Dear Parents,
As we begin the 46th year at Khalsa, I would like to share some of our school history for new parents and returning families who have wondered about the origins of the school’s values.
As you know, Khalsa School is non-denominational. Nevertheless, in the 1970’s, our school was originally founded by the American Sikh and 3HO [Happy, Healthy, Holy (Whole)] communities for whom the name “Khalsa” has spiritual meaning. The word “Khalsa” mean purity and, to Sikhs, represents a disciplined, dharmic (righteous) path that refrains from practices considered to be obstacles to happiness, healthiness, and holiness. When the school, at the request of parents, applied for its charter in 1996, rather than change the school’s name, we chose to respect its origin by keeping its name and continuing to keep events that represented Khalsa Montessori School vegetarian-friendly and alcohol and drug free. The school’s founders chose to implement the Montessori method and philosophy because it was in alignment with their spiritual practice and mission to educate happy, healthy and whole (“holy”) children. Maria Montessori developed her educational approach with the intention of developing the whole child – physically, socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually). Also illustrative is the original name of the school; the Khalsa School of Saint and Sage Consciousness.
In no way do these practices require or request adherence to such choices in their families or non-Khalsa School settings.
Khalsa is a school community whose mission is “quality Montessori education within a nurturing community.” From a Montessori perspective, excellence in education includes cultivation of a community of staff, families, and children that teaches by example. This means nurturing students by modeling behaviors and skills that foster children’s optimal growth and development. This is the purpose behind all of Khalsa School’s decisions. Social connections among adults, of course, are a valuable bonus in any school community. However, such a goal is not the school’s mission.
How does one cultivate such a school community beyond the child’s home community? At school, Montessori teachers strive each day to collaborate with students in cultivating inclusive and growth-enhancing communities within classrooms. To accomplish this, the school also requires parent collaboration. Of course, the children are also part of the larger school community of staff and other students at the school. In addition, over the course of its history, Khalsa School, in collaboration with the PTO, has cultivated numerous family-friendly traditions at which students and their families have the opportunity to interact with and feel supported by the larger community of school families. This is the “community” which supports our mission. At Khalsa School, an important Montessori value and expectation for all staff is consistent modeling (through words and actions) of those behaviors that we want our students to learn. We expect staff to to avoid behavior that would unwittingly communicate “do as I say, not as I do.” Students who thrive in Montessori have families that strive for this too.
Cultivation of community requires an intentional effort to plan activities and events in which the maximum number of families and staff members feel comfortable and welcome to participate. Admittedly, in a community as diverse as Khalsa’s, this is sometimes challenging. We are a family and staff community of varied ethnic, lifestyle, and religious traditions and choices. For this reason, it is important that “community” events avoid activities that would cause even a few individuals (parent, staff, or child) to feel uncomfortable or unwilling to participate. This means ensuring food and drink of which everyone feels comfortable to partake. This is one of the aims of community meals and events. We seek to plan events that unify and that avoid unintentionally fostering division among staff and/or families. This is the community that is best for all of the children.
As long-time Khalsa families, whose children eventually graduate to other schools, can attest, Khalsa Montessori School is unique. In a number of ways, we are going against the tide of mainstream education. We strive to help our parents understand the rationale behind our convictions. I remain confident, that with your support and trust, working together, the Khalsa Montessori School community will offer your children, like many before them, the unique, holistic, and growth-enhancing experience from which they will emerge as happy, confident, contributing adults.
Sincerely,
Keerat Giordano Director, Khalsa Montessori School