| CMS Workday! | |
Saturday, October 22
8:00-3:00
Lunch provided
Come help make our school more beautiful!
No experience necessary. Projects will include - trimming brush, basketball goal repair, Gym loft clean-out, window washing, plus much more.
Please bring gloves, brush clearing tools and other small tools. Dress in your Saturday dirty clothes.
Children are welcome to come help as well!
Questions?
Email Jay Pigford
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So far this school year, we have earned $489.40 in Box Tops and enough Campbell's points to order one of the three library carts on our wish list. The carts are about 22,000 points each and it has taken us several years to accumulate enough for one cart, but those tiny papers really do add up!! Keep up the great work CMS!! |
Sign up for the Target RedCard and earn CMS 1% of your total purchases! Plus, receive 5% off every time you shop at Target. To apply for the card, click
To designate CMS to receive 1% of your purchases, click and enter 2383 as our school ID, or call 800-316-6142.
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 Piano and Violin Lessons at CMS Amanda Jackson is offering piano lessons at CMS. Mrs. Jackson has been teaching piano for over 5 years. In addition to lessons at Creative Montessori, she currently teaches music and piano lessons at North Shelby School of Performing Arts and serves as the pianist at McElwain Baptist Church. Piano lessons are offered on Fridays for children 4-years-old and up. Contact her at amanda_jackson@live.com for more information or to sign up! Belinda Bunt will be teaching violin lessons to children 4-years-old and older at CMS. Mrs. Bunt has been teaching violin for over 10 years. In addition to lessons at Creative Montessori, she currently teaches music and violin lessons at Southern Artworks, North Shelby School of Performing Arts and Hilltop
Montessori School. Contact Mrs. Bunt at
for more information.
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| Our Sponsors | 
Come see why this internationally-recognized early childhood music program for children ages birth through 7 is so effective in helping children become musically literate. Visit the website below to request a free class! Fiddlesticks Music |
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Greetings! 
"Come," said the Wind to the Leaves one day.
"Come over the meadow and we will play.
Put on your dresses of red and gold.
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."
--Popular children's song, 1880's
Summer is indeed behind us, and we look forward to bright, crisp days ahead. And while we can easily see the changes around us outside, there are changes going on in the classrooms as well. As children begin to settle into a Montessori environment, a process called "normalization" occurs. Maria Montessori discussed this as the result of the child having freedom in an environment particularly suited to his/her needs. It takes time to adjust to the pace and culture of a Montessori classroom, but once a child is normalized he or she will exhibit self-discipline, initiative, joy, contentment, and a desire to help others.
I hope that you will take the time to read below about the exciting things that are happening at CMS, and that you will be involved in making our school the best it can be.
Rosalind Butts, director
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Elementary News
Story Pirates Visit Elementary Classes
On Tuesday, September 6, the nationally known Story Pirates acting troupe visited Creative Montessori's elementary students. On promotional tour for the John Grisham children's book series, Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer, they presented a mockingly mock-courtroom drama, including a theft and the concept of "reasonable doubt." The production included kids from the audience: on the jury were Lillian, Grayson, Suzanne, Emmett, Ryanne, and Ysrair. Dorian was an esteemed attorney and Emily, an observant witness. Our doubt-full jurors delivered the first hung jury in the production's history! Afterward, the actors answered questions ranging from "What musicals have you been in?" to "Is that your real hair?" It was a very popular event: the teachers were entertained as well as the students, useful materials were provided to pursue topics in class, and it was free-of-charge! Please be sure to thank Little Professor next time you visit.
Elementary Classes to Run Mercedes Kids Marathon CMS is officially registered for the Kids Mercedes Marathon! The Mercedes Kids Marathon is an innovative five month endurance building running/walking program designed for children kindergarten (K5) through fifth grade. With the help of Coach Allison children will run the distance of a full marathon (26.2 miles) over the course of the five month program. To achieve this goal, kids must train for the last mile of their marathon by running a total of 25.2 miles in 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 3/4 mile or 1 mile increments between September through January to qualify for race day participation. This is not a timed event and there are NO official winners. Our motto is "if you had fun you won!" As each child completes the final mile on the actual marathon course on Saturday, February 11, 2012 he/she will receive a Mercedes Kids Marathon Finisher's Medal, a miniature version of the Mercedes Marathon finisher's medal.
Lower Elementary I News Students in Mr. Greg's and Ms. Danley's class have been busy gathering ideas and information for their elevated classroom. This year's focus will be on our great state of Alabama. The class has been learning about the geographical regions, rivers, and natural resources of our state. After a class vote, the project was christened 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Needless to say, both students and teachers are very excited to turn the 'the blank slate' into a working model of Alabama. Also, the children have enjoyed a special project involving Grayson Parham's Great Dane Sophie! They have weighed and measured her each month since she was 8 weeks old. Here are pictures of Sophie at 8 weeks and 8 months old...try to guess how much she weighs now!
  Lower Elementary II News Students in Ms. Lara and Ms. Lynda's class are off to a great start for the year. They have started their cultural studies by talking about the formation of the earth. They also spent some time learning about Maria Montessori since her birthday is in August. Soon they will begin a study of the state of Alabama. As part of that they will be learning about the Cahaba River and the unique plant and animal life found there. They will also have a visit to hear the Symphony on October 5! Upper Elementary News
September brought the annual 6th grade field trip to Camp McDowell. This two night, three day adventure featured hands-on environmental science in an 1,140 acre outdoor classroom. The kids, along with Mr. Scott & Ms. Michelle, experienced fun, team-building classes focused on group dynamics to build the students' self-confidence. Camp Mac's instructors have been trained in a child-centered, experiential approach to teaching and are passionate about sharing the natural world with students and adults. Everyone came back energized but VERY TIRED!
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Preschool News
White Class News
Toddlers in the White Class have started the "decorate your geometric shape" take home project each month. Another project we do every month is cooking! The children love to watch with excitement and curiosity while they measure, pour, and stir. This year we have added going to the CMS Library to our classroom schedule. This trip becomes an adventure to explore and imagine while teaching them about the library, and it gives them a sense of responsibility for the books we have checked out.
In the month of September we had our 3rd Annual "Make One, Bring One, and We Will All Have Fun" gathering that inspired families to make one pizza as an entire family and bring it to share. It was a great success (once again) and tons of fun with yummy pizzas! For the month of October, the White Class will be taking a trip to the pumpkin patch! We always choose a Saturday so that all our families will have the opportunity to come, and this will be our 4th year going to the pumpkin patch as a White Class Family.
Purple Class News
In addition to their regular lessons, in October the Purple Class will be focusing on developing manners and being polite - saying "please" and "thank you", sitting nicely, etc. - all of the foundation skills they need for interacting successfully with others. They are also always working on a creative project. A couple of projects they have enjoyed this year are creating flags and painting their own snack bags!
  
Yellow Class News
The Yellow Class is off to a great start this year! We have been talking about our environment including our city, state, country, continent and our school. Ms Katie even made some really cool maps of our school and our classroom. We have been talking about how important it is to take care of our environment. Some of the children got to go into the atrium to help clean it out. We are also planing a surprise walking field trip just to explore our neighborhood!
Red Class
The Red Class started off the year welcoming new students, learning about Nepal, hosting a breakfast for our parents, and looking at several different versions of the Montessori Timeline of Life. We were thrilled to say the Pledge of Allegiance at the first Community Alliance meeting in September. We will continue our study of Nepal in October. We are also excited about our trip to the Symphony and the Pumpkin Patch this month.
 
Pink Class News
The Pink Class students have enjoyed their lessons so far this year. They learned about parts of the body and made two "students" out of traced parts of each child. They have also had a cooking lesson on how to make a mini pizza. The Pink Class is looking forward to its annual field trip to Old Baker Farm in Harpersville on October 14!
Blue Class
The Blue Class is hard at work on their lessons. In the afternoons, they can be seen enjoying the new see-saw on the playground, reading stories, and singing favorite songs!
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CMS Community Alliance News
Thank you to everyone who attended the kick off event on September 1st. This introductory meeting allowed parents to learn a bit about what the Community Alliance's purpose. Several board members informed the crowd of their current projects & asked for volunteer support. A very big thank you to Gabriel Rothblatt of Papa Murphy's Pizza! Not only did he & his crew work very hard to provide fabulous, hot pizza, Gabriel donated the proceeds above his costs to CMS!
Immediately following our last meeting, Nicole Martin & the room parents set to work on our school's master email list. You should, now, be receiving emails from the CA; including post meeting & reminders emails. Email is the most efficient & cost effective way to reach our community, if you are not receiving emails contact me as soon as possible so you don't miss a thing!
In an effort to work with our families' varied schedules, CA meetings will be alternating between morning & evening. October will introduce our 1st "Coffee, Tea & ME (Montessori Education)". These more intimate events begin at 8am & will feature our director, Rosalind Butts. Coffee, tea & light refreshments will be served. Thursday, November 3rd is back in the evening. We're working on the dinner/child care details to continue to make these meetings more family friendly.
Future Community Alliance meetings:
October 6th 8am - Library
November 3rd 5:30pm - Gym
December 1st 8am - Library
Thank you,
Kelley Walton
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CMS Fall Festival October 30!
CMS Fall Festival will be held on Sunday, October 30th from 2:00 - 4:00 Games, moonwalk, pony rides, and more! $10 admission to benefit the school Concessions available Fall Festival is open to everyone so please invite friends, neighbors & family Kids and adults are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes (no scary costumes and no toy guns or weapons please.) |
Library News
October is National Book Month! It is a great time for us to focus on rejuvenating the literary resources of CMS. This year, our focus is building resources on all kinds of life in Alabama -- from prehistoric Basilosaurs to dwindling snail darters, from Creek warriors to Supreme Court Justices -- and the geographic features of our state. The library will take three shots at the target this month: a week-long promotion at Little Professor Books in Homewood, our annual story-telling and -selling Book Fair, and a used book sale during the Fall Festival.
The week of Monday, October 10 through Sunday, October 16 is the time to shop for all your upcoming book needs at Little Professor in Homewood. At the register, tell the sales clerk to add your receipt in support of Creative Montessori School, and the store will give 10% of your total to our school. Like the Publix card, this fund raiser is no cost to you, but it adds up in books for us. Please ask your friends and family to shop and support us that week, too!
On Thursday, October 13, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., An Alabama Evening under the Stars will include our wonderful book sale, cookies-and-milk p.j. story times, wine and cheese in the garden, strolling bards, spooky tales, a special selection of books for children and gift books for donation to every classroom and the library. Please watch for posters, flyers, and a list of books to come home during the week.
Finally, during the Fall Festival on Sunday, October 30, we will have another used book sale at the library -- outside this time, for multi-tasking browsers: a great selection of low-priced reads to stack your nightstands and fill our coffers with a few more coins! Collection boxes for donating used books will go out mid-October.
Also, please note that the parenting lending library has been moved up to the foyer of the library building.
We invite you to visit our shelves of books-to-borrow on topics in Family Life, Child Development, Education, Montessori, and similar subjects. The building is open during the school day.
Gail Pless,
CMS Librarian
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Fundraising Update
Fundraising continues with Innisbrook.com
One of the most successful fall fundraisers for the school is the Innisbrook wrapping paper and gift sale. Did you know, however, that Innisbrook is so much more than paper, boxes, and bows? There are chocolates, cookies, spices, makeup, candles, magazines, lotions... and so much more. Each year the company expands its offerings, many of which would make great gifts for those hard-to-shop-for relatives (you know the ones). And the more you sell, the more prizes you get! And the school receives 50% of the proceeds for improvements (no promises, but imagine new playground equipment...) Orders must be placed by October 13th in order to assure timely delivery for the holidays.
Please let all your friends and family members know that they too can help support our school too by ordering at Innisbrook. - all they need is our school number 103940.
If you have questions or difficulty ordering (sometimes the website is very busy), please contact Camille Caldwell, a teacher in the Pink class and a teacher representative on the Board, at froggycd@hotmail.com. |
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CMS and Altamont Host
Race to Nowhere Screening
On September 13 CMS partnered with The Altamont School to offer a screening of the fascinating film Race To Nowhere. The film addresses the epidemic of "teaching to the test" in American schools. In this documentary students, parents, teachers, psychologists, and parents describe the anxiety, depression, and frustration that results when students are asked to take a "second shift" after a full day of school--family time and the whole child are diminished by overwhelming amounts of homework and the pressure to overschedule kids in a misguided attempt to prepare them for college. The heavy emphasis on uniform academic achievement doesn't address the needs of the whole child, and instead of inspiring a lifelong love of learning, many children and teenagers come to see education as a meaningless scramble for grades. A discussion followed the film, led by a panel that included CMS headmistress Rosalind Butts, CMS alum/Altamont alum and Stanford University junior Daniel Hollingshead, psychologist Beth Jacobs and Altamont history teacher Chris Thomas. Many parents in the audience echoed business leaders and graduate level professors in the film who have observed in recent college graduates a deficit of independent and critical thinking. Both Daniel and Rosalind offered articulate descriptions of how the Montessori and Altamont experiences offer an alternative--an educational culture in which holistic learning, collaborative learning, individual development, independence and self-direction are encouraged. Over 150 people attended, many of them CMS parents and grandparents. A follow up discussion is planned for later this fall--be on the lookout and plan to join other parents and educators who are passionate about tapping children's natural passion for acquiring knowledge and making efforts to prepare children not only for the SAT but also for life.
For an entertaining, insightful and brief description of the value of Montessori education in a cookie-cutter world click on this link:
The Value of a Montessori Education
Brooke Coleman
542-1309
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Creative Montessori School |
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