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Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism Education |
by Erin Mergil
I am honored and energized to include the focused action committee of Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism (ABAR) education among our school’s operational priorities.
Our Montessori method came to its creation upon the value of inclusion and equity in educational access and opportunity. Founded with the language of dignity and self-creation, our pedagogy already assumes that each individual has inherent strengths and is of great worthwhile recognizing that the structures established in an environment are to be under constant examination for improvements in serving each member of the classroom and school community.
Our Method alone contains a core curriculum of Grace and Courtesy which acknowledges that there are societal norms and expectations to Care for Oneself, to Care for our Environment, and to Care for one another. Our core curriculum holds that people and their cultures, heritage, and belief systems from all six inhabited continents, though we do study lone uninhabited Antarctica, all contribute to humanity's biosphere on our planet Earth. To be a global citizen is possible for the child at 13 months, 3 years, and 13 years of age, and that our expertise in the Absorbent Mind and each Plane of Development is positioned to support Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism education at each stage of a child’s development.
While there are and will remain many opportunities to infuse our community with ABAR practices and examine broader systems within our school governance, this particular ABAR education focus group will exist to specifically examine the language, materials, resources, school celebrations, and teacher development that we currently use and those that are chosen in the future, to make selections that are not simply neutral but Anti-Racist in nature. We will also host listening groups to glean valuable feedback from parents, alumni, and students to hone our skills as educators in making sure our intent matches our recipients’ experiences. We seek to exist as a resource for our teachers who by design and methodology, perform both the self-examination and the attentive observation practices essential for this Anti-Bias commitment.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions about this group or my personal experience or motivation with this work.
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In the Fall of 2019, the Woodland Hill Montessori Board of Trustees initiated a strategic planning process. WHMS formed a board-led strategic planning committee to spearhead the process. Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group facilitated working sessions with the board, faculty, parents, and administration.
The document outlines the four focus areas that emerged from the strategic planning process as well as the associated goals, objective, strategies, actions, and measures for each area.
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Erin Mergil is shown here during her first year as a lead teacher in Primary in 2017. She joined the WHMS faculty in 2016. |
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As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Maria Montessori's birth this year, we also want to highlight our own Montessorians. Throughout the school year, we will highlight a WHMS teacher in each Messenger with five facts about them, totaling 150 facts throughout the year.
This week's facts are from Assistant Head of School Erin Mergil.
1. My last year in undergrad university, as a Spanish/Linguistics major, I decided to make my own Study Abroad program; I moved to the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez and slept in the back of a truck at night while building houses for families in need.
2. I was a member of the Guilderland Ballet Company in high school and taught ballroom dancing in college.
3. I love to watch foreign films.
4. My four children - Ana, Benjamín, Mateo, and Talia - are the best people I know, and they get that from their father, Fernando.
5. Every Montessori quote is my favorite, but this compels me lately: “Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”
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Jennifer Graham presented Montessori in the Home on November 18.
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Welcome to our new faculty! |
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Diane Nickerson joins us this year to teach Middle School Spanish. Diane is the founder and school director of Castle Island Bilingual Montessori in Albany.
Prior to opening Castle Island, she was an English Language Learners teacher, a Spanish/Latin American Studies Adjunct Professor, a Middle School Spanish teacher, and a second grade and English as a Foreign Language teacher. Diane holds permanent NYS Certification as a grade 7-12 Spanish teacher.
She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, a master's degree in school administration from the University at Albany, and her Montessori certification in School Management from the Center for Montessori Education.
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Bridget Kalsi joins us as the 6th grade Spanish teacher. Bridget has recently relocated to the area from San Francisco, where she worked as a Spanish as a Foreign Language Teacher and Assistant Teacher in the Elementary program at Mission Montessori School.
Bridget has a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Nazareth College, and a bachelor's degree in inclusive childhood education from Nazareth College. She also has a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
In addition to sixth grade Spanish, Bridget will be assisting with our Lower Elementary program.
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The Upper El collected and delivered food for the South End Children's Cafe in Albany for Thanksgiving. Thank you to the UE families that contributed so generously to this service project. |
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The Upper El students created gratitude feathers. |
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Sarah Colwill, our school librarian, put books on display for Native American Heritage Month. |
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Jessa, Jeanne, and Josie's Primary class created Coral Reef suncatchers. Their artwork included sea stars, reef sharks, sea turtles, yellow tang fish, and blue tang fish. |
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Our lobby was decorated for Hanukkah which began on Thursday, December 10. |
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The Middle School House held their second Coffee House on November 23. The next one is on Monday, January 11. |
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Congratulations to Upper El student Lena Calabria! She won this year's spelling bee by spelling the word malice in the final round. This year's bee was held outside and via Zoom for remote learners. Keya M. was our runner-up this year.
Congratulations to Lena and to all of the students who participated!
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Middle School student Ranna Payamfar's submission for Albany Winter Wonderland makes her the youngest local professional artist among the other artists in the group.
You can win $50 if you get your picture next to it from now until February. Just take of selfie with your favorite Winter Wonderland artwork and email it to info@downtownalbany.org.
Winter Wonderland is the Downtown Albany BID's 2020 Placemaking program, designed to help support artists and businesses while providing accessible public art to help uplift and connect the community. Regional artists have created seasonal storefront displays in a wide variety of styles and mediums, collaborating with downtown businesses on 19 colorful pieces that will be exhibited from Small Business Saturday on November 28 until February 2021.
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EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THE DIVERSITY BOOK CLUB CONVERSATION on Monday, December 14th at 4:30 on Zoom: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD.
Are you looking for supplemental materials to enhance your thought process?
Did you read the book ages ago and need a refresher?
Did you procrastinate?
Is your book still on the shelf?
Do you have a deep desire to participate, but are feeling nervous?
YOU ARE WELCOME.
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Additional Resources
(interview begins around 20 minute mark)
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News from the Middle School |
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Take-out dinner from MORE Perreca's |
As a service, the WHMS Middle School is partnering with MORE Perreca's to offer take-out dinners to be picked up at WHMS on Friday, December 18.
MORE Perreca's is owned by Maria Papa, mother of Kipling Papa, WHMS Class of 2012. Maria has been supportive of WHMS and the Middle School students wanted to show their appreciation by collaborating with her business.
Orders should be placed using the form sent home in your child's bag. Payment will be made via credit card when you pick your food up on Friday, December 18. Food can be picked up at WHMS between 2:45 -5:30 p.m. The deadline for orders is 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15.
All of the dinners serve four people and come with a garden salad, house Italian dressing on the side, and a loaf of Perreca's Italian bread. All of the meals cost $35.95, except for the Shrimp Scampi, which costs $44.95.
- Chicken Parmesan over penne marinara
- Classic Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Penne Alla Vodka with Grilled Chicken
- Chicken Marsala over penne pasta
- Eggplant Rollatini over penne marinara
- Shrimp Scampi over linguini ($44.95)
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The Middle School store has re-opened! The store sells pre-packaged snacks and seltzers, and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 8 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. in the front lobby. |
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The Middle School is holding a food drive this week for CoNSERNs-U. Non-perishable food can be placed in the collection boxes in both the front and back lobby. The food will be delivered on December 18. |
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Hour of Code from the WHMS Computer Literacy Committee |
The WHMS Computer Literacy Committee is excited to welcome all Elementary and Middle School students to this year's Hour of Code. Because we can't be together in the classroom this year, we've prepared a self-led experience that each student can do on their own and at their schedule. Larry Peters has created the YouTube video above to get started.
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code," to show that anybody can learn the basics and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts. Check out the tutorials and activities. This grassroots campaign is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide.
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WHMS Class of 2017 member Ana Mergil was one of three Troy High School students honored with the University at Albany’s Multicultural High School Scholar’s Award, which recognizes Upstate New York State high school students for their distinguished academic performance and school and community involvement.
Ana is a senior at Troy High and is working at WHMS as an aftercare staff member.
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The head of the Montessori School of Syracuse was so inspired by the book Peace, Love, Action! that she bought and sent copies to 20 people including Michelle Edwards. The accompanying letter said that the book is aligned with Montessori values, and includes some familiar "Montessori" names. We recognized one name right away - Leah Penniman is a parent of Neshima (WHMS Class of 2017) and Emet ('19). |
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Upcoming Events
Monday, December 14
Diversity Committee Book Discussion: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 15
COVID-19 testing program begins
Friday, December 18
Last day of classes before the holiday break
Monday, January 4
Classes resume
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This school year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Dr. Maria Montessori’s birth.
We ask you to consider a donation to The WHMS Fund: 150 for Montessori in celebration of Maria Montessori and her lasting influence. Your commitment and generosity will provide assistance with ongoing expenditures related to the pandemic, such as PPE and disinfecting and purifying equipment; reimagined learning spaces to accommodate social distancing; new Chromebooks for our students; enhanced internet speeds to ensure live streaming of daily activities, and supplemental financial aid for those enduring hardship due to COVID-19. Your gift ensures a safe and nurturing environment for all our children.
Thank you to everybody who has donated so far. We have raised over $35,000!
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Andrew Snow and the WHMS Suzuki Violin Program have another wonderful upcoming Parent Session.
Helping Parents Practice with World-Renowned Master Suzuki Teacher
Sunday, January 10, 2020
6:30-7:30 P.M. ET
Zoom link and more information will follow.
Sponsored by the Suzuki Association of the Capital District
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