by Jan Sheldon, South Lake Montessori School
I had just purchased a building at 983 West DeSoto Street in Downtown Clermont and was
preparing it for what would be the South Lake Montessori school. The inside of the schoolhouse was ready for class and a few children had already been enrolled. The only thing needing to be done on September 11, 2001, was the pouring of additional cement on the outside walkway.
On that morning, my assistant rushed from my office to inform me of the tragedy occurring at the Twin Towers in NYC. I went outside to where my friend was pouring cement and asked him if he knew how to make a peace symbol. He reassured me that he did. He told me he had placed the peace symbol on his helmet when he was in Vietnam. I asked him to draw the symbol in the newly poured cement.
Some of the children joined me on the deck to watch him make the symbol. As he was making it, a five-year-old student asked what he was doing. I said, “he’s making a symbol that stands for people who live and work together in harmony.“ One of the other children said, “just like we do here, right Ms. Sheldon?” It took everything I had to answer him without tears.
Little did I know that in years to come that peace symbol would remain where the children wait to be walked to their cars at the end of the school day. Each time I see that symbol etched in the pavement, I think about how those children kept me strong.
The COVID virus has made this a stressful time and I had forgotten that South Lake Montessori school (The Children’s House), is celebrating its 20th anniversary with lots of memories (some good and some to be reflected upon). Additional information at SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT.
For more information, visit their website at SOUTH LAKE MONTESSORI
