Dear Parents,

Last Tuesday we arrived at school to find that our neighbor's dead tree had at last fallen and landed in a way that it blocked the street leading to school. Many of you had been watching the leaning tree and predicting its demise. The tree was completely blocking the street making a normal carpool drop off impossible. The staff immediately made a plan to gather umbrellas and meet the children at the corner of Bates and White Oak and escort them down the street to the school. The parents turned into White Oak Street and immediately made the observation that something was very different. Of course, a crew from the city arrived with their big truck and equipment right in the middle of car pool. We asked if they could please wait ten minutes to begin their work. They agreed. After car pool, the students stood in the parking lot to watch the tree cleared. They got to see lots of big trucks, even a street sweeper.   The workers even gave us a slice of the tree trunk.

It is amazing how any event can turn into an exercise in emergency management and an on-site field trip at the same time. Many thanks to our staff and parents who set the calm tone that helped the children to know that everything was fine even with all the sudden changes.

 We are constantly reminded of the contribution that you make to our success. At the Elementary level, as well as the Primary, we understand the vital role that parents play in a child's development.   We, as Montessori directors and directresses, must never forget that parents are the primary teachers of their children regardless of what school their children might attend.

The Montessori Method is special in that it was developed from observations of how children develop when they are allowed to follow the basic tendencies natural to all children. TheMontessori parent creates the kind of environment in which the child can do the work of developing into an adult, and to avoid putting obstacles in the way, or maybe more importantly, of being an obstacle.

Parents should never relinquish too much of their responsibility to schools and to teachers. The proper role of a school, Montessori or otherwise, is to complement the home. It is the parents who play the primary role in their child's development. We Montessorians can offer only secondary help.

A parent's greatest gift to his or her child is the gift of love. True love requires a great expenditure of time and patience. We see daily examples of your commitment to your children whether it is attending soccer games or working on a school fundraising project.  We live in a busy world that is sadly less and less child oriented. The most important job we will ever have is parenthood. What parents do in their professional career is insignificant compared to the rearing of a happy, loving human being capable of coping with the problems of the future.

We commend you for the work you do as parents. This Sunday we have a special day when many people will be celebrating their Mothers. We join you in that appreciation for the work that Mothers do.

Happy Mother's Day,

Peggy Higgins