From Mr. David's Desk 10/11/24

Thanks to everyone who attended our first-ever Grandfriends Day! More than fifty grandparents and friends joined us from as close as Beacon Hill and as far away as Israel. They were able to chat over coffee, hear from me, and interact with their grandchildren in classrooms. For those that missed them, my remarks follow.

HOS Remarks - Grandfriends Day 2024

Thank you for joining us on our inaugural Grandfriends Day! We are deeply grateful that your family has chosen Torit as the school to start your grandchild’s educational journey. Now in our 16th year, Torit students have gone on to top public and private schools in Boston and across New England.

Already this year, Torit students have met the mayor of Boston and the governor of Massachusetts and were filmed for a science documentary series that will be released in Asia and the United States. Torit students achieve amazing things, and for many of them, it starts in our infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms.

There, students learn to live our mission. It reads, “Torit fosters curiosity, independence, and an appreciation for knowledge along with the humility and awareness to value the ideas, support, and friendship of others.”

For children, Torit is the place where they exercise autonomy as well. They’re independent learners here. We’re on their turf, and they’re excited to share it with you. At Torit, they are learning to “own” their educations, to be self-directed and intrinsically motivated.

For an infant, that means they learn to sit up and explore the world around them under the watchful eyes of dedicated, caring teachers. For toddlers, it means they interact with other children and that their natural curiosity is fed. For preschoolers, they learn letters and reading and numbers and math, and they do so in a group where they have to share, use their words, and come to realize that they are not the center of attention at all times.

Did I mention that all of our students take lessons in Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish every week? They are exposed to all three languages from the age of 3 months up to 12 year olds. If you speak any of these languages, try talking with the students you meet this morning. They may just reply in kind.

By the time Torit students are 1st graders, they are increasingly confident, eager, and energetic learners. They try new things with us even as they learn parts of speech or how to add and subtract. Lower Elementary students are a study in contrasts: sure and uncertain, bold and hesitant.

By the time those students enter 3rd grade with us, they are strong readers, writers, and mathematicians. They are absorbing information (and as fast as some of us are forgetting it!) and learning what they can do with their knowledge to improve the world.

My goal is that next year, we will add an inaugural middle school classroom, a hands-on, highly academic program that will prepare students for the most challenging secondary schools while using the resources of Boston as a springboard into authentic learning.

It takes a dedicated staff to make this all happen, and many of our teachers hold state licensure, Montessori certification, bachelors and masters degrees. They collectively have over 300 years of teaching experience. When you see them, please give them a pat on the back.

You’ll see students today from a broad range of backgrounds, students who both benefit from and add to our school. The Torit Foundation has supported students who were homeless or in supported housing, students who spoke no English at home, or came from homes where parents had no more than an elementary school education. Those students went on to be strong academic performers and rich additions to the cultural fabric of our community. We welcome your tax-deductible contributions to continue to provide a Torit education to children from all quarters. Please visit our website to learn about making a donation.

Again, we appreciate your attendance today and hope you enjoy seeing your grandchildren at work.

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. David's desk 9/20/24

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times last month exploring what he calls the “lifetime of joy and worry” that comes with parenting. Now that we’re into a rhythm at Torit and the children are settling into school, I have been thinking about his observations and reflecting on what I’ve learned over my years as an educator and parent.

Joy and worry capture the feelings pretty well. One afternoon this week, a mom stopped me and said, “I saw you walking with the toddlers to the Public Garden. They were so cute! That’s a nice benefit of the job.” All joy, right? Another day, as the lobby filled with strollers at pick up and gaggle of ebullient preschoolers headed for the door, a mom said to me, “my son’s not napping well and I’m not sure what to do.” All worry.

As parents, we swing back and forth between joy and worry. My child is walking along with confidence and curiosity. “I’ve got this!” I think to myself. My kid’s having a hard time, and it must be my fault. “I’m a failure.” Were it only so black and white.

My experience has taught me that nothing is simple when it comes to a child. There’s no one way, and rarely is there something so significant that a mistake will alter a child’s life forever. But I get it. There is worry. I want to do things carefully and well. I want to teach children to be curious, independent, knowledgeable, and humble. Some days I get there, other days I feel like a limp dishrag. Talk about humility!

I think Dr. Murthy has similar days (and don’t we all?). He wrote, “It’s still hard for me to admit when I feel I’m falling short as a parent. But each time I reach out to a friend or family member or each time I respond when someone reaches out to me, I feel more ease and less stress. The experience has taught me that parenting at its best is a team sport.”

Torit is your team. The teachers and I are your teammates. Please keep asking your questions and sharing your observations with us and with each other. Let’s partner to find more joy and, perhaps, less worry.

From Mr. David's desk 9/6/24

And we’re off! Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! Teachers have been busy preparing for what we expect will be a great year, Torit’s 16th.

We start the school year with an updated mission statement: Torit fosters curiosity, independence, and an appreciation for knowledge along with the humility and awareness to value the ideas, support, and friendship of others.

Our mission statement captures the spirit of Torit and will guide us moving forward. It spans infants to upper elementary and balances the abstract and the concrete, the arc of Montessori philosophy. It centers the individual and the community, foundations in Montessori schools, which “follow the child” while building the group. I’m excited to hear your thoughts and feedback about our mission statement, and the faculty are eager to engage your children in this work.

Exactly that happened today as Upper Elementary students AJ Wu, Joanna Chen, and Henry Johnson, teacher Ms. Masiah, and I walked to the Boston Public Library for a broadcast of WGBH’s “Ask the Governor” segment, part of its regular Radio Boston show. Taking advantage of the resources of Boston is a Torit hallmark, and Torit students got a front row seat to hear Governor Healey respond to questions from the WGBH hosts and callers. During a break, the Governor joined the students for a photo op and examined the notes they were taking about her conversation. Torit got not one but two on-air shout-outs as the hosts recognized the kids for being diligent note takers and engaged citizens. That’s the kind of educational opportunity that only Torit offers, one very much in line with our updated mission statement.

From Mr. David's desk 6/28/24

Summer at Torit is in full swing! With over 50 children from infants to 7 year olds here with us, we’re filling days with fun summer memories. Children have visited the Esplanade splash pad, walked along the banks of the Charles River learning about birds and identifying species by song and sight, and are planning for upcoming excursions to the New England Aquarium and the Public Garden’s Swan Boats.

Some staff are getting vacations in, others are working one or both summer sessions. Still others are pursuing Montessori certification or training teachers in the Montessori method.

Meanwhile, Lana and I are busy preparing for the coming school year. We will send just one Torit Times in June, July, and August as to not overwhelm your inbox. Please review these emails carefully, as they will include important information. Some essential dates follow below.

Finally, we wish a fond farewell to Director of Admissions Liz Hangen. Ms. Liz and her family are moving to the Northborough area where they’ve found a new home. We will all miss Liz and wish her great success at Silver Spruce Montessori School. Lana and I will be filling her shoes, and we encourage you to spread the word about Torit, our curriculum, the world language program, and the fantastic teachers that make it all possible.

From Mr. David's desk 6/14/24

As the school year at Torit comes to a close, please accept my thanks and appreciation for entrusting your children to us. It’s been a pleasure to share the year with you, and we look forward to seeing you this summer or in September.

The last week of school went by in a flash, and even though about half of the Torit student body will be with us in our Summer Session, the focus and program in summer are inherently different. Maybe that has to do with the hot and humid weather, but it’s important that we allow ourselves to take a breather and proceed at a different pace. To that end, I hope you’ll get outside (with sunscreen) as often as possible. Explore something new every week, whether a cultural center (The Museum of African American History on Joy Street) or a place (Crane Beach in Ipswich). Read a book, and read to your child. Get outside and sleep under the stars. Those are my summer to-do’s, about as ambitious as I want to be for now.

For those of you who are heading out for the summer, we’ll see you in September. Safe travels! For those of you who are with us in the Summer Session, we’ll see you on Monday, June 24. Remember, our summer hours are 8:00 AM - 2:45 PM (5:30 PM for those enrolled in Extended Day).

From Mr. David's Desk 6/7/24

Torit parent Alexis Lian, Director of Policy at the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy, invited me to a meeting of educational thought leaders representing the public school systems of Massachusetts. I felt like a bit of an interloper as the sole independent school person there, but I was delighted to learn that Alexis had used Torit as a case study, one of four that the group discussed. This is how Alexis characterized Torit:

Imagine an education system that prioritizes competency-based education, where the focus is on students mastering specific skills and knowledge at their own pace. In this model, the school day is structured around flexible learning paths tailored to each student’s needs. Teachers serve as both content experts, but also as mentors and coaches, guiding students through personalized lesson plans. Regular assessments are embedded in the learning process, providing immediate, individualized feedback and allowing students to demonstrate their competencies as they are ready. Classrooms are dynamic spaces with students engaging in a variety of activities, from hands-on projects to collaborative problem-solving tasks. The traditional grading system is replaced with detailed progress reports that highlight students’ strengths and areas for growth. Teachers collaborate closely with each other and with students to create a supportive learning environment, ensuring that each student achieves their full potential. This model fosters a deep understanding of subject matter and prepares students for real world applications of their knowledge and skills.

I was delighted to see that this is how Torit comes across to a parent, especially one so aware of the range of educational options available locally. Torit parents choose us for many reasons, and Alexis’s description captures one rationale. Similarly, Dr. Lauren Orefice’s professional background in tactile learning and her awareness of its importance in a Montessori setting helped her choose Torit for her child. We’re honored when highly trained folks recognize the Torit distinction and choose Torit as parents. With the needs of children as our guide, we’re absolutely committed to delivering on your expectations, both as parents and professionals.

From Mr David's Desk 5/31/24

Parent-Teacher conferences are an important part of the Torit experience. One of our goals is to communicate regularly with families about your child, and these culminating meetings bring together teacher observations about academic and behavioral patterns from the year with your own sense of how your child has grown. The dialogue is important. Teachers see your children as independent individuals. You know your son or daughter in the context of your family dynamic. There’s a kind of Venn diagram that results. At school your child is one person. With you, they’re another. Of course, there is significant overlap between the two.

Besides that overlap, what can you learn from the parts of the diagram that don’t merge? That area is where teachers see your child as a separate entity from the family, the child who develops an interest in something new and particular to them, the child you recognize but who also is a bit mysterious. And that’s where Montessori pedagogy comes in. By following the child’s interests, giving them room and materials to explore, and supporting their curiosity, we hope to nurture unique individuals.

As you process the information from your conferences and read teachers’ end-of-year comments, we hope you will recognize how well we know each child at Torit. Whether an infant or an upper elementary student, our goal is to nurture each child’s potential.

This summer, please be on the lookout for a parent satisfaction survey. My goal is to continuously improve the Torit experience, and your feedback is vital in that and much appreciated.

From Mr. David's Desk 5/24/24

Despite cloudy skies that turned into a serious shower for older students, Torit adventurers, their parents, and even some grandparents enjoyed boat cruises in the Boston Public Garden as we held our annual Swan Boat Picnic. We rode the boats, shared a picnic lunch, and mostly dodged the rain until… the skies opened up. I walked back with PP2 in a downpour, and the kids (mostly) loved it! We joked about taking baths and living in a rainforest. Let’s just say it was character building. Walking the length of Charles Street in the rain is fun, it turns out. As children and teachers toweled off and changed into dry clothes, I’m reminded that kids are resilient and take their cues from the adults around them. Smile, laugh, joke, and everyone has a pretty fun time. A good reminder for us as parents, who forget that we can’t shelter our children from every storm, and probably shouldn’t.

This Swan Boat Picnic marks one of the first in a series of several end-of-year events. “A Sip of Asia: Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” hosted with Ms. Sunny, was held this morning. Next Friday, May 31 we hope to see most of you at parent-teacher conferences. These are opportunities to learn about your child’s progress this year; you should receive a written progress report just prior as well. On Tuesday, June 4, Preprimary classroom fathers and special friends are invited to attend the Fathers Breakfast. Ms. Sherla and I might just flip pancakes for you that morning! On Friday, June 7, the Elementary Arts Showcase will feature works by our young artists. Thursday, June 13 is the last day of class for all students. At 8:30 AM, families of Kindergarten students will gather in the gym for our moving up ceremony. Dismissal for the summer will occur at 2:45 PM. Keep an eye out for more details from teachers and me about all these events.

Thanks for supporting Torit by attending these events!

From Mr. David's Desk 5/17/24

Teachers make a school. With last week’s Teacher Appreciation Week, you proved that through your generous support of the staff. The best teachers take life-long learning to heart, finding ways to embody a “growth mindset,” a concept detailed in the research of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck. Dweck describes a growth versus fixed mindset. My takeaway from her work is that I want to attract and retain teachers who are always learning, growing professionally, and developing a more diverse “bag of tricks” to support students.

With that in mind, I want to recognize several teachers who embody that growth mindset.

Ali Colman, Adriana Maisano, and Xia Ling have trained to become certified Montessori infant/toddler lead teachers. Their program, through the Montessori Institute - New England, included classes every Saturday for the year. Gennica Etienne will complete her Montessori certification through the New England Montessori Teacher Training Center this month. Deidre Hayman has completed her Montessori certification in infant/toddler through the North American Montessori Center.

Erica Klarman and Riah Schauder took part in a program called Level Up, which required weekly evening class involving 100 hours of coursework on child growth and development as well as classroom practice with external coaching sessions leading to Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) certification. Independently, Aisling Lavelle completed her EEC certification through North Shore Community College.

Dounia Kabbaj earned her master’s degree in Education from Gordon College, majoring in early childhood with a Montessori emphasis. Dounia also completed a certificate with Acadience Reading, a universal screening and progress monitoring assessment that measures the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Our weekly yoga instructor for elementary students, Maureen Johnson, earned her Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction: Special Education. Congratulations, Dr. Johnson!

From Mr. David's Desk 5/10/24

School Meeting saw all the staff and students gather together, minus the infants, and was filled with music this week. The program included a beautiful piano solo by Lower Elementary student Scarlett Chen, who opened the meeting by playing a flawless rendition of "The Wagtail," by Friedrich Burgmüller. That was followed by a group song from Miss Hana, “Sarasponda,” a traditional Dutch folk tune, including hand motions with partners. Upper Elementary students Joanna Chen, Henry Johnson, Amar Rowell, Adlai Steigman, and AJ Wu ably taught everyone the movements as we enjoyed the playful lyrics. Scarlett and Vivian Chen read a Shel Silverstein poem, “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too.” Kennedy Nance, Yasmine Benayad, and Kaya Purcell shared writing they had done in Pre-Primary 1 about their mothers and what makes them special. We finished with the whole group singing, “I’ve Got the Whole World in My Hands.” It was a lovely way to start the day and an inviting setting for students to begin to practice their public speaking skills, share their talents, and enjoy community together. It’s quickly become a Torit tradition.

Now, as we turn to the weekend, a shout out to the moms! Maybe you’ve seen my all-time favorite Mothers Day video, a “job interview” that will bring tears to your eyes. Even if you’re familiar with it, I encourage you to rewatch it and think of your mom. No matter the composition of your family, someone played this role, and many of you are fulfilling it now. Thanks for all you do! I hope you and your family spend some happy time together this weekend and that gratitude is in abundance on Sunday.

From Mr. David's Desk 5/4/24

Appreciating Teachers

When we gathered in the gym back in September for Back-to-School Night, I asked the audience to think of teachers that had a positive impact on us. It’s probably not a tough question to answer. Most of us can think of a teacher that supported us, made us feel known and needed, or opened a door for us into the wider world. After our families, teachers typically are the first adults we connect with and that we’re entrusted to. We see them as powerful sources of knowledge and wisdom, order and predictability, humor and joy.  As we grow up, teachers can inspire us, mentor us, even become our friends. They’re larger than life.

So it is with Torit’s extraordinary faculty. They care for your children, putting tireless effort and boundless energy into their growth and development. They help them learn about independence and how to work in a group. Teachers help them learn to read and write and do mathematics, speak a new language (or three!), make art and create music, and develop self confidence, discipline, and direction. Those are some of the many reasons we honor teachers this coming week.

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt lobbied Congress in the 1950s to advocate for a day recognizing teachers and, in the 1980s, a day was officially established in their honor. It’s morphed into a week, which is barely enough time to begin to thank teachers for all they do. Your generous donations will allow the parent committee to host two catered breakfasts and two catered lunches, share flowers with each classroom, and give all 40 faculty members a special gift. Thank you so much!

Along with your financial support, Teacher Appreciation Week has been made possible by a parent committee who quickly launched, met, then exceeded expectations for this week’s events: Co-Chairs Shelly Yang and Zhe Gong, and Jie Ling and Ran Xue, as well as key members Jason and Karen Purcell, Melanie and Kyle Brennan, Sharma and Daniel Ross, Sarah and Brett Mitchell, Kathleen Zephir and Ben Helfat, and Valen Zhou and Yao Lu.

In addition to the treats you’re providing, I encourage Torit families to write a personal thank you note to your child’s teachers. Educators often wonder what parents think of their efforts, and a handwritten note outlasts the food and fun of the week. I have several notes that parents shared with me over the years, reminding me why I do this work. Families’ kind words bring smiles to teachers’ faces and make any challenging days worthwhile.

From Mr. David's Desk 4/26/24

We had our second-ever school meeting yesterday, which included a play by Kindergarten students, “The Little Red Hen,” based on a classic story from 1874, now a beloved children’s book. Students in Elementary sang a Spanish song they had learned with Ms. Natalia, and they also delivered an Earth Day Poem. Ms. Dounia and Ms. Chaymaa taught the basics of belly dancing with recorded Moroccan instrumental music, bringing many children and teachers to their feet and moving to the rhythms of another part of the world. And I talked about the Jewish holiday of Pesach, or Passover, which ends early next week and highlights themes of freedom, liberation, and family.

School meeting has been a fun, often playful way to bring the community together. As we gather in the gym, we literally see each other and learn from each. The school feels larger, not just one class of 8 or 18, but a diverse group of 100+ children and adults. I wrote elsewhere this week that, “Shared work builds community, and community gives everyone a sense of shared values.” At Torit, safety, respect, responsibility, honesty, and grace and courtesy are some of the values most important to us. I’d add in curiosity, drive, and an appreciation for knowledge.

With May around the corner, the pace of the school year will increase, and it’s important students are here to contribute to the work of their class and the community. There are some fun activities that will allow students to demonstrate their learning to you. I encourage you to come to the relevant events.

From Mr. David's Desk 4/12/24

Monday’s eclipse was so exciting for Torit’s elementary students, who watched from the unique perch of the Frances “Fanny” Appleton Bridge over Storrow Drive. (Boston trivia: Fanny was the wife of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, author of “Paul Revere’s Ride,” the poem that starts “Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” His bridge, also known as the Salt-and-Pepper Bridge, was opened in 1906. Now back to the eclipse!) The students had the opportunity to present the science of the eclipse to the gathered community the week prior at our first School Meeting, and on Monday, donning approved glasses, they saw the moon creep across the face of the sun. Thanks to Judy, Sherla, Alison, Masiah, and others for chaperoning the students. It was a heavenly event!

Five days later, what I especially enjoyed about the afternoon was the sense of a shared experience that, however briefly, seemed to unify everyone. We’re living in challenging times, and it was nice to have a moment of true awe. Nature is indeed powerful, no more so than when the sun is covered by the moon and we’re in a weird twilight. We’re reminded that we’re small and have little control over the big things. A good lesson in giving in, letting go, and enjoying the ride. Sounds an awful lot like parenting.

As the vernal vacation begins, I encourage you to watch the 128th Boston Marathon from the sidewalk or your couch, get outside and (finally) enjoy some spring weather, and be present with your children. The week will go by fast, and whether you’re traveling or staying close to home, your kids will feel the warmth of your smile and the light of your face upon them. That’s a pretty stellar experience, too.

From Mr. David's Desk 4/5/24

A new Torit tradition began this week with our first school meeting. We’ll endeavor to meet at least every other week to build Torit spirit and give students the opportunity to develop public speaking skills and comfort in front of a group. This time, Upper Elementary students began the meeting leading their peers in the Montessori peace prayer. I spoke on the importance of gathering together. Lower Elementary students shared details about how an eclipse happens and PP1 and PP2 sang a song in Spanish that Ms. Natalia had taught them. Ms. Karina shared facts about her homeland and led us in a Brazilian dance, and Ms. Hana, our interim music teacher, led “Skip to my Lou” with partner dancing. It was fun to gather the whole school in one space and realize this small but mighty community opens doors for so many.

At the parent coffee this week, the attendees and I talked about the importance of unplugging and getting outside, especially as the weather warms. One exciting opportunity is Monday’s eclipse, which begins at about 2:00 pm and ends around 4:30 pm. We’re cautious about viewing the eclipse. That said, we have ordered ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for use by elementary-age children in the extended day program. For younger students, if your schedule allows, we encourage you to pick up at regular dismissal time and view the eclipse as a family. Otherwise, we’ll keep to our normal afternoon routines for most kids. If you have concerns about your child viewing the eclipse at school, please contact me.

Another way to enjoy spring is with a bird walk in the Public Garden. Treat it like a visual and auditory treasure hunt with your kids, which will help them pay attention and stay focused. To help, check out the Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Its photo and sound ID features will reveal a range of beautiful spring migratory birds that pass through Boston. Last year in April, I heard birds like the Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, and American Redstart just minutes from Torit. If there’s interest, I’m happy to lead a Torit bird walk for parents after drop off. Just email me and we’ll set something up when we return from spring break.

From Mr. David's Desk 3/29/24

Congratulations to our 21 talented elementary school thespians, whose world-premiere of “Threads of Destiny,”  a tale of the Silk Road, showed them at their best. Producer, director, and writer Dan Scranton also deserves rave reviews, as does his production team of Ms. Judy, Ms. Alison, Ms. Cici, Ms. Xia Ling, Ms. Natalia, and Ms. Sherla.

Of course, the students showed us their best. One of the things I love about student plays is the feeling kids develop around agency, the capacity to own their experience and make their own choices. For some of the same reasons sports are great for students (they’re largely in charge when the whistle blows and the game begins), theater productions allow students to build confidence, self respect, discipline, teamwork, and mastery. Children learn their lines and the curtain is drawn back, but to bring a script to life requires so much more. They have to overcome any butterflies they might have. They have to build a rapport with each other and the audience. They have to inhabit their characters. Our talented students did so with dedication, energy, and panache. Well done all!

From Mr. David's Desk 3/22/24

Preprimary teachers Dounia Kabbaj and Nakia Reyes met with interested parents Thursday morning to give a presentation on the benefits of a Torit education. They presented data about kindergarten students in Massachusetts public schools, often seen as the best in the nation, and surprised the audience with the standards those children are asked to meet as 5 and 6 year olds. “Torit children learn the same things as 3 year olds,” Dounia observed. She explained that they go far beyond their public school peers, learning to read, master fundamental skills in mathematics, and dive into science concepts as they work and play together. “If something is hard for a Torit student,” Dounia said, “we support them carefully and they build strength and learn to enjoy the challenge. This makes them an independent and confident student for their lives.”

I couldn’t agree more. Children in our Preprimary program benefit from dedicated teachers who see and respond to their individual needs and set them up for sustained academic and personal success. That’s true across the school. As we educate students in their critical, foundational years, we’re providing them with an optimal learning environment.

From Mr. David’s Desk 3/15/24

Thursday saw two fun Torit events, a pop-up celebration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where students in elementary grades greeted everyone at drop off with dates and milk, the traditional means of breaking each day’s fast (usually after sunset). Ms. Dounia’s students explained the meaning of the holiday, which is about reflection, community, and prayer, and the customs associated with the month. They wished everyone “Ramadan Mubarak,” or “blessed Ramadan.” Ask them to share their Arabic speaking and writing skills with you!

We also celebrated Pi Day, March 14, or 3/14. The mathematical symbol for 3.141592653…, π is a “constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter” (Wikipedia). Pi Day has become a fun way to celebrate math around us and eat pizza pies, thanks to Chef Lisa and Berto. Faculty enjoyed apple, blueberry, mixed berry, and strawberry rhubarb pies to mark the day.

At our faculty meeting earlier this week, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Lauren Orefice, mother of Eloise in Young Toddlers, who spoke to the staff about touch processing, her area of research as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at MGH and the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Orefice noted that the sensorial emphasis of Torit’s Montessori curriculum was an important factor in her decision to enroll her daughter here. She studies the interactions between touch, emotional health, and behavior. The talk was fascinating as we learned about the relationship between touch, gut health, and anxiety later in life as well as the value of learning through touch for Torit students and all young children. Torit’s focus on exploring the classroom environment, the use of Montessori materials, and children’s development and maturation over time aligned with Dr. Orefice’s work, and she emphasized the value of Torit's program to the healthy growth of our students. You can learn more about Dr. Orefice and her work at https://www.oreficelab.org.

From Mr. David's Desk 3/8/24

Many years ago, I taught a course called “The Individual and the Community in American Life.” My students and I read works by John Locke, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Martin Buber, among others. We visited a Shaker community, the last living remnant of a utopian social movement dating back to the 1780s. And we sent letters to authors as well, including Wendell Berry, who wrote back a grumpy but memorable reply. One student from that class is now a family physician in Maine. Another serves as an officer on the Board of Education in her Colorado mountain town. They seem to have gotten the message of the course: Life’s not a solo venture. We owe something to each other.

As a school, we wrestle with the rights and responsibilities of individuals learning together. Montessori schools emphasize individual choice and interests, but they also draw from Dr. Maria Montessori’s interest in the relationship between her model of education and world peace to highlight the benefits of community (she lived through two world wars). At Torit, as in most schools, students (and teachers) give up some degree of autonomy for the good of the group. Because we are a school where people choose to join the community, we have certain expectations and values, some explicit (Opening Doors, Grace & Courtesy), some implicit (everyone should have a safe, supportive learning environment. Individual needs are sometimes subsumed by the needs of the group.)

As I read student reports, which you’ll soon receive, I’m reminded of that tension between the individual and community. Children at Torit are learning many academic and practical life skills. They’re also learned how to negotiate conflict and difference. That’s exciting work, work Torit students and teachers undertake every day. We learn and grow together because of the exciting moments, and the challenges, too.

Soon, we’ll start holding weekly school meetings, where toddlers through Upper Elementary students will gather in the gym for a few minutes to sing together, hear a story, or learn about their schoolmates' pursuits. It’s a new way to build relationships and community at Torit. I’m particularly excited about this, and I look forward to sharing pictures and stories with you soon.

From Mr. David's Desk 3/1/24

Science is an important aspect of the program at Torit, and I was dazzled yesterday by our scientist-scholars in lower and upper elementary. I learned about magnetism, matter, simple machines, rocks, solutions, sound waves, bones, acids and bases, and refraction. I was proud of the students for displaying their curiosity, research, and presentation skills. Students chose a topic, read about it, experimented, wrote up results, and presented a poster that showcased what they had learned. It was Torit’s academic program at its best, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if there are a number of future MDs or PhDs in the group. Science education may start with the basics, but it’s an event like our science fair that launches a student forward.

I’m reminded that our data shows that Torit students outperform public and independent school peers in a number of ways and on a number of indicators. Perhaps that’s because students embrace their own interests and are supported by teachers who guide them in the discovery of ideas and information that they can make their own. Likewise, the extended work cycles of Montessori and a student-to-teacher ratio that’s more like a tutorial than an impersonal class augers for future achievement and excellence. I have no doubt that our students will be successful no matter where they go.

That was driven home earlier this week when 9th grader Naya visited from her high school to see Ms. Sherla and visit with some of her former teachers. Naya attributed her interest in film production to Torit, remembering the projects that got her started with a video camera just a few years ago. Now, Naya is submitting movies to film festivals and documenting both local initiatives like the McKinley/Mel King School and cremation rituals in Bali, Indonesia. Perhaps Naya will be our first Oscar winner someday. Her energy and ebullience and appreciation for what she learned at Torit may just carry her that far!

From Mr. David's Desk - 2/16/24

Thanks to Tamar Aharoni, Natalia Sesma-Boussios, and the members of the International Potluck Committee, as well as everyone who brought a dish for what was a wonderful event! Tamar said, “I had a great time meeting new families and came to quickly see how many cultures are represented in our school.” Visit our Instagram page (linked below) for a few pictures from the evening.

Our Science Fair has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 29 at 8:30AM, and I hope you can join us. In that spirit, here are a few out-of-this-world book recommendations in case you have reading time over the break: The Little Book of Aliens, a non-fiction exploration about the likelihood of finding evidence of alien life, is science-based, detailed, and thought provoking. How many exoplanets are habitable, and how many might produce intelligent, space-faring life? If that kind of question whets your appetite, this is a fun read. This Time Tomorrow, is time-traveling fiction, featuring a woman whose father is dying and whose high school crush can be her husband in an alternative NYC reality. Surprising and emotionally honest. Finally, another space-based non-fiction book, Moonshot, by NASA astronaut and MIT alum Mike Massimino. Drawing on his experiences as a shuttle astronaut and spacewalker, Massimino shares some life lessons for building purpose, functional teams, and achieving what might seem like the impossible.

And at the next Parent Coffee on March 5, I’ll tell you about the time I met an astronaut who was working behind the counter at his daughter’s bakery on the Cape. An amazing guy who has flown on the International Space Station and whose exploits form a subplot in The Perfect Storm.