A Tree Planted with Purpose
Celebrating Initiative, Learning, and Care at Concord
Each day at Hershey Montessori School, our children and adolescents show us what it looks like to take initiative, to care deeply, and to learn with purpose. There are countless moments like this across all levels—far more than we could ever fully capture. But every now and then, one unfolds in a way that invites pause and celebration.
Recently, that moment took root—quite literally—in Saren’s Early Elementary Community at our Concord campus.
Before Spring Break, a child shared a thoughtful idea: honoring Jane Goodall Day in celebration of Jane Goodall’s life and work. What began as a spark of curiosity quickly grew into a rich, child‑led project shaped by research, collaboration, and real‑world action.
The child, along with a friend, planned a first‑person research presentation as Jane Goodall, immersing themselves deeply in her story and contributions. But the learning didn’t stop there. Inspired by Jane Goodall’s commitment to conservation and care for living systems, the children decided to plant a tree on the playground in her honor.
What followed was a remarkable series of purposeful steps:
- Researching appropriate tree species
- Creating and conducting a class survey to choose the tree
- Meeting with our Head of School to determine a suitable planting location
- Making a phone call to a local nursery to purchase the tree
- Going on the trip to pick it up
- And finally, carefully planting it in the ground
Along the way, other children were inspired to join the project. New roles emerged naturally—David Greybeard, Jane Goodall’s close chimpanzee companion; Dr. Leakey, her first mentor; even the cameraman she would later marry. The project became a shared story, shaped by imagination, research, and collaboration.
On planting day, nearly the entire community gathered outdoors to help place a swamp white oak into the earth. The children affectionately named the tree “Sherman.” With hands in the soil and attention focused on the work before them, they experienced what Montessori education does best: learning made real, meaningful, and communal.
Moments like this remind us why Montessori education is so powerful. This was not an assignment handed down—it was an idea nurtured through curiosity, supported by adults, and carried forward by children who trusted their own capacity to act.
Whenever a tree is planted on our grounds with such intention and care, it is something for all of us to celebrate. We are grateful for the children who imagine what’s possible, the guides who make space for that vision, and the community that grows as a result.
Here is a glimpse of that day at Concord—roots laid down not only for a tree, but for a lifelong connection to learning, stewardship, and purpose.
