Noah

I just wanted to write to thank you for the care and guidance that you have shown Noah in these last 2 and half years.

Prior to meeting you we had had less than wise relatives and friends give us feedback that they thought he was severely autistic as he had demonstrated “unconventional” behaviour and had not developed speech and comprehension along the expected development timelines. Sharen and I doubted these comments but were concerned about his development and subsequent visits to Paediatricians diagnosed Noah with delayed speech and comprehension development. What all this meant was not really clear and the earlier judgements of Noah by the ignorant haunted Sharen. Was he going to be ok? Would he develop like other children? Would he be victimised or hindered by it?

We engaged a speech pathologist as we had been advised to do so by the Dr’s and after some initial improvement Noah seemed to flat line. Another pathologist was trialled and the same result but Sharen was adamant that this was more a reflection of the individual practioners rather than Noah and endeavoured to keep searching until a friend had recommended you and the great Montessori work you were doing in Rosebud.

The change in Noah after just 2 months was just incredible we couldn’t believe the transformation that was taking place in front of us. We weren’t exactly sure what your method was but we knew it was working and were so grateful to have found you.

I think what you did was to restrain from putting labels on Noah and you recognised that he had his own higher intelligence that was going to guide him in his own unique development process. With that recognition I believe you were able to support and nurture and to trust in “the process” to develop him as a whole being. It was this recognition, validation and trust that he had not previously received and he flourished in it.

I remember in my first Parent teacher meeting with you made the point about Noah having a unique approach to certain tasks and you demonstrated how he went about building a block tower which was completely different to how you had ever witnessed any child perform the task. And as you stated it may have been different or “unconventional” but it still delivered the same result.

I know that session was pivotal for me in my development as a parent as previously I had been trying to teach and develop Noah’s skills in the same way that I had been taught. I no longer dictated “what” and “how” he should learn but followed where his interests and energy naturally gravitated to and supported him developing in his own way and time.

In the case of Noah what I have seen is that this approach of recognition, validation and trust of the child’s higher intelligence is that it has empowered him to turn what was originally diagnosed as a limitation of communication into an area of strength. He loves people and he loves to communicate with them and express himself thru words, numbers, music and dance.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge” (Albert Einstein)

Thank you for awakening this joy in Noah it has been a pleasure to bear witness to his awakening.

Jiannah

Thank you for giving Jiannah the gift of knowledge this year.
You have given her a thirst for more knowledge and a passion for learning, what a wonderful start to achieving her goals.

Aasha

Thank you so much for all your wonderful work with Aasha. What a fantastic start you have given her, inspiring a love for learning with your supportive guidance. Thank you so much.

Avery

We have really appreciated all the wonderful help you have given us. Avery has grown and extended beyond his abilities with your excellent teaching. He has benefited greatly from your support particularly during a challenging time with Covid-19 disrupting his learning last year.

Thank you again.

Jordan

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such a kind, caring, nurturing and amazing role model to Jordan.

We have seen such a big change in his confidence, maturity and mannerisms.

Alvey

Thank you for the support, care and teachings you have offered Alvey over this year. His imagination, independence and intuitiveness has soared with you.

 

Imogen + Raphael

Thank you for your work with Imogen and Raphael over the last 5 years.  We appreciate your close supervision of the myriad of details that make up a child's early development.  Thank you for all the consideration and thought you have given to those details.  We have learned such a lot from you, in so many ways.  We are better parents for having worked with you.

We are so grateful that we found a preschool educator whose values so closely mirror our own.  To have our home values reinforced at school has created in our children a strong sense of knowing right from wrong and social responsibility as well as a confident, assured sense of self and feeling of security.  Even though our children both began attending your school at an early age, neither of them ever expressed any reluctance to go to school or to be left with you.

Our children both have a great love of learning, and spend a good deal of their free time at activities that a primary school teacher might consider to be extension activities of their own volition.  This love of learning is a great gift which will help give them a very fulfilling life.

Thank you for the love and concern you showed all of us during Raphael's illness.  We understand that Raphael's serious illness and its complexities and consequences have inadvertently created challenges for you as well as for ourselves.  We appreciate that, like us, you have always had his best interests at heart.  In Raphael's case, in particular, we attribute his current very high level of functioning in part to the intellectual stimulation he has received from you dating from when he first finished radiotherapy.  We believe this mental exercise has contributed to the repair and re-training of his brain following the damage that must have occurred from the tumour, surgery and radiotherapy.  We are astonished and delighted at this outcome, which none of us could have foreseen two years ago.  We pray that he will continue to thrive.  Even though it has at times been very difficult, we hope you will remember this journey we have all shared.       

Mathilde

You have been a very central person in Mathilde's life throughout the past eighteen months, and we know she is going to miss you enormously.
Thank you for your always personal and friendly way of meeting us as parents, and for your love and care of Mathilde and the other children.

You have a unique talent for seeing and understanding every single child, helping them feel secure and develop creatively. 
It has been a pleasure to observe in Mathilde how fond she is of you, and how much she has been looking forward to seeing you every day.

As parents, we could not ask for anything more. Thank you.

August

We would like to thank you so very much for the love and care you have extended to August. You have a big place in his heart and we know he will miss you. 

Even though you are moving back to Australia we hope to see you again.

Thank you for an outstanding experience. 

Sadie + Audrey

You have taught us so much.

Thank you for sharing so openly, so honestly and with genuine love for children.  We are so grateful for your complete devotion to the children and for the community that you have created.

You are making an immensely positive difference in this world, one child at a time.

Olivia

We feel blessed to have met you when we did.
Thank you very much for everything, and the beautiful relationship you built with Olivia.

Hugo

Thank you for your dedication, kindness and gracefulness that reflect in our boy Hugo.

Thank you for all that you bring to the classroom, effortlessly, every day. We will miss your very gentle and graceful energy.

Jude

We are so thankful to you for your kindness and support to Jude this year. It is wonderful to see him learn and grow with your guidance.