The Drama program at our school has evolved from a little program that began with a Maria Montessori play and an in-class Middle School production of The Odyssey, to a full blown curriculum that touches every level at our school.

From the Lower El annual, spring production in the amphitheater, to the all-class productions in Upper Elementary, to the thought provoking work in middle school, to the lofty, dramatic challenges in High School; the drama program is a piece of the quilt that covers our campus.

As our students come through the levels, their skills are fine-tuned. They grow in their dramatic abilities, their understanding of theater as an art-form, and their ability to work together in a true “team” atmosphere.

In every drama class, as in every production, our students learn to cooperate and collaborate. They learn about teamwork in a very direct manner that allows them to see exactly how one person’s actions affects another. All the pieces come together in a drama production in order to tell the story. Our students begin to recognize that each piece is an important piece.

The Drama curriculum, maybe more than any other curriculum area, teaches our students life skills that resonate well beyond the stage. They learn to speak clearly, so they can be understood. They learn to stand up straight and tall, and put their best selves forward at all times. They develop confidence when they do things that may stretch their abilities. They learn to use their imaginations and to be creative thinkers. Our students begin to recognize what it means to be selfless rather than selfish, as they empathize with each other and offer boundless support. Instead of criticizing for mistakes, they encourage each other. It becomes the norm in the theater; teamwork is the natural culture established with the intense work of a dramatic production.

Mary Nickles has been the guiding force in our Drama Program that has taken us from a small program with random acting experiences to a solid, first class curriculum. At the Montessori School of Anderson, we celebrate the life skills that are taught, encouraged and supported in this intense, inclusive, exciting, sometimes exhausting, but always rewarding program we call Drama.

November is here and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. At this time of year, it is our custom to remember those in need and to gather “blessings” for them in our classrooms. Following the traditions of the past many years, we are offering several opportunities to help others during this holiday season. We hope that your family will consider donating some of the items we are collecting.

First, we are collecting Pennies for People. To participate, your child just needs to bring some change (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars) to school for the Pennies for People jar in each classroom. Our Thanksgiving pennies will be used to help needy families in our area during the holidays.

Next, we are gathering toiletries and personal care items for Clean Start, an Anderson agency that offers homeless people a place to clean up, shower, and wash clothes. They are always in need of soap, shampoo, detergent, bleach, toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream. They can also use socks and gently-used walking/running shoes for the population they serve. Those individual-sized soaps and shampoos that you may have collected while traveling or on vacation are perfect for this project.

Finally, we are collecting nonperishable and canned food items for the Emergency Soup Kitchen, an agency that feeds the hungry in our town. Items most needed include rice, pasta, dried beans, pasta sauce, vegetables, peanut butter, crackers, and “shelf-ready” foods such as fruit cups, boxes of raisins, and granola bars. The large-sized bags, boxes and cans of food (please check expiration dates) are most helpful to this agency, which serves 60 - 100 hot, nutritious meals each weekday. Our school has been supporting the Soup Kitchen for many years with our Thanksgiving donations. They are most appreciative of our help!

Gathering blessings at Thanksgiving is an important part of our school’s service to our community. During the next few weeks, I will be visiting classrooms to speak directly to the children about the details of this project. Our collective donations of food, toiletries and pennies have a positive impact on our community. The lessons of generosity and caring for others can have a positive impact on all of us.

Please bring your donations to school by Tuesday, November 21. That morning we will have our communal Thanksgiving gathering. We will exchange blessings with each other and gather blessings to send forth to the Anderson community. We hope that these opportunities to help others will make the holidays more meaningful for your family.

Louise Knisley

Community Service Coordinator

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