School remembers Supanich with labyrinth

Date: 9/21/2011

Sept. 21, 2011

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD — In the coming weeks, a special project will come to fruition at the Pioneer Valley Montessori School on Parker Street, celebrating the life of the late Gail Supanich.

Supanich served as head of school for 30 years, and was instrumental in creating the high quality program that flourishes today, according to Molly Reynolds, who has overseen the facility for the past nine years. Supanich passed away at the age of 60 in March.

During a recent interview with Reminder Publications, Reynolds explained that a 20’ by 20’ labyrinth will be constructed behind the school this fall as a remembrance of Supanich and her dedication to the mission of the school.

“She created a wonderful school,” Reynolds said, noting that Supanich was instrumental in attaining accreditations by the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the American Montessori Society.

“Gail believed that it was very important for the school to become accredited so that parents could be assured that their children were receiving a high quality education,” Reynolds said, adding that Supanich’s children also attended the school, and her husband, Richard Greenberg, set up the first computer network.

The school’s enrollment is currently at 110, ranging from toddler programs (18 to 36 months) through students in sixth grade. There are 15 main teachers with a combined 202 years of teaching experience.

“Gail’s understanding of children, families, community and Montessori impacted thousands of children from Springfield and surrounding towns over the years,” Reynolds added.

The school’s landscape changed dramatically June 1 when the tornadoes struck, but that didn’t hamper the enthusiasm the planning committee had for the labyrinth and playground area. Committee members who have assisted Reynolds in the playground redesign include Shelley Mutti, Katie Robinson, Liz Rose, Sebastian Chen and Margaret O’Shaughnessy.

Reynolds has also been working with Hartley Brothers on the approximately one-acre area that will include a gazebo, swings, climber, sand pit, vegetable and flower garden and labyrinth.

“We are creating a natural playground design that allows children to enjoy imaginative play,” she said.

Since the Montessori philosophy includes peace education, the labyrinth seemed like the perfect way to honor Supanich’s memory, Reynolds noted. A wooden bench will be a part of the surroundings, as well as a special large paver, which will feature one of Supanich’s favorite quotes.

“The labyrinth will offer children a place to go to feel peaceful,” Reynolds said, adding the children will also create personalized leaf print pavers as part of the project.

“We described the plans to Gail last fall and showed her the area where we imagined that the labyrinth would be located on the playground,” she explained. “Gail said that she loved the idea, remembering the Montessori connection to labyrinths.”

Reynolds noted that in the Children’s House Montessori environment, a child often creates a walking labyrinth using a traditional Montessori material, the Red Rods. After ordering the Red Rods from longest to shortest, the child will begin to build a labyrinth by laying the rods end to end in a circular pattern. After removing his/her shoes, a child may slowly and carefully walk through the Red Rod labyrinth he/she has designed.

“An outdoor walking labyrinth is a more complex version of a child’s Red Rod labyrinth and creates a connection for a child to his work at school and to real life applications in his community,” Reynolds said.

Area residents interested in making a donation to the playground and labyrinth project are welcome to visit www.pvms.org for more details, or call Reynolds at 782-3108.

“People have been generous in their donations,” Reynolds said, noting, “it all adds up.”