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Register for Kroger Community Rewards Program
Over the next couple of weeks, a GSCM parent will be available with computers in our hallway to assist parents who wish to register. Please help us reach our goal of increasing participation by 60 people. (See 'Office News' for details.)
To register from home:
If you have not already done so, you will be asked to "create an account" here. You'll need an email, password, zip code, then enter your Kroger Plus Card number. Then go here to register for the Community Rewards Program and select the charity you want to support: The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori (#80140).
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Upcoming Dates
Fri., Sept. 7 Celebrate the birthday of the Blessed Mother (wear blue)
Tue., Sept. 11 Picture Day: pre-primary and middle school
Wed., Sept. 12 Picture Day: elementary classes
Thurs., Sept. 13 PTO Meeting, 8:15 a.m.
Mon.., Sept. 17 VIRTUS Training, 6:30-9:30 p.m. in '9-12/Guadalupe'
Thurs., Sept.20 Pre-Primary Parent Education Evening 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 20 After-School Soccer Clinic, 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Sept.17-20 Middle School Odyssey Trip to Hico, West Virginia
Sept. 19-21 Upper Elementary Trip to Camp Kern
Wed., Sept. 26 Drama Club begins
On September 8, the Church celebrates the birth of Mary, Mother of God. To honor the Blessed Mother, children may dress in blue out-of-uniform clothing on Friday, September 7, the vigil of Our Lady's feast. Fr. Terrence Quinn, OP, will help us celebrate at school with a blessing over each classroom, the children, and an image of the Blessed Mother. We will conclude our celebration with birthday treats over lunch!
Join Us for Mass: Tuesdays, 8:15 a.m.
Parents are welcome to join us for Mass on Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m. This year our celebrants will be Fr. Dave Lemkuhl and Comboni Missionary priests. Mary Hamiter and Barb Blasch lead the music at Mass, with rotating help from student cantors. We hope you can join us!
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Mission Alive!
Education for Peace: Shalom and Shallem
From Way of Holy Joy: Selected Writings of Sofia Cavalletti (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 2012)
[Ed. Note: At our Parent Orientation Evening we shared the excerpt below from the writings of Sofia Cavalletti, foundress of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Most Montessori schools are secular; ours is not. We believe, in accord with Dr. Cavalletti's comments below, that a school without a religious orientation cannot fully touch the human heart, cannot fully educate for peace. This excerpt is a beautiful expression of our school's mission.]
Education for peace is not a specific task of religious formation, but of education in general. "To avoid conflicts is the work of politics," Maria Montessori wrote, "to build peace is the work of education." We would like to add that perhaps it is the only true task of education, because, in our opinion, to educate for peace is to help the person to realize oneself "integrally." It is significant that, in the Hebrew language, concepts of "peace" and "integrality" are linked to the same root, thus evidencing the profound connection between "integrality, wholeness" and "peace." A person cannot give oneself peace, harmony, if there is no unity within oneself, if there is no absence of ruptures and divisions in the person.
Thus the first place in which "wholeness" needs to exist, so that there will be peace, is in the heart of the human person. If the heart of the person is not shallem, integral, whole, that person will not be able to give oneself shalom, peace.
The expressions of fellowship which abound in our time surely represent building blocks on the path of peace, on the condition, however, that the existence of divisions in the human heart are not allowed to continue. Although the human heart might burn with love for the oppressed, if it still is seething with hate for the oppressors, that person would not yet be "integral, whole" and would not yet be able to build the foundation for peace.
Furthermore, even a fellowship that embraced all humankind, but only humankind, would not yet represent shalom, peace, because it would exclude the most important part of reality: God. The human heart that does not open itself to the religious reality would remain equally split, mutilated, would not yet be shallem.
This is the reason why I want to affirm that an education for peace cannot be given, unless it is within a religious perspective. And I would like to add that the most suitable subject of, the most fecund group for, an education for peace are children, because their hearts are still "integral."
Sofia Cavalletti, Way of Holy Joy (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, 2012)
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Office News
Do you shop at Kroger? Please Register for Kroger Community Rewards
The Kroger Community Rewards program is one way you can support GSCM simply by doing what you are already doing - buying your groceries at Kroger. It does not require an extra card, just scan your Kroger Plus card as you normally do and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the non-profit you have designated.
Over the summer (May through July) GSCM received nearly $900 from this program with only 29 families participating! Our goal is to increase participation three-fold by October. We need your help! Tell your friends and family and extended family. Proceeds benefit staff development financial aid
If you have not already done so, you will be asked to "create an account" here. You'll need an email, password, zip code, then enter your Kroger Plus Card number. Then go here to register for the Community Rewards Program and select the charity you want to support: The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori (#80140).
It takes a couple of minutes to register and put in another password but I hope you will take the time to add your support to our school. Thank you.
Over the next couple of weeks, a GSCM parent will be available with computers in our hallway to assist parents who wish to register. Please help us reach our goal of increasing participation by 60 people.
Marketing Help Wanted
Graphic Designer: We are looking for a freelance designer to help with our marketing materials and newsletter. Stipend provided.
Writer: We are also looking for a writer to assist with writing stories to get GSCM in the news.
If you have these talents or know of someone, please contact Susan Fisher at scfisher@mac.com.
School Picture Information
Debra Shepard Photography is excited to be back again this year to capture our student's smiles for school photos. Portrait dates are Tuesday, September 11th (pre-primary and middle school classes) and Wednesday, September 12th (elementary classes). All students will be photographed.
NEW - Wallet sized proofs will be sent home for review and orders will be placed at that time. No order forms will be sent home prior to the photo dates. Make-up photos will be available if a student is absent or if the photo is significantly marred.
TIPS - Pictures will be taken outside allowing nature to be the backdrop. Some tips on choosing the best clothing: solid bright colors look the best (i.e. red, blues, yellow, orange, pink & purple). Keep in mind your child's skin tone when choosing the color to wear as some colors can make the portrait appear dull. Pastels colors can tend to look somewhat faded but a sharp white shirt will also work well. Be careful of bold stripes and plaids as they can detract from the child's face in the picture. Green colors tend to get lost somewhat due to the greenery as the backdrop. These are head and shoulder shots -printing, logos or pictures may not appear.
NEEDED - Debra is looking for 1 parent volunteer per day. This person will receive a $20 voucher good towards purchasing their child's school photos. (Please no younger siblings). Please email Debra at debrashepardphotography@gmail.com if interested.
Debra will also be holding Fall Family Days again at local parks. This is a great opportunity to have family/sibling portraits taken for the upcoming holidays. A portion of these reduced session fees will be donated to GSCM. More details to follow.
Extended-Preschool Care (11:30-3:00) and After-School Care (3:00-6:00) Use
If you need to use either the extended preschool care or the after-school care program on a 'per diem' or occasional basis, please note the following:
- Notify the office to make a reservation for that day for use of either program. (The extended care preschool program has a limit of 15 children and we are occasionally at that limit.)
- Notify your child's teacher, so that s/he is aware of the dismissal procedure for that day.
- Fees must be paid the day of use. You can pay in the office or give a check directly to the extended/after-care staff.
These guidelines only apply for 'per diem' use, not for those who have regularly enrolled in these programs.
2011-12 Yearbooks
The 2011-12 yearbooks are here! Last week preordered yearbooks should have been distributed to children via homerooms. Please check your child's backpack and locker if you ordered one or more. Also, we had originally planned to do preorders only. However, due to the incremental quantities required to order with the publisher, we did end up with extra yearbooks. Therefore, it is not too late to purchase a yearbook or an extra copy! Yearbooks are $25 for one, $44 for two or $60 for three. If interested, contact Dinese Young, dyoung5281@gmail.com. Extras will be sold first-come, first-served.
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Program News
Drama Program Expands
Due to the huge success of last year's production of The Wizard of Oz, this year we are proud to expand our drama program with an after-school Drama Club and a kindergarten drama class. Rhonda Hamall, who so skillfully collaborated with our 8th grade students in last year's production, will be the instructor and producer for both drama experiences.
After-School Drama Club for Elementary and Middle School: Wednesdays
Lower Elementary: September 26 through late January
Upper Elementary/Middle School: February through mid-May
No experience is required to participate in Drama Club, and students do not even have to be actors. We will have many production needs: acting, costumes, makeup, sets, props. There is an opportunity for everyone to have an important role!
The lower elementary club will begin on Wednesday, September 26 with a production in late January. Following that performance we will begin rehearsal for a middle school/upper elementary production. This will follow last year's example and be a student driven production with the middle school students taking lead on directing and all aspects of the show. Their performance will be in late April or early May.
Sign-up/registration for Drama Club will be available next week through our Parent Portal. Look for more information in next week's newsletter.
Kindergarten Drama Class: Fridays
Beginning this Friday, September 7, kindergartners will have a weekly 30-minute drama class with Mrs. Hamall. This will take place during the regular school day, between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. We hope to perform several times throughout the year for parents.
Drama is a wonderfully expressive way to grow and develop personal skills while being part of a community. We are pleased to add this to our fine arts program.
Suzuki Violin and Cello Lessons at GSCM!
Violin and cello lessons will be available after school starting this fall. (Viola and bass are also possible- please ask for details.)
Lessons will be Mondays after school. Parents (or other adult) must be present at all times
Cost of the lessons is $20/half hour. Please contact Gloria Fiore at (513) 731-3920 for information, and to SIGN UP.
[About the instructor-
Gloria Fiore graduated with highest honors from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a certificate in Music Education, has done extensive Suzuki training in books I thru X and beyond, has much experience teaching all sorts of string programs in a number of area schools, including Montessori, and has performed in a number of orchestras, most notably the West Virginia Symphony and the Dayton Philharmonic for 30+ years. She resides in Amberley Village and also teaches out of her home.
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Volunteer News
VIRTUS Training Session for New Volunteers
Monday, September 17, 6:30-9:30 p.m. in Our Lady of Guadalupe
All people who work or volunteer with children in any of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati parishes, schools, or institutions have until June 30, 2014 to attend a VIRTUS® Child Awareness Session for the Decree on Child Protection in order to be approved to work with children. GSCM follows these guidelines. All volunteers with regular and/or significant (e.g., 3 or more hours per month) contact with GSCM students must attend a child protection class. Overnight chaperones to the 9-12 Camp Kern trip must also attend. A course for volunteers will be held at GSCM on Monday, September 17, 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
Those previously trained under the old Awareness Sessions have until June 2014 to take the new Virtus training. New volunteers, those without previous training, must complete VIRTUS training before volunteering with students or chaperoning at Camp Kern.
To register for the September 17 training session at GSCM, go online to www.virtusonline.org. If you cannot attend the September 17 session, you can go to www.virtusonline.org to view other area training sessions.
If you were Virtus trained in another diocese, please provide Jana Widmeyer (GSCM Virtus Coordinator) with a copy of your certificate. Questions? Contact Jana Widmeyer at jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org.
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Sports News
Welcome GSCM Athletic Coordinator Bridget Kaufman
Greetings! I am Bridget Kaufman, the new Athletic Coordinator for Good Shepherd. My husband Mike and I joined the school last year and are the parents of seven children, five of whom attend the school. I will be leading our exciting new Sports Booster Program for GSCM. I love sports as both an athlete (volleyball, soccer, basketball and track) and a spectator. I am thrilled to help pass on my love of sports through creating new opportunities in which our students can participate. This will be an exciting year as we grow our sports program at GSCM so that more children can have the joy of representing our school while having fun playing sports.
Boys Basketball and Girls Volleyball Sign-ups.
Winter Sports Teams are now being formed! If your 3rd-8th grade child is interested in playing Boys Basketball or Girls Volleyball, please email Bridget Kaufman by Friday, September 21. This is to give us an idea of how many teams we can field for each sport at the various grade levels. bridget_kaufman@yahoo.com
GSCM Soccer Club: Thursdays, 9/20-10/25
GSCM Sports Booster Program will be hosting a six-week soccer clinic Thursdays after school beginning September 20, from 3:00-4:30 pm on the school property for children of all ages. The cost is only $15 and includes a t-shirt! 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 small teams playing games against one another. If interested, please email Bridget Kaufman (bridget_kaufman@yahoo.com) by Wednesday, September 12 with your child's name and age. A confirmation email and release form will be emailed to you after September 12. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help, no soccer experience necessary!
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