This section includes information and photographs about some of the influences on Cinquegranelli Montessori School from Seattle and abroad.
Baker Park · Pacific NW Montessori Association · Italy · Mural Man · Somalia · Moscow · Ecuador · Scott Veysey · Fred Lauth· Joeseph Weisnewski · Esther James*
Pacific NW Montessori Association
Cinquegranelli School is a member of the PNMA.
Gail first visited Perugia, Italy in 1991, bringing with her a gift from her students, a cloth banner illustrating a rainbow connection between Cinquegranelli and Scuola dell' Infanzia S. Croce, a school founded by Dr. Montessori. This initiated a correspondence of art, letters, and books in which the children express to each other their experiences, particularly their connections to nature.
Cinquegranelli has a cozy pink mural room! It is used as a little Italian style library cafe where children can find themselves in other places; like Venice, Milan, and Rome. Along with the Lion of Venice and the Pigeon of Milan, there is a tower crowned with an ancient fish design. Inscribed below are the Italian words: ASCOLTA IL TUO SOGNO, which means "Listen to Your Dream". Cherubs painted in the sky above smile down upon the children as they read or eat their snacks. This mural was created by Scott Summers (the "mural man")!
The children of Cinquegranelli created puppets of the commedia character Arlecchino during their Carnevale Per i Bambini in 1998. Then, selling the puppets to raise funds for their sister school in Mogadishu, A School For Life, they contributed toward its efforts to construct a much needed well.
In 1998, Scott Veysey was staff assistant. Scott formerly worked with Dr. Patch Adams, and led us to Maria's Children in Moscow.
Maria's Children, the young and gifted orphans of Moscow, are painting pictures to accompany these lyrics created by an alumnus of Cinquegranelli – all to celebrate Earth Day 2000.
We gaze up at the sky at night
And wonder at the stars so bright
Moon and planets all aglow
We're all a part of this you know
We are the children of the Earth– lyrics © Janis & Joey Carper www.mariaschildren.org
"I
want to salute all of the little children in the little school of the
United States. And I want to ask you to come personally to the little
school in Pichincha. And I want to know you personally...."
Ð Pauolina Perugachi, a student in Pichincha (artwork to left)
Gail worked with Luis Gramal (a Cinquegranelli alumni's father) developing music and stories to share with the children originating from Ecuador. Luis is a professional musician, speaks several languages, and has been entertaining in the Seattle area for several years. He has been a "headline" entertainer at Cinquegranelli’s annual CARNEVALE celebration in the past!
Standing tall in the west end of Baker Park is the Raven Bear Frog Totem Pole, carved by Haida Tribe Frog Clan member Fred Lauth in the summer of 1999.
Joseph has an exceptional music program, which features appreciation of music, composers, and instruments from around the world. His career in music includes composing, arranging and teaching. Joseph has had extensive experience in writing for dramatic productions and dance. Find out more about Joseph and Musicians Network at: www.musiciansnetwork.com or contact him by e-mail: Musicians-net@MusiciansNetwork.com
Esther James is a virtuoso potter from New York. She trained as an art therapist in LA and now resides on Whidbey Island. She is 76 years of age. Esther sees herself as an "art doula". As she explains: "The doula takes care of new emerging experiences. It is not actual care-taking, but being an empathetic supportive presence for new life."
Esther sees nature and art together as "dendrite food". And her work today is characterized in clay, on paper and in language. Her question to us is: "How does nature and art together support children learning what they need to know...that they cannot be taught?"