At the elementary level a great deal of research powers the curriculum. We completed our Great Brain projects just before Spring Break and the children arrived at school today fresh with new enthusiasm for learning. (The happy faces of returning students warmed my heart during arrivals!)

One student had researched sign language for the deaf as her Great Brain project and that ignited interest in blindness. Today there was animated research into that area in the library. Two girls were deep into developing a play depicting blind people. They settled on Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Their heads were together for a great part of the morning mapping out their ideas of how to present this new information.

We are back in the swing, and learning with gusto!

We have been having many observers recently. Another local Montessori school has announced that it will be closing at the end of this year and some of the families from there have been visiting to see if New Horizon is a good fit for them.

One day last week the observer left the early childhood class and came into the elementary to observe for a while. I was surprised to see a little student from the early childhood class come in (accompanied by a teacher) and speak to the visitor. This student usually doesn’t choose to initiate conversations with “strangers” like some of the others are wont to do. It was only later that I learned what the exchange was about.

This is our “newest” student. Coming to New Horizon is her first experience away from her parents and at times she realizes how much she misses them. When that happens she simply cries. Her crying is happening less and less, but it does still occur. Apparently she started crying while our visitor was observing in her class. She was worried that the visitor might think that this was not a happy school and she felt compelled to come set the record straight!

How brave! How sweet! And how revealing of the depth of her feelings about school.