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Annual Fund Update
Our goal for our Annual Fund is 100% parent participation.
NO GIFT IS TOO SMALL!
Donate online at www.gscmontessori.org/giving
Please contact our Development Office at 271-0205 with any questions or to learn more about our Annual Fund. Thank you!
Kroger and
Remke biggs Cards
At no extra cost to you, every purchase on a Kroger or Remke biggs rewards card earns 4% for the school. We use these funds to support our staff's PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and also our FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM.
Mr. Teller will be offering cards to parents at morning arrival. This is totally optional, but we do want to promote this easy way to help these important parts of our school.
Consider giving cards to your extended family members as well!
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The ancient saying, "There is nothing in the intellect which was not first in some way in the senses," and senses being explorers of the world, opens the way to knowledge.
Maria Montessori
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Upcoming Dates
Thurs., Feb. 9 Cub Scouts, 3:30-4:30
Fri., Feb.10 12:00 noon EARLY DISMISSAL
Fri., Feb.10 Priority Registration Period Ends
Fri., Feb. 17 End of Second Trimester
Mon., Feb. 20 NO SCHOOL, Teacher Records Day
Thurs., Feb. 23 Box Tops Turn-In Deadline
Fri., Feb.24 12:00 noon EARLY DISMISSAL
Fri., Feb 24 GSCM Fine Arts Fair 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Barn
Mon. March 5 PSAS Financial Aid Deadline
Cub Scouts: Thursday, Feb. 9, 3:30-4:30
This Thursday, February 9, all boys in grades 1-4 are invited to the inaugural meeting of a GSCM Cub Scout Troop. GSCM parent Mark Vermillion will be leading the meeting, with assistance from parent Sean Burns and Scouting Director Shane Noem. The meeting is from 3:30-4:30 p.m. There will be after-school supervision with a snack from 3:00-3:30. Please let Nancy Toon know if your child is staying and requires after-school supervision. Boys in grade 1 must have a parent supervisor or another parent designated to provide supervision during the meeting. Boys in grades 2-4 do not need parental or parental-designee supervision.
Please RSVP to Nancy Toon (ntoon@gscmontessori.org)
The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori Fine Arts Fair
Opening Night Exhibition with 4-8th Grade and GSCM Children's Choir Performances Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00p.m, at The Barn (Woman's Art Club Cultural Center), at 6980 Cambridge Ave. in Mariemont. Come see our student's art and hear the choir perform.
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Mission Alive
A Message from Archbishop Schnurr
As a "a Catholic atmosphere faithful to the Magesterium of the Church" (GSCM Mission Statement), The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori places its mission in the heart of the activity of the Catholic Church. Our Catholic Identity Statement cites the Vatican document The Religious Dimension of a Catholic School: "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 " In this spirit, we offer a recent letter from Archbishop Dennis Schnurr
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.
The federal government, which claims to be "of, by, and for the people," has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people- the Catholic population and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees' health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those "services" in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.
In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation's first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled to violate our consciences,
or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration's sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.
We cannot - we will not - comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build Arnerica's cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.
And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to Contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration's decision.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati
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Sports News
Two Track Opportunities
CYO TRACK
St. Gertrude has invited GSCM to join their track program this year. Any child in K through 8 grades may participate. Practices will most likely be on Tues and Thurs but the times are not yet known. The cost will be $40.00 plus the cost of a uniform. See http://sites.google.com/site/cincinnatitrackcyo/
for more information about CYO track. If you would like to register your child for track go to above web site and print the release form from the forms and documents page and return it with a check for $40.00 made out to St. Gertrude Boosters no later than 2/27. NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER THIS DATE. If you have any questions, contact Mary Rieke at mary.rieke@gmail.com
Warriors Track and Field Program
This track and field program is offered by the Mariemont Recreation Association and is open to boys and girls in Kindergarten - 6th grade. Our goal is to introduce kids to the basics of both running and field events in a fun environment. Registration fee is $35 (includes uniform shirt). Registration deadline is March 5th. For more information and to register go to www.mariemonttrack.org.
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PTO News
2nd Annual GSCM Talent Show: The Best Show Ever!!
Friends and family gathered Thursday evening for a terrific display of talent from our very own GSCM students. It was a beautiful night of singing, dancing, piano playing, and cart wheeling FUN!! 35-40 of our talented students participated in over 25 different skits. The night was hosted by our PTO. Jana Widmeyer, with assistance from Barb Blasch, coordinated all of the students into a lovely and unforgettable night. The Talent Show will return next year so start thinking of a special talent you'd like to share!!
The following is a quote received from a friend who attended the performance:
"Thank you, thank you! I was so delighted by every moment of this wonderful show. It was a joy for me to see our dear sweet children being such free spirits. I think it is a core characteristic of our school - total acceptance of the wonderful person God made you to be. Thank you for all you did to bring forth this glorious show".
Spiritwear
Moms, if you don't have one of our Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori women's stylish long sleeved Tees, now is a good time to order one! These round neck tees come in brown with light blue imprint, black with white imprint and grey with navy imprint and are $20 for ladies sizes S, M, L, and XL and $22 for XXL. We would like to have orders by February 24th (as it reduces our shipping cost). Order forms are available outside of the office and can be turned into the office or directly to Amie Bressert. Order one and show your GSCM Spirit!
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Office News
Lunch Program
We are exploring ways to provide another lunch option in addition to pizza on Fridays. We contacted Skyline and found that for the cost of a lunch ticket ($3.00), parents could order two cheese coneys (cheese on the side) or two hot dogs with cheese (on the side) plus crackers. If this interests you, please contact Nancy Toon (ntoon@gscmontessori.org).
If you have other ideas to enhance our lunch program and make it easier for parents who prefer not to pack lunches, please let us know. We have tried various catering services in the past and there has not been sufficient use of these programs to sustain them. So we are not looking to return to a catering service, but are interested in exploring other options for another day or two of prepared lunch.
Box Tops
We still need to raise 2,475 more tops to meet our goal of 6,000. Our next turn-in date is March 1 so let's see if we can collect the rest of the box tops during the month of Feb.! Please turn in box tops in an envelope or Ziploc with your name and class. If you prefer a box top collection sheet there are extras in the Box Top baskets. Please have all your box tops turned in by Feb. 23.
Incentives for February: if a student turns in 50 box tops she/he will get a 'ticket' for a popsicle or if a student turns in 100 box tops she/he will get a "ticket" for an ice cream sandwich. The tickets can be used during a set day in March. Any questions please contact Kim Gates at kmgates1@gmail.com.
2012-2013 Registration
Each current family should have received by mail the new 2012-2013 enrollment form and tuition contract. If you did not receive this, please contact Nancy in the office by email ntoon@gscmontessori.org or by phone. Priority registration ends Friday, February 10th.
Metal Bottle Caps Needed
The 3-6D class needs your help. Jodie and Martin Bruemmer (Mia's parents) have graciously offered to make a play house as our class project for the gala.
We need 2000 metal bottle caps. (Yes, like a beer bottle cap and yes, it says 2000) to be used as shingles for the roof. Please if you know any bartenders, college students, or drink heavily yourself save the caps for us. I will place a large jar downstairs on our drying rack! Thank you, Julia Damic0
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Architecture Club
Scrap Materials Needed!
Attention teachers and parents! The GSCM Architecture Club is looking for recyclables for their bridge projects. If you have materials in your craft or building rooms that could be tossed, please donate them to us! Rope, string, wood pieces, metal pieces, nuts/bolts, plastic pieces, sturdy craft materials, paint, glue sticks, yarn, or any other materials appropriate for creative bridge building! A box will be out by the front door next week to collect donations. Thank you!
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Parent Notices
GAPS Diet/Education Support Group
GSCM mom Ellie Sodergren would like to invite all other GSCM parents to join her new education and support group. The Cincinnati GAPS Diet Education and Support Group will meet twice a month on Saturday afternoons from February through June at Mariemont's Mercy St. Theresa Senior Living Community. Each meeting will include a lesson, cooking demo and lots of Q&A. Sessions are $10 each, and group discounts are available. More information can be found on the school bulletin board by the front door. You can learn more about the GAPS Diet at www.gaps.me or www.doctor-natasha.com. You can contact Ellie directly at esodergren@catholic.org or 513-386-7523.
Temporary Nanny Position
GSCM mom Ellen Stephenson is looking for a temporary, full-time nanny for the next month - if you know of someone who might be interested, please let her know! Hours are 7:30-3:30 (roughly) on school days. She has a one-year old toddler and an eight-year old homeschooler. Babysitting could be at her home or sitter's home if convenient to school/Pleasant Ridge/Blue Ash areas. Contact Ellen Stephenson at ellenjds@fuse.net or 351-1769. Thank you!
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