Our journey began within the walls of a small cottage, located at the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest, in the city of Belém, Brazil. The cottage consisted of a humble study hall, where five students (between the ages of three to five) gathered for their lessons. At that time, the collaboration of a few college students would serve as the platform which would become the inspiration to many.
Tereza Cristina Penna de Carvalho Resque, also known as Tia Tereza (auntie Tereza, our current director), has followed through (since those early days) with the determination of insisting on high-quality education in which the child stands at the center, being the priority and, inevitably, the answer.
Mrs Resque, since her youth as a teacher in that humble cottage, has maintained and nurtured an intense passion for education. She challenged the status quo within the community by incorporating early childhood education for thousands of children. In her unyielding quest for knowledge, she tirelessly researched countless theories and education methods, until finally coming upon the Montessori Method, a philosophy of life, based on respect for the child’s individuality and rhythm of learning. According to this philosophy, the child is autonomous, has freedom of choice, and acts consciously and responsibly.
Utilizing a solid, yet unconventional, foundation, Mrs. Resque is considered a respected visionary, an avant-garde educator, who gradually and steadily developed our Educational Montessori Community called “The World of Peteleco.” At Peteleco, the main focus had been, first, on early childhood education (Educação Infantil and Fundamental 1). However, throughout the following 33 years, a positive expansion would emerge at Peteleco, with the consolidation of Mrs. Resque’s Early Childhood Education program, which would merge and offer educational continuity following the opening of the Center of Montessori Education in the state of Pará (Centro de Educação Montessoriana do Pará – CEMP). This center would encompass intermediate, as well as secondary classes. In 2007, we proudly introduced our bilingual program, in order to give our students a broader vision of the world at large.
Our educational structure at Peteleco is based upon our vision of Integral Education or whole-child education, a holistic approach to the developmental lines of the child, being cognitive, interpersonal, emotional, artistic, as well as moral.
In our 48 years of existence here at Peteleco, we have been relentlessly aware of the needs of our city, of our less-fortunate reality. Our students have participated in numerous projects designed to aid our city community. Our dedicated staff instills an acute knowledge where our kids are active members in our transformational goals.
Our question is: How can we help the less-fortunate children, who are a constant sad presence in our city? Our students are stimulated mentally, morally, and spiritually to help find solutions. We organize reading groups in which our students and staff read and share Montessori materials with countless children in poverty-stricken areas.
We encourage our students to help organize charitable events that donate books, Scholastic magazines, and equipment to impoverished neighbourhoods.
During the months of May and June, we conduct a special food campaign. Basic food items (such as milk, rice, beans, etc.) are collected and donated to more than five thousand families within the communities of São Geraldo de Magela, Candeias e Água Cristal, Paróquia de São Geraldo de Magela (Marex) and to the undernourished children of Santa Isabel da Hungria (Guamá). This food drive distributes between 15 to 31 tons of food items.
Every year, at Peteleco, the month of October is highlighted by the Children’s Day Celebration. At that time, used books and toys are collected and distributed to various children’s shelters.
Because of her unending generosity and compassion, Mrs. Resque has been honoured by the Santa Isabel da Hungria (Guamá) community. A spacious library and recreation center have been built as a result of her efforts and dedication to their cause.
In November of each year, a Christmas tree is placed at the entrance of our school. Each branch of the tree holds a photo, shaped as an angel. Each one of our students chooses an angel (an underprivileged child) who he/she will eventually meet. The parents are involved in helping the students buy gifts for the chosen angels.
We close our end of the school year activities (in December) with an invitation to our students to practice self-awareness, to understand the importance of helping others, and to be involved in preserving and protecting our environment.
The World of Peteleco has maintained the promise to its profound commitment to excellence in education, to dedication and service to our local community and our global family, and to ensure that our students achieve their maximum potential.
Tomorrow’s Child/ April 2018/ pg 10
