Resurrection Episcopal Day School (REDS)

As a former member of the Board of Trustees, Adam Gottbetter supported the Resurrection Episcopal Day School, known as REDS, of New York City. REDS is a nonprofit, independent school committed to supporting childhood development in the critical period from just under three years old to six years old. REDS is built upon a strong foundation within the Episcopal tradition, although the school accepts children of all faiths. Faculty members dedicate themselves to the spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of their charges. Maria Montessori, on whose work in educational theory Montessori schools are founded. As a Montessori school, the Resurrection Episcopal Day School follows the principles of educational philosophy developed by Maria Montessori. A noted educator and humanitarian of the early 20th century, Maria Montessori taught that “Education should no longer be mostly imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.” The Association Montessori Internationale currently helps guide an international network of Montessori educational institutions, including the Resurrection Episcopal Day School. Studies at the Resurrection Episcopal Day School are organized into four subjects: sensorial; language; mathematics; cultural subjects including geography, history, science and the arts; and practical life. Languages studies are interwoven with other aspects of the school’s curriculum. Teachers use poetry, stories, and social conversations to encourage the children’s vocabulary while allowing them to express and pursue their own interests. French language is also integrated into the afternoon session. The school’s mathematics curriculum is given to the students through a set of concrete experiences. The students move objects and manipulative materials in order to build a deeper understanding of the abstract concepts and principles involving in mathematical reasoning and critical problem solving. Exercises in sensorial studies help develop a child’s ability to recognize patterns and variations in sound, texture, color, shape, and size. Each exercise is designed to focus in on a single quality or sense while teaching the children to make increasingly fine discriminations. The school takes advantage of young curiosity to jumpstart studies in geography, history, science, and art. Students reenact important moments of history, participate in experiments, and visit museums and performances. Practice life exercises support coordination, concentration, and physical development while instilling a logical, ordered approach that help strengthen students in more academic disciplines.