Letter to the Editor

Viroshini Buell—known as Ms. Viro—has taught preschool at Palisades Montessori Center for over 30 years. Ms. Viro’s boundless energy and warmth creates an environment where our children feel valued and supported. She nurtures their curiosity and fosters love for learning that children carry with them into kindergarten and beyond.

“She has the innate ability to meet children where they are, and for my son particularly, it was game-changing,” remarked Colleen Munakash, a mother of two at Palisades Montessori Center. “There are teachers, and then there are teachers who change everything for a child. Ms. Viro consistently goes above and beyond, and rolls up her sleeves to do the hard work that is necessary when teaching this age. She works with parents as challenges arise creating a symbiotic relationship between parent and teacher that benefits the child’s development.”

Dynamic curriculum coupled with tried-and-true Montessori strategies are hallmarks of Ms. Viro’s Red Room classroom. Each month offers a different theme; past March celebrated Mexico weaving in the study of postmodernism Mexican artists along with tamale tasting, culminating in a full celebration with a student performance of traditional songs. April’s topic of the Environment took Red Room students on a trip to Underwood Family Farm for strawberry and dinosaur-kale picking.

“Ms. Viro was the preschool teacher for our two boys in 2015 and 2016,” Grace Newton said. “My boys are now 11 and 12, and are happy and thriving at school. She is also a supplemental teacher for our daughter, who is currently 5 years old wherein she taught her how to read at the age of 3 and fueled her passion for learning. She is an unforgettable teacher and person who fosters such a joy for learning while encouraging each child to embrace their unique talents.”

“I liked how Ms. Viro was so nice to me in the Red Room and in tutoring,” former student Benny Gowing added. “I love seeing her on my way home from school now. And I love that she still calls me Benny-Hana.”

Compiled by Laura Gowing