As a school that embraces Peace Education from the day our students start in September, it has been hard to watch the news from Ukraine. We can shelter our little ones from those images—and we should—but older students may have questions. Our teachers approach the subject with our Lower and Upper Elementary students in an age-appropriate way, and in terms that they can understand. As parents and educators, we reassure our students that they are safe, and there is no need to fuel any anxieties or worries. For our primary children, our teachers will not dwell on the subject at this age.
For all our students, we reinforce our messages of peace, love, and unity with our students, especially during this time. A local author, Priya Kumari, will join us next week on March 8th to read her book "Leaf Talks Peace," praised by the Dalai Lama as "a beautifully illustrated book that teaches the importance of living in harmony with nature and all forms of life." Art teacher Ms. Nicole will be working on school-wide art projects based on the peace theme. And, our Upper Elementary students plan to record a video, singing "Back to the Earth," next week after their Iowa Assessments are completed.
We echo the sentiments of child psychologists like one of our former guest speakers, Dr. Laura Markham, who suggests a few things we can do at home.
Turn off the news. Watch for yourself when children are not around. Your home is a safe space and should not be a place surrounded by fears.
Dispell myths and alleviate their worries. Answer your children's questions by asking them what they have heard, and go from there in simple terms with a calm, assertive tone.
Approach the topic with positivity and hope. Show examples of how people worldwide are helping, exhibiting kindness and assistance for people who need help. Below, we have examples of how the Hudson Montessori community can help.
Supply Drive: Our Upper Elementary Comet students, fresh from their return as delegates to the Montessori Model United Nations, are mobilizing a supply drive starting Monday, March 7, 2022, through Friday, March 11, in coordination with the AlphaMinds Academy, an academic enrichment program in Jersey City, founded by Anna Novosyolok, an immigrant from Ukraine. Comet and the HMV parents will work with Ms. Novosyolok to collect our supply donations. They coordinate the shipments directly to Ukraine and work with a major distribution service to make sure the supplies get to Ukraine.
Supply Drive List
Top Priority is Medical Supplies (The full list is here)
Non-perishable food (incl. baby formula, food pouches, etc - no glass containers)
Thermal underwear & socks (men/women/children)
Hygiene products (feminine products, wipes, deodorants, etc.)
Blankets
Sleeping bags
Flashlights
If you wish to donate to the supply drive, please drop off your items in the large gray collection bins on the sidewalk in front of our two administrative offices: 10 Regent Street (Ms. Maki's office) and 50 Regent Street (Ms. Gina's office). The collection bins will be outside those two offices in the morning for student dropoff times between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., and student pickup times: Noon to 12:15 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monetary Donations: For those who wish to give monetary donations for humanitarian aid and medical supplies, we have identified an organization with the help of one of our parents for anyone who prefers to provide monetary assistance: https://razomforukraine.org/ "An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live." —Dr. Maria Montessori
