Renaissance Reflections
Renee Hites • September 23, 2025

This year we are beginning a series of lunchtime virtual sessions for Parent Education. Once a month we'll invite a host from our knowledgeable TRIS staff to present on a topic related to our school philosophies. Our first session was held in September and was hosted by our Head of School, Renee Hites.

Renee wrote:


Thank you to those of you who joined me on Friday, September 5th, for our very first Renaissance Reflection Series, where we explored Carol Dweck’s Mindset. This is the book I invited everyone in our community to read over the summer, and one that all staff members have also read together. I chose this book because its core ideas resonate so strongly with Montessori philosophy—particularly the belief that growth and learning are lifelong processes, nurtured through curiosity, effort, and reflection.


During the session, we focused on the distinction between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. A growth mindset is one in which a person sees all abilities as being able to improve and develop through dedication and hard work. In this paradigm, challenges are opportunities for growth and learning. A fixed mindset is one in which a person believes traits (like intelligence or artistic ability) are unchangeable. This mindset leads someone to avoid challenges, to fear failure, and to see setbacks as confirmation of their fixed limitations.


In our discussion, we spent time considering how we, as adults, are constantly modelling both these ways of thinking for the children in our lives. It is tempting to imagine ourselves as living entirely in a growth mindset, but as Carol Dweck reminds us, all of us inevitably experience moments where we slip back into a fixed mindset. Recognizing those moments is essential, because they provide opportunities to grow in self-awareness and to consciously shift the messages we are sending to ourselves and to our children.

One parent shared that on a difficult day, after forgetting something, they might say to themselves, “Oh, I am so stupid.” This simple, almost automatic reaction is a perfect example of how a fixed mindset can sneak into our language and self-talk without us even realizing it. By noticing these moments, we can begin to reframe them and ultimately also help our children reframe them. 


How Can We Help Our Children?


One of the best ways we can support our children is by making the idea of a mindset shift relatable. After all, we as adults experience it, too. When we become aware of our thinking, we gain the power to change it—and with that awareness comes the freedom to choose how we grow. Children absorb everything in their environment, so it is crucial to model the behaviors we want to see in them.

We can demonstrate this by noticing when we slip into a fixed mindset and by practicing small, intentional shifts. It starts with the language we use: words that value curiosity, effort, and openness to change. From there, we can turn those words into action by embracing a growth mindset—not only when life is going well, but especially in the face of setbacks.

Acknowledging frustration and setbacks is essential. However, what truly matters is what we choose to do next. Whether we choose to encourage ourselves to grow, take action to make that growth happen, and strive to become better versions of ourselves ultimately defines who we become.


Peace and Montessori Education
By Renee Hites March 4, 2026
In a world that often feels rushed and fragmented, Montessori education offers something rare: a place where children are truly seen. It is an approach built not just on academic achievement, but on the belief that education, real education, has the power to change the world. Maria Montessori developed her method in the early twentieth century, but her deepest conviction was not about reading or mathematics. It was about peace. She believed that if we want a more peaceful world, we must begin with the child. " Establishing lasting peace ," she wrote, " is the work of education ." In a Montessori classroom, peace is not simply a topic that is taught. It is something that is lived. Children of different ages work alongside one another, learning to collaborate rather than compete. They develop independence, not because they are left alone, but because they are trusted. They are given real work that matters, real choices that shape their day, and real consequences that teach them to think carefully about their actions. This freedom, however, is always balanced with responsibility. Children learn to care for their environment, to resolve conflicts with words, and to consider the needs of others as naturally as they consider their own. Grace and courtesy are woven into the fabric of every day, not as rules imposed from the outside, but as habits grown from the inside. Montessori also understood something profound about the child's relationship with the world itself. Through Cosmic Education, the sweeping story of the universe, the Earth, life, and human civilization, children come to see themselves not as isolated individuals, but as participants in something vast and interconnected. They learn that every living thing depends on every other, that the air we breathe was shaped by ancient organisms, that the words we speak carry the fingerprints of countless civilizations. This perspective cultivates humility, wonder, and a deep sense of responsibility toward the world and toward one another. What you will see today in our classrooms is a reflection of that vision. The quiet concentration, the purposeful movement, the children helping one another: these are not accidents. They are the fruits of an environment carefully prepared to bring out the best in each child. Montessori education does not promise to solve the world's problems. But it does promise to raise children who are capable of empathy, who know how to listen, who find meaning in contributing to something greater than themselves. And in that promise lies something quietly extraordinary: the possibility that the children in these rooms might one day help build the more peaceful world we are all hoping for.
Afternoon In Elementary
By Wellington Pontes Filho February 12, 2026
An Afternoon in Elementary is a wonderful opportunity for preschool and Kindergarten families to experience the Montessori Elementary environment and learn more about this exciting next step in their child's journey. This event is designed to help parents understand how Montessori Elementary builds naturally upon the foundation established in the primary years. In Elementary, children continue to grow as independent, confident learners while engaging with big ideas in math, language, science, and cultural studies through hands-on materials, collaborative work, and guided exploration. This year, our An afternoon in Elementary event was again a great success, bringing together children and their parents for a variety of engaging activities. These activities were led by Elementary students, with the support and supervision of Elementary staff and parent volunteers. The participants enjoyed the wonderful freshly baked French bread, explored the wonders of magnetism through experiments, and discovered a love of botany at the gardening and pot-decorating stations. There was great excitement during the math relay and while sewing geometric shapes. In Elementary, we also care for the health of both mind and body, which was reflected in the sports relay station. Creativity shone through our arts and crafts and face-painting stations. It was gratifying to see our Elementary students confidently engage with the younger students with empathy and warmth, guiding them through each activity and sharing their enthusiasm throughout the event. Elementary parent ambassadors were essential to the event's success. They warmly welcomed Primary families, shared information about our Elementary Montessori program, answered questions, and guided children between activity stations. Their support of the Elementary teachers helped create a smooth, welcoming, and engaging experience for all. We know that transitioning to Elementary can bring questions about readiness, independence, and academic expectations. An Afternoon in Elementary offers a space to see how children are supported socially, emotionally, and academically, and how the Elementary environment nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning. We want to extend a sincere thank you to our community for participating in the Afternoon in Elementary event . Their curiosity, enthusiasm, and joy made the event truly special. Warmly, Wellington Pontes-Filho Elementary Program Director