Countryside Montessori School

Hi Mrs. Kulle,

Thanks for still sending us the newsletters. We do so miss Countryside and
there's not a week that goes by in which we do not have a Countryside
moment. Whether remembering a poem, song or music that was introduced at
CMS or observing moments of respect, responsibility or resourcefulness (or
possibly lack thereof) in our daily activities -- it always seems that we
can always harken back to a lesson learned at Countryside.

The most recent opportunity for a "teaching moment" was last Friday night
at the dedication of the Library/Media Center at Annika's school (there
were actually several teaching moments in this one short ceremony). The
first had to do with seating and respect. The second involved
inappropriate behavior.

In the first instance, gleeful and nimble young students dashed for the
front row chairs that had been set up for the ceremony. Other than the two
rows of chairs, the other available (and rather limited) seating in the
Center was on the carpeted stadium-type seating ledges behind the chairs;
beyond that, people stood at the rear of this small area. Not knowing the
agenda for the ceremony, I refrained from shooing them out of those chairs.
It became obvious, as the entire crowd filed in, that these children were
not part of any special presentation and were just seeking front row seats
for themselves. At this juncture the librarian did step forward and asked
these children to give up the chairs. Some kids did, some didn't, and some
just didn't get it. I explained to Annika the social graces regarding
public seating -- young people should respectfully offer their seats to
older people and those with special needs in these types of circumstances.

The second learning moment occurred during the ceremony when two youngsters
in the front row seats began leaning on each other and poking each other,
all of which was accompanied by audible commotion. Parental intervention
was late and minimal. We talked about it afterward and our conversation
was framed up this way: What Would Mrs. Kulle Do or What Would Mrs. Kulle
Say? Annika noted that Mrs. Kulle would have said something immediately to
them because their behavior was inappropriate and disruptive and that Mrs.
Kulle would probably have given the offenders a chance to quiet down. "If
that didn't work," Annika continued, "Mrs. Kulle would have given them a
small lecture."

It is with great affection that we acknowledge that "Mrs. Kulle" has
become, for us, what "Ms. Manners" or "Emily Post" was for prior
generations. "Mrs. Kulle" is the embodiment of social graces and
respectful behavior, a beacon for responsibility and resourcefulness and a
yardstick by which we measure our own actions as well as those of others.

As always, give our best to all at Countryside. We miss you and, as you
can tell, we think of you often.
_____________________

Lisa Olsen