In the montessori environment the students are grouped in three year cycles. Completion of kindergarten also completes the primary cycle. Keeley has been in the same classroom for the last 3.5 years (she moved up to primary a little early). In that three years the student transition from the little ones in the class doing the "baby works" as the girls call them the to leaders of the classroom. They are able to give lessons to the younger students and help the teachers with the flow of class more as they get older. Keeley has had some amazing teachers and the ability to really shine in the classroom. At the end of the year there is a bridging ceremony for the kindergarteners. It is held in the school's garden and has some of the middle year students in attendance. It was doubly special for me as Kayden was able to watch Keeley complete the ceremony.
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| Students arriving in the garden. |
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| Listening to Mrs. Stevens talk. |
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| Mrs. Stevens explaining the artwork she gave each child. |
Mrs. Stevens talked about the transition that occurs in the primary and compared it to a butterfly. She gave each of the students a drawing she had done showing the life cycle of a butterfly. This is an appropriate analogy but also really special to Keeley because she loves the life cycle of the butterfly. She has come home with every work the classroom has pertaining to that life cycle. At the end of the talk Mrs. Stevens talked of how the students had their wings and were ready for the next adventure - elementary.
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| Middle year students looking on |
After that it was time to cross the bridge to symbolize the bridging to the next stage.
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| Keeley with Mrs. Bacon. |
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| The kindergarteners. |
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| Kindergarteners with their lead teachers. |
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