In Tribute to Ms. Shournagh McWeeney
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“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”
.—Maria Montessori
It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Ms. Shournagh McWeeney passed away on February 9th. The loss is profound. Shournagh was a dear friend, a beautiful, kind loving person, and most certainly a legend in the history of VI Montessori School. There is simply not enough that can be said about her passion and tireless effort to build the quality school and community of “Montessori," as it is still known to most islanders. But we will try.
For more than 30 years, Ms. Mcweeney was the center and the rock of VI Montessori School as head of our school. She was known as Ms. McWeeeeeeeney to her older students, Ms. Queenie to the little ones that couldn’t quite get that "Mc’W" out, Ms. M to some, and Shournagh to her friends. As a young Irish teacher with a Primary AMI certification, she traveled in the late ‘70s to this little Caribbean island that she grew to love and cherish and think of totally as home.
All of the values that we now associate with VIMSIA were planted and nurtured by Ms. McWeeney over the years: grace and courtesy, whole child development, independence, peacefulness, kindness, and community. Building and sustaining an institution that embodies these principles does not happen without a driving passion, dedication, and endless effort to protect it. With her firm but always kind hand, Ms. McWeeney ensured that all of us–her staff, our school families, our children–stayed the course and remained true to our values to ensure that our children were given the best "whole child" education possible in true Montessori fashion.
During her tenure, the school grew from a Primary and Elementary program to include toddlers, then Middle School and finally High School, and eventually the addition of the International Baccalaureate program. Throughout all of this change and growth, Ms. McWeeney constantly fought to ensure adherence to those principles that had made a name for the school island-wide, and indeed in Montessori circles everywhere, as a beautiful, caring place where children can be given the freedom to reach their potential as valuable members to any society. After retirement, Shournagh continued to work at VIMSIA as a substitute teacher until 2020.
As we reminisce about Shournagh and what she meant to us all, it’s no surprise that we have a bit of trouble finding photos of her. Just as the Montessori guide provides an environment where she/he is NOT the focus of the classroom, Ms. McWeeney served this community humbly and without a focus on herself, but always on the children. If you have any photos of her, please send them to photos@vimsia.org.
At any outside event: a violin performance, a Pistarckle Play, wheel days, open houses, and more, Ms. McWeeney was there giving quiet and dignified support to her children. Her lifelong dedication to the children of the Virgin Islands has given her a home in the hearts of thousands. Aspiring to be even a little like Shournagh would certainly serve any of us well.
VIMSIA will be honoring Ms. McWeeney in April with a Montessori Reunion, so look for that information once plans have been confirmed.
We will miss you, Ms. M.
Peace and love.
Below is a video of Ms. McWeeney serving as Grand Marshal of the Children’s Parade at Carnival in 2011.
Did you attend VIMSIA?
Ms. McWeeney’s passing has inspired the creation of a new Facebook group for all alumni to connect and reflect.
To join, search for “V.I. Montessori Alumni #VIMSIA” or reach out to Allison Bourne-Vanneck on Facebook.