At George Watts, students learn through the Montessori method, exploring concepts with curiosity and independence. Beyond their regular classes, they have specials. Five specials. Five worlds to explore. Through music, media, gym, Spanish, and art, students experience classes as adventures and become more critical and creative. Each teacher has their own methodology and techniques, helping kids see life through different lenses.

This project follows Ms. Allie's class, a group of joyful kids who see life beyond paper and pen. It is composed of students from first to third grade, all full of energy and humor. Whether it's Greta smiling in Spanish class or Daniel reading a book in the media center, every kid unlocks new possibilities by discovering their talents among friends. I saw how kids help each other when they have questions-learning how to give feedback in art, exploring other cultures in Spanish, exercising while playing, imagining themselves in books, and uniting their hearts to make music. Every week, students have individual lessons and collective experiences.

Creating this project allowed me to portray the magic of enjoying learning and creating long-lasting memories. Every week, I found new perspectives on their experience, and being allowed to capture their uniqueness was an honor. They taught me that school is not only about its walls, but about the people and memories we carry. I want to see them grown up, watching this project, and thinking about their elementary friends.

"The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence." - Maria Montessori

I want to thank Ms. Schreiber, Ms. Burke, Ms. O’Connell, Mrs. McClain-Daye, Ms. Chiti, and Ms. Musawwir for allowing me to capture the education mission: helping kids become more engaged with their surroundings by expressing themselves.