Montessori School of Lemont Carols to the Lemont Community

This past weekend, the Montessori School of Lemont held their fifth annual Care & Carol event at the Lemont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. As a way of giving back to the community, MSOL students, staff, and parents gathered at the Center on Saturday afternoon and caroled for the residents there. Contagious holiday cheer filled the room and smiles were seen on all faces, including the carolers'.

It’s too easy to get caught-up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and forget the true center of what the season stands for: being grateful for what you have and who you can share it with. The Montessori School of Lemont earmarks a day (before the school year even starts) to continue their Care & Carol tradition, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate and spread their love and compassion for their fellow travelers.

Those volunteering to take part met at the school Saturday morning, to practice their carols, then headed over to the Center in the afternoon. The students, staff, and parents stood at the front of the dining hall, red binders full of carols in-hand, while the residents filled the rest of the room to capacity. The carolers sang through their song list, including favorites like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Silent Night.” One of the highlights of the performance was during “Jingle Bells” when all the attending residents were handed bells to shake during the song. The last carol sung was “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with each student having a different day to sing out.

Maria Montessori once said, “The life of the body depends on the life of the spirit.” There’s not much that can free the spirit more than sharing and giving. As much as the residents enjoyed the caroling, the spirits of the students, staff, and parents were enriched as well.