Ava Szabo – Principal
Kia ora e te whānau.
I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the MSCA (Montessori Schools and Centres Australia) Grassroots Conference with our Senior Leadership Team this term.
The theme of the conference was ‘A Story to Tell’ – Explore how stories shape our environments, fuel creativity, and serve as bridges – between past and present, across cultures, and linking the heart and mind. Stories are fundamental to human connection, learning, and cultural preservation. They help us make sense of our world, pass down wisdom through generations, and inspire change.
Our first keynote speaker was Matt Hyde (Actor, Communication Coach, Storyteller). His reflection on ‘The Story’ was thought provoking and powerful. Every story matters. Stories are where children feel safe, it is where they learn about themselves, stories feel real to our brains and we have an emotional connection to stories. We carry stories in the everyday items we have with us. Each item has a story to tell.
If we as adults carry our stories in our pockets, do children carry their stories in their behaviour? Children don’t always have the words to tell you their story – what is the narrative underneath the story for the child? What is the story we tell ourselves on the hard days – what are the stories for our tamariki? It is important to remember that no one should ever be defined by their worst moment – we can all make a new story and change the narrative.
Stories are something we live. Our tamariki are always in rehearsal – they are rehearsing their identity. We, the adults, are the child’s first audience as they work to absorb and shape their identity using the adults around them as a mirror.
One of the most important things we can do for our tamariki as whānau and kaiako is to really listen to the child. Deep listening – this is very different from waiting to speak. We need to ‘speak less and listen more’. When a child says something wild or outlandish – ask them ‘where did that come from? Tell me more…’
Try and understand their story. For our primary tamariki and our rangatahi, imagination is the muscle that builds empathy, as we co-create the story. We should not tell the child to think but invite them to imagine.
Finally, stories are more than words, they are the bridge between people. Stories show empathy and sharing stories build genuine human connection.
Tell me a story….
