October 3, 2023
Archive for The Student Voice
Clanmore Graduation 2012
A Very Special Congratulations to Natalia – our Clanmore Graduate for 2012!
Graduation speech by Ms. Osterback
The Gorgeous Mosaic
Good evening a I was thinking About your beautiful children the word that struck me the most telling was individuality.
Individuality -that is what I wanted to talk to you about this evening. There are many single words that can describe what the Montessori philosophy embraces such as love, compassion, freedom, responsibility and discipline but nothing seemed to be as relevant to this group of Upper Elementary children as the idea of individuality.
Dr. Montessori was an amazing woman, a unique individual who was ahead of her time. Her philosophy was to encourage children to educate themselves through freedom of choice and individuality, but most importantly she had a unique perspective of viewing this child as an individual that should be honored, respected and helped to fulfill his or her potential.
At Clanmore, our fostering and nurturing of the individual begins in the Toddler environment and continues through the child’s years in Casa. Then when the child enters the Elementary community they are immersed in a social environment that is based on the group rather than the individual. We still foster this idea of individuality in the way we approach the child, as we continue to follow their natural daily rhythms and encourage them to choose their work responsibly.
We have a wonderful group of children that make up the Upper Elementary class. They remind me of a passage I read awhile ago it went something like this. “The people of this class are like tiles of a mosaic. Each individual is beautiful in his or her own way and together they create the harmonious aggregate that has its own unique beauty.”
This years class is a complementary group who encourages each other even in times of uncertainty both academically and emotionally and one that has an enormous creative drive. Our class would be very different if one child was not here.
Jackson– he is our moral conscious. He knows right from wrong and in his gentle way he will tell you. Jackson is often heard encouraging children that are younger with kind words and anecdotes to help them face something they may not have experienced before always trying to make their path easier!
Marcus- our resident charismatic engineer- he comes to school eyes brimming with excitement he amazes us with his curiosity and inquisitive nature. I am sure that he is set on a long journey of discovery and inventiveness. And for those of you who haven’t heard-he runs like the wind!
And then we have Max who is such an empathetic child and an absolute delight to work with! I have seen him almost burst out of his shell this year- reaching such amazing heights. He is an observer and can tell you anything you need to know! Max works with quiet determination and dedication.
Ethan exudes warmth and kindness. He is soft spoken and light hearted. He is a wonderful boy who loves anything related to science. If there is an experiment being done-Ethan is right there to guide the children along! We love his optimism!
Owen is a conscientious young man, when he sets his mind to a goal he reaches it. There is never any fuss about it -Owen just gets it done!! He is neat- actually-meticulous, determined and methodical. Owen is always willing to lend a hand and often does more than his share so that the group can finish whatever it is we are doing in a timely manner!
Kathryn embraces everyone. She really is an inspiration to us all. We always marvel at the ideas and conversations she begins. My favourite line this year from her was, “Mrs. Osterback would it be okay if I did an essay entitled “The Ecosystem which is my Backyard” what could I say!! Kathryn is hugely creative, intellectually curious on every level and really is a natural born leader.
Then we have Clara with her generous, optimistic nature, her keen intellect and her inquisitive nature! She is a delight to teach and she really does epitomize the idea of a joyful learner!!She has been dressed up in a range of costumes and different personalities over the past few years! We have been entertained, to say the least! The role of leadership will come easily to Clara
Christopher has Moxie!!! Definition -that comes straight from the dictionary-moxie- energy, wit, courage and determination he has this in spades!!Put this together with his charisma and sharp intellect and you have one great kid! Christopher definitely adds flare to our daily life in the class!
Isabelle –she is such a joy to teach. She has a sense of calm about her and her creative energy is enormous, she is a fabulous story teller, a skilled artist and wow – can she sing !!!! She is thoughtful , kind, extremely reflective and a definite lover of Mother Nature.
Nathan has an inherent goodness in him. He has this way about him that makes you happy just by being in his presence! He is bright, hugely inquisitive, seriously determined and then to top it off he carries with him a discerning wit.
And finally, our graduate, Natalia. She is the golden thread that weaves the fibre of our class together. I have had the privilege of watching Natalia mature over the last three years. She is a delightful young lady who embodies the idea of benevolence. Her gentle, fun loving nature attracts the other children to her. Natalia has a quiet confidence about her, a subtle wisdom and is a happy leaner. She is beautiful to the core, both inside and out, a wonderful student and a loyal friend.
So the the whole community I want to thank you. I relish in the importance of your work and your earnest devotion to it. This gorgeous mosaic is brimming with meaning, identity and love!!
Natalia did a biography on Helen Keller this year so I thought it would be fitting to leave YOU tonight, Natalia, with the words of this remarkable individual.
She said, “Never bend your head, hold it high and look the world straight in the eye”
A Montessori Child’s Plea Poem
Written By: Sheri – Aug. 28th, 2007
This is a poem which came home from TC’s preschool in a general
information packet. The author is unknown. I liked its message about how
preschoolers learn and thought I’d pass it along.
Today I did my math and language, practical life too,
I used my eyes, my ears and hands, my senses the whole day through.
I added and subtracted, learned patience all the day.
I used tweezers, blocks, and puzzles,
And worked with the scrubbing tray.
I learned how to mix colors,
And learned how to weigh.
So mom and dad, please don’t say-
“DID YOU BRING ANY PAPERS HOME TODAY?”
You see, I’m sharing as I play,
Learning self control throughout the day,
I’m learning to listen and speak clearly when I talk,
To wait my turn and when inside to walk,
To put my words into phrases,
To balance along the “Red Rod” maze,
To find my name and write it down,
I do it with a smile, not a frown.
So mom and dad, please don’t say,
“WHY DON’T YOU HAVE ANY PAPERS TODAY?”
I learned about a snail, I learned about a worm,
I learned about flags and maps,
And how to take a turn,
I helped a friend when he was stuck,
I learned that water runs off a duck.
I looked at words from left to right,
Agreed to differ, not to fight.
Today I sang the continent song,
I learned the difference between right and wrong,
So mom and dad, please don’t say,
“DID YOU ONLY PLAY TODAY?”
Because yes, I played the whole day through,
I worked to learn the things I do,
Encounter a problem, find the clue and work it out for myself, I do.
My teachers set the scene and stand near-by,
They want me to succeed and teach me how to try.
They pose the questions, and help me to think,
They keep me afloat and would never let me sink.
So don’t get discouraged and frustrate me,
I try my best and I’m learning each day.
So mom and dad, please don’t say,
“HAVEN’T YOU DONE ANY WORK TODAY?”
An Essay on Our Hero – Craig Kielburger
Craig Kielburger is most famous for his charity Free the Children. He founded this charity when he was only 12 years old. We think the three qualities of a hero include the following: compassion, determination and courage. When you hear about this man he will be your hero too.
First we will tell you about his compassion. Craig Kielburger has tons of compassion for people in need. He fights for their rights and volunteers for local communities and global regions in need. One day Craig was looking for the comic section in the newspaper when he saw an article entitled “Battled Child Labour” It read, “Boy, 12, murdered.” This article dramatically changed his life and he wanted to investigate why this was happening and that’s how he got the idea to co-found the charity- Free the Children.
Second we will tell you about his determination. When he was young he wasn’t taken seriously at first. So he educated himself and travelled to different countries to gather more information and experience. Another way he showed his determination was by writing books on how people like us can change the world. He tells us some ways that you can make a change are by getting involved with the following: Adopt a Village, Brick by Brick, School building, Health care, Nationl Trips and much, much more.
Courage is a very important quality and Craig Kielburger possesses this as well. Craig had the courage to travel to Pakistan at the very young age of 12.He went because he wanted to see the atrocities for himself so that he would better understand the situation in the world of child labourers.
He also took part in protest against child labour in Calcutta. His courage has brought attention to children suffering worldwide.
Now you know the three qualities of a hero. They are compassion, determination and courage. Craig possesses all of these qualities. We hope you enjoyed our essay on our hero, Craig Kielburger.
By: Natalia and Clara
River Rafting Trip
By Nathan Schooling
Let me tell you about the Upper Elementary river rafting trip we went on last week. It was a huge success for the third year in a row. I think it was all really fun. We had to paddle for 10 km’s, we had a fire building contest, we boiled eggs and then roasted hotdogs for lunch. I think my favourite part was exploring the gypsum mine and the body surfing. They were the most fun. The water was freezing but most of us went down the river twice anyway!
Clanmore Memories…..
By Annika Rinas
I remember in grade four Mrs. Podivinsky was my teacher and our usual routine was that in the afternoons we would learn something in the department of Social Sciences.
It was a sunny afternoon and Mrs. Podivinsky decided that on that particular day we would learn about ecosystems. Yet instead of making us sit inside and research all of our information in textbooks or on the computer we got our runners on and headed out into the forest. We took our notepads and pencils and recorded information that we found to be interesting, while she was also teaching us information about our topic.
To this day I wonder how you can take twenty children out to a forest and a ravine and not have them go out of control, but in fact be overly indulged about a topic we had never been educated about before. After our adventure, we took our notes back to the classroom and began to compare them with some supplement information and research; clearly not as much fun as splashing in the water!
I suppose the real pleasure in this story was that there are many ways of learning. Some schools have their students sit down in desks and read about the material. That is the difference at Clanmore and that is what makes it even more exciting and adventurous. Learning something hands on is the way that I will never forget it!
Annika Rinas
Bachelor of Commerce, Queen’s University ’13
Congratulations to the Clanmore Graduates of 2011!!!
Pictured left to right: Von, Ryann and Eirinn.
A Farewell to the 2011 Graduates
By Renee, Upper Elementary Teacher
Dr. Montessori saw education of the child as a way to peace and one of the ways this can be manifested is through the spirit of generosity. A generous soul can help lead humanity to peace. We can choose generosity in so many areas of our lives.
An idea that we have debated in our class many times is the question, “Can one person change the world?” So I would like to tell you girls that generosity can change the world. You can make a difference. You can choose to be generous with your love, your kindness and your compassion. You can choose to be generous with your successes, your time and your spirit. The idea of generosity is a gift that you can share with the world every day and in everything that you do.
The sacrifice of giving, which creates no obvious rewards for the giver, has its own ultimate rewards. It recognizes generosity, fellowship and the community and in doing so reminds the giver that it is not only what we do for ourselves that is important, but also what we do for others.
It is true that this idea of generosity includes sacrifice. Sometimes it feels as though you are losing but know that ultimately you are strengthening your soul.
I know that with the love of your family and friends, and your wonderful years spent at Clanmore, you have been able to recognize your self-worth as individuals and that you see yourselves as we see you as unique, special and important. I think equally as important, you have developed the ability to recognize the worth in others.
Dr. Montessori believed in the power of education, love and hope. Her whole philosophy of education was based on the idea of love, respect, dignity, integrity and generosity towards the child. Our three graduates embody these sentiments.
As you leave our family at Clanmore, go forth and share your generous spirit and always look within yourself. As you stand here today, you are strong and resolute in your sense of morality. Take that with you and never forget who you are and what you have worked so hard to achieve here. I wish all of you the best in your future and know that we are here for you and will cherish the memories we have shared.