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Hats Off to GSCM! Spring Gala
March 10, 2012 6-10pm
Click here for Event Information and Reservations
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
Please use your Kroger or Remke biggs reward card. Every purchase earns 4% for the school. Funds support PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and FINANCIAL AID.
Consider giving cards to your extended family members as well!
Ash Wednesday: February 22
Join us for Mass at 8:15 a.m.
(No Mass on Tues., Feb. 21)
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"Experience is a key for the intensification of instruction given inside the school ... There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all of the life to be found around them in a real forest."
Maria Montessori
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Upcoming Dates
Fri., Feb. 17 End of Second Trimester
Mon., Feb. 20 NO SCHOOL, Teacher Records Day
Wed., Feb. 22 Ash Wednesday, 8:15 Mass
Thurs., Feb. 23 Box Tops Turn-In Deadline
Thurs., Feb. 23 Cub Scouts, 3:15-4:15
Fri., Feb.24 12:00 noon EARLY DISMISSAL
Fri., Feb 24 GSCM Fine Arts Fair 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at The Barn
Thurs., Mar. 1 Parent Conferences, 2:00 DISMISSAL (no bus service)
Fri., Mar. 2 NO SCHOOL, Parent-Teacher Conferences
Mon. March 5 PSAS Financial Aid Deadline
Sat., March 10 "Hats Off to GSCM" Spring Gala, 6:00-10:00 p.m.
The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori Fine Arts Fair
Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, 6:00pm-8:00pm, at The Barn (Woman's Art Club Cultural Center), at 6980 Cambridge Ave. in Mariemont. Come see our student's art and hear the GSCM Children's Choir!
Cub Scouts: Thursday, Feb. 23, 3:15-4:15
Our new Cub Scout Troop will be meeting again on Thursday, Feb. 23. First grade scouts must have either a parent or parent-designate present to assist with supervision. Scouts in 2nd through 4th grades may stay after school (we provide supervision and a snack), attend the meeting, and be picked up from the atrium at 4:15. New members are welcome!
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Mission Alive
Silence
By Carrie Bucksath, Pre-Primary Teacher
"It is only in solitude and silence that our life is really present, that we are truly responsive to the heartbeat of the universe and free to contemplate the miracle of existence." (Montessori Life, Summer 2011: quoted from: John Lane, The spirit of silence: making space for creativity, 2006).
When I first read this quote in my Montessori Life magazine this summer, I took pause. Like many of you, I imagine, I find myself and my children's lives very busy much of the year. There is always somewhere to be, something that we need to get done before bedtime, a practice we need to get too, and the list goes on. It often feels like there are not enough hours in the day. However, as a Montessori teacher, I know the value of silence.
Maria Montessori knew of the importance of silence. She created a variety of silence activities, most notably the "Silence Game." The Silence Game is simple in concept - we sit quietly and just listen! We listen to the ticking of the clock, the hum of the heater, the birds chirping outside in the tree, the children's footsteps in the hall. We listen for new sounds that we do not typically hear during the work time. At the beginning of the year, this is sometimes difficult for the children, but we keep practicing. As the year progresses, the children become increasingly successful "making silence." They even enjoy it. They are very excited to share with the group what they were able to hear during our silent time. They enjoy the accomplishment and the change of pace from the rest of the day.
Often parents ask how they can help their children at home, and one answer that I don't often think of, but should, is to help the children "just be." When my children come to me and tell me they are "bored", I tell them it is okay to be bored. Often this boredom leads to a very creative activity. In the classroom, if a child is having a difficult time choosing his next activity, I ask him to just sit and think about what he wants to do next. While I do not explicitly tell the child to "make silence," this is what he often does, and from this silence comes clarity, and a choice is made.
Our world is full of noise and activity. One of the best gifts we could give our children is the gift of silence - the time to be silent and think. It's amazing what they think about, hear, and even create!
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Program News
Staffing: After-School Care Position
Due to family commitments, Alison Dearborn is unable to continue in her position as after-care provider next year. We thank Alison for her work and for her responsible, warm, courteous manner with the children. Please see below for details about this position if you or someone you know is interested in it.
GSCM is hiring an after-school care provider for the 2012-13 school year. This person works as a member of a two-person team to run the after-school care program. Hours are 2:45 p.m. until the last child is picked up, which is no later than 6:00 p.m. and often earlier. To apply, contact Dan Teller, dteller@gscmontessori.org.
Summer Montessori Program
For Children Ages 3-6
The Summer Montessori Program provides the best of two worlds for your child: a wealth of outdoor summer activities on our beautiful 14-acre campus and the wonderful hands-on learning of the Montessori approach. Come experience Montessori in the summer as we extend the classroom to the great outdoors. Guided by a trained Montessori teacher, your child will hike our trails, explore the creek, plant and tend a garden, crawl among the bugs, and fly with the birds. Boots and rain jackets required!
Activities include but are not limited to:
- Exploration of birds, insects, plants, water, fossils, and more
- Artist of the week and exploration of artistic expressions
- Author of the week
- Access to all core Montessori materials
- Movement, music, singing
Dates, Times, and Fees
- Dates of operation: Monday, June 18 through Friday, August 10
- Half-day program (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon): $110/week
- Full-day program (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.): $220/week
For more information ...
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Sports News
Junior Ultimate Frisbee League
When: Fridays, March 30-June 1 (no games on 4/6, Good Friday), 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Where: Sem Villa Fields (on South Milford Road in Milford)
Who: Children ages 8-13 (must be eight years old by 4/1/12; must turn fourteen after 6/1/12)
What: Ultimate Frisbee is a fast-paced sport that combines skill, quickness, and teamwork. This will be our fourteenth season of Junior Ultimate. The children will be assigned to teams (separate boys' and girls' teams). Each team will be coached by an experienced high school player. Each week will have two parts: the first part will consist of 30-45 minutes of practice, drills, and conditioning, and the second part will consist of teams playing games against one another. We will have a tournament on our final day.
Registration/Cost: $15 per player. For more information and registration information, contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org). Registration deadline is March 8.
Girls Spring Soccer: 4th and 5th Grade
Please contact Bill Frost at nativity.girls.soccer@gmail.com or 531-1123. This needs to be done this week.
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
Spiritwear
Moms, it's still not too late to order one of our Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori women's stylish long sleeved tees! 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
After-School Supervision
We are glad that children enjoy staying after school and playing together outside, and encourage this type of community building. It is required that parents provide on-site visual supervision of their children on school grounds after school hours, unless the child is enrolled in after-care. Children must not roam the school grounds unsupervised. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Box Tops
Please turn in box tops in an envelope or Ziploc with your name and class, or use a collection sheet. 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.
Metal Bottle Caps Needed
3-6D is collecting metal bottle caps (2,000!) as part of their Gala project. Please bring your caps to their collection jar by the classroom. Thank you, Julia Damico
Reminder: Canned Beans Collection Thursday Don't forget the Inter Parish Ministry food collection this Thursday, February 18. Each student is asked to bring in one can of any kind of beans except green beans. (kidney, pork and beans, butter, black, chili etc.) are needed. If you forget on Thursday, you may bring it in Friday morning. Thank you!
Lands' End Friends and Family Event Feb 23 - 28 Land's End (an option for school uniform apparel) will be offering 25% off and free shipping if you place an order between February 23- 28. We now have a custom online site with Lands' End. To order online go to www.landsend.com/school and click on "find your school's dress code to look up GSCM and enter it. Our preferred school # is 900041674. You may also call 1-800-469-2222 to order or visit the Land's End section inside Sears and a sales associate can help you with sizing info and can place your preferred school online order via the store kiosk. 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 is by the front door for your donations. Thank you! Back to top |
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Arts Sampler Day - Fun for the Whole Family, Saturday, Feb. 25th
As part of the citywide event, "Macy's 2012 Arts Sampler", The Barn is opening their big barn doors to visitors from 11 am to 4 pm for live demonstrations by artists in a huge variety of media. There will be opportunities to try pastels, beading, claywork, and painting, and the opportunity to take your artwork home. More information can be found at www.womensartclub.com.
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