Dear Cedar Parents,

What a wonderful year we have enjoyed in Cedar! 

Today I looked around the room and saw a classroom full of children at “work”.  There was a soft hum of noise, movement, and busy hands. The children were focused on their work, communicating and listening well to each other as they explored and practiced with whatever sparked their fancy. Everyone was engaged in “purposeful” activities, and a peacefulness permeated the room.  Maria Montessori used the term “normalized” to describe a well-functioning classroom of children.  The term “normalized” is perhaps a little weighted and suggests there is one type of normal,  but her point was that the goal of the guide must be to support the spirit of each unique child by preparing a classroom with works to spark their interest, support their inquiries, invite engagement –and then get out of their way.

Thanks to the tireless energy and support of Katie, her wisdom and patience with me, and the trust from all of you, we have had a great year together.

I want to savor this moment, and am reflecting on this unique group of children with all their gifts and hidden talents yet to come out.  I truly love each and every one of your children and will miss those moving on to other classrooms and schools next year.  

Please know the Cedar door is always open… and I can always use an extra hand “edging the shelves”, sharpening pencils or watering the garden.  Come visit!

Our final weeks in Cedar have included dipping our toes (figuratively) into the Salish Sea.  Today I brought in a baby octopus that I found  washed up on the shore yesterday on my day off.  I told the children how I  lifted up a moon snail shell and it was hidden beneath. I was so excited to bring it in and show the children the exquisite beauty found only in the natural world.  Though it had died, this tiny creature survived from an organism the size of a grain of rice, and swam wild and free in the sea.  

I hope your children will spend the summer with you looking under moon shells and spend most of the long days ahead exploring the natural world in unstructured play time, digging holes, picking berries and splashing about in the sea and lakes, rivers and streams– where there is endless beauty and new life, hope and renewal.

Life goes fast.  My youngest graduates from high school this June, and I swear he just finished pre-school.  My favorite poet, Mary Oliver wrote, “To pay attention is our endless and proper work.”  She was a wise woman.  

Happy Summer!

Warmly,
Mary