Page 49 - parent handbook 2024-25 FINAL FLIP

The Celebration of Life
Childrenʼs birthdays are wonderful events recognized by the school with the Montessori Celebration of Life.
The Celebration of Life is a beautiful ceremony that celebrates the childʼs life. A candle is used to represent the sun and a globe is used to represent the Earth. The child carries the earth and walks around the sun once for each year of his life. After each trip around the sun, the children sing the Celebration of Life song. “The Earth takes a trip around the Sun...now the (childʼs name) is one (year)!”
During the celebration we reflect on the growth and development that has occurred since birth and serves as a young childʼs first experience with the concept of history and time on a larger scale, giving the child a sense of the passage of time.
Parents provide photos in consecutive order from their birth to their present age with a few accomplishments at each age. This presentation style gives the children a sensorial impression of the passage of time in a horizontal timeline.
Families are welcome to attend and participate. Your childʼs Celebration of Life may be scheduled with the teacher. We schedule Celebrations of Life near the end of the morning program.
After the Celebration, parents of older children are usually fine to depart while their child continues with the school day. However, younger children such as toddlers or very young primary age children should accompany their parents home at the conclusion of their celebration as it is confusing to the child and emotionally difficult for them to separate from their parent at that hour.
This is a beautiful celebration with the focus being completely on the accomplishments of the child. This celebration is not meant to replace a birthday party that you might have outside of school. As we celebrate many birthdays throughout the year, and many parents value our dedication to healthy diets, we do not share cakes, ice cream, goodie bags, pizza, etc.
Thereʼs no ceremony within the Montessori classroom more beautiful than the Celebration of Life. Each one is unique in its own way.
We look forward to seeing you in class when your childʼs special day arrives.