This weeks happenings:
February 27th-March 2nd
Tuesday-28th Prospective Parent Meeting FNM@Shaw in the cafeteria, 10:00
Wednesday-29th Incoming Middle School Parent Meeting, Main Campus, 5:00-6:00


Hello Faith North Community,
Observing one morning in one of our classrooms, I was approached by two elementary students. One politely offered to prepare me a cup of tea, the other offered a clipboard with a note paper and pen so that I could record any questions during my time there.
How do Montessori children, while in the environments, know how to wait for a turn, make a guest comfortable, respect someone else’s space, walk instead of run, ask politely for help or offer to help someone else? It’s not magic; they have learned each of these skills, and many more, in the lessons of Grace and Courtesy. These lessons are a regular feature of the Montessori classroom.
Grace and courtesy should promote harmony in every level of human existence, large and small:
At a small level:
…within each person
…in relationships
…within families
At a larger level:
…in the community
…throughout the world
Many different topics fall under the umbrella of grace and courtesy. Care of the classroom environment, social situations, friendships, care for the earth and its inhabitants, and the Montessori approach to high school, “Erdkinder”.
How does a child go about developing inner harmony? The child in the Montessori classroom is allowed many choices. Each child’s inner life is as distinctive as their fingerprints; having the freedom to choose their work (and all the details that go with it) gives them a chance to express their true selves.

Harmony between people is part of the social skills and conflict resolution that is the core of any Montessori classroom. Establishing “ground rules” with the help of the children happens at the beginning of each school year. Role-playing and discussion are done throughout the year so that children know how they should treat others – and how they should expect to be treated.
It’s obvious that skills of grace and courtesy are deeper and more complicated than simply teaching children how to shake hands or hold open a door (although those are important things to know). They go to the roots of how we behave towards one another and the world around us. Attention to grace and courtesy can often be the deciding factor in the formation of rewarding friendships; whether or not someone lands a job; whether or not marriages succeed.
Through these opportunities, children gradually build the social skills of a polite society. As they find activities that meet their inner need for self-development and as their space and autonomy are respected, a sense of calm and purposefulness settles over the classroom. Perhaps it is magic, after all, especially when enjoyed with a warm cup of tea.
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal