Graduation Speech by Ariel Henry
July 10, 2014
grads9th year class in Italy: Ariel Henry, Jacy Wilson, Molly Block, Aniz Anderson, Bernard Zitzewitz with Kathy Willis and Colin Palombi

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Apple

This is what Montessori is to me – more importantly, this is what the Blue House means to me. We are different, every one of us; and, frankly, most of us are pretty strange. But Montessori cherishes that. They see something in us that, most of the time, we cannot even make out ourselves. They make us more independent and freethinking. They are allowing us to grow so we can change the world. They let us be who we are.

When the world holds up this big sign that says “Be yourself” we know that the world will not stand by it. We know we will be judged by society. But at the Blue House, society falls through the cracks in the squeaky wooden floors. We can be ourselves. We can meet our heart’s desires from interpretive dances in the halls to SNL skit reenactments, and I would like to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to do so.

This school gives students a chance to find themselves. To improve. To fail and then rise again eight times stronger. To question authority. To gain responsibility. To listen then reply. To help others in need. To find their strengths but still remember their weaknesses. To test their limits. To leave their mark. This school, this crazy, one of a kind school, is where people can fly.

Montessori finds the misfits. “The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.” And they see genius. Why? Because they know the “people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

MSLF Overnight Trips Build Independence and Confidence for Elementary and Adolescent Program Students

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!

Forbes Article: The Surprising Health Benefits Of Montessori Education

By Teresa Pavelich • March 7, 2025
Forbes Article highlights mental health benefits of Montessori education