From Mr. David's Desk 3/22/24

Preprimary teachers Dounia Kabbaj and Nakia Reyes met with interested parents Thursday morning to give a presentation on the benefits of a Torit education. They presented data about kindergarten students in Massachusetts public schools, often seen as the best in the nation, and surprised the audience with the standards those children are asked to meet as 5 and 6 year olds. “Torit children learn the same things as 3 year olds,” Dounia observed. She explained that they go far beyond their public school peers, learning to read, master fundamental skills in mathematics, and dive into science concepts as they work and play together. “If something is hard for a Torit student,” Dounia said, “we support them carefully and they build strength and learn to enjoy the challenge. This makes them an independent and confident student for their lives.”

I couldn’t agree more. Children in our Preprimary program benefit from dedicated teachers who see and respond to their individual needs and set them up for sustained academic and personal success. That’s true across the school. As we educate students in their critical, foundational years, we’re providing them with an optimal learning environment.

From Mr. David’s Desk 3/15/24

Thursday saw two fun Torit events, a pop-up celebration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, where students in elementary grades greeted everyone at drop off with dates and milk, the traditional means of breaking each day’s fast (usually after sunset). Ms. Dounia’s students explained the meaning of the holiday, which is about reflection, community, and prayer, and the customs associated with the month. They wished everyone “Ramadan Mubarak,” or “blessed Ramadan.” Ask them to share their Arabic speaking and writing skills with you!

We also celebrated Pi Day, March 14, or 3/14. The mathematical symbol for 3.141592653…, π is a “constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter” (Wikipedia). Pi Day has become a fun way to celebrate math around us and eat pizza pies, thanks to Chef Lisa and Berto. Faculty enjoyed apple, blueberry, mixed berry, and strawberry rhubarb pies to mark the day.

At our faculty meeting earlier this week, we had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Lauren Orefice, mother of Eloise in Young Toddlers, who spoke to the staff about touch processing, her area of research as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at MGH and the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Orefice noted that the sensorial emphasis of Torit’s Montessori curriculum was an important factor in her decision to enroll her daughter here. She studies the interactions between touch, emotional health, and behavior. The talk was fascinating as we learned about the relationship between touch, gut health, and anxiety later in life as well as the value of learning through touch for Torit students and all young children. Torit’s focus on exploring the classroom environment, the use of Montessori materials, and children’s development and maturation over time aligned with Dr. Orefice’s work, and she emphasized the value of Torit's program to the healthy growth of our students. You can learn more about Dr. Orefice and her work at https://www.oreficelab.org.

From Mr. David's Desk 3/8/24

Many years ago, I taught a course called “The Individual and the Community in American Life.” My students and I read works by John Locke, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Martin Buber, among others. We visited a Shaker community, the last living remnant of a utopian social movement dating back to the 1780s. And we sent letters to authors as well, including Wendell Berry, who wrote back a grumpy but memorable reply. One student from that class is now a family physician in Maine. Another serves as an officer on the Board of Education in her Colorado mountain town. They seem to have gotten the message of the course: Life’s not a solo venture. We owe something to each other.

As a school, we wrestle with the rights and responsibilities of individuals learning together. Montessori schools emphasize individual choice and interests, but they also draw from Dr. Maria Montessori’s interest in the relationship between her model of education and world peace to highlight the benefits of community (she lived through two world wars). At Torit, as in most schools, students (and teachers) give up some degree of autonomy for the good of the group. Because we are a school where people choose to join the community, we have certain expectations and values, some explicit (Opening Doors, Grace & Courtesy), some implicit (everyone should have a safe, supportive learning environment. Individual needs are sometimes subsumed by the needs of the group.)

As I read student reports, which you’ll soon receive, I’m reminded of that tension between the individual and community. Children at Torit are learning many academic and practical life skills. They’re also learned how to negotiate conflict and difference. That’s exciting work, work Torit students and teachers undertake every day. We learn and grow together because of the exciting moments, and the challenges, too.

Soon, we’ll start holding weekly school meetings, where toddlers through Upper Elementary students will gather in the gym for a few minutes to sing together, hear a story, or learn about their schoolmates' pursuits. It’s a new way to build relationships and community at Torit. I’m particularly excited about this, and I look forward to sharing pictures and stories with you soon.

From Mr. David's Desk 3/1/24

Science is an important aspect of the program at Torit, and I was dazzled yesterday by our scientist-scholars in lower and upper elementary. I learned about magnetism, matter, simple machines, rocks, solutions, sound waves, bones, acids and bases, and refraction. I was proud of the students for displaying their curiosity, research, and presentation skills. Students chose a topic, read about it, experimented, wrote up results, and presented a poster that showcased what they had learned. It was Torit’s academic program at its best, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if there are a number of future MDs or PhDs in the group. Science education may start with the basics, but it’s an event like our science fair that launches a student forward.

I’m reminded that our data shows that Torit students outperform public and independent school peers in a number of ways and on a number of indicators. Perhaps that’s because students embrace their own interests and are supported by teachers who guide them in the discovery of ideas and information that they can make their own. Likewise, the extended work cycles of Montessori and a student-to-teacher ratio that’s more like a tutorial than an impersonal class augers for future achievement and excellence. I have no doubt that our students will be successful no matter where they go.

That was driven home earlier this week when 9th grader Naya visited from her high school to see Ms. Sherla and visit with some of her former teachers. Naya attributed her interest in film production to Torit, remembering the projects that got her started with a video camera just a few years ago. Now, Naya is submitting movies to film festivals and documenting both local initiatives like the McKinley/Mel King School and cremation rituals in Bali, Indonesia. Perhaps Naya will be our first Oscar winner someday. Her energy and ebullience and appreciation for what she learned at Torit may just carry her that far!

From Mr. David's Desk - 2/16/24

Thanks to Tamar Aharoni, Natalia Sesma-Boussios, and the members of the International Potluck Committee, as well as everyone who brought a dish for what was a wonderful event! Tamar said, “I had a great time meeting new families and came to quickly see how many cultures are represented in our school.” Visit our Instagram page (linked below) for a few pictures from the evening.

Our Science Fair has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 29 at 8:30AM, and I hope you can join us. In that spirit, here are a few out-of-this-world book recommendations in case you have reading time over the break: The Little Book of Aliens, a non-fiction exploration about the likelihood of finding evidence of alien life, is science-based, detailed, and thought provoking. How many exoplanets are habitable, and how many might produce intelligent, space-faring life? If that kind of question whets your appetite, this is a fun read. This Time Tomorrow, is time-traveling fiction, featuring a woman whose father is dying and whose high school crush can be her husband in an alternative NYC reality. Surprising and emotionally honest. Finally, another space-based non-fiction book, Moonshot, by NASA astronaut and MIT alum Mike Massimino. Drawing on his experiences as a shuttle astronaut and spacewalker, Massimino shares some life lessons for building purpose, functional teams, and achieving what might seem like the impossible.

And at the next Parent Coffee on March 5, I’ll tell you about the time I met an astronaut who was working behind the counter at his daughter’s bakery on the Cape. An amazing guy who has flown on the International Space Station and whose exploits form a subplot in The Perfect Storm.

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!