Betty Jean Sawyers Lorenz was 94 years young when she died. She was Bob’s auntie and welcomed me into the family with open arms. Betty Jean was an incredible smart, generous, feisty woman. She was a ski instructor at Park City for years. She is remembered for all the baby showers she hosted for her many nieces and sharing her home at Bear Lake for our Sawyers family reunions. I loved her dearly and she will be missed so much by all of our Sawyers family and her many close friends.
One of her daughters is Julia Cook who is the author of 44 children’s books that are used extensively by Amanda (our Student Support Coordinator) and so many teachers around the world.
-Robyn
Betty Jean at her Bear Lake house
Rosaleen (Rosie) W. Fenn
Last week I said goodbye to my Aunt Rosie. She left us at the young age of 99 1/2 years old, just a few years shy of her goal of 102! My Aunt Rosie was a woman with a twinkle in her eye, who always made you feel that you were her “favorite”! This past March she continued to lead us each year, riding on the family float, for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Price Utah. She has brought lessons of joy, love and laughter that will stay with us forever. Memories of her will always bring a smile to my face.
– Nanette
This picture was on her final float in the St Patrick’s Day parade. She was the Grand Marshall in 2007.
What is it that every child needs that parents don’t seem to have? (Lifetime passes to Disney World and unlimited shoe budgets don’t count!) You can fill in your own blanks. It is something that a Montessori school can help offer. Of course a good education comes to mind but that is not even the greatest gift your Montessori school can offer.
What your child needs most is one of the attributes that makes a Montessori school so special. Yes, it is a safe place emotionally; a challenging place intellectually; and a caring place socially. It is designed for your child and populated with adults who care. These are all good things but not the greatest thing your child receives. And your final answer is?
Time! Time is our most treasured commodity – we always seem to be running out of it. We always seem to be talking about “making” time for things when in reality we need to “take” time – making it a priority. And to make it even more challenging for us, it is not just “time” but what you do with time that creates its value.
With time an acorn becomes an oak, a tadpole becomes a frog, a caterpillar becomes a butterfly and a child becomes — What? We are prone to say “an adult” but even that is not the ultimate destination of time. It is what you do with time!
If time were the only factor an acorn would become a bigger acorn, a tadpole a bigger tadpole etc. but it is time and attention (what you do with time) that begins this extraordinary transformation. Your child is already DNA’d with the marvelous characteristics of who they are to become – right-handed, left-handed, artist, musician, scientist, doctor or Indian chief. It takes time (and observation) for these unique character qualities to blossom and become apparent. And that is what your school does – is to take time to know your child, to take time to open the world of learning and to take time to watch your child grow and learn and to be transformed.
If your child doesn’t have time to develop and there is no one there to observe and encourage development then your child may miss the opportunity to create the person he or she was designed to be. A Montessori school gives children time to discover – not only the marvels outside of themselves but the marvels of their personality and passions within themselves. Montessori offers a child a window on the world and time to take it all in. It takes time to flourish.
There is no need to rush learning. The Montessori secret is that given enough time children will learn everything they need. And given enough time they will take joy in the discoveries because they will not be pressed for time and they will go on to master what they have learned.
So how do we deal with the pressure of time in regard to our children? Take a deep breath! In fact, you may need to take many of them as you set your clocks back figuratively and literally. Figuratively, scale back your time expectations for your child. Being the first to walk, the first to talk, the first to read or the first whatever has nothing to do with the marathon of life. It takes time to build a solid foundation. The gift of time doesn’t mean you lower your goals and expectations. It means you give them the gift of time to be children; the gift of time to explore and discover; the gift of time to make mistakes, to recover and to learn from those mistakes. Give them time to discover their strengths and passions. Give them time to build the adult they will become.
Take another deep breath and set your clocks back literally. You have a choice – you can do for your children (and make them dependent) or you can give them more time (more time than it certainly would take you) to get dressed, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, feed the dog, clean their room etc. Part of time is patience – or is that patience is a part of time
They want to do it for themselves. They want to become independent. Give them the time to achieve the ability to be independent (self-governing, self-ruling) and to do that you have to give them the gift of more time. The ability to do things for yourself, to accomplish, and to finish the task is what builds real confidence and real self-esteem.
A Montessori school is successful because it is governed by the observation of the child’s needs and not the pressure to achieve according to the clock or the calendar. When the teacher does not seem to share your concern over your child’s progress it is not from a lack of concern but out of experience and observation knowing that given the time your child will blossom and learn all that is needed.
I love what a Montessori education does for a child’s love of learning. I love the enthusiasm that it engenders. I love to watch the understanding that dawns on a child as a concept makes sense for the first time.
Montessori children learn to read – often very early. They learn their numbers – not just counting but understanding that seven is one more than six and not just because it follows six. They begin to add and subtract, even multiply and divide. They learn about leaves and leaf shapes. They learn about zoology, geometry and time. There seems to be almost no end of the surprises of what our children learn.
It is ironic, however, that the most important lesson does not appear on a progress report. Montessori is the only educational philosophy that builds its structure on the lessons of grace and courtesy. The individuality of the classroom can only succeed if each child exercises care and consideration for his or her classmates by taking turns, helping each other, encouraging each other and teaching each other. Grace and courtesy sets the tone for the classroom. The quietness and the serenity allow the concentration that precedes significant accomplishment. Learning well the lessons of grace and courtesy will make your child stand out for the rest of his or her life but even grace and courtesy are not the greatest lesson.
The great lesson is the ability to positively control yourself. Most of us grew up with “self-control” meaning to do exactly what someone else told you to do – “be quiet, don’t, stop, no, don’t move” etc. The great Montessori lesson (and the one that takes great effort and often a lifetime to master) is self-control. The mastery of self-control leads to making wise choices. Wise choices come from focus, determination, knowledge and controlling your self. The way you learn to make wise choices is to be allowed to make choices (and live with the consequences.) And then, to make a better choice –living with the consequences until you have practiced enough to begin to make wise choices the first time.
Traditional education does not afford a child the opportunity to exercise real self-control, make independent choices and work through them to a successful completion. Traditionally, if you fail a test you move on. In Montessori, you strive for mastery before you move on. In Montessori you progress from strength (mastery) and not weakness (failure.)
This same wisdom applies to the lessons of grace and courtesy – learning how to deal with people – and when you offend, learning how to make amends and not brush it off.
The lesson (and benefit) of self-control is that it concentrates your power and enhances your achievement. Self-control is essential to making wise choices. Without self-control the child is subject to every interior whim and outside influence. Self-control helps focus the child to be able to make wise choices.
The most important lesson in Montessori education is not an academic one but one of self-control and focus. Your child will gain many academic skills in Montessori but the greatest lesson is self-control and with it the ability to make wise choices.
At the beginning of our 37th year as a Montessori school, it is my great pleasure to welcome back our returning families and to welcome our new families who have chosen to join our community.
I want you all to know that I am committed to doing what is necessary to continue the Montessori Community School experience. This includes investing in retaining teachers and staff and increasing combined activities among smaller classes to help ensure there is a high level of social interaction.
We are able to do this because MCS has operated in a fiscally conservative manner for several years and is in a strong position to weather this storm.
We appreciate your loyalty and want you to know we are working diligently to recruit new students and are confident, with time, that we will be able to return to past enrollment numbers.
We care deeply about our students and their families and are committed to providing a safe, personal and enriching educational experience.
Talking about hard things is… hard! Sometimes we avoid for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing and making things worse. We are so very grateful to Cherie Mockli for helping us understand how we can offer support and provide comfort when needed. Cherie’s perspective is so very grounding. Her advice is practical. Thank you Cherie!
The recording of our conversation can be found below
The weather was perfect for our whole school to assemble on the field to celebrate Earth Day.
Katie (teacher in Magnolias) and Wren and Alice (students from Uinta) led us in singing the Garden Song. Katie played guitar and was accompanied by Alice on strings and Wren on keyboard. The had only one opportunity beforehand to rehearse together but it was a polished performance nevertheless.
Donda (teacher of OC and GO) read us a beautiful book by April Pulley Sayre called Thank you Earth- A Love Letter to Our Earth.
And then the moment we had all been waiting for arrived- the butterfly release. Brandi (school director) and Jenn (teacher in Stars) brought the butterfly enclosures into the middle of the grass and gently opened the tops. Infants through 6th grade watched and waited as the butterflies warmed up in the sun. Oohs were heard as some of the butterflies experimentally flapped their wings. Finally they flew.
Around the world people view the butterfly as representing endurance, change, hope and life. Our hope is that we learn to have a greater appreciation for all the earth provides and that we revisit our responsibility to preserve and use her gifts in a respectful manner.
The Facilities Sub-Committee has identified three primary goals:
updating HVAC ventilation throughout MCS;
extensive building renovations to add classroom space to accommodate the large community interest in Montessori education for our youngest friends; and
renovating existing toileting spaces.
These goals are each important for the health, safety, and development of our students, staff, and administration, and bring unique challenges and considerations. Fortunately, the nature of these projects is such that each could be pursued individually and potentially simultaneously, depending on cost and impact to operation of the school. The Facilities Sub-Committee sought bids from multiple HVAC companies, and contracted to receive an engineering assessment from a local engineering firm that was tasked to evaluate the scope of potential work, cost, and potential timeline for each project. Through this engineering assessment, due to be completed in the next few weeks, the Facilities Sub-Committee hopes to receive clarity about what projects are feasible on a short- and long-term basis, and what could be done together. Once this assessment is complete, it will be reviewed by the larger Strategic Planning Committee.
If you are passionate about any of these issues and would like to participate on a subcommittee, or provide feedback, please contact strategicplanning@mcsslc.com.
Many of you already know who I am, but for those of you who don’t, my name is Carson Woodard. I teach outdoor classroom, G.O., extended day, and assist in all three elementary classrooms. I am currently getting my Montessori upper elementary certification, and will attend a summer residency program in park City this July. I will be selling a small collection of my poetry and three large framed poems and will accept any additional donations in hopes to raise enough funds to cover my expenses. If you’d like to contribute, these items will be available during the Montessori Market this coming Thursday and Friday, April 21 & 22.
I have also attached a small sample of one of my poems below for you to read.
Sincerely,
Carson Woodard
Soulhopper
I am here to speak about the grave details of my desire.
For if I do not expel them they are bound to
Flee at this thought’s retire.
I must find my soul.
I am unsure if a soul I have.
I am uncertain if it is a substance I can grasp.
Walking through the thick grass of my backyard,
I trudged through the freezing forests of my lost soul.
My heart yearns from above this jungle
For my nature’s disenthrallment.
And frosts upon this lawn make the bells of my sensitive skin ring,
Alarming the flustered flowers to be weary
That their beauty might meet its final spring.
As the sun arose from the mount olympus cove,
Only the shadow of a goldfinch perching on the fence showed.
But the warmth of its song unthawed this lawn.
That’s when I found it out in the open,
Hiding beneath the daylight,
Glowing radiantly upon my sight.
My soul I have found.
At last!
I ran inside with it cupped in my hands,
Towards the jar where I have kept a grasshopper alive
All winter long.
I opened up the jar and set it inside,
And I wondered who would win in a fight.
I am a child, what can I say?
I want one thing until I’ve found it
Then I aspire to play.
I waited and waited throughout the entire day.
Finally, when the sun’s colorful ship
Had sunk behind the western mountain,
I looked once more before I gave myself
To the land of dreams.
My soul glowingly gleamed inside and out of the grasshopper.
At last, I felt whole!
And that’s when my love for bugs
Became my very own soul.
The time has come for Mr. Lian and Ramira to say goodbye to MCS and move on to new things.
Mr. Lian
Mr. Lian and his family will be moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky at the end of this school year. He, his wife, Naemeh, and children-Kham (6th grade), Dotawi (4th grade), David (2nd grade) and baby Jo will be greatly missed.
Mr. Lian has worked at MCS since 2008. In his long years of service to our school he carried out his responsibilities in a timely and careful manner while still managing to be available to the “beck and call” of all. In his work and interactions with students, staff and parents he was so very gracious and patient. We knew that we did not need to worry as the school’s building and grounds were in his very capable hands.
Our students and staff acknowledge Mr. Lian for his hard work and gentle manner; his kindness and dedication; his creativity and innovation; and the wonderful example he set for us all. Messages can be sent to lianvial@mcsslc.com
Ramira
Over the years Ramira’s roles and responsibilities shifted but in everything she did her stellar work ethic was very evident. While in recent years Ramira reduced her hours to part-time and for the past 2 years worked remotely, her contributions remained invaluable. Ramira has left a lasting impression on our school and staff. She will be greatly missed.
Our community acknowledges Ramira for her inclusive manner; her persistence to bring accreditation to completion; the beautiful paintings and photographs she could create; and the wonderful example of follow through she presented to us all.
It was an honor to work with Mr. Lian and Ramira and a privilege to be involved in their children’s growth and development. We are very grateful for their many contributions to MCS. They will be fondly remembered. Please join the community to express our gratitude to them and wish them well in the future.
We are delighted to introduce you to Wynde Klauer who joined our Student Support team last year as a reading specialist.
Wynde brings a wealth of experience and training to our community. She has a Masters in Education and a Reading Endorsement from Westminster College. She spent 8 years working in an early childhood Montessori classroom and 24 years teaching 1st grade for the SLC school district. Most recently, since her retirement, she has been a much sought after substitute at MCS.
Wynde will focus on working with lower elementary students through December 2022. She will collaborate closely with the elementary teachers to provide supplemental reading instruction to students in their classrooms that would benefit from this targeted practice. In January 2023, she will turn her attention to 3rd years in the early childhood program.
Wynde’s own words, “I am excited to help students gain more skills, confidence, and pleasure with their own reading experience.”
