Photos: Kawartha Montessori School Hits the Ground Running Again With Return of Its Cross-Country Run After a Three-Year Hiatus

Students of Kawartha Montessori School got their feet moving as they hosted their cross country meet at their institution on Friday, an event they have not been able to participate in the last three years.

Grade 3 student Esther van Ostveen, 8, running in her heat as students, parents and faculty cheered the racers all day. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Kendalwood Montessori & Elementary School, Uxbridge Montessori School, Whitby Montessori & Elementary School and Peterborough’s Rowan Tree Children's School were also a part of the event held by Kawartha Montessori totalling roughly 150 students in the event. Grades 1 to 8 ran in the meet, the first time Kawartha hosted in several years.

“Certainly, Covid got in the way,” said Carrie O’Toole, Kawartha Montessori vice-principal. “We've also in the past participated in the Catholic board but this year, they weren't not accepting other schools outside of their board so it was a way for us to give a cross-country running experience to our other schools who were not a part of those boards.”

Students began training for the meet at the start of the school year as part of their physical education curriculum.

“They would have included learning some running skills and build up their stamina for the event,” explained O’Toole.

Races were divided by gender and grade. The children ran varying distances on a figure-eight-like track depending on the category. During the races, parents, faculty and students cheered on the runners throughout the day.

“That is a big part of our school, building that grace, courtesy and community,” said O’Toole. “That's something that we pride ourselves in, building that community and building that teamwork.”

During the winter, students are taught sports and activities such as basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, downhill and cross-country skiing.

In the spring, students get to learn track and field. Grade 8 students also participate in rowing and mountain biking as part of their curriculum.

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Local School Spruces Its Anniversary With Tree Planting From $3,500 Grant

Over 50 volunteers of students, faculty and sponsors planted 40 white spruce trees around their campus with a $3,500 grant in celebration of Kawartha Montessori School’s 40th anniversary on Saturday morning.

Kawartha Montessori School students Jenna Quinn (left), 14 and Esther van Oostveen (right), 6, digging up dirt to plant one of 40 white spruce trees. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The trees run along both sides of the school and beside Highway 7. Added forestry for the school acts as a natural sound guard, decreases outside distractions for students and beautifies the campus among several other benefits according to Celia Johnstone, Tree Canada community advisor.

"It's a very exposed windy site," she said. "The schoolyard is very exposed so it provides good protection from the wind. There are also shade trees, provide the clean air as we breathe and mitigate the greenhouse effect."

"Having our school on this beautiful 10-acre property, we enrich our academic curriculum daily using the outdoors," said Carolyn Donaldson, Montessori principal. "From a very young age, having these students know that giving back to the environment is so important."

Students planted eight trees on Friday with a total of 48 planted. The ordeal was a positive experience for the school as it was the first community activity they could hold since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's just so great to plant so many trees to help the environment and to impact future generations here,” said Jenna Quinn, 14, grade 8 Montessori student. "It's such a beautiful campus and it's great to have trees out here."

The $3,500 came from the Community Tree Grant by Tree Canada with UPS providing the money as the sponsor. It is given annually with eligibility spreading across Canada.

An application was submitted in the fall by a school community member according to Johnstone.

Snacks such as cookies and muffins with refreshments were made by Montessori students and were served at the tree-planting event.

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