The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori is dedicated to providing an outstanding education to children ages three to fourteen in a Catholic atmosphere faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. Using the philosophy and techniques of the Montessori approach, including religious education through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our goal is to enable each child to develop as a well-integrated human being: spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally
Register for Kroger Community Rewards Program Create an account here. You willl 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 Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori (#80140).
Over the next two weeks, you will receive more information about registering in this program. Please help us reach our goal of increasing participation by 60 people.
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Upcoming Dates
Tues., Oct. 2 First Communion Parent Meeting, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 2 Lower Elementary Parent Education Evening, 7:00
Thurs., Oct 4 Walkagram Order Deadline (see below)
Wed., Oct 10 Walkathon donations due
Thurs., Oct. 11 WALKATHON, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 12 Staff In-service, NO SCHOOL
Oct. 15-19 Book Fair
Fri., Oct. 19 Grandparents/Special Friends Day
2012 Walkathon: "Step into the Year of Faith!"
Along with the universal Church, we will 'step into' the year of faith on the day of our Walkathon, October 11.
This week, St. Therese of Lisieux (whose feast day we celebrated yesterday) gives us this inspiration about faith. Stepping forward together in our life of faith, let us encourage one another in the faithful spirit of St. Therese!
"May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us."
St. Therese of Lisieux
What you can do this week: WALKAGRAMS! (Deadline this Thurs., 10/4)
Go to http://gscmontessori.org/images/CMS/2012_Walkagrams.pdf to learn about Walkagrams and order one for your favorite walker! It's easy, it's a fun surprise for the children, and it supports the school!
In addition to being lots of fun for everyone, the Walkathon is a major fundraiser for our school. Thanks to our sponsors, we are able to offer prizes to students who raise money for the Walkathon. There is a prize for the student who raises the most money and for the class that raises the most. You can find a list of prize opportunities on our website. Click here walkathon. Please note that to be eligible for these prizes, donations must be turned in on or before October 10.
TONIGHT...
Lower Elementary Parent Education Evening
"Give the World to the Child": Montessori Cultural Studies
Tuesday, October 2, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Parents Only (Pre-Primary parents, please feel free to join us!)
Our lower elementary teachers will present an overview of our three-year cultural cycle at our upcoming Parent Education Evening: "Give the World to the Child." Curriculum integration is a defining characteristic of Montessori Education, and the "Montessori cultural curriculum" beautifully integrates all subjects,
In her book, From Childhood to Adolescence, Dr. Montessori says, "Let us give the world to the child." She says, further, that we should "sow the seeds of all sciences when the child has a special sensitive period for imagination. (6-12 years)
Please join us for the wonderful opportunity to see many of the cultural materials that your child will experience in the lower elementary. This parent night is open to current 6-9 parents as well as pre-primary parents who are interested in the lower elementary curriculum.
Grandparents/Special Friends Day: Friday, October 19
All students are welcome to invite their grandparents or special friends to join us for this special day. The children love to share their school one-on-one with their special guests. A short presentation, atrium open house and book fair will also take place.
Our schedule:
8:50-9:00 arrival
9:00-10:30 classroom visits with children
10:45-11:30 student presentations in church
Please help us plan by sending in your RSVP. Click here to register
Book Fair at GSCM Week of October 15 - October 19
The Book Fair begins October 15 and runs through October 19, Grandparents' Day. Look for GREAT deals on gift-quality classic and Newbery & Caldecott Award books. Plan to do your birthday and Christmas shopping. A beautiful book is a gift to be cherished for a lifetime. This Independent book sale and the Usborne books will be in the lower hallway. Come visit anytime during school hours and support Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School!
See the Book Fair flyer here
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Mission Alive!
On Friday, October 12, the GSCM staff will begin an intensive 21-hour training in LETRS, the premier, research-based approach to understanding language acquisition in learners of all ages, and best instructional practices. This supports our mission to "provide outstanding education to children ages 3-14".
LETRS (Language Essentials in Teaching Reading and Spelling) developed by Dr. Louisa Moats
Teaching reading, language, spelling, and writing requires us to know a lot about the structure of language so that we can explain sounds, words, sentences, and discourse to students. We also need to know why some students have difficulty and how literacy skills are acquired through experience and direct instruction. LETRS® provides reading coaches, reading teachers, and regular classroom teachers with a comprehensive, practical, and fad-free knowledge base for implementing instruction for all students.
Years of research and a lifetime of experience in education went into the development of LETRS. The evidence-based LETRS modules address every component of effective reading instruction-phonological and phonemic awareness; phonics, decoding, spelling, and word study; oral language; vocabulary; reading fluency; comprehension; and writing-as well as the foundational concepts of language that link all of these components. With LETRS, teachers return to the classroom knowing about the mental processes of reading and the field-tested instructional strategies that work for every type of learner.
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Office and General News
School Pictures
If your child had his/her picture taken at school the proof and an order form should have come home yesterday or today. All picture proofs, whether placing an order or not, need to be turned back in to your child's teacher by Friday, October 5th. Please use the photographer's envelope. This will help in keeping all the student files organized for the photographer. This includes if you are requesting a re-take for your child. Thank you for your help!
Debra Shepard Photography will be back on Tuesday, October 9th for a make-up/re-take picture day.
Students will be photographed outside. Make-up/re-take picture day is intended for those students that were absent or if the photo proof received was significantly marred. Please contact the school office to let them know if you are requesting a retake. Prior notification is necessary.
Family Directories
Each family should have received a PTO Handbook/Family Directory by backpack mail. If you did not receive one, please let Nancy in the office know. Please take a minute to check the information for your family. If there are any mistakes or additions, please send an email to Nancy in the office ntoon@gscmontessori.org alerting her to the correction/addition. Additional directories are available in the office at a cost of $5.
GSCM Parent Book Club
As the weather cools, some adults seek the relaxation of a good book and cup of coffee (or tea!) If you are looking for a good book to read and GSCM adult company with whom to discuss said book, please join our first Parent Book Club Meeting. Our October book will be The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. This is a mystery book that spins off of the Sherlock Holmes series. We will meet on November 6th for book discussions. To RSVP, please contact Dinese Young, dyoung5281@gmail.com.
Cool School Photos Needed!
The process of creating the NEW 2012-13 yearbook is underway, and we need YOUR photos! Right now we are looking for great snapshots from the Welcome Back Picnic and Camp Kern, as well as any candids from the beginning of school (classroom shots of kids working are great!) Photos need to be in a high resolution and clearly focused (not necessarily from a fancy camera!) Directions for directly uploading photos to our publishing website can be found below. We are hoping to also have instructions on our parent page online soon. If your child would like to include a great quote about what they learned from or their favorite part of camp/Welcome Back Picnic, forward such quotes to Dinese Young: dyoung5281@gmail.com.
There are 2 ways you can upload photos
1) go to www.images.schoolannualonline.com
Enter 400135041 and password gscmontessori and it takes you to a page that will allow you to choose then upload 10 pics
2) go to www.schoolannualonline.com
enter staff year 2013 job 778627 login zvc2nhd
Then go to create, then image library and look for upload images. You can upload a bunch at a time this way.
Childcare Provider Needed
Pre-Primary Teacher, Lindsey Schmitt, is seeking experienced childcare provider for her newborn beginning in February 2013. Monday-Friday, during school hours. Please contact her at her personal email, schmitt0603@aol.com if interested or if you have anyone to refer her to.
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Program News
Part-Time Technology Coordinator Position
GSCM is hiring a part-time technology coordinator. This person would need to come to school one day per week, from 1-3 hours/day, depending on current needs. An overview of responsibilities includes:
- Managing our central server
- Managing our network, including wireless devices
- Maintaining and updating current systems, including staff computers
- Managing a weekly back-up process to save data off-site
- Make recommendations for future hardware and software purchases
This is a paid position. We are seeking a competent college student or adult. For a full job description and more information, please contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org).
Destination ImagiNation: Coordinator Needed
We would like to bring back our Destination ImagiNation (DI) program this year, and are seeking a person to serve as DI Coordinator (stipend provided).
DI was a very popular activity at our school several years ago. For those unfamiliar with it, here is a description taken from the Destination ImagiNation website:
Destination ImagiNation (DI) is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the Challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills-they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving.
Destination ImagiNation is a program that builds participants' creativity, teamwork and problem solving in enjoyable and meaningful ways. The goals of Destination ImagiNation are for participants to:
- Foster creative and critical thinking.
- Learn and apply creative problem solving tools and method.
- Develop teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills.
- Nurture research and inquiry skills, involving both creative exploration and attention to detail.
- Apply and enhance written and verbal communication and presentation skills (both impromptu and sustained).
- Promote the recognition, use and development of many and varied strengths and talents.
- Encourage competence in, enthusiasm for and commitment to real-life problem solving.
We hope to offer mixed-age DI teams for students in K/1, 2/3, 4/5 and 6/7/8.
We are seeking a DI Coordinator to oversee the program.
The DI Coordinator position will have a paid stipend. This person will arrange for coaches, coordinate schedules, order materials, and otherwise plan and implement the school-wide program. Please see Dan Teller if interested in this position.
Drama Club Last day to sign up for lower elementary drama club is today, Tuesday 10/2. We are looking for actors and non actors . We meet on Wed. 3-4 after school. $35.00 lab fee. Make checks payable to GSCM please. Students will be released to Rhonda Hamall. We are also looking for one more parent volunteer to help out. You can sign up for lower elementary and upper elementary / middle school Drama Club sign ups are on the Parent Page. Please have an additional quick snack and water bottle for your child on Wed. afternoons.
GSCM Choir
GSCM Choir practice will begin Tuesday, October 16th. All interested 9-12 and Middle School students are invited to attend the first meeting which starts immediately after school in the rear of church.
Subsequent practices will take place on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of every month after school lasting until 4 p.m. Come to this first session prepared to sing and have fun. Additionally, Mrs. Blasch is looking for at least one parent volunteer who would like to assist with the practice sessions. No musical expertise is necessary to volunteer. If you can volunteer as assistant director or maybe even as an accompanist, notify Mrs. Blasch. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Blasch, GSCM Music Teacher & Choir Director, at 390-7221 or via email
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Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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