milo: When I first started at Villa, I think I was about six years old. but before, I went to a school called Flynn Park Elementary.
VdM: Let's talk about this school year... how do you feel about closing out your last year at Villa di Maria with distance learning?
Milo: To be honest, I don't really know. at first, I didn't really like it all that much, but It got easier as time went on.
VdM: What do you miss most about being on campus?
Milo: I think that I will miss all of my friends, and the ability to build things, and to choose what you do.
VdM: What's next for you? Where will you be going to middle school?
Milo: I will be going to the school in my district, called Britney Woods.
VdM: What is something you're most excited about going into your new school? Is there anything you're not excited about?
Milo: I guess that I'm excited to meet new people, but apparently it is going to be very loud at lunch, so... yeah.
VdM: Last but not least, you graduated from Villa di Maria!! How are you going to celebrate this summer?
Milo: I don't really know! my family is still talking about it, but I know that I'm getting some kind of gift...
Milo, you are always willing to help, supportive, funny and a good friend. Upper Elementary fifth-year student
Thank you, Milo! We will miss seeing you on campus every day but we know we haven't seen the last of you. You are bound for great things and we can't wait to see what your future holds.
And now... Milo's graduation speech:
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://vdm.provelpizza.party/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Milo-speech.mp4"][/video]Photos courtesy of Milo's family and Melinda Smith.
VdM: How old were you when you started at Villa di Maria? Where did you go before VdM?
Well, we did it! We closed out the 2019-2020 school year... from home! When the the pandemic hit our region, we closed our campus for Spring Break, hoping to be able to return in only a week or two. Then that week or two turned into a month... and then two months... and then the rest of the school year. And while we mourned the temporary loss of our lovely school environments, we are so proud of what we accomplished in our distance learning program.
Our superhero-caliber team of guides, assistants and support staff worked around the clock these past nine weeks to keep our students engaged and motivated to learn.Despite the stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic during these last months of the school year, our students were able to continue to follow their love of learning and stay connected with their guides and each other through their virtual classrooms.
We have missed being able to see, hear and talk to all of these children, and we cannot wait to be together again! In the meantime, be sure to check back on the blog in June for posts about each of our wonderful sixth-year graduates.
Here's to our on-campus reunion in the 2020-2021 school year! And to 2019-2020, our Children's House Guides put it best when they say (sing)...[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://vdm.provelpizza.party/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/goodbye.mp4"][/video]See you next year!! 
It's been a couple of months since we moved off campus to keep our families safe from the spread of COVID-19. We have missed seeing our families on campus every day, missed the hum and activity of Montessori children working and growing together. It is a beautiful thing to witness and we cannot wait (truly, cannot wait!) to all be together again.
There has been one positive thing to come out of all this—we now know for sure (there never was much doubt) that our community is the best. Our faculty and staff have come together in innovation, creativity and hard work to create distance learning plans that have kept our students motivated to keep learning. And our parents... well, they are rock stars. They have thrown themselves into this new reality, while managing their own stress and uncertainty, and have collaborated with our guides to ensure that their children have stayed engaged with their school and community.So now we are calling on that collaborative spirit to ask our parents to help us keep our community strong and growing, and to pass this news along: our Children's Houses are now enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year!
During a typical year, spring brings many prospective families to our campus for tours. This year, we have not been able to give a tour, to introduce VdM to a new and wonderful family, since March 13. And we have missed out on meeting many new families.Villa di Maria families have always been our best recruiters, our strongest advocates, and we know we can get our open spots filled with your help. If you know anyone looking for a lovely school for their young child, please send them to our website 
During social distancing, a prospective family can set up a conversation, a virtual tour and/or an on-campus tour that follows social distancing protocols. They will have the chance to ask their questions about our school and Montessori and tell us all about their children.
Thank you all for not keeping VdM a secret and for supporting us by spreading the word. We can't wait to see you—and to meet our new families!—in the fall. Until then, stay healthy!
Complete admissions information, including procedures and fees can be found 
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people.Today, we'll meet JoAnne, Kyle, James and Caroline Cronan, who joined VdM in 2015. James is in his second year in the Racks & Tubes Lower Elementary classroom and Caroline is going into her culminating year in Mrs. Steinman's House.
Villa di Maria: Where are you from and what brought you to St. Louis?The Cronans: JoAnne is a St. Louis native and Kyle grew up in the bootheel of Missouri, in a small town called Portageville. He came up to StL after finishing his undergrad at Southeast Missouri State and a few years later he decided to go back to school at University of Missouri St. Louis to study Piano and get a music degree. That’s where we met, because Jo was there to study cello. We’ve never really played any duets though. Hmm.We always joke that we met in Dr. Ott’s 8:00 am music theory class and the rest was history... because immediately after Dr. Ott’s class we had to rush across campus to get to Music History by 9:00. That’s when Jo got introduced to Kyle’s sweet 1989 Camaro.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to VdM?JoAnne: In orchestra at UMSL I met an amazing friend Katrina, a kooky and amazing violist from Tacoma Washington and a proud product of Montessori. She planted the seed, and then on maternity leave I read a lot about it and fell in love. I sort of secretly decided that we would do Montessori if we could.I went back to work and we found a babysitter we and James love so so much. She does in-home preschool, and with my long hours (I was a CPA by then working 14 hour days in tax season) we had no idea how we’d be able to fit our life into school hours anyway, so I almost gave up the idea. Then I landed a sweet new job in mid-August and the stars aligned. Villa still had an opening, so I came for a tour with Laura.I just saw the beautiful campus in Camp Pegnita mode, a quick glimpse of the Montessori Mornings children doing all the things in their swimsuits (heart eyes), and Laura handed me the Montessori Madness book of course, but I was already sold. And then I told Kyle he was sold, and he was sold too! Haha. He went along with it, but he became really sold when Caroline started and he saw his baby girl doing all the things.
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?
VdM: A question for James and Caroline - Would you rather live on a beach or in the mountains? And why?The Cronans: Caroline definitely wants to live at the beach. She is a sun goddess and loves swimsuit fashion. She said she could build sandcastles and find mermaid crowns.James admittedly loves the beach too, but would choose to live in the mountains because he loves dirt and adventure, wild animals, and the cool mountain breezes.
Thank you, JoAnne, Kyle, James and Caroline for sharing your lives with us today on the blog and at VdM every day.Photos courtesy of the Cronan family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people.Today, we'll meet Jess, Michael, Sammy and Ellie Jente. Jess joined VdM in 2013 as the assistant in the P1 Children's House and has been on parental leave to care for her daughter Ellie this school year. Sammy joined us on campus this school year in Mrs. Steinman's Children's House.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about your family.Jess: Michael and I met in high school in 2004 (!!) and have been together ever since. We’ve been married almost 9 years. St. Louis has been our home our whole lives except for one lovely year spent in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Michael’s job. After returning to St. Louis, we eventually bought and renovated Michael’s grandparents house and moved in when I was 1,000 months pregnant with Sammy. Sammy turned three in January and loves swimming, anything train related, riding his bike, going on adventures around town, and spending time with his grandparents and cousins. Sammy started VdM this year in P3, just a couple weeks after his sister, Ellie, was born. Sammy has been such a kind and helpful big brother. He LOVES school and spinning with his friends on the playground. He can’t wait to see Mrs. Steinman and Madame Beth again!
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to VdM?Jess: I happened to stumble upon Montessori and VdM the summer before Michael and I moved to Sioux Falls. My friend, Ms. Megan, was looking for an assistant for the Montessori Mornings program to work with Mrs. McAuley. I had just quit a job that wasn’t meant to be in PR and took Megan up on her offer for the summer. I was a long time Camp Pegnita attendee, from ages 5 - 12, and then worked as a counselor many summers in high school. I was so excited to be back, doing something new.Reghan quickly taught me the ropes of the classroom and I was intrigued to know more. I love how Montessori fosters independence in the child, and watching the children move about the classroom in their special prepared environment is truly magical. When we moved to Sioux Falls, I worked in a more traditional school setting and realized how much I appreciated and agreed with the Montessori method. I came back to VdM the following summer and have been here ever since (except when having babies). Sammy had been on the VdM waitlist since he was born in January 2017!
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?
VdM: A question for Sammy - What are you most excited about this summer?Sammy: I am excited to play in the sprinkler! I like to ride my bicycle in the sprinkler.
Thank you, Jess, Michael, Sammy and Ellie. We can't wait to see you all again soon!Uncredited photos courtesy of the Jente family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's pandemic closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected!Today, we'll meet 
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about your family.Padmanabh: We are a family of three—
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to VdM?
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?
VdM: A question for Adu - If you could snap your fingers and go anywhere in the world for one day, where would you go, and why?Adu: Of course India, because that is where my grandparents live and my cousins' parents and cousins live.
Thank you, Padmanabh, Roopa and Adu! We are so happy to have you in the VdM community!Photos courtesy of the Desai family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's pandemic closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Melinda, Brian, Nathan and Jacob Smith. Melinda is currently the assistant in our Racks & Tubes Lower Elementary classroom and has been our resident photographer for years. She is also the woman behind our fantastic (and beautiful) yearbooks.The Smiths first came to VdM in 2013, when Nathan started in the P2 Children's House. Nathan is now a fourth-year in Upper Elementary and Jacob is a first-year in the Checkerboard Lower Elementary classroom.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about your family.Melinda: We are a family of four, well five, if you count our newest addition, Teddy. He seems to take up all our family time of late. I’ll start with him—Teddy, our Australian Labradoodle, joined us right before spring break and he keeps life fun, stressful, and up all night all at once. He also keeps us exercised and out of our PJs. Jacob, my next youngest, just celebrated his 7th birthday and he, like Teddy, has an adventurous and playful spirit. Nathan, double digits, 10, is a history lover and a strategist. All that's left is Brian and me. I guess the best way to describe us is that I love to take things apart and he likes to put them back together (Brian obviously being the more responsible adult).
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to VdM?Melinda: Oh, my favorite story! I was pregnant with Jacob at the time and Nathan had just turned three. We decided it was time to find a place for Nathan and not knowing where to start, I asked one of my closest friends, Melissa Urspurch (co-head of ATI) where to look. She only had one suggestion, Villa di Maria. Villa happened to be having a Silent Journey coming up and she told us to attend. Once we went through the Silent Journey, as is a common story at Villa, we fell in love. I remember thinking, if only I had pin maps growing up, maybe I would know where all the countries were! Then life and pregnancy took over until I got a call from Melissa saying we missed the deadline to enroll Nathan... oops! Melissa then went ahead, filled out our application, paid our enrollment fee and Nathan would be attending Villa in the fall with Mrs. Milos![gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="7987,7986"]VdM: What did you do, career-wise, before coming to VdM? And what does Brian do?Melinda: Before Villa, I was a photographer. I worked at a few portrait studios but while getting ready for Jacob, we decided it was time to start my own very small photography business. Once again, my good friend Melissa put things in motion and let Laura know I was a photographer. So my path to Montessori began, volunteering as a photographer for Villa’s website and media. That continued and also evolved into volunteering in the parent association, cooking with the Upper Elementary, and then finally as an employee. My first two years I was an assistant to Anna Schwind, my forever cheerleader. In order to better assist the children, I started asking her for lessons every week. She guided me as she guided them and like the children, I loved school and learning. Now, four years in, I listen to Ms. Sarah’s lessons and her lovely singing voice and love watching the children solve and engage in the material. It all still brings me much joy.
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?Melinda: I mean, we have a puppy, that’s enough right!? There are also several house projects but... with the weather turning nicer, our time will be spent outside with our new kiddie pool and puppy.
VdM: A question for Nathan and Jacob: If you could teach Teddy any trick in the world, what would it be?Melinda: Nathan has hopes of teaching Teddy how to catch a frisbee, Jacob simply wants Teddy to learn not to bite. Research question, when do puppies lose all those sharp puppy teeth?
Thank you, Melinda, Brian, Nathan, Jacob and Teddy! Villa di Maria would not be the same without you.Photos courtesy of the Smith family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Andrea, Peter, Stephanie and Sarah Kunz. Stephanie has worked at VdM in Late Stay and at Camp Pegnita as a counselor, and Sarah joined VdM's Lower Elementary in 2017. She is currently a fourth-year student in Upper Elementary.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about your family.Andrea: Pete and I grew up in Youngstown, NY, north of Niagara Falls—as far north you can go before reaching Lake Ontario. Although we grew up about a mile from each other, we met sailing together in the mid-eighties. We sailboat raced together during the summers and would go our separate ways to continue our education. We were reacquainted in 2006 and married in 2007, at the Yacht Club where we met, worked together, and grew up sailing. Both of our daughters, Stephanie (19) and Sarah (10) enjoy it and learned how to sail in Youngstown as well! Last summer was Sarah’s first year in the Jr. Sailing program and she won most improved in the July program and most improved of the entire summer! We were all very proud of her.In 2017, the family collectively made the decision to move on from the (Columbia River) Gorge in Oregon and take a new opportunity with Boeing in St. Louis. We enjoy attending Cardinals and Blues games as a family whether the season is going well or not. It has been a while since we lived in a place where there are (good) professional sports. We try not to talk about the Bills. Overall though, we enjoy spending time together no matter what the activity is.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to VdM?Andrea: Our oldest daughter attended a Montessori school before we moved to Oregon. There wasn’t one when we moved there but when Sarah turned 2 ½, she was ready to go to the new Montessori school that had just opened.I diligently researched schools when we found out we were moving to St. Louis. I immediately put Villa on the top of our list. Peter checked out the school and after meeting Laura and Robyn he was sold too! We were able to visit as a family just as the Elementary building was completed and that built the enthusiasm for Sarah. Now we are here for our 4th year and loving VdM! Sarah enjoyed her Lower Elementary years but is LOVING Upper Elementary and thrives on anything and everything math related. Everything she experiences in the classroom is directly introduced into our home, especially practical life.
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?Andrea: Pete has always been fascinated by flight and studied Aeronautical Engineering at Penn State, earning his Bachelor's in 1993 and his Master's in 1997. In between he spent a few years working in the Marine industry fixing and commissioning sailboats. Following Penn State, Pete headed to Stanford to again study Aeronautics, earning his Ph.D. in 2003. Stanford offered tons of opportunity, working on everything from an America’s Cup campaign, to Mars exploration aircraft designs, but his thesis work centered on how tiny things fly—insects and micro-drones. For his "first job" Pete stepped a bit sideways from aerospace and took a role as a defense technology development engineer for a private firm in Phoenix. He spent a little under a year in Afghanistan, living and working with U.S. Army and International Forces. In 2006, Pete joined a small company in Washington (state), building small robotic aircraft where he served as CTO. He led the aerodynamics team, designing the outside shapes of the airplanes and predicting how they would perform.Pete is currently Vice President and Chief Technologist for two small Boeing groups, NeXt and HorizonX. These teams use active and experimental approaches to developing corporate strategy, active technology development and market research on future mobility (a.k.a. flying cars). In addition to these day jobs, Pete also serves as Boeing’s Senior Chief Engineer for Unpiloted Systems, with a primary eye on safety in design and operations.
Dancing at a young age, I knew I wanted to be involved in dance and theatre as an adult. After a knee injury in high school (and the fact that I was not going to grow taller), I knew my aspirations of being a Rockette were not in the picture. I continued with theatre and worked in the Marine industry with Peter in the mid-nineties prior to continuing my education. I graduated with a BFA in Theatre and Fine Arts from Niagara University, a private Catholic University. This experience led me to work with several regional theatres and at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Most recently I worked as an event planner, in the traditional and nonprofit sectors. I also taught theatre, dance and set design at a high school in Oregon, while homeschooling Stephanie.Currently I am a stay at home mom and the biggest cheerleader for Sarah’s Schooling-At-Home efforts! In an effort to ease back into theatre, I hope to teach an after-school Dance and Movement Club for the primary children next school year.
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?Andrea: Sarah has embraced the interests of both of us, my theatre and art and Pete’s math and engineering, as well as our mutual interest in cooking and baking. It makes it easy to find enriching things to do that engage our interests with hers. Spring Break brought more opportunities to play while now we are busy with School-At-Home most of our days. During Spring Break, screen time was relaxed a bit as we watched movies and musicals and played some video games as a family, Animal Crossing being the favorite! With school back in session, our efforts are focused on less screen time. We get out for some walks, but nothing can compare to playing with friends!We have enjoyed being able to have lunch every day with Peter while we are all home. We have been cooking, baking, playing board games and card games to keep busy. Running around with our three Border Collies (Luke 15, Missy 13 and Buddy 11) has been a great way for us to get some of the pent-up energy out. Sarah has also enjoyed the process of sketching out, CAD rendering and 3D printing with Peter.
VdM: A question specifically for Sarah - If you could snap your fingers and go anywhere in the world for 24 hours, where would you go? And why?Sarah: I would go to Oregon to visit my old friends and have a sleep over because I really miss them and we haven't been back since moving.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Amy, Shaun, Kaia and Barrett Chelgreen. Barrett joined Mrs. McAuley's Children's House this school year.Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family and what brought you to St. Louis.Barrett: We moved here because “somebody wanted to go to our old house.” My family takes good care of me.Kaia: My Mom got a promotion. My parents work for the government, and my brother is 3 and very smart. I play the cello, and I did synchronized swimming for a couple years. We like to do crafty things, especially Mom, Barrett and me. Barrett does his “projects,” we like to do chalk drawings, Mom helps fix stuff. Mom and I did a lot of crafts and outdoors stuff with Girl Scouts and school when we lived in Virginia.Amy: We are a close-knit nuclear family. With two introverts at the head and having always lived far enough from extended family that visits took planning, our family has evolved to be self-reliant, but also deeply appreciative of the close bonds formed with friends who become family. Our house is always a wreck because—life with a 3-year-old boy. No, that’s not fair—my house has always been a wreck except when I have company coming because I prefer to spend my precious time outside of my job hours doing things that bring me (and now my family) joy.I am what brought us to St. Louis. For the second time in our family’s history, me and my career growth have caused our family to move away from our home where roots had started to grow deeper. Each move was a promotion, and ultimately proved to be good for our family, but it is not a decision I take lightly. The first move kept us within the same state and actually moved us closer to my family. This move from Fairfax, VA to St. Louis, MO weighed on me greatly and I did a lot of research to make sure it would be good for my family as well as my career.Shaun: We came here for my wife’s career. We are a creative and unique group of people who love each other.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to 
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?Amy: As I move up in leadership positions, the move to St. Louis brings the opportunity for me to see how multiple aspects of my organization operate under one roof since the local field office has employees working in many of the business lines under the administration of my agency. I hope my strengths and skills will also allow me to bring positive change to the organization through my work here. Eventually, my goal is to become a senior leader in the agency. Prior to the federal government, my resume reflects my varied interests and skills. I have been a teacher, an aquatics director, a published freelance author. One of my most cherished vocations is that of a Girl Scout volunteer, having been my daughter’s troop leader in various locations for most of her life. Life is too busy here to volunteer on the same level, but I look forward to finding a GS niche soon. Helping people and working to be an agent of positive change are the two common themes in the jobs and positions I’ve held as I look back all the way to when I first started working as a swim lesson instructor and lifeguard.I am fortunate to have a husband who realizes his career needs to take the back seat for me to continue on my path. Therefore, moving here to St. Louis meant a change in career path for Shaun—taking a lower-graded position in an entirely new division in order to support the move and our family. He is enjoying learning his new position and a new way to serve the agency’s mission. Prior to working for the federal government, Shaun worked as a police officer for over 10 years. While we are both glad the swing shifts and dangerous work are behind him, we recognize that officers like the one he used to be are the ones needed most in this world. Shaun had the ability to talk to anyone and could often diffuse a situation just by talking to the person. This important skill is much more appreciated in officers today than it was when Shaun was on the force. Shaun also strives to help others in the jobs and positions he holds. He prefers to work quietly behind the scenes when possible.
VdM: Tell us something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break.Barrett: Play cars and play games!Kaia: We are doing more movie nights and game nights.Amy: Although I still dread the question of “what’s for dinner?” each day, I’m enjoying cooking more with the family. We’ve enjoyed some really yummy home-made pizzas we wouldn’t otherwise have made when we could easily purchase frozen pizzas or delivery. Our daughter has really stepped up and demonstrated both her maturity and compassion by taking care of her brother while my husband and I work full time from home and she figures out how to complete her HS e-learning! A favorite joy of mine is working upstairs when suddenly, the sound of my 3-year-old passionately singing “Let It Go” can be heard despite the closed door and space between my work space and his location.Shaun: I have enjoyed spending more time with my kids—watching my son use his imagination and play outside, and watching my daughter play with her brother.
VdM: A question specifically for Barrett -What's your favorite thing to do outside?Barrett: Play games outside [like] pretending to be a super hero, being a monkey on my new space dome.
Thank you, Amy, Shaun, Kaia and Barrett. We are happy you're here!Amy's published book is out of print, but used copies might be available. The title is Patrick Henry: Voice of the Revolution, published under the name Amy Kukla and co-written by Jon Kukla. It was published in 2000 by Rosen Publishing.Uncredited photos courtesy of the Chelgreen family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Jamie, Sean, Camille and Marlow Matlock. Camille is a VdM alum and Marlow is in his second year in Mrs. Steinman's Children's House.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family.The Matlocks: We are the Matlocks! Often caught smiling and on the go! Sean and Camille are the stability of the group; balanced, logical, and calm. While Jamie and Marlow love to the core, with a bit of a wild streak. We are typically a go-with-the-flow, happy-go-lucky crew that is along for the ride and down for just about any adventure! We love to be outside, being active, hanging with family and friends, and traveling. Camille is 11 years old and is in 6th grade. She is incredibly kind, eager to learn and help others, and a wicked athlete. She is a great soccer player, swimmer, and has been dabbling in some distance running, but can pretty much “pick up” any sport she tries. Marlow is 4 years old and feels all of his emotions to the deepest level! Whatever he is into at the time, he is all in and you will know it! He is all things fun and fast, but loves settling down with some solid cuddle sessions. He loves (the social aspect of) school and ADORES his teachers ;). He is fearless and like his sister, is down for almost anything! He talks constantly and wants to know allll the details!
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to 
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?The Matlocks: Sean is a Financial Research Analyst for a firm here in St. Louis. His job entails lots of travel, which the rest of us get to piggy back on from time to time! Jamie is a Speech and Language Pathologist. She works part-time at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital and also sees children privately. Jamie also is the assistant coach for Camille's select soccer team. That is maybe her most demanding job of all ;)
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?The Matlocks: We are typically BUSY! I would be lying if I didn't say we enjoy keeping busy schedules (I think?!). Between the sport commitments (ohhh, the many, many practices, games, meets, classes, etc), Jamie's workout schedule ;), staying connected with friends and family, and squeezing in as many impromptu getaway trips as we possibly can, we typically have jam packed schedules! So, during this extended break, we are all learning how to NOT have ANYTHING to run to! Loads of fun family time, being outside as much as we possibly can, reconnecting with hobbies we never knew we missed and needed, lots of evening movies showing Camille some old favorites, and just overall slowing down. I think it's good for us. But we are all missing the chaos a little bit!VdM: A question specifically for Camille -If you could snap your fingers and go anywhere in the world for 24 hours, where would you go? And why?Camille: I would go to my uncle’s home in Hanalei. There are so many other places I would want to go, but with only 24 hours, Hanalei seems like the best choice. We can swim, surf, hike, and play at his ranch house all in one day. It‘s perfect!
VdM: A question specifically for Marlow - Which do you like better, riding your bike or skiing? And why?Marlow: Riding my bike! Because it’s very fun! Because I can go around and around very fast and skid!
Thank you, Jamie, Sean, Camille and Marlow! We are so happy your family is a part of the VdM family.
Photos courtesy of the Matlock family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Lauren, Andrew, Selena and Lincoln Scott. Selena joined Mrs. Steinman's Children's House in 2018, and Lincoln will join her in the fall.Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family.Lauren: Hello! We are the Scott family! I am Lauren and my husband is Andrew. We have two children: Selena (P3) who is 5 and Lincoln (soon to be P3) who is 2. Can’t forget to mention our sweet pooch, Oliver. We currently reside in Ballwin. I grew up Arnold, MO and Andrew grew up in Jamaica until he was 17. We met in college at Missouri Baptist University. We both majored in Biology and participated in the track & field. It’s funny—something else we had in common was the same last name!
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to 
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?Lauren: I am a registered nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on an acute medicine floor. I have recently graduated from a family nurse practitioner program and cannot wait to transition into a new role, hopefully soon!Andrew has a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan University. Shortly after graduation, he realized his passion still lies in track & field, so he has started his own track & field club named Tallawah Track & Field. In Jamaica, the word Tallawah means “small, but strong.” He also coaches at Whitfield High School in the spring as a track & field coach. He loves to work with the student athletes and help them find their confidence to not only navigate the sport, but in life as well.
VdM: Tell us something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break from school?Lauren: To make the most of this extended break, we have been doing a lot of outdoor play that includes nature walks to the creek and bike riding, lots of practice with our daily work from the google classroom, and just enjoying the time that we have together by playing games, watching movies, and baking. Selena does miss her friends very much but the Zoom meetings and videos from the VdM staff always bring a smile to her face so we are very thankful for that. One thing I’m very thankful for is that Lincoln and Selena have become very close during this quarantine and do EVERYTHING together.
Thank you, Lauren, Andrew, Selena and Lincoln for being a part of the VdM community and for sharing your lives with us today. And a special thank you to Lauren for being a nurse. Your time, hard work and compassion keep us all safe, especially during this pandemic. We hope you continue to stay well and healthy, and we can't wait to see you all again soon.
Photos courtesy of the Scott family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Katherine, Andy, Emma and Lillian Newbold. Emma joined Mrs. Steinman's Children's House in January of this year.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family.Katherine: Andy and I met at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) our senior year of college. We moved to St. Louis at the beginning of 2007 and have been here ever since. We had Emma in January of 2017 and Emma became a big sister to Lillian in November of last year. We love to be outside, in the summer you can catch us at the pool most weekends. We love to go to the Kirkwood Farmers Market, the Zoo and the Magic House. Our favorite vacation is our annual trip to the beach in August and are really looking forward to going this summer.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to 
VdM: Tell us something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break from school?Katherine: We are trying to all be working in the house at the same time as well and managing a 3 year old and a 4 month old. We are trying to slow down a bit, focus on kindness, cleanliness and just making it through till we are all back to our normal routines! Trying to have some fun too!
Thank you, Katherine, Andy, Emma and Lillian! We are so glad to have your family as part of the VdM family.Photos courtesy of the Newbold family.
Like much of the world, Villa di Maria has made the decision to close our doors for the rest of the school year in the effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. We are heartbroken to be away from our families for the next few months, but we are also so proud of how our community has come together in the face of this challenge. In collaboration with our parents, Villa di Maria guides and staff have worked every day to keep our children connected and motivated through our distance learning programs.One of my favorite things about our distance learning programs is that they include something VdM children love to do—working in the kitchen! On campus our children work in the Children's House to prepare snack and bake bread or biscuits, and Elementary children plan, shop for and prepare meals each week. Preparing food and cooking for their classmates fortifies our children's sense of community—it gives them a sense of pride and belonging.
And there others benefits. Cooking gives children a chance to practice reading, grow their vocabularies and develop measurement and math skills. It teaches sequencing and order; builds gross and fine motor skills; engages the senses; promotes creativity and attention to detail; and develops time-management and organizational skills. Children who cook 
Video tutorials are especially suited to young children who haven't started to read and are great for anyone who benefits from visual learning. Streaming services and YouTube are filled with cooking and baking shows for all ages. Here's a short list of videos that offer cooking instruction and inspiration:
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto, especially during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected!In today's post, we'll meet the McAuley family: Reghan, Aidan, Brennah, Gabrielle and Ella. Reghan McAuley has been our P1 Children's House guide since 2010, but she first joined the VdM community as a parent in 2005.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family.Reghan: We are a family of five. I would describe our family unit as spunky, passionate, spontaneous, rather silly and a quite a mess at times. In order of age: Reghan, Aidan, Brennah, Gabrielle and Ella. We all love Montessori! And even though our girls have graduated, we continue to feel as though Villa is our touch stone, the place from which we pull our strength. We feel privileged and honored to be a part of the Villa di Maria community.
VdM: Where are you from and what brought you to St. Louis?Reghan: I was born and raised in a small Oklahoma oil town and Aidan is from Saint Louis. I met Aidan, my husband, when I was attending college at Oklahoma State University. I was the bar manager at Willie’s Saloon, birth place of Garth Brooks… and Aidan was the Bud Man. We married, started our family and lived in Tulsa for a couple of years before moving to Saint Louis, which we felt was a great city to raise our girls.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what first brought you to VdM?Reghan: I first heard of Montessori through my mother-in-law, Mary, and immediately began my research before my first baby was born. A stranger to St. Louis, I literally found Villa di Maria in the yellow pages (that’s a 1900s term, as Brennah would say). After a tour, I instantly fell in love with the atmosphere, the land and the gentle hum of learning. My first memories are of the children outdoors. A child reading under a tree. A child roller skating to the dumpster to take out the trash. A small child filling the bird feeder. That was it. I was sold!The girls were each a part of the VdM community from 2 ½ years of age through their 6th year. Gabrielle and Ella each attended MAP, which is now The Academy of Thought and Industry, for the 7th grade. They’ll all be at Clayton High School in the fall of 2020… one last year together at the same school.
As a Montessorian (a typical Montessori story really) I started as a parent. I sought out and found the best place for my children to grow and develop. My children not only blossomed, but exposed to me their true love for VdM, and my curiosity took over. I began asking questions every chance I could. Fortunately, directresses love to talk about Montessori. When Robyn asked “have you considered the training?,” I immediately knew the answer.Thanks to Robyn and the late Dr. Haines, I now have AMI Montessori training in two age groups, birth to three and three to six. I can’t explain the depths of my love for these young children, but I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fascinating process of human development and knowing that through the interaction with their environments, actions, activities, choices and friendships that they will become who they will be. It’s an awesome responsibility. Thank you, Maria Montessori. Thank you, Robyn and the team of incredible people I have worked with.
VdM: Tell us something about Brennah, Gabrielle and Ella, now that they are teenagers.Reghan: What I can say is that each is driven, passionate (although about different things), kind and thoughtful. Brennah, our soon to be senior, is interested in a range of studies… from law and politics to medicine and psychology. She’s independent and loves to work and earn her own money. She’s busy implementing the 10% rule…"10% of everything you earn is yours to keep."
Gabrielle, who will be a junior, charts her own course and always has a full schedule whether it’s as an intern at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Academy of Science, planning activities for her community project called "Beautify STL," or trying the latest vegan recipe. She was most proud of taking 3 minutes off her cross country record from the year before, an endurance sport that she credits for her academic achievements as well.
Ella has had a blast as an 8th grader at Wydown this past year and revels in anything related to physical movement… from gymnastics to the trampoline to casual activities like shooting hoops to kicking around the soccer ball. She bounces around among her many "friend groups" with ease and delight.
VdM: What is something your family is doing to make the most of this extended break?Reghan: I think, like most of us, we started with walking multiple times a day, reading, baking, tending to household projects, and yes, we watched "Tiger King." Aidan and I work from home and the girls have distant learning which helps us maintain a routine. Gabrielle installed 20,000 new bees for her 2 hives. Ella is my videographer for those hit videos on the primary google classroom. Brennah is sharpening her political knowledge as she gears up for voting in 2020. They each tend to their distant learning, then as Montessori children do, they continue learning naturally following their unique personal interests for the rest of the day.Our day-to-day was previously pretty splintered off from one another with work, travel, sports and separate schools. In quarantine, there is a great deal of healthy family bonding happening with our share of disagreements as well. It is nice to see the girls love for one another become visible again with hugs, play and plenty of laughter. Montessori has allowed their individuality to shine and they truly respect and even adore each other's different strengths.We have also taken on the handstand challenge, and our newest quarantine goal is a family card game of spades.
VdM: A question for Brennah, Gabrielle and Ella - What is one of your best memories from Villa di Maria?Brennah: I loved going outside to learn. At Villa we always were given the opportunity to learn "hands on" by going outside and interacting with the environment. One time, I was given the lesson of life with Ms. Nidhi. We laid out a timeline that stretched all the way down the road. It started at the very beginning of time and went to the current time. I was always able to picture what we were taught and remember it well because of how we experience work and learning in the Montessori environment.
Gabrielle: Today, I can connect my passion for the environment directly to the Earth Day celebration at VdM. Each and every Earth Day my classmates and I were invited to work in the garden and pick up trash around our campus. I planted delicate flowers with Mrs. Milos, bigger plants with Mrs. LeBeau, and worked in the whole entire big garden with Ms. Rebecca. Throughout my years at Villa, I loved exploring our six acres and taking care of what I discovered. After I graduated I continued my interest at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and created a small community garden in the city. VdM’s positive spirits surrounding Earth Day remain important to me today, because the holiday is often under-celebrated elsewhere.
Ella: Over the course of my time at Villa, I made countless memories. However, my favorite one developed towards the end of my Villa experience. At this point in our VdM journey together, my classmates were no longer just friends, but family. So, I was extremely close to every individual. My favorite experience was the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN). This is the trip to New York City that all of the sixth grade students take every year! There is a lot of work and research throughout the 6th year in the classroom prior to, but in the end, we traveled to the UN. My favorite memory of this trip was the experience inside of the UN building. Here we voted in the general assembly. It really felt like we were making an true impact on the world. One of our very own classmates was nominated to speak in front of the thousands of people from the actual podium. It was an experience that I will never forget!The McAuleys' Favorite Family Travel Spots: Colorado mountains, Ocracoke Island, and Costa Rica! We prefer to seek out the local culture when traveling, away from the resorts and dive right in to a real experiences.Family Song: "Cassiopeia" by Sara BareillesFamily Restaurant: Three Kings on the Loop is our celebration location!
Thank you, Reghan, Aidan, Brennah, Gabrielle and Ella! Villa di Maria would not be the same without you.Photos courtesy of the McAuley family. 
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet the Speckhart family: Amy, Henry, Ronan, Clara and Wiley. Ronan graduated from the Children's House in 2018. Clara is in her culminating year and Wiley is in his first year, both in Mrs. Steinman's Children's House.
Villa di Maria: Tell us a bit about you and your family.The Speckharts: We are the Speckharts—team of 5. Amy grew up in Wisconsin and Henry grew up in central Illinois. We met on Match.com (yes, we really did!) and honeymooned in Haiti (our second honeymoon was in Hawaii). Ronan was born in 2011 and has been moving full speed ahead every moment since. Clara is 6.5 and in her culminating year. She is an artist, monkey-bar specialist and loves to learn. Wiley is in his first year at Villa and enjoys sharing the classroom with his sister. He just turned 3 and loves to play with trains, all things yellow, and (like Olaf) likes to give warm hugs. We also have a puppy named Faldo who has lots of energy and likes to snack on pencils, markers and whatever other object happens to be on the floor.
VdM: How did you find Montessori and what brought you to 
VdM: What do you and your spouse do, career-wise?The Speckharts: Henry is a Senior Associate Actuary at MetLife—he works with a lot of numbers and is an Excel wiz. Henry's non-paying other job is a stand-up comedian, he does shows daily at our house and he is his biggest fan. Amy is a Talent Development Specialist at Bunzl. She helps with the training requirements and development for the employees within the organization.
Thank you, Amy, Henry, Ronan, Clara and Wiley for sharing!Photos courtesy of the Speckhart family.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected! Today, we'll meet Jacob Juntunen, Meghann Pytka, and their daughter Zocha, who joined VdM in 2018. Zocha is currently in her second year in Mrs. Steinman's Children's House.
The very best part of Villa di Maria is our people. Our community of families, faculty and staff is something to be proud of and something to hold onto during our school's COVID-19 closure. In this series, We are VdM, we’ll highlight the energies, talents, humor and wisdom of some of our amazing people—and we'll stay connected!Today, we'll meet another longtime VdM family: the Steinmans. Heather Steinman has been our P3 Children's House guide since 2014, but she joined the VdM community as a parent in 2002. Her youngest daughter is currently in Mrs. McAuley's Children's House and her youngest son will join his sister next fall. Read on to get to know Heather, her husband Brian and their children, Danny, Andra, Emerson and Miles.
My husband Brian is the Executive Chef at Charlie Gitto’s on the hill. We have known each other since middle school, and he makes me laugh every day.
Danny is a VdM alum and he even worked at Villa during late stay hours and summer camp in his high school years (some may remember him as “Mr. Danny”). He is currently a student at Ranken Technical College studying electrical engineering and will graduate this spring. Upon graduation, he will be moving to Huntsville, Alabama for a job working with Sargent and Lundy.
Andra is also a former Villa student and she too worked at late stay and summer camp! She is currently in her freshman year at the University of Kansas where she is studying nursing. She has also enjoyed being a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Emerson is in her third year in Mrs. McAuley’s Children's House. She is a bundle of energy and super excited about her upcoming birthday and turning 5!
Miles has just turned 2 and spent his Tuesdays this school year in the parent-child class, he will join his sister in Primary 1 this coming fall. He is the baby in our family, but he is ready for some big things!
Villa di Maria would like to add something here: Heather has also been working during this break to stay connected with the P3 families and children through emails, phone calls, voice calls and Zoom sing-alongs in our distance learning program. She and all of our amazing guides have been working tirelessly to keep our community together and learning. We would not be VdM without them.
Thank you, Heather, Brian, Danny, Andra, Emerson and Miles for sharing your lives with us today and every day at Villa di Maria.
Uncredited photos courtesy of the Steinman family.
The Serpent's Secret is the first in the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series by Sayantani DasGupta. The series follows the adventures of 12-year-old Kiran, an Indian-American girl, whose parents have always told her crazy stories about magical worlds and creatures—they've even told her she's a princess! She has never believed them, but on the morning of her birthday, she wakes up to find her parents have vanished and a terrifying demon is after her. Kiran suddenly finds herself in another dimension, where she is, in fact, a heroic princess on a mission to rescue her parents and save New Jersey. DasGupta weaves characters and tales inspired by traditional Bengali folklore into this wildly adventurous story.
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is the first in a series by Kwame Mbalia that follows the life and heroic adventures of seventh-grader Tristan Strong. After his best friend, Eddie, dies in a bus accident, Tristan is sent to stay with his grandparents to help him cope with his grief. On his first night there, the only thing Tristan has left of Eddie, his journal of folk tales, is stolen by a doll-looking creature. Tristan chases the creature into the mysterious woods and finally catches it. He struggles to get the journal back, accidentally punches a tree, and opens a passageway to another world. In this new dimension, Tristan meets John Henry and other characters from African-American folklore, as well as several West African deities. Tristan joins forces with the inhabitants of this magical place to seal the hole between the two dimensions and save the world.
Aru Shah and the End of Time is the first book in the Pandava Series by Roshani Chokshi. Aru lives with her mother in the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture. She lies to impress and fit in with the kids at school, whose lives seem much more exciting than her own. When three of her classmates come to the museum and dare Aru to light the Lamp of Bharata, to prove her claim that is cursed, she does it, believing she will be caught in her lie and humiliated. Instead the lamp releases a demon, and her classmates and mother become frozen in time. In order to stop the demon and restart time, Aru turns to the Hindu legend told in the Mahabarata. She sets out alone on a quest into the Kingdom of Death. 
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is the start of a four-book series by Grace Lin, based on traditional Chinese stories Lin heard as a child. Lin tells the story of Minli, a young girl who lives with her family in the valley of Fruitless Mountain. Her village and family are impoverished and unable to farm the land they live on. Minli, inspired by a magical goldfish and the folk tales her father tells her, sets out to change her family's fortune by finding the Old Man in the Moon. Early in her voyage, she meets Dragon, a flightless dragon, and they continue the adventure together. The book follows Minli and Dragon's heroic quest from village to village, as they solve riddles, face danger and meet wonderful characters along the way.