| Winter 2010 |
Vol 2, Issue 3 | |
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Montessori Matters
Newsletter of the Vincent S Mastro Montessori Academy |
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WELCOME |
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Hello, Parents, Alumni, and Friends of the Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy;
From Christmas break to busy, busy, busy in the blink of an eye. . . that's how 2010 has played out so far at Mastro Montessori. With the addition of 6 new primary students, the parent education programs and weekly open houses, the casting call and rehearsals for The Burning Rice Fields children's opera, the gala reception preparations, and of course, the day-to-day classroom activities, it has been an exciting time for all. This issue of Montessori Matters reflects that.
 These days are busy - yet balanced - at 36 Birch Avenue. While parents, alumni and the board of trustees focus with renewed energy on increasing enrollment, and raising funds for our new building, the children's world remains serene, secure, and centered around joyful learning.
Mrs. Guarriello, the school's founder, would have loved this. She always dreamed of a better, more accessible location and a more spacious, accommodating building for the children and their work. The children's house she envisioned would attract new families, train new directresses, support the staff, and most important of all, serve the children. We still share that vision and are closer than ever to making it a reality. We invite you to join us in our busy, yet balanced efforts to achieve that goal.
Thank you for your support!
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"It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to each child the chance to fulfill his potential possibilities."
~ Dr. Maria Montessori |
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A Special February Parent Education Program |
Please plan to join us for
A Love of Learning: What a Montessori Education can do for your Child
presented by Mrs. Bradbury
Friday, February 5,
7 - 8:30 pm
For: Parents of current Mastro Montessori students, parents considering our school for their child, and anyone interested in learning about the Montessori approach.
On Friday, February 5th, Primary class directress and school Director, Mrs Elizabeth Bradbury will shed light on a subject close to our hearts - the child's experience in a Montessori classroom.
Drawing upon the knowledge and insights (and amusing anecdotes) she has developed during more than 25 years as a Montessori educator, Mrs. Bradbury will reveal how children
- use the Montessori environment and materials to learn and grow;
- naturally develop focus, concentration, independence, initiative, and a love of learning;
- benefit throughout their lives.
Open to the Public. Refreshments to be served. Friends are welcome to attend with you or on their own.
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In the Children's Corner: The Bay of Hay - A Poem |
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A bay of hay it is.
The cow eats it
The mouse meets it.
The pig just wishes for mud.
Mud is icky.
Mud is sticky.
That is why we don't like mud
But the pig does.
David Grant is a student in the elementary class at Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy. He lives in Shrewsbury.
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Mastro Montessori Welcomes 6 New Students |
When school re-opened this January, so did the upstairs primary classroom with 6 new students. All wonderfully engaging, inquisitive and energetic boys.
Welcome to our school, Max, Thomas, Aidan, Carl, Spencer and Slater. We hope your moms, dads, siblings, and grandparents will feel welcome too. They are now part of our Montessori community too.
We look forward to sharing many good times and exciting developments with the Montez and Lawrence families of Rumson, the Stiles family of Shrewsbury, and the Smith family of Fair Haven - who are all new to our school - as well as with the Lindell family of Little Silver, whose older son has been a Mastro Montessori student for the past two years.
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Find us on Facebook and Twitter, and . . . |
| Anyone looking for information about our school, its programs and activities, the Mastro Montessori community or a Montessori education for their child can find us onnline in a variety of ways:
Through our Blog.
Many thanks to Mastro Montessori parent and marketing committee member, Jeff Pedone for getting us started.
Now we're asking the social media savvy among us (or our cyberterrific kids!) to help us get conversations going and build a following of fans and friends.
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 For easy access to the articles that interest you most, click on their titles in the box below.> We've added "back to top" links at the end of each article, so you can return to the "In This Issue" box with ease. |
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR |
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Every Thursday,
9 - 11 am
Open Houses for prospective families or anyone who wants to know more about Montessori and our school.
Friday, January 29
For Prospective Parents: Cocktail Party hosted by John Floyd and Rosanna Fazio
Friday, February 5
7 - 8:30 pm
Parent Education Program: Mrs. Bradbury presents "A Love of Learning: What a Montessori Education can do for your Child."
Open to the Public. Bring a Friend!
Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15
School closed. Presidents' Weekend break.
COMING MARCH 5TH
The Burning Rice Fields
Youth Opera Performance and Gala Reception at The Two River Theater, Red Bank. Read about it in this issue. All proceeds go to the New Building Fund.
unless otherwise noted, all activities take place at our school. |
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WHAT'S NEXT? Montessori During the Elementary Years |
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On Friday, January 22, 2010, Elementary Directress, Ms. Sasha Cherniavsky presented a program about Montessori Elementary. If you missed it or want to read more about the topic, these articles may interest you.
From the Montessori Foundation: Joyful Scholars: Montessori for the Elementary Years.
A slightly different perspective: Montessori Elementary is Different: What children Study, What Children Do. |
Links to back issues of the Montessori Matters Newsletter can be found on the News & Events page of the Mastro Montessori website.
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*** Youth Opera and Gala Reception Update *** |
The Burning Rice Fields - A Children's Opera
Special Production and Gala Reception
Friday, March 5, 2010 - 7 p.m.
At the Two River Theater, Red Bank, NJ
Group Ticket Prices
4 tickets @ $260 ($65 per ticket)
6 tickets @ $360 ($60 per ticket)
8 tickets @ $440 ($55 per ticket)
All proceeds go to the Vincent S.Mastro Montessori Academy's new building fund
Coming our way on Friday, March 5, 2010 . . .
. . . an unforgettable experience for Mastro Montessori students, families, alumni and friends;
. . . a remarkable performance at the Two River Theater;
. . . a gala reception and wine tasting;
. . . an extraordinary silent and live auction,
. . . fun and a fundraiser that will bring us one step closer to realizing Mrs. Guarriello's dream - and ours too - of a spacious, accessible, welcoming, new building for our school.
Although a great deal of work remains to be done, this very special event is shaping up beautifully.
Mastro Montessori families and friends will receive printed, formal invitations to the combined performance of The Burning Rice Fields children's opera and gala reception. The cost per person is $75 if tickets are purchased individually. Discounted group rates are available. Inviting guests is definitely encouraged!
Additionally, it will be possible for groups - of students from other schools, senior citizens, or community organization members - to attend just the performance with their group. Group rates are $15 per ticket for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. We have developed a flyer to advertise this opportunity. Please tell us about any groups or organizations you think might be interested!
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SPONSORSHIP AND UNDERWRITING UPDATE |
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100% of the proceeds from The Burning Rice Fields Children's Opera Performance and Gala Reception will go directly to the new building fund thanks to businesses and individuals who have agreed to underwrite major expenses, become event sponsors or donate specific goods and services. Could you become one of them?
Already on board to underwrite a portion of the event are:
Kennedy Consulting Engineers, LLC - for the Two River Theater Rental
Floyd Capital Management - for the Food and Wine Tasting
Michael & Elizabeth Bradbury - for Youth Opera International expenses
 If you'd like to be an event sponsor, there are a number of sponsorship levels available to you: Platinum $1,000 ~ Gold $750
Silver $500 ~ Bronze $300
All levels of sponsorship will receive 2 tickets to the event and recognition in our Playbill.
Please call or email Kristin 732.842.5816 or info@vsmma.org to learn more about sponsorship and underwriting.
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SILENT AUCTION UPDATE |
| Intriguing, exciting and vital to the fund raising aspect of Mastro Montessori's Gala Reception and Performance of The Burning Rice Fields Children's Opera - that sums up the amazing silent auction Rosanna Fazio and her committee have in store for us on Friday, March 5th. Here are just some of the fantastic items have been donated already:
 ~ His and Hers Tiffany Mark Quartz Resonator Watches
~ Disney Theme Park tickets
~ Rowing Lessons
~ One-year youth (13 and under) membership at the YMCA, Red Bank
~ 16" X 20" Color photograph: "Greg Noll--Pipeline, 1964--""Da Bull," unframed, signed by John Severson.
This is just the beginning, says Rosanna. The auction committe is seeking additional silent auction items to help us successfully raise funds for the new building (and entice gala guests to place bids!). We would like every family to donate something or to get someone else - a business or individual - to donate. Please see our silent auction donation package for suggestions, a letter of introduction, and a donation form - all ready to download, print and copy.
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PLAYBILL ADVERTISING |
 Would we stage a sensational performance at a phenomenal venue like the Two River Theater and not offer a playbill? No way. We will be producing one for The Burning Rice Fields children's opera and distributing it on March 5th - the day of the show and gala reception.
Proceeds from Playbill advertising will go into the new building fund, and we're encouraging the entire Mastro Montessori community to buy and/or sell ad space. You can find and print out a cover letter, rate sheet, and form for advertisers by following this link to our playbill advertising package.
About the story: In a small Japanese fishing village nestled against a bluff by the sea lives an old woman who has lost her family and feels her life has no purpose. She has gone to the top of the mountain to die when she sees a giant wall of water coming directly at the village. In order to save the people of the village, she sets fire to the rice fields below. Everyone flees to the top of the mountain and survives. They build the old woman a throne at the top of the mountain from which she watches over the village below. This honor gives her life a whole new meaning.
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WINE TASTING UPDATE: MEET OUR SOMMELIER |
 Craig Donofrio, originally from Colts Neck, N.J., is an Advanced Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers and has worked in or consulted for many of the best restaurants in the country, including Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank where he has been since 2005. [It is the highest Zagat- rated restaurant in the state and has attained unprecedented reviews from the New York Times and many others.]
Always a sommelier at heart, Donofrio's proudest moments include serving wine at the James Beard House and selecting or pouring wine for the likes of Robert Redford, Danny Meyer, Dan Marino, Bob Bath (Master Sommelier), Doug Frost (Master Sommelier/Master of Wine), and of course, with the most discerning palate of all, his mom.
Currently, Donofrio splits his time between Restaurant Nicholas and a consulting position at 4JG's Vineyards & Winery in Colts Neck. When not immersed in wine, you'll find him surfing, writing, photographing, or relaxing at his home in Monmouth Beach.
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| LEND A HAND: You can help make the Children's Opera and Gala Reception a Huge Success |
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Producing The Burning Rice Fields children's opera and pairing it with a gala reception, wine tasting and silent and live auction is quite an undertaking; one that requires the cooperation and assistance of many people. We will need adults to help sew costumes, build sets, serve as stage hands, sell tickets, and more.
Please think about the ways you might be able to contribute. Then reach out to the contact person in that area.
To volunteer to help with the production: sets, costumes, props, etc, contact Paula Hurley at pthehurleys@comcast.net or Kristin DeRose at info@vsmma.org
To assist with silent auction items, find Rosanna Fazio at rosannafazio@verizon.net - 732-383-5270 or Lisa Wheeler at lisadangelo2002@yahoo.com - 917-817-1069
Rosanna is also the person to talk to about helping with other aspects of the Gala Reception.
Kathleen Gatti babyjoeygatti@aol.com and Duffy Westhead dwesthead@comcast.net are in charge of the Playbill.
Direct all other inquiries to Kristin, 732-842-5816 or info@vsmma.org
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ALUMNI PROFILE: Sarah Carmine (Milonas) |
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Sarah Carmine, 23, attended the Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy for three years in the early 1990's and stayed connected, visiting often and coming back during her middle and high school years to "help out Mrs. Bradbury." Sarah's brothers - Jeremy, now 28, and Alex, 15 - are both Mastro Montessori graduates. But the family ties don't end there. Her mom is the school's music instructor - Mrs. Lucy Milonas.
 That particular connection actually may have eased Sarah's transition into the Holmdel public school system.
"I was really happy to be at a school where my mom didn't work," she recalls, then notes, "I also felt like I didn't learn anything new until the fourth grade, since I had been prepared so well."
Sarah, who received her bachelor's degree (with a double major in mathematics and elementary education) from Boston College Honors Program, begins graduate school this spring. Newly married, she lives in the Boston area and is a Middle School (Grade 6) Math teacher
At Mastro Montessori, "I loved anything math related!" Sarah comments. "Using the number beads and trying to make the longest string in the class," was one of her favorite activities. Most significantly, she says, "I became a teacher because I want to inspire children to love learning the way Mrs. Bradbury inspired me."
Sarah's Montessori education and connection to the Vincent S Mastro Montessori Academy made a difference in her life in other ways as well.
I met my best friends at VSMMA.
Back in 1984, before I was born and not long after they had moved to New Jersey, my parents started looking for a school for my older brother, Jeremy. Preschool was the thing to do at the time, but after looking around, my mom was not impressed. She didn't just want to send Jeremy to a play group; she wanted him to learn! Eventually, she stumbled across VSMMA and was ecstatic.
At Montessori, my brother became friends with Donald LaBonte, and after many playdates, Mrs LaBonte and my mom became very close. I got along well with Donald's two sisters, Elizabeth and Susie, who were the same age as me and would be in my class at Montessori. Our fathers even worked together at ATT!
Over the years, we became more like family than friends and have gone through many things together - including the chicken pox, which my family gave to the LaBonte's.
This past November, Susie was the maid of honor at my wedding and Elizabeth was a bridesmaid. They are like the sisters I never had
My Montessori education continues to serve me today.
I have always loved to discover new information, and this love stems from my beginnings at Mastro Montessori and the relationships I formed while there. As a teacher, I hope to instill a similar love of learning in my students, and I use many Montessori concepts in my classroom even though I work in a public school. Allowing students to explore concepts and be free to explore their interests in very important to me. If a student has a question that I'm not able to answer, I always ask them to look it up and then share their findings with the rest of the class.
Children need to learn how to access information on their own and not always turn to an adult as if they have all the answers. Encouraging students to be curious gives them the tools to continue their own education.
I hope I can find a good Montessori school when I have children!
Parents always want what is best for their children. The Montessori program not only teaches children important life skills, but also gives them a strong foundation in academic exploration. Montessori graduates are curious and truly interested in learning because they have been taught that their ideas are important. They are not afraid to ask questions, even if they may be off- topic because they know that everyone's ideas are important. If there is something they want to know, they know they will be supported in their quest for answers by their classmates and adults.
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2010 Summer Program - Reserve a Space |
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This summer, the Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy will offer 7 weeks of summer programming for children 2 ½ to 6 years of age.
The summer program meets Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 am.
It is open to Mastro Montessori students and their siblings as well as to children who are not enrolled in our school.
There will be two sessions, one from June 7th through June 25th and another, July 6th through July 30th. Children may attend either or both
A brief overview follows, and more details will be coming your way fairly soon. But space is limited. So please consider adding your name to our list now!
If you would like to receive more information and an enrollment form, please contact Kristin at 732.842.5816 or info@vsmma.org
The summer enrichment program is an opportunity for
. . . our students to continue their exploration, growth and learning over the summer;
. . . children not enrolled in our school to experience some of what Montessori has to offer;
. . . parents to know that their children's summer program provides the same support, stimulation, and joyful discoveries they've come to expect from our Montessori school.
The program includes outdoor activity and individual work with Montessori materials; math & reading readiness activities; daily snack preparation; arts & crafts, story time, music & creative movement.
Days & Times: Monday through Friday from 8:30 - 11:30 am
Dates: June 7 - June 25 and July 6 - July 30
Fees: $200 per week; you may choose to enroll your child for one or both sessions. -- Both children who are enrolled in our school and children who are not may attend.
-- All children must be toilet trained.
-- Physicals and medical registration forms are required for children not currently enrolled in the academy.
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Accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
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Affiliated with North American Montessori Teachers' Association (NAMTA)
The Vincent S. Mastro Montessori Academy is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, nonsectarian school admitting students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its admission policies, educational policies, or school- administered programs.
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