What is the meaning of Spring?

For most, Spring means rebirth and hope. Everyday I watch Mayor De Blasio and Governor Cuomo’s report about the state of New York City and our tristate region. In this time of Covid-19, there are many bleak, dark days. As Cuomo said this morning, when times are troubled we see the good, the bad, and the ugly come out in people. People’s true essence comes out when situations become difficult. People react to stressful times in a variety of ways. Some people will disappoint you and hurt you. Some people will surprise you with their ability to be so generous in their outpouring of love and hope.

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots up and make new trees.” ~ Amelia Carhart

When you look at a field of dandelions, you can either see a hundred weeds or a hundred wishes. At Twin Parks Montessori School, we understand that families are isolated and parents are not only working from home but they are overseeing the education of their children. We are here to help. We are offering families video conferencing, lessons, stories, songs, enrichment and other ways to keep the community of classrooms together. From a social-emotional view, children need to know that their friends and their teachers are safe and ok. Being primarily visual learners, it is important that they “see” their class community. Even if they react to seeing their classroom in small squares on the computer by running away or becoming over excited. This is part of the new normal for children.

TPMS teachers quickly learned how to present materials and circle time in a format that many had never used before. The teacher’s and administrator’s willingness to provide unique learning experiences for the children on their campus made me very proud to be a part of TPMS teams. Teachers are to be commended for their love for their classroom children and the importance, thought, and time they spent to learn from mistakes and make the next face-time experience better than the one before.