Dear BCMCS Families,
Hard to believe that we are coming up on the holiday season to this absolutely fantastic 2025-26 school year. Again, within each month’s school message, I will both relay and expand upon quote(s) from Maria Montessori in order to best understand her teachings. Fitting this ‘tis the season’ month, I will attempt to relay Montessori’s views on both the topic and concepts.
While Dr. Maria Montessori did not leave behind direct quotes about specific holidays, her core principles offer powerful guidance on how to approach celebrations in a meaningful, child-centered way. By interpreting her insight, our goal should be to ensure that the holidays nourish the whole child. For starters, Montessori encouraged the idea that children must be active participants in the "work" of celebrations when she stated, ‘children should participate in the work of a celebration, rather than being passively given things.’ We should involve children in preparation to develop crucial life skills. This active participation helps them learn compromise, accept limitations, and handle failures—essential skills for life, especially during stressful holiday periods. Holidays often test the limits of freedom within boundaries, as we, as adults, know that preparation reduces stress, with predictability bringing a sense of peace to any home or classroom environment.
Montessori also believed that "The soul of the child should be nourished by greatness," urging us to look past the superficial aspects of celebrations. We should seek deeper meaning and not confuse the "futility" of material trimmings with the true, deeper meaning of the celebration. Here, it can also be interpreted to slow down and observe the simple joys around us. Our focus should be on the immaterial, where we should wonder with the children about the abstraction of love, giving, and warmth, rather than getting caught up in material possessions.
Lastly, Montessori stated, "… humankind is universal. Our means of meeting them create the richness and diversity of the planet. The Montessori child would come to relish the texture of that diversity." During the holidays, focusing on connections should be more important than insisting on strict compliance with rituals. We should center on the bonds that tie us to the larger circle of humanity. Presenting children with authentic experiences of a wide range of holidays helps to nurture appreciation for differences, build a sense of communion, and create a critical consciousness about the interconnectedness of all people.
As a follow-up to one of last month’s events, the PTO sponsored food drive was a huge accomplishment. In all, over 60 bags of food were able to be donated to the Lester Bahrt Pantry. Thank you so much to the families for their participation in making so many people's Thanksgiving even happier and a big thanks to BCMCS parent Holly McLaughlin for her extra coordinated effort in this endeavor.
On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. As always, Take Care, and until next year… ~Mr. Brian Long
