I am sure many of you have heard about the recent great metamorphosis that took place in our classrooms. For a number of weeks, our students have had the opportunity to watch the metamorphosis of caterpillars and ladybugs right in front of their eyes. What an amazing firsthand experience of nature at work. Some children also experienced the birth of chicks from eggs in incubators to chicks under the heat lamp. The Kindergarten students had an in-house
field trip on the life of bees, including the tiers of bees that protect and serve the queen and everything in between. Our new garden has offered opportunities for the children to nurture and care for the plants that they put in the beds themselves.
I had the pleasure of observing the children engage at the various stages of these processes, anticipating, intently studying, awestruck, devouring books, drawing pictures, writing stories, and filling their watering cans to tend to the plants. As I listened to their impressive
conversations of their knowledge, and their willingness to tell me every detail, I could not but help compare their own growth this year to that which they themselves were seeing and experiencing.
At Westmont, we are proud to set our children on the amazing metamorphosis of growth and development and watch that growth unfold. Our students, regardless of the age at which they join us, have the wonderful experience of being nurtured and tended to at every stage. Our mission to develop capable young people who are inspired to learn is evident in all of our classes, each and every day and in each individual child. As we approach the end of another school year, it is the perfect time to reflect on their milestones and appreciate their capabilities.
We watched as our Little Steps Montessori children separated successfully from their parents and were drawn into a loving and warm environment where they became a small community of friends and learners; great trust was built and their independent spirit kindled. Some of our toddlers also experienced separation but soon learned that they were safe and capable. Their sense of “I can do it myself” allowed them to morph from tentative observers into independent curious learners and doers. To watch a community of two and three-year old children take responsibility for themselves and their environment, whilst eagerly exploring all that environment has to offer, is nothing short of wonderful.
Our early childhood students, now expert navigators of their classroom, watched those caterpillars, chrysalids, and chicks with scientific minds, questioning, observing, recording and concluding. Their interest in this life learning and indeed all of the opportunities afforded them has set them on a path to continue to spread their wings and to seek knowledge. Our Kindergarten students, now completing their leadership year and their Westmont journey, are ready to fly the coop. During my visits to their classroom and my weekly lunch dates with them, I was educated on all that they were discovering. I was impressed by the knowledge they gleaned and their ability to confidently impart that knowledge. I saw the endless possibilities ahead as they became scientists, mathematicians, writers, artists, performers, teachers, and much more. With a foundation that allowed for the development of self, of confidence, of responsibility, of collaborative learning, of community awareness, of resilience observing their blossoming from their Little Steps, Toddler and Early Childhood journey is magical.
There is so much ahead for all of our students and, as partners in their educational journey, we must continue to tend their growth, nurture and role model, educate their human potential and allow them to keep spread their wings and touch the world.
Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to sow the seeds. Have a wonderful summer!
Colette
