As we head into our 46th year at Ghent Montessori School in Norfolk, Virginia, we look back and celebrate our incredible school community that is stronger than ever. We have supportive and committed families from many countries around the world who have come to GMS. We have an incredible staff with a shared vision. Our teachers have over 300 years of shared experience working with children, and our trained Montessori teachers have over 80 years of experience in Montessori education. We are inclusive and diverse, accepting children who have as many different learning styles and birth stories as there are children. We celebrate children as individuals and strive daily to meet their needs with joy and love. We are Ghent Montessori school, and we are proud of who we are!

Our History

Ghent Montessori School is the oldest Montessori School in the Hampton Roads (Virginia) area. GMS was founded by Sarah Frost in 1978 at First Lutheran Church in the Norfolk area of Ghent. In 1982, the first stage of our current building (610 Mowbray Arch) was built as part of the new community, Ghent Square. This location in downtown Norfolk, with the Chrysler Museum across the street on one side and the Harrison Opera House on the other, is crucial to the identity of the school today.

In 1994, Suzanne Pugin became Head of School and eventually purchased the school from Sarah and Larry Frost in 1996. In 2020, Ruland Gagne, a Hampton Roads native, took over as Head of School. She was a teacher in Lower and Upper Elementary at Ghent Montessori for 27 years. She holds an AMI Montessori degree, as well as a master’s degree in Early Childhood education. Ruland and Susan Colpitts together took over ownership in July 2021. Susan has a long history with the school; her husband, Norman, was an Upper Elementary teacher at the school, and they sent their three daughters to GMS in the early 2000s. Susan is currently the school’s business manager.

LOTS OF RENOVATING!

time, but we are not expanding. We are happy where we are and with this number of families. We will know them all and we take pride in this. Creating relationships and collaborating with our families to meet the needs of each child as an individual is important at GMS.

Embracing Transcience

The Hampton Roads area, which includes the Naval Station Norfolk, has one of the largest military populations in the world, with over 46,000 active-duty military. We embrace our military families, even though this can be seen as a challenge in a Montessori school, where we want families committed to Montessori for more than a few years. We believe that the children of our military families, who must move often, benefit from Montessori education. When so much in these children’s lives change with a move, it is nice for them to transfer to another Montessori school where their education will stay somewhat the same. We take the challenge and embrace it because it benefits these children.

Accreditation

Ghent Montessori has been accredited through the International Montessori Council (IMC) since 2015.

When Ruland took over as Head of School during the summer of Covid, she talked families of 75 children into staying. This 75 has grown in three years to 150 children with waitlists in most classes. In these three years, we have renovated the playground and the second floor to make room for another Lower Elementary classroom and a larger Upper Elementary. We also renovated our Toddler community, our Middle School, and the office. We also replaced windows, the roof, and all the flooring! This past summer, we added a top-notch security system. Currently, we have 150 children, 18 months through Middle School. We are committed to improving the school one year at a

International Montessori Council-accredited schools are committed to standards of exemplary integrity in their professional relationships with parents, students, faculty, and other Montessori schools. We have trained Montessori teachers (MACTE) in all our classes, and they are trained at the level they are teaching. We are proud of this accreditation and enjoy our relationship with IMC.

VISIT US!

We love our school and welcome you to visit if you are ever in the Hampton Roads area. Come see us at GMS. 

by Gavin McCormack

Love in Action: Small Gestures with a Big Impact

As parents, it’s easy to assume that our children know we love them. After all, we provide for their needs, cheer them on from the sidelines, and remind them to brush their teeth and do their homework. But love, while it may seem obvious to us, isn’t always as apparent to children as we think. In fact, research has consistently shown that when children feel genuinely and openly loved, it creates a ripple effect, shaping their confidence, resilience, and overall well-being.

So, how can we ensure our children not only hear our love but feel it deeply? And why is this so crucial to their development? Let’s explore the science and the simple, meaningful ways parents can demonstrate love in ways that matter most.

Love as the Foundation for Lifelong Success

Numerous studies highlight the transformative power of love on a child’s development. Children raised in an environment rich in affection, are more likely to become resilient, self-assured, and emotionally healthy adults.

Resilience and Emotional Strength: A child who feels loved is better equipped to handle challenges. They see failures as temporary and are more willing to persevere through adversity. Love provides them with a psychological safety net to take risks and learn from mistakes.

Confidence and Self-Worth: Parental love reinforces a child’s belief in their own value. Knowing they are cherished gives them the courage to explore the world, form meaningful relationships, and pursue their goals.

Mental and Physical Health: Love also has physiological benefits. According to the Harvard Centre on the Developing Child, loving relationships reduce stress hormones in children, leading to better brain development and longterm health.

Success and Achievement: A study in the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that children who feel loved and supported are more likely to excel academically and socially. The encouragement of a loving parent fuels a child’s motivation and sense of purpose.

The science is clear: love is not just a “nice-to-have.” It is essential. But how do we, as busy parents, juggling countless responsibilities, ensure we are expressing our love in ways our children truly feel?

10 Practical Ways to Show Love That Children Can Feel

Children thrive when they experience love in tangible and meaningful ways. Here are ten simple yet powerful ways to ensure your child feels cherished every day:

1. Show Physical Affection: Children crave physical closeness. Hugs, kisses, cuddles, and even a gentle hand on their shoulder can reassure them of your love. These small gestures speak volumes and create a sense of security.

2. Say It Out Loud: Never underestimate the power of saying, “I love you.” But don’t stop there. Verbal affirmations like, “I’m proud of you,” or “You’re so important to me,” nurture their self-esteem and remind them they are valued.

3. Listen with Intention: When your child speaks, give them your full attention. Put down your phone, make eye contact, and engage with their stories or concerns. Active listening makes them feel heard and understood.

4. Prioritize Quality Time: Whether it’s playing a board game, reading together, or simply talking about their day, dedicating undistracted time to your child strengthens your bond and communicates their importance in your life.

5. Celebrate Their Efforts: Recognize their achievements, no matter how small, and comfort them in their failures. Encouragement and support remind children that your love is not conditional on success but is unwavering.

6. Teach with Patience: Discipline is an opportunity to teach, not punish. When children know that guidance comes from love, they are more likely to learn and grow without fear or resentment.

7. Surprise Them: A little surprise can make your child’s day. Write a note for their lunchbox, make their favorite meal, or plan an unexpected outing. These acts of love leave lasting impressions.

8. Be Present: In our digital world, undivided attention is a precious gift. Put down the distractions, and show your child that they have your full focus. Being present is one of the most direct ways to show love.

9. Create Special Traditions: Family rituals, such as bedtime stories, Sunday pancakes, or a weekly game night give children something to look forward to and create cherished memories of love and togetherness.

10. Empathize with Their Feelings: Acknowledge and validate their emotions, whether they are happy, sad, or frustrated. Saying, “I understand why you feel this way,” helps them feel secure and supported.

Why Love Must Be Obvious

While we may believe that love is implied, children interpret the world differently. They thrive on explicit and consistent demonstrations of affection and care. Unlike adults, they cannot always infer love through actions like providing food or keeping a tidy home. They need tangible expressions of love to feel it in their hearts and minds.

When love is not obvious, children may misinterpret our busyness or distractedness as disinterest or even rejection. Over time, this can lead to feelings of insecurity or a lack of self-worth. By making love clear and abundant, we give our children the tools they need to flourish.

The Ripple Effect of Love

As parents, showing love is one of the simplest yet most profound gifts we can give our children. It sets the stage for their emotional and physical well-being, their success, and their capacity to form loving relationships of their own.

By taking small, intentional steps to demonstrate love daily, we lay a foundation for our children to grow into resilient, confident, and compassionate individuals. Love, after all, is not just the bond that connects us; it’s the force that shapes our future.

So today, take a moment to hug your child, tell them how proud you are, or simply listen to their stories. Let them know, in every way possible, just how much they mean to you. Because when children feel deeply loved, they truly have the world at their feet. 

Gavin McCormack is a Montessori teacher, former Montessori school principal, and the co-founder of Upschool.co, a global platform providing free educational courses for children and high quality training for teachers. With ten years of Montessori teaching experience and 25 years in total, Gavin is committed to fostering lifelong skills through purposeful, real-world learning.

Gavin has travelled the world to bring the best the planet has to offer to children everywhere. His educational expeditions have taken him to some of the most remarkable locations on Earth, including Mount Everest, Antarctica, Costa Rica, the Arctic Circle, Iceland, the Chitwan Jungle, and soon Greenland. In each of these places, along with the team at Upschool, he has filmed educational content, collaborated with local communities, and developed courses that connect children with the wonders of the natural world and the lessons it holds.

He has received multiple accolades, including a nomination for Australian of the Year and a ‘Best Contribution to Education’ award at the GESS Dubai Awards. He is an author of children’s books and a practical guide on Montessori education for parents. His TEDx talk and presentations at global conferences focus on the importance of hands-on, meaningful learning experiences. Through initiatives like the ‘Write a Book to Change the World’ course and global projects such as ‘The Wonderful World of Trees,’ Gavin empowers children to apply their knowledge to realworld challenges, fostering a sense of purpose and hope for the future.