Our history is full of heroes who spent their lives educating and modeling justice, peace and equal rights for all. They are our inspiration and bring hope that the children of today will change our world in the near future into a better place. 

“Sooner or later all the people of the world will have to discover a way to live together in peace, and thereby transform this pending cosmic elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood.”
Martin Luther King Jr. was a person who led peaceful protests to stop discrimination based on the skin color. We teach our students about being equal, having the same rights as humans for voting, labor, access to public services like education. Dr. King received a well deserved Nobel Peace Price. 

"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind." 
Mahatma Gandhi was another peaceful activist for equal civil rights as well as leader of bringing India to the independence from Britain. He believed that people don't need to be divided because of their religious beliefs, rather there should be a freedom and tolerance toward various religious systems. When we talk to our elementary age students about fundamental human needs, we characterize material and  spiritual needs. Religion, vanity and art belong to the spiritual category which is such important part of humans.

"Being of service is not enough. We must walk the talk, live the talk, be the talk." 
Cesar Chavez was a civil right and labor leader for farm workers. Because of him establishing a union, the workers had gained safer work conditions, benefits like health insurance and better earnings. Chavez increased awareness among the farmers about being treated with respect, having dignity and standing up for their rights. Our students receive respect, are expected to show respect to others so we can function as a community with freedoms and responsibilities. 

"One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."
Malala Yousafzai is an activist for woman and children education who received a Nobel Peace Prize at 17 years of age. Malala is an inspiration for us, educators, because we know that our students can achieve whatever they put their minds into and an example for all our youth to stand up for what's important to them.  

"We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are a part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity."
Maria Montessori believed in educating children about living in a community where everyone practices self - control, respect, empathy, harmony and peaceful conflict resolution. Through the prepared environment, modeling and teaching grace and courtesy, mixed ages, supporting the growth of the moral compass in the elementary age children, care and work in nature, the concept of peace becomes a part of the child.  
 

Our Annual Kindness Week is January 26 - 30. Children and guides are planning for activities with their classmates, other classroom communities, their own families and the larger community outside of CMS. The guides will share more information with you in the Friday email.

Click here to sign up for Spring Enrichments! Registration deadline is February 11th.



Q) How long have you worked at CMS?
A)  I joined CMS in 2003, shortly after graduating from the AMI Montessori Training Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. During my first four years, I worked in the all-day program as a Primary Guide. In 2008, I had the wonderful opportunity to build the Bluebonnet Community from the ground up, and since then I have been working alongside my amazing assistant, Denise. I am also honored to serve as a level coordinator, where I am able to share my experiences and ideas with my level colleagues.

  Although many years have passed, our passion for working together remains strong, and we continue to deeply love and care for every child who has been, or is still, part of our community. This work is incredibly rewarding—being able to witness the growth of so many children. I am especially proud to see many of them thriving as they grow older, and it is always a joy when they return to visit us or even come back to work with us during summer camp.

Q) How did you come to discover Montessori and how has it impacted your life?
A) I first became familiar with Montessori pedagogy after graduating from college, when I returned to my hometown and worked as a translator in several Montessori schools in Taipei, as well as an elementary English teacher. In order to translate accurately, the Montessori school owners taught me how to manipulate the materials and explained the purpose behind each work. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the Montessori system—it is logical, meaningful, and joyful.

 I grew up in a traditional private school where the main focus was academic achievement and exam performance. In Asia, exam scores often determine which high school or college a student can attend. I studied very hard to stay in advanced classes, and while I performed well on exams, I never truly enjoyed school. I remember many nights feeling stressed and exhausted, sometimes even crying myself to sleep.

When I was introduced to Montessori materials and philosophy, everything changed. I couldn’t stop wanting to learn more. This led me back to Vancouver, where I enrolled in the AMI Montessori training program. From that point on, I knew I had found my path. I genuinely love coming to work every day for almost 23 years, and seeing children run toward the classroom with big smiles each morning reminds me that I made the right choice.

Today, I am not only a Montessori guide, but also a proud Montessori mom. I am truly honored to call myself a Montessorian.

Q) What is something you would recommend for parents?
A)I would first like to congratulate parents on making the wonderful choice to be a Montessori family. My biggest recommendation is to be patient and trust the process. In Montessori, growth happens gradually. You may not see transformation overnight, but with time, you will observe your child becoming more independent, confident, and self-motivated. Each Montessori level follows a three-year cycle, and every year builds upon the last. When you allow your child the time and space to grow within this cycle, the results are truly meaningful. Thank you for having faith in your child and for trusting us as guides.

 At home, parents can support their child by encouraging independence in everyday routines. Simple things like allowing your child to dress themselves, help with meal preparation, tidy up their belongings, and make age-appropriate choices go a long way. Providing a calm, respectful environment, offering consistent routines, and giving children time to try things on their own helps build confidence and responsibility.

Strong partnerships between parents and teachers are essential. When we communicate openly and work together as a team, we create the best possible environment to support each child’s development.

Q) What do you do for fun outside of work? 
A) Outside of work, I truly enjoy spending quality time with my family. I love baking, gardening, creating fun art projects, and doing science experiments with my children. These moments of creativity and curiosity are very special to me.

Our family also loves to travel. We have visited around 16 countries across North and Central America, Asia, and Europe. Traveling has strengthened our family bonds and given us so many meaningful memories. It has also opened our minds and hearts to see the beauty of the world and to appreciate and respect differences. Even when we speak different languages or come from different cultures, travel inspires us to connect, learn from one another, and share in each other’s traditions.

CMS CALENDAR REMINDERS

• January 21 - Town Hall 
• January 26 - 30 Kindness Week Challenge
• February 1 - All Ages Playdate 10 - 12

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