A Cause for Paws, by Olivia Vrablik
April 21, 2015

 

 

In January, as is the tradition for ninth grade students in the Adolescent Program, I made plans to make chocolate covered strawberries for a Valentine’s Day fundraiser.  Along with the help of 8 th year students Alaina Lykins, and Anna and Catherine Kubiak, we made a total of $393 in profits. When I was deciding where to donate the money, I ultimately choose an organization that I had some experience with in the past, Orphans of The Storm. Our family often visits the animals there and we were there recently, and I realized that even the smallest donation can help the animals.

One of the most important elements of choosing where I would donate the funds was donating somewhere that was important to me and somewhere I have some experience working with, because it would allow me to see where the money would be going, and how it was being used. This organization is also one that is trustworthy because of its longevity and relevance in the North Shore community. Not only have they been around for almost 100 years, they are also so welcoming when you go to visit the animals and you feel that they really care about their cause. Orphans of the Storm was founded in October of 1928 by dancer and actress Irene Castle, and ever since, the organization has been a home for animals in need of a safe home. The money raised will go towards buying food for the dogs and cats, and medical attention that the animals would need while at the shelter.

Thank you to everyone who purchased chocolate covered strawberries to help fund my donation!

– Olivia Vrablik

By Teresa Pavelich June 2, 2025
At MSLF, overnight trips become an important part of Montessori learning beginning in Lower Elementary. Each trip is carefully planned to meet the developmental needs of students in the second and third plane of development , with each overnight trip getting progressively longer to ease children into these independent journeys away from their families. These aren't just trips - they're carefully crafted opportunities for students to discover who they are, what they're capable of, and how they can contribute to their community and the wider world. Beginning in their first year of Lower Elementary, students take their first MSLF overnight trip to Nature’s Classroom in Wisconsin. For many Lower Elementary students, this trip represents their first nights away from home. During their trip they explore the outdoors, work together in groups, use their practical life skills during community meals, and grow! It’s this first overnight trip for MSLF students where parents and staff remark how students come back almost transformed after being able to develop their independence in a supportive environment. Our Upper Elementary classroom has embarked on overnight trips to both Camp Timber-lee in Wisconsin and The Country Experience at Amstutz Family Farm in Elizabeth, IL. Both locations provide students with increasing opportunities to apply their practical life skills, like checking the weather to ensure they have weather-appropriate gear for their trip. Every task empowers them to develop self-reliance and problem-solving skills. These trips are also opportunities for the students to get to know one another and build strong relationships with their peers and with the adults in their classroom. Adolescent Program students at MSLF have opportunities to visit both Springfield, IL and Washington, DC . These overnight trips tie directly into their studies – connecting curriculum learned in the classroom to experiences in the wider community. They often take their learning on the road, for example by watching a legislative session in action in Springfield to see which bills are passed during their trip or presenting their research papers at monuments in Washington, DC. And for these students, the skills they built on their trips in Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary are put to work, as they pack their own bags, learn more about public transportation, and plan their daily itineraries to make the most out of their visit. Experiences like these at MSLF support the child’s independence, laying the groundwork for transitions in later life: the start of high school, going away to college, a first job, and beyond. As they conquer challenges outside their comfort zone, their confidence soars, laying the foundation for the autonomy and independence they will continue to utilize throughout their Montessori experience and beyond. It’s good for parents, too, to see how truly capable our children are!
By Teresa Pavelich March 7, 2025
Forbes Article highlights mental health benefits of Montessori education