After many weeks of marketing, promoting, planning and preparing, Saturday 13 May dawned bright and sunny and our first Open Day of 2017 became official. Staff and children had been working hard all week to ensure our indoor and outdoor environments were just perfect and were very excited to showcase their beautiful and unique classes.
A steady stream of visitors started arriving from 09h00. Silent Tours were conducted every hour where parents and visitors walked through each environment quietly and respectfully, with little or no talking – just absorbing what they saw in each space. Directly after that, there were planned Q&A sessions in each plane where they could discuss what they had seen, ask questions about the Montessori ethos and methodology, and generally interact with the Directress/Director and other staff on hand.
It took some coaxing, but visiting children soon lost their shyness and engaged with our sports staff, enjoying the obstacle course and games set up for them on the grass while parents visited with staff and PA members who were ready to answer questions and show them around the school.
Beautifully laid refreshment tables (thanks to our PA) enticed others to the Upper Elementary veranda for coffee and muffins, where again, conversations revolved around the uniqueness that is Newberry House.
Thank you to all involved in making the day so successful – from the grounds staff to the PA, the academic staff and the children – everyone played an important part! Even the squirrels were doing acrobatics on the telephone wires above the school! Let’s not even mention the joy of our Middle School chickens who made the most of the unseasonal but very enjoyable summer weather.
