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Dear Families,
“In these times, more than ever before, our hope is that education will offer an aid to better the condition of the world.” - Maria Montessori, 1946 London Lectures
Maria Montessori’s words highlight the transformative power of education to improve our collective future. As we face pressing issues individually and as a society, the potential for education to provide solutions and create a better world is amplified. Our goal at WMS is to nurture each child’s potential and guide them as they develop their intellectual, physical, emotional and social abilities, so that they can contribute to a better world now and in the future.
Looking in on the classrooms of our youngest students, you will see them learning and living the values of caring for themselves, others and their environment. As they grow, they will continue to contribute in different, more sophisticated ways, ultimately understanding that school can be about more than learning academic concepts, but also realizing the ethical outcomes of their decisions. They develop the ability to express their ideas clearly, critically assess varying viewpoints, and participate in respectful conversations, laying the groundwork for the kind of thoughtful dialogue that is needed to foster peace both individually and collectively. Throughout their time at WMS, students learn the process of valuing different perspectives and cultivate the skills needed to identify shared values, a crucial step in conflict resolution and the establishment of harmonious relationships. The experiences students have at WMS are vital in developing their understanding of peace as an intentional and active practice, rather than an intangible goal.
Today, the WMS school community celebrates the International Day of Peace, a day that was observed around the globe this past weekend. The UN’s theme this year is “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” which aligns perfectly with the work we do every day at WMS. The theme of this year’s International Day of Peace focuses on advancing peace through its 17 goals designed to increase prosperity, raise health and living standards and end discrimination and injustice. These goals have at their core the same basic principles that we strive for at WMS, taking care of oneself, others and the broader world that we all share.
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