Bennett Park is a school with a rich history and that includes the embrace of school-wide traditions that teach peace, conflict resolution, and caring for our school environment. Students participate in peace marches, gardening, and ice cream socials. One tradition occurs at the beginning of each new school year. It's called "Moving Up."

“Moving up” is a time honored tradition at Montessori. Montessori classrooms have multi-age classrooms where students spend 2-3 years with the same teacher. When the time comes for a student to move to the next level, i.e. from 3-6 to 6-9, the tradition begins.

On the first day of school, the student returns to their previous classroom. They spend time talking. Talking about memories from past years spent in that classroom, about their favorite lessons and about how they spent their summer.

Finally they talk about their new adventure. The “BIGNESS” of moving to a new class with a new teacher and new work with the chance to make new friends. They talk about how they feel; excited, nervous, scared, maybe even sad to leave. Once those feelings are acknowledged, it is time to move forward. The teacher walks the students up to meet their new teacher and new class.

Respectfully submitted by Nancy Lillis