Happy August!
To me, August is the perfect time to get ready for the 2024-2025 school year and start fresh! I have some exciting plans in store for you, including new opportunities for family engagement with Heketi. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox and follow me on Instagram @heketimontessori for updates!
But first, let’s talk about what’s happening with Heketi House.
Here’s a glimpse of my timeline for July - September 2024:
Community Engagement and Networking
- Building relationships with local parenting groups, community centers, and organizations.
- Attending conferences and workshops to stay updated on Montessori education and cultural affirmation practices.
- Planning and executing outreach activities to introduce Heketi House to potential clients.
This summer, as you may have read in my previous email, I had the opportunity to meet with a team from Blue Montessori to discuss potential partnerships for hosting parent-child, infant, and toddler classes. What began as a networking event led to an unexpected but exciting development—I landed a job with Blue Montessori as a Primary Care Assistant. It feels like a perfect fit and a step in the right direction. This role will help me continue connecting with families and deepen my understanding of the DC community as I continue to build Heketi House.
Please check out blue Montessori and their amazing work!
In addition, I had a wonderful meeting with John “Peter Bug” Matthew, an esteemed elder and community leader in Ward 6 where I live. I delivered some pollo guisado to his shoe store to catch up with him and discuss our shared passions. I shared my vision for Heketi House, and I’m grateful to have his support and blessings.
IW (my niece) walking with Peter Bug to get a lollipop ha!
Lastly, I’m excited to share that Heketi merchandise is in the works! I’m preparing to ship items to my Indiegogo backers and will soon launch once again the next Indiegogo campaign to continue funding this dream of Heketi House.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for your continued support!
Advocacy for Peace and Equity in Education
As we prepare for the school year, we also face significant challenges that potentially impacts education. It’s crucial for us to foster peace education and advocate for equity. Maria Montessori's vision for education as a tool for peace is more relevant than ever.
In The Best Weapon for Peace, Maria Montessori's educational activism is highlighted as a path to peace. Her method aimed to foster empathy, social responsibility, and solidarity through a liberated, child-centered approach. “Achieving peace was a twofold process: first, the child would be called to develop an internal peace, a harmony with the environment, and a moral sense to guide her acts. Competition, injustice, and abuse of power found no place in a Montessori classroom.”(Moretti, 2022, p. 4)
In the spirit of promoting peace, equity and diversity, I invite you to explore the diverse back-to-school books that celebrate our differences and encourage empathy! Head to the library and grab your books today!
Back-to-School Books Kids Will Love promoting peace, equity and diversity
I Got the School Spirit: A Back-to-School Story
by Connie Schofield-Morrison, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez:
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
I Believe I Can by Grace Byers, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
Spanish Books
Isabel and her Colores Go to School (English and Spanish Edition) by Alexandra Alessandri (Author), Courtney Dawson (Illustrator)
Nuestra Clase es una Familia (Spanish Edition) by Shannon Olsen (Author), Sandie Sonke (Illustrator)
Spanish is My Superpower: A Social Emotional, Rhyming Kid's Book About Being Bilingual and Speaking Spanish (Teacher Tools)
Lola: Edición en español de ISLAND BORN (Spanish Edition) Spanish Edition by Junot Díaz (Author), Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
Let's make this school year a wonderful journey filled with joy, learning, and growth. Together, we can navigate challenges and celebrate successes.
Event Alert!
Family Fun Day in NoMa
Join us for a Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 3rd, where I'll be leading a music and movement session as part of the DC Unity + Justice Fellowship event. If you're in DC, come and enjoy the festivities with us!
Heketi Montessori in the Boogie Down Bronx
For those in the Bronx, Wildflower New York Charter School is hosting a Back-to-School Family Orientation. I'll be there to facilitate a short workshop titled "Guiding Screen Time the Montessori Way: Strategies for Healthy Digital Habits."
Click here to learn more about Wildflower New York Charter School in The Bronx!
Activity to do at home
Montessori principles for welcome back to school.
I Value Your Input!
To set the tone for a successful journey with Heketi House, I have a few questions for you:
1. What excites you the most about having Heketi House as a nurturing space for families with infants and toddlers, especially with our Montessori approach in DC?
2. How do you envision Heketi House serving as a venue for other parent engagement activities, such as art exhibits, socials, and more?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Your feedback is invaluable to me as we move forward. I can’t wait to hear from you!
P.S. Check out my new website! ;-)
References
Moretti, E. (2022). The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children's Rights. University of Wisconsin Press.