Montessori assistants arrive at their communities

On Friday, August 26, the Montessori assistants met in person for the first time after years of the pandemic, allowing them to receive their starting school orientation.   

The Instituto Nueva Escuela collective and the "Melao Melao" city, Vega Baja, received the attendees from the early hours of the morning with great enthusiasm. 

Between coffee, hot chocolate and fruits, you could see the joy and love of sharing and seeing each other after years of distance. It was a time to create community. 

This meeting allowed the attendees to learn about the culture and organizational chart of INE as a non-profit organization. They were also oriented on other important issues, such as the communication channels to be used between INE and the attendees, budget issues, information to be delivered, Casa Familiar services, as well as issues related to human resources (licenses, bonuses, benefits , among others). Training on their roles was also provided at the meeting. 

"Every year we celebrate the beginning of these women and men arriving in the environments. They are a fundamental piece of the Montessori model. The assistant is the guide's "road companion". One cannot exist without the other", explained Gladiza Santiago, coordinator of Elementary II, about the role of the Montessori assistant.  

The assistant collaborates in the design and assembly of the prepared environment, attends to the needs of the students, protects the presentation of the guide, manages the environment to strengthen it as a learning community, observes the work and the follow-up of the students, among many other things. . Assistants are key to student success. 

Between the guide and the assistant there is a silent dance, in which looks and non-verbal language allow them to communicate and anticipate situations without the need to use words. The assistants serve the children and are an essential part of the community to which they belong. 

The integration of the assistants began formally in 2014 with 80 assistants from the communities the schools serve. Today there are more than 250. Every year that passes, the Montessori Public project grows and becomes stronger, and our assistants with it. 

A large number of attendees participated in this experience full of valuable information, joy, laughter, birthdays and above all love. 

This same orientation was held on Tuesday, August 30, in the municipality of Vieques, which has three Montessori public schools. 

Here we share moments to remember from this orientation.