From Mr. Davids Desk 2/9/24

“My child said they can be a dust pan but not a broom yet,”  a mom shared with the group gathered at the parent coffee this week. “Funny,” we thought. “Imaginative kid.” But the mom went on to explain that for their classroom jobs, the 3 year olds were allowed to hold the dust pans while the Kindergarteners swept debris with the broom. Each child had a role, a job they eagerly looked forward to. Each child was needed for a task that benefitted the group.

“We all deserve to be known and needed.” That’s one of my core values as an educator. Whether it’s being the dust pan or the broom, the baby bather, or the vacuum wielder, or the pet walker, kids love taking on responsibilities. As parents, we have to prepare them for the job, and then turn over duties. I’ve heard it said that when learning a new medical procedure, residents “see one, do one, teach one.” Whether 3 or 33, that’s how we all learn and grow.

Torit gives students responsibility, whether for classroom tasks or academic pursuits. Our oldest students, for example, take ERBs and ISEEs, standardized tests that allow them to apply what they’re learning here at Torit on normed exams. While I’m no fan of teaching to the test, I recognize that our students need to meet those standards. I’m happy to say that many of our kids exceed them. We have the data to show that the Torit approach is superior to the public schools and outpaces New England independent school norms as well. All that sweeping as a 5 year old leads to an internalized work ethic and intellectual approach which serves students well for years to come.


My hope is that families will join Torit early and stay through Upper Elementary, and maybe beyond. As I first mentioned in my Opening of School remarks last fall, a small, innovative, nimble middle school may be in our future. Please read this piece in this week’s Beacon Hill Times for further information, and contact Liz or David if you’d like details. An info session on Zoom is scheduled for Thursday, February 29 at 4:00 PM. It will be recorded.

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. Davids Desk 2/2/24

Though we are proudly Torit Montessori School, I haven’t written about our “middle name” until now.

In the summer of 2021, I took an introductory class on the Montessori approach. I had always heard of Montessori, but the schools I had worked in until then were progressive or traditional independent schools. As the course progressed, I started to see the brilliance of Montessori, as well as some potential pitfalls. I’ll sum those up with two rhetorical questions:

What is the Pink Tower? And why is it pink?

The first question is easy to answer: At first glance, the Pink Tower is a stack of blocks. They stack nicely, ten blocks high. They range in size from 10 cubic centimeters to just 1 at the apex. Dr. Maria Montessori designed the Pink Tower and other hands-on, sensorial materials to allow children to see, touch, feel, smell, and make sense of the world around them. The Pink Tower helps children distinguish differences in dimension and weight. It takes precision and accuracy to complete the tower, which in turn teaches self discipline.

Dr. Maria Montessori believed in children’s natural curiosity. She understood that by exploring the world around them, children developed ways of knowing and internalized concepts. Trained as a physician, she believed in experimentation and observation, and she wove both into her philosophy. Rather than teach with rigidity at desks with worksheets and memorization, she wanted children to learn by doing and by experiencing the wonder and beauty of their environment. The Pink Tower, then, is a tool that allows children to learn with their hands. It’s a beginning, not an ending.

And why is the Pink Tower pink? I’ve seen two answers. One goes that Dr. Montessori experimented with different colors, and she observed that the children were more attracted to pink. I’ve also been told that she only could find a can of pink paint, and the tower has been pink ever since.

I tend to embrace the second explanation. Here’s why: smart and innovative as she was, Montessori tends to be mythologized, even sainted. I’ve visited some schools where a black and white portrait of Montessori stares down from above. Undoubtedly she was insightful, but I doubt she would want her philosophy or materials frozen in time. If she were alive today, I bet she’d embrace contemporary materials and tools. Would she have kids staring at screens all day? I don’t think so! But would she see some value in using technology? I’d venture a yes.

So while the Pink Tower isn’t going anywhere, I don’t think Montessori would be wedded to any particular material. Instead, I believe she would embrace learning by trying different approaches with different students, recognizing that teacher plasticity in the delivery of lessons addresses the neurodiversity of children. We know a whole lot more about the brain and learning than Montessori did in her era. The Pink Tower may be here to stay, but it’s not the only way.

***

Counselor Judy Burrows, a former colleague of David’s, will join us on Thursday mornings to consult with teachers and support positive mental health initiatives within the school, including working with elementary students as a group to support well-being. Judy graduated from Boston University's School for the Arts and pursued further education in psychiatric social work at Smith College. She recently retired from Boston Children's Hospital but still supports individuals at Emerson Hospital and in her private practice. More at https://www.theburrowsgroup.org

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. David's Desk 1/26/24

It’s been busy and exciting at Torit! We hosted another well-attended Admission Open House on Tuesday afternoon. On Thursday, the Torit Foundation, which raises funds for scholarships, hosted their first Lunch & Learn with experts from Welch & Forbes on “Financing Education,” focusing on 529 savings plans. The video can be found below or on the Torit Parent Page. That evening, many of you joined me for a State of the School address. Likewise, that video can also be found below or on the Parent Page.

As I mentioned in the talk, we are exploring several university partnerships. We hosted a visitor from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s field placement office, bringing us one step closer to having grad students on site with us. We also welcomed three students from Simmons University’s Library Science program, who are helping us reimagine the library and bring Torit students into it on a more regular basis. And we expect to host researchers from MIT in the coming weeks as they collect data from Torit students on language development.

Our elementary students begin skating lessons at the Frog Pond rink this coming week with professional coaches from the Skating Academy!

Summer Session is filling quickly and we encourage you to sign up before spaces are all filled.

Finally, thanks to everyone who has returned enrollment agreements. We’re thrilled to have you back next year. The deadline for returning the agreement is February 1. As you can see from my State of the School talk, there is a great deal of momentum at Torit and positive energy. This is the place to be. Please help spread the word!

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. David's Desk 1/12/24

On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King was in Memphis, Tennessee along with Ralph David Abernathy, Andrew Young, and James Orange, among others. This photo captures the moment when authorities tried to stop a planned march. Tragically, Dr. King was assassinated the next day.

Growing up in Atlanta, I was aware of this history, because these were real people to me. Abernathy’s son was a high school classmate. Young was the mayor of the city, later to be UN Ambassador. Orange’s daughter, Jamida, became my dear friend after we met in college.

Jamida went by “OJ,” and OJ and I quickly bonded over being displaced Southerners in the hinterlands of Vermont. At breaks, we would fly home to Atlanta. OJ would go to the south side of the city, the predominantly Black part of town. I would go to Buckhead to the north. All white. But over the years, OJ became a guide to my own hometown. She hosted me at Sunday services at Antioch Baptist Church. She took me to the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, where she introduced me to “Aunt Coretta.” OJ invited me to sit in on a meeting facilitated by her father at a random apartment complex. The meeting, it turned out, was with warring factions of the Crips and Bloods, LA street gangs that had flown into Atlanta to talk. I started to get an education that gave me glimpses into different worlds. Most powerfully, I learned what it felt like to stand out in an otherwise homogeneous group. That’s given me perspective, empathy, and appreciation for difference. It makes me see how far we’ve come, and how far we still need to go.

As we pause to consider King’s legacy on Monday, I’m pleased that Torit students walked to sing at “The Embrace” on Boston Common with visiting author Glynette Scott. Her book, The Day I Marched With Martin: A Day To Remember, is a reminder that real people, famous and unknown, make history, sometimes adults, sometimes kids. At Torit we endeavor to inspire children to treat others with grace and  courtesy. Respect, kindness, and goodwill are part of the school’s core values as well.

My hope is that this school, with its diverse students and staff, can be a “beloved community,” a place where everyone is cared for and valued. The concept is not an historical artifact or a phrase from another time period, but an aspiration. I hope that as a school, we can embrace community across differences and find what unites us. We inhabit different worlds and, at the same time, a shared world. I continue to find hope in the world we build at Torit.

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. David's Desk 1/5/24

“And we’re back!” Greeting children and parents in the lobby each morning, I get a good sense of how the school day might unfold, and I was pleased to see the smiling faces of children and slightly relieved parents happy that routines were back in place after a few weeks off.

As a school person, I love the momentum that accompanies the January return. Children are familiar with norms and schedules, and teachers are in their stride. From now through the spring, it’s exciting to watch how much learning and growth occurs. Kids can take giant strides forward this time of year as literacy and numeracy skills expand, their self confidence grows, and they physically mature. As we move forward, there are several important items that I want to bring to your attention.

We ask that you return your tuition deposit at your earliest convenience. This helps us solidify our staffing model for the coming school year, something the teachers and I are eager to finalize. The deadline for re-enrollment is January 31, but it helps to know your plans as soon as possible. Please contact Liz or me if you have any questions.

School picture day, a first for Torit, will happen on Thursday, January 11 (Infant & Infant/Toddler classes will not have individual photos taken but Liz will get a class photo of them for the yearbook). We encourage children to dress up if they prefer. (I’m glad to share some choice 1970s school pictures!)

Snow is coming Saturday into Sunday, a fun reminder to get outside and play. If there is ever a snow day during the school week, I will endeavor to alert the Torit community by 8:00 PM the night before if at all possible via an all-school email and a notice on the website homepage. While we know many families live within walking distance, many of our teachers commute considerable distances to Torit, so with safety in mind, I’ll do my best to make the right call. (Full disclosure: as someone who worked at boarding schools for 17 years, including 5 years in Maine, my inclination is to keep school open whenever possible, but I also understand that if faculty can’t get here, that’s a wee problem!)

My favorite seasonal children’s book? Snow, by Uri Shulevitz. Enjoy the first blast of winter!

Onward,

David Liebmann

Head of School

From Mr. David's Desk 12/15/23

As we enjoy vacation, there is much to celebrate.

Thank you for a successful Cradles to Crayons donation drive! Torit students, families, and faculty gathered new and gently used clothing and other items, which will be shared with children in need. We are planning a class trip for our elementary students to visit the Cradles to Crayons regional warehouse in January to better understand the work of this community-based charity.

The Torit Foundation, supporting scholarships for Torit students, kicked off a successful Giving Tuesday and hosted a donor reception this week. The Torit Foundation aims to raise $100,000 for scholarships by June 30. Your tax-deductible contribution supports a diverse student body that benefits all students. Topics and dates for Foundation-sponsored parent education Zoom lunches are forthcoming, as is a date for the Foundation’s Spring Fling. Thanks to Board President Alex Senchak, Secretary Shelli Pavone, and Trustees Jem Varghese Andrewes and Mark Dantos for their leadership in these important efforts.

Thanks also to Gretchen and Ben Roin for their leadership of the Teacher Holiday Gift Committee as well as all parents who so generously donated to thank our faculty and staff for their dedication to Torit’s children. Your support of Torit’s professional community is deeply appreciated.

Elementary students made holiday handicrafts and held a festive Craft Fair last week, where they also practiced their marketing and mathematics skills. Thanks to Judy Cavanaugh, Alison Gordon, Dan Scranton, Masiah Leander-Wess, Michael Lembck, and Sherla Collymore-Phillips for their support of this annual event.

Elementary students also performed their holiday play, written and directed by Berklee College of Music professor Cristina Vaira, with support from the same elementary faculty and friends. Thanks to all who helped with this fun production!

Holiday teas gave all students the opportunity to showcase their Montessori Practical Life skills. We hope that you were able to enjoy this annual Torit tradition with your child and see the fruition of their skills as they practiced grace and courtesy.

Finally and with great appreciation, we wish farewell to one faculty member and two Northeastern University co-op students. Fatima Chehboune has chosen to depart Torit as we enter Winter Break to spend more time with her family. Ms. Fatima has served ably on the Torit faculty for more than five years as both a Preprimary Teacher and a teacher of Arabic language and culture. Her dedication to and delight in supporting the growth of children has positively shaped the lives of many students, and we will miss her. The Torit community wishes Ms. Fatima and her family all the best.

Michael Lembck spent the fall initially observing and quickly becoming a trusted colleague in several classrooms. Michael is a senior computer science major, and his tech skills were critical in restructuring our class schedules and performing data analysis for admissions, among other projects. Michael also taught a LEGO robotics activity that our older students enjoyed a great deal. We will miss Michael’s willingness to tackle any task, large or small, and his eagerness and kindness.

Masiah Leander-Wess is also a senior at Northeastern. Masiah quickly made connections with elementary students and easily built positive relationships with staff and students. While we will miss seeing her on a daily basis at Torit, Masiah will continue to work with our elementary students on Monday afternoons as an extended day leader, so it’s less a goodbye and more a “see ya’ soon.”

And speaking of which, Torit’s doors will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. We look forward to seeing you in the new year. In the meantime, from the Torit faculty and staff, we wish you happy holidays and peace in 2024.

From Mr. David's Desk 12/8/23

This week, we collected donations for Cradles to Crayons. I visited PrePrimary 2 as the children talked about their donations and how giving made them feel. “Happy” was the word repeated over and over.

Giving to others feels good. Social science research shows this. Harvard Business School professor and happiness guru Arthur C. Brooks along with coauthor Oprah Winfrey write about this in their recent #1 bestseller, Build the Life You Want. Happiness comes not from receiving, but from giving.

At Torit, we are teaching children to see beyond themselves, to give. As parents, I want to thank you for supporting those efforts by finding items to donate with your child. The children are always watching us, so they see this effort on your part and understand when you drop a donation in the box or watch them talk about donating at Morning Circle that something important is happening.

As we move into the last, busy week of classes, I hope to see you at the Torit Foundation Donor Reception from 5:00-7:00pm next Wednesday, December 13. You should have received a Paperless Post invitation. You’ll also receive a solicitation in the mail, but you can also give at the event itself, which recognizes supporters of scholarship funds for Torit students. Remember, giving feels good!

Torit’s Holiday Craft Fair is Wednesday and Thursday morning from 8:00-9:00am. On Friday afternoon, please join us for Holiday Teas by class, where your children will serve you refreshments to begin the season’s celebrations and we’ll recognize teachers with collective gifts. You can also enjoy the Elementary Holiday Performance, wonderfully led by Cristina Vaira, Torit parent and professor at Berklee College of Music, who wrote the script and has been leading rehearsals for the students in preparation for this extravaganza.

Enjoy the coming days!

Best,

David and Team Torit

From Mr. David's Desk 12/1/23

For six weeks each fall, I help teach a class at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education called “Independent Schools: Leadership, Opportunities, Challenges.” We discuss the mission and history of American independent schools; diversity, equity and inclusion; the business of running a school; the student experience; leading the faculty, students, and parents of a school; and the promise and peril of headship. It’s an opportunity to connect with 25 rising leaders and reflect on my own experiences in independent schools.

Torit Montessori School comes up a lot. Master’s candidates are intrigued by the age range of our students (Infants?!? Toddlers? Sixth graders? Three languages?), attracting and retaining a diverse and talented group of teachers, and the complexity inherent in a small school where the daily demands of young children have to take precedence. We compare Torit to places like Phillips Andover and St. Paul’s, and folks are surprised to find that many of the core challenges are the same.

When I return from the Cambridge campus to Cambridge Street, I feel energy in my step and an eagerness to be back in school. I love the variety of things I deal with, the relational nature of the work, and most importantly, the kids. Being “Mr. David” to a kindergartener at Torit is as satisfying if not more so than anything I do at Harvard.

The real work of schools is found on the carpet soothing an upset girl who is developing the language to navigate social situations with peers or asking an energetic boy to reflect on why he was rough with a classmate. It’s having a girl read aloud to you as she discovers a “just right” book or teaching a boy the game of checkers. It’s opening the door to a new texture or smell to young toddlers or making eye contact with an infant learning to respond to her name. Torit is a community with such a range of possibilities, and striving for excellence in what we do inspires me and the teachers every day. The work matters for the children, and it matters for you as a parent. You motivate us.

As we lace up our running shoes for the next two weeks, I encourage you to engage with Torit as much as you can and enjoy the fun of December with us. There is something for everyone, and we look forward to sharing the coming days with you.

Best,

David and Team Torit

From Mr. David's Desk 11/17/23

It was a delight to hear so many parents and teachers in conversation about student growth and development today. Torit's mission is to open doors for children, and it was clear that our students are excited to pass through those doors on the way to building skills in practical life, self care, verbal and written expression, mathematical thinking, and language acquisition. Whether it's learning to put on shoes and a coat, try their first words in new languages like Arabic, Mandarin, and Spanish, or write their first letters in English, it's a thrilling experience to see children take their initial steps in what we hope will be a lifetime of learning. Thanks for choosing Torit as the school in which to take those first steps.

As we round the bend to the holidays, we are excited to share the Elementary students' bounty with you from Wilson Farms, which they visited on Wednesday. As Chef Lisa recalled, "Picked out fresh fruits and veggies for Torit’s Thanksgiving feast. Check. Watched a whole bunch of leeks get a cold bath. Check. Learned about good bugs eating bad bugs to help flowers grow. Check. Tried to count the poinsettias…maybe by standing in the middle of them…all 25,000. Check." I hope you can join us after drop off on Tuesday, November 21 to kick off the season with our oldest scholar-farmers.

Thank you in advance for your support of the Torit Foundation's fundraising efforts on Giving Tuesday, November 28, which provide access to a Torit education for a broad range of students. That's a doorway I hope you will walk through with us together as we support the Foundation's good work. 

Torit t-shirts and hoodies, such great gifts for the holidays, are available for order no later than Tuesday, November 28. We need to hit a minimum for both, so don't delay, buy today. See below.

Finally, I want to say "thank you" to the families and faculty of Torit. Thanksgiving is about food, family, and friends, and I'm so grateful for the friendship of our adults and children. The teachers of Torit are exceptionally hard working, patient, loving, and skilled professionals. They work magic with your children every day, and to them, I share our collective appreciation. Likewise to the families of Torit. We appreciate you choosing this school and this community to launch your child's schooling. 

Best ,

David and Team Torit

From Mr. David's Desk 11/10/23

At Torit, students and their families deserve to feel known and needed. Whether you are the parents of a 3 month old, a 3 year old, or a 10 year old, you are trusting us with your most precious possession, and you are trusting us to create the kind of community around you that will support your child’s growth and development. At the same time, you’re choosing the kinds of adults you want to connect with and the kinds of families whose values complement your own.

Simultaneously, we are a diverse community, a tapestry of languages and cultures and beliefs that sometimes reinforces what we believe and sometimes challenges us. In that diversity is strength. The strength to learn from each other, laugh with each other, and grow together. Those are the gifts of an independent school and a Montessori school like Torit.

“I’m so excited about Torit for my daughter. It’s a real school, not a daycare.” So said one parent to me at drop off this week. “We’re so thrilled about what our son is learning from his teachers,” another parent shared at the Curriculum Night on Tuesday. I’ve seen children come in with big smiles on their faces and others leave tired but so engaged from Extended Day that parents had to wait until a project was finished. I peeked into classrooms this week to see a doctor presenting about her professional life, a lawyer explaining what she wore to court (kids focus on the immediate!), and a parent telling students about an upcoming religious holiday, Diwali. All this is Torit, a school I’m proud to lead and one you can be proud to be a part of.

From Mr. David's Desk 11/3/23

Please join me for our next Parent Coffee, Tuesday, November 7 at 8:30 AM. You can stay for ten minutes or an hour, depending on your schedule. We’ll discuss Yardsticks: Child and Adolescent Development Ages 4 - 14, particularly as it pertains to Kindergarten students. Don’t worry if you haven’t had a chance to read the book. I’ll do a high-level summary for you. We’ll also preview parent conferences (Friday, November 17) and the Elementary Cooking Social on Tuesday, November 21.

Gearing up for the season of giving, there are three items I want to bring to your attention.

The first is our annual Cradles to Crayons drive, the week of December 4-8. This Torit tradition gathers donations in the form of tangible items for children in need. I’ll share more about the drive next week.

The second opportunity is our fundraising effort for the Torit Foundation. Your tax-deductible gift to the Torit Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, helps provide full and partial scholarships to bright and capable low-income students to experience a life-changing Montessori education. Since the Torit Foundation was established, it has provided more than $500,000 in scholarships to many wonderful students, and with your continued support, we look forward to providing additional scholarships in the years ahead. A solicitation will be forthcoming shortly, and we encourage you to give generously.

Third, expect contact from members of the Teacher Holiday Gift Committee. Our faculty is exceptional, and a collective gift for each member of the staff recognizes their commitment to your children and the school. Thanks to Ben and Gretchen Roin for chairing this effort.

Finally, I want to thank you for choosing Torit. As I get to know the students and families, it has been such a pleasure to learn about your hopes and dreams. There are fantastic families and children here, from our infants to our Upper Elementary students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. I’ve loved building relationships at morning drop off, during the school day, and after school. We share a love of learning (I’ve rarely worked at a school with a greater percentage of MDs, PhDs, JDs, and MBAs; welcome to Boston!) and high hopes and expectations for our children. As I work to build excellence into everything we do, thank you for your patience, wisdom, and support.

From Mr. David's Desk 10/27/23

On Thursday morning after drop off, Preprimary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary students and faculty gathered in the gym to take time to reflect on peace. Children placed candles around an image of the world in the center of the room and sang two songs that they had learned about peace. Flowers were laid around the globe and later, students gave the flowers to the adults around the room, a beautiful reminder of the moment.

I asked the parents each to say the word for peace in a language they spoke. “Peace” (English), “Mir” (Russian), “Hépíng” (Mandarin), “Heiwa” (Japanese), “Shaanti” (Hindi), “Paix” (French), “Paz” (Spanish), “Salam” (Arabic), “Shalom” (Hebrew). These words were shared around the circle of some 40 adults. You’ll notice, for example, that “Salam” and “Shalom” sound unsurprisingly pretty similar. Maybe that should tell us something about our shared values.

It’s powerful when the routines of school are interrupted for a gathering like this. Kids remember the different moments far after they are over. Our hope is that “peace,” no matter the language or culture, continues to resonate beyond Torit’s walls. Our hope as educators is that we slowly change the world for the better, one child at a time. Thank you for supporting that effort, whether you were able to be there in person or in spirit.

And thanks to Dounia, Fatima, Nakia, Sherla, Yiting and all the adults who helped make the event possible.

From Mr. David's Desk 10/13/23

International events can seem distant, but as a school with a diverse population of families, Torit feels the effects. Our thoughts are with the Torit students and families affected by the tragedy in Israel.

When terrible things happen, I return to the reason I became a teacher: to make the world a better place by raising humans that value grace and courtesy, have intellectual spirit, and care deeply about community.

I’m reminded, too, that even as I strive for that ideal, I’m serving children in all their complexity. They delight and confound us. They’re wonderful and frustrating, and we can find ourselves as parents pulled back and forth by the work of raising kids. Are we doing this right? Is there a “right” to begin with?

I’m delighted when parents share their pride in their children at their best. We see it, too, in Torit’s classrooms and in informal interactions between students. We also see kids figuring out how to get along, how to regulate their minds and bodies, how to navigate disagreements and disputes. It’s hard, lifelong work.

Fortunately, beyond teachers and other parents and friends, we have centuries of great minds to help us wrestle with big questions. We teach Shakespeare or Emily Dickinson or ancient history or Montessori’s Great Lessons because we want to learn from others. We benefit from wisdom transmitted from generation to generation and discovered anew.

In that spirit, you may want to read a book called The Blessings of a Skinned Knee, by Dr. Wendy Mogul. Though it’s been out for more than 20 years, it offers insights from the Torah, Talmud, and Jewish teachings to help any parent navigate the joy and challenges of child rearing.

As we move forward in uncertain times, I recommend returning to the texts of wisdom traditions from around the world. There is much we can learn from those that struggled and persevered before us. These texts can open doors. Onward.

From Mr. David's Desk 10/6/23

Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day is Monday, and school will be closed. I’m hoping to get outside and enjoy a day in nature, and I recommend the same for you and your family. Living on the North Shore, I often visit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge near Newburyport for its wonderful avifauna, or bird life, but there are appealing properties of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Trustees of the Reservations all around as well. No matter where you go, being surrounded by wind and weather and creatures great and small connects us to the larger cycles of life around us.

It’s important, especially for kids growing up in the city, to get outside. They should be allowed to look under rocks and logs, touch leaves and bark, and get their hands dirty. Or maybe explore a beach, collect some shells, and see what the tide has washed up. Let them take the day to connect to the natural world. The benefits to mental health and the restoration that comes with just breathing outside is so very valuable. As a parent, I’m always amazed at what my daughter discovers and her delight in small wonders. It reminds me, too, that a day away from screens is a day worth living.

For a book recommendation, I suggest Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England by William Cronon. It’s a classic of environmental history, helping shed light on Indigenous People, their attitudes toward land and use of resources, and how that shaped the world around us today.

From Mr. David's Desk 9/29/23

Curriculum nights provide an opportunity for families to learn more about Torit’s academic program and our Montessori approach to teaching and learning. I encourage all parents to attend our Elementary Curriculum Night this coming Thursday, October 5. Parents of current Preprimary students are especially invited to learn more about the next steps in Torit Montessori’s approach to individually empowered, inspiring education. I look forward to seeing you Thursday at 5:45 PM.


Here’s a snapshot of what I’m learning and listening to. I’m reading John McPhee’s Annals of the Former World, his Pulitzer Prize-winning collection on North American geology. You’ll never drive by a road cut or rock outcropping again without thinking about the 4.5 billion year history of our planet. I also recommend his book, Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process, a more approachable series of essays from this Princeton professor and New Yorker staff writer. For podcast fans, I recommend Ologies with Alie Ward, an irreverent geekfest that deep dives various fields of study. For fans of applied economic theory, People I (Mostly) Admire features Freakonomics co-author and University of Chicago professor Steven Levitt interviewing compelling guests. A companion podcast, Freakonomics M.D. might be appealing to the doctors in the Torit community. I also like New View EDU,  from Tim Fish of the National Association of Independent Schools. NAIS represents some 1,600 leading private schools in the U.S., and Fish brings energy and insight to his conversations. Stay curious, Torit friends!

From Mr. David's Desk 9/22/23

A reminder that our Elementary School Curriculum presentation is on Thursday, September 28 at 5:45 PM. We encourage all parents to attend to learn more Torit’s challenging 1st-6th grade Montessori curriculum. This is an in-person event.

Transitions. Early childhood and elementary teachers often talk about "minimizing," "managing," and "supporting" transitions for young children who value the predictability of routines and familiar structures. Don't we all?

Red flags are raised for teachers when young kids have to move from activity to activity too often, or from person to person, or from inside to outside. Transitions can be smooth or rough, easy or destabilizing. The former and the kids are like angels. The latter, and tears flow, anxiety skyrockets, and adults are tense.

The way young students react or respond to transitions should tell us something: they're not much fun for adults either. In the 15 years I've worked with PK-8 teachers and now infant/toddler/preschool teachers, I've come to see personality types. In a nutshell, Torit teachers prefer the predictable, perhaps because they know how important it is to create and maintain a productive classroom. Our teachers know a thing or two about successfully managing change. Upset the routines, muddle the transitions, and things go awry. Keep things evenly paced and predictable, and everyone's happier.

We encourage parents to keep to predictable household routines: meal times, bath times, bed times, wake up times. As parents, you know how important this can be to ensure domestic tranquility.

At Torit, my job as Head of School is to minimize the turbulence, remove the friction, and let people manage the transitions. I do that behind the scenes and also by checking in with families and teachers as you come into school each morning, taking care of issues that distract from Torit’s core mission, and anticipating ups and downs as the year unfolds. 

With September three fourths done, the patterns we establish now will help us navigate transitions and help our children thrive. If you want help creating home routines that best support students at Torit, please let me know.

Back to School Night 2023

From David's Desk, reprinting his remarks from Back to School Night.

I’d like you to think about a teacher who had a positive impact on you. How old were you when you met that teacher? What do you remember about them? How did they change you? Did you ever tell that teacher they made a difference in your life? Have you stayed in touch? 

We have an exceptional faculty. Our teachers speak multiple languages, have diverse backgrounds, and are experts in child development and growth. Even the newest teachers see many children every day, and they quickly learn about their subtle differences, ways to reach them, and how to support their learning. 

As a parent, I know my own daughter well, but I’ve also taught hundreds and hundreds of kids over the years. This is what that experience has taught me: I know Gracie. I love her. I know what she’s like around me. But I’ve come to value the perspective of her teachers, who see her as a separate person. All day, every day, they see her as an independent actor. Who she is with them and with her classmates is different from who she is with me. 

Trust your child’s teachers. See them as partners. Listen to them and see what you can learn from them. At the end of the day, you know your child. But the separate perspective that a teacher brings will help you help your kids become the best version of themselves. 

Go back to that teacher I asked you to recall. I suspect that they treated you differently than your family. That difference is the space where the magic of the teacher-student relationship happens. Ultimately, Torit teachers and parents are partners in raising good humans. It’s magical work.

So let me tell you about a few of my teachers:

My late parents, a military engineer and an artist. From my father I learned structure and order, compassion from my mother. My grandmother, Etta, born in 1889. She seemed ancient when I knew her, a link to a different time and place. I’m glad I was influenced by people with old fashioned values that have stood the test of time. Respect, manners, courtesy, hard work.

Anne Lane, my 2nd Grade teacher at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, where I was born and raised. Miss Lane exuded warmth and love of learning. And Ricks Carson, my 10th Grade English teacher, whose command of Hamlet and passion for poetry and creative writing allowed me to first think of myself as a writer. Almost 40 years later, we’re still in touch.

Rich Wolfson, Middlebury College physics professor, and John Elder, Middlebury English professor, with whom I was just on a webinar this past Tuesday. Both loved their subjects so thoroughly that I couldn't help but love them, too. John encouraged my further study, and I went on to earn a master’s at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English. Part serious study of texts, part summer camp for English teachers, Bread Loaf gave me a graduate degree as well as an introduction to Anna Catone, to whom I’ve been married for almost 25 years.

When I started my first teaching job, it was at Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester, a one semester environmental studies program for 11th graders. Scott Andrews was the director. He became a mentor and dear friend. Everything I learned about being a head of school, I learned from Scott: community, the value of shared work, and intellectual spirit. My students and colleagues taught me how to use resources beyond the classroom in exciting ways that made learning real and pushed their skills. More on that in a moment.

After five years, back down to Atlanta and The Westminster Schools, a nominally Christian school where I was the first Jewish teacher. The controversy that led to my hire was a big deal: front page news in Atlanta, articles in The New York Times. I learned about what it meant to be the first and only. I also learned about respect for differences.

Then two years in NYC at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where docents who were Holocaust survivors taught me about real courage. They were extraordinary teachers whose very lives were the lessons.

Out to Pittsburgh and Shady Side Academy for eight years. A science teacher, Bill Diehl, taught me about making sure students felt known and needed. And Jeff Suzik taught me about what it means to be a serious scholar. I ran the boarding program and later PK-12 summer programs on three campuses plus a public performing arts center.

From there, back to New York to lead a start-up in 2008 that was to be a hands-on, experiential high school in Greenwich Village. Great idea, terrible timing. The recession wiped it out before we could launch. I took away lessons in prioritizing and creativity and managing expectations. Also what it felt like to actually be in The New York Times and caught up in various gossip columns with celebrities. Not my preferred environment.

Seven years as Assistant Head of Fay School in Southborough, MA. America’s oldest junior boarding school. I hired over 100 teachers in my time there. The recipe for success? Hire happy people who love kids and their subject area and get along well with colleagues. Pretty simple; vitally important.

Three years rebuilding Glen Urquhart School in Beverly. A year trying educational consulting. Then the pandemic, a mid-career master’s at Harvard, where I still help teach a class, then two years as Assistant Head of Kingsley Montessori in Back Bay. 

Kingsley is 85 years old and three times Torit’s size, it’s one model for us, except Kingsley, like Torit, ends in 6th grade, which leads me to dream about a Torit Middle School that would take us through 8th grade and allow Torit students to apply as 9th graders to BB&N, Milton, Nobles, Dexter, Beaver, and a host of other day and boarding schools. I’d love to draw on my experiences in Maine and New York to create a unique, hands-on, authentic program for a select group of middle schoolers and get them out into Boston every day. It won’t happen overnight, but I hope many of you will consider a long run at Torit that might bring your students to an 8th grade graduation here someday. We can dream, right?

Let me take us back to teachers. Teachers make a school. They’re magic makers for children. They give children a sense of what it means to love learning, follow passions, get along with others, and be independent. Moms and dads and grandparents: you’ll always be their first teachers. But take a deep breath, learn with us about who these potential-filled, small humans are and who they might be. Keep the long view in mind. Along the way, we’ll “open doors” for your children to productive and meaningful lives.