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Any child who is self-sufficient, who can tie his shoes, dress or undress himself, reflects in his joy and sense of achievement the image of human dignity, which is derived from a sense of independence.
Maria Montessori
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Upcoming Dates
Wed., Sept.28 Child Protection Orientation Session, 8:15 a.m.
Sept.26-29 Middle School Odyssey Trip to Hico, West Virginia
Sept. 28-30 Upper Elementary Trip to Camp Campbell Gard
Tues., Oct. 4 First Communion Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 4 Lower El Parent Education Evening, 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 6 WALKATHON!
Fri., Oct. 7 Staff In-Service, NO SCHOOL
Oct. 10-14 Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 2-8)
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Montessori News
Lower Elementary Parent Education Evening
Tuesday, October 4, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
A Day in the Life of Your Child in the Classroom
Please join our lower elementary teachers for a  parent education evening designed to inform you about the wonderful, everyday experiences in the 6-9 classroom. You will learn more about the expectations of daily work and how your child's work is assessed. You will also be presented with several language lessons in order to give a closer look at the Montessori materials. We will also touch on this year's biome curriculum. Hope to see you there!
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Mission Alive!
Each week, we share an aspect of our mission as it takes shape in the lives of the children. This week, Spanish teacher Ximena Flores shares her passion for foreign language instruction. Sra. Flores works with children from preschool through 5th grade.
Spanish and the Absorbent Mind
by Ximena Flores, Spanish Teacher
"There is in the child a special kind of sensitivity which led him to absorb everything about him, and it is this work of observing and absorbing that allows him to adapt himself to life."
The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori
It is important to recognize the incredible benefits that knowledge of a foreign language can bring. It will help your child broaden his world and expand his horizons. When a child is exposed to a different language it also becomes an exciting opportunity to open your family to new avenues of knowledge and enjoyment. It is a way to connect to your family, to connect to your community, and to connect to the world.
This is why I ask you as parents to take advantage of this great opportunity and get actively involved in your child's Spanish learning process. Encourage them to become your "Spanish teachers"; ask them every day the new word or the song they have learned. Try to use it and practice with them. Praise them when they say 'hola' or 'Buenos días.' Look for bilingual options such as bilingual storybooks, children tutorial websites or television programs.
It is so wonderful to witness your children absorbing everything avidly. They come to the Spanish class excited to learn and eager for what comes next. My goal is to give them a positive early experience in language, and to stimulate their interest in culture.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with your children! They remind me day by day how fortunate and blessed I am being their Spanish teacher. Please come, observe and participate in our classes. Feel free to contact me any time at xflores@gscmontessori.org.
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Atrium News
The atrium is a place of prayer, in which work and study spontaneously become meditation, contemplation, and prayer. (32 Characteristics of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd)
These images from several first graders' early work in the Level II atrium show the different ways that children's work becomes meditation, contemplation, and prayer.
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Warren spent over one hour at our 'prayer desk' writing his own prayers. He compiled these into a personal prayer booklet.
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Audrey spent over an hour working with liturgical colors. After learning the meaning of the colors through work with the chasubles, she made her own liturgical colors chart and labeled it according to the liturgical season in the Church.
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Andrew laid out the Blue Unity Strip, a timeline depicting the History of the Kingdom of God. Then, he began creating his own personal strip. This work took the entire atrium period.
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Catholic Identity
In addition to Montessori education and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the third pillar of our school is our Catholic Identity. Here is an excerpt from our Catholic Identity Statement, which can be found on our website, www.gscmontessori.org.
The Catholic School and the Church
In proclaiming "a Catholic atmosphere faithful to the Magesterium of the Church", The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori places its mission in the heart of the activity of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican document, The Religious Dimensions of a Catholic School, states:
The Catholic school is a genuine and proper instrument of the Church. It is a place of evangelization and pastoral action: its work [is that] of educating the Christian person... The Catholic school is based on an educational philosophy in which faith, culture and life are brought into harmony. Through it, the local Church evangelizes, educates, and contributes to the formation of a healthy and morally sound life-style among its members. The Church is where the Catholic school receives its spirit. It recognizes the Holy Father as the center and the measure of unity in the entire Christian community. Love for and fidelity to the Church is the organizing principle and the source of strength of a Catholic school. [33-34]
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PTO News
School Directories
The 2011-12 School Directories are now here! Last week, the directories were sent to teachers to distribute via backpack mail. Each family gets one for free (part of tuition and dues.) We do have extra copies available for $5 each. They are great for in the car or for a spouse, grandparent, etc. If you'd like an extra copy, please stop in the office or send $5 with a note to send one home backpack mail.
Volunteers Needed Do your kids love field day? Imagine how excited they would be to have YOU as the field day coordinator! The PTO sponsors this fun filled, end of the year celebration, but we are looking for an enthusiastic parent to coordinate this years event or two parents to co-chair together. We have numerous volunteers already signed up to help, but need one parent (or two) to step up and organize our team of volunteers. Please contact Shannon Lotterer if interested ! shannon.lotterer@fuse.net Being Yearbook Coordinator has never been easier...with our new software program, all it takes is some time on the computer to input! This is a great position for a parent who wants to volunteer from home, at their convenience! Several parents will support our coordinator by acting as photographers, but we need one computer savy parent to accept the title of Yearbook Coordinator or two parents to co-chair together! Contact Shannon Lotterer if you are willing to help create memories. shannon.lotterer@fuse.n Back to top
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Volunteer News
Mandatory Orientation Session: Decree on Child Protection
Wednesday, September 28, 8:15-9:00 a.m.
All volunteers with regular and/or significant (e.g., 3 or more hours per month) contact with GSCM students must attend a volunteer orientation session about the Decree. Overnight chaperones to the 9-12 Camp Campbell Gard trip must also attend. Please note: If you have already taken the Orientation Session, you do not need to do so again.
PLEASE RSVP TO NTOON@GSCMONTESSORI.ORG
OR BY CALLING 271-4171
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Walkathon
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Office News
Landscaping A group of GSCM parents will be meeting at school this Saturday, October 1 from 8:00 am -noon to work on our outdoor landscaping. If you would like to come and help add plants to the landscape, mulch, and cleanup a few of the landscape beds, the group would love some added hands! Just come with your tools and gloves. Check the Lost and Found There are a lot of items accumulating in the Lost and Found. Please take a moment to see if any of the things might belong to your child. Lost and Found is located in a plastic bin on the lower level at the doors. Book Club for Fun! The first GSCM Parent Book Club is having its first meeting on October 12th, at 7PM to discuss the book Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. You do not need to commit to attending and reading the book each month if you'd like to participate. Drop in any month you can! This book club was created to get parents together to visit and share enjoyable books. Come and get to know more parents! Stop in any month for a no-pressure book discussion. RSVP to Dinese Young, dyoung5281@gmail.com. Pasta Collection Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori students contributed 59 boxes of pasta for Inter Parish Ministry last week. This is a big contribution toward helping families in need. Our next collection will be on Thursday, October 20th. You'll hear more information about that in a couple weeks. Thank you for your generosity. Lands' End Sale Lands' End is having a "Friends and Family" sale. This sale only runs through today, Sept. 27th, offering 25% off Lands' End products, plus free shipping to any location inside the United States, so if you're interested you would need to place your order today. Back to top |
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Vision for Catholic Schools:
For the past several months, an effort has been underway to establish a common vision for the future of Catholic school education in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. During the 2010-2011 school year, large amounts of data were collected on the current state of our Catholic schools. This data has been compiled in an initial Assessment Report that will be released to the public in early October. All are invited to attend a presentation in October regarding the vision. At each presentation, Dr. Jim Rigg, Superintendent of Catholic schools, will provide a summary of the key data regarding Catholic identity, academic excellence, demographics, finances, and other areas from this Assessment Report. The presentations will take place on the following dates:
Oct. 4: Chaminade-Julienne High School (6:00-7:30 PM)
Oct. 6: Roger Bacon High School (6:00-7:30 PM)
Oct. 11: Lehman High School (6:00-7:30 PM)
All are welcome to attend. Please visit www.catholiccincinnati.org/education/lighting_the_way for more details.
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