Summit Montessori School Community Newsletter




 
 
 
 
Volume 1, Number 4
March 19,  2008
Dear friends,
This issue of the newsletter is filled to the brim with news about upcoming events.  Our auction is coming up in April, and our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of MetroWest/Central Massachusetts is off to a great start.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue, and again, I'd like to encourage submissions from any and all members of our community.  If you have any suggestions for future topics for the newsletters, please feel free to contact me at cdavidoff@summitmontessori.org. 
 

Sincerely,

Claudia Davidoff
Interim Head of School
In This Issue
Summit Auction is Fast Approaching!
Big Brothers Big Sisters Partnership
"White Van Day"
Montessori in the Boston Globe
"Best Friends, Worst Enemies"
Summit Auction is Fast Approaching!!!
 

Dear Summit Parents,

 

By now you've received the invitation for the fun and fabulous indoor tailgate party scheduled for April 12 at Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland.  Get the baby sitter lined up because it is going to be a wonderful evening with live music, great food and shopping!

 

That's right, shopping.  Don't forget that Mother's Day, Father's Day and graduations are right around the corner.

 

You see, this party not only provides a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy good food and drink with your fellow Summit parents.  It is also a major fundraising event for Summit -- and volunteers are already hard at work organizing a live and silent auction.

 

But we can't do it alone.

 

We're asking for your help to make this event one of the most successful in history. The Solicitation Committee is hard at work, searching for exciting auction items.  Last year, we were lucky to offer weekend getaways, golf packages, tickets to the Red Sox, restaurant gift certificates, and tickets to Boston's theater scene.  We need your help to think creatively and help us obtain fantastic auction items.

 

If you'd like to help with this event in any way, please email Traci Baracsi (tjtong@comcast.net), Gail Gregory (gail.gregory@verizon.net), Robin Nardone (rmoet200@verizon.net), or any of the committee members below.  No donation is too small! 

 

Also, if you have any ideas, please talk with the committee members first so as not to duplicate items and businesses which may have already been contacted and that have generously donated to this event!

 

Many thanks for your help and support. 

 

 

The Solicitation Committee:

Robin Nardone, Traci Baracsi, Mary Ann Ciampa, Gail Gregory, Diane Michelson and Monica Shay.

 

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Auction Wish List

 

Tickets to Sporting Events:  Pats, Red Sox, Celtics, Revolution

 

Club Seats at sporting/concert events

 

Autographed Sports Memorabilia

 

Trips, Time Shares, Airline/Train tickets

 

Restaurant Gift Certificates

 

Wine Baskets/Wine Tasting

 

Theatre, Ballet, Concert Tickets

 

Museum Passes

 

Vacation Homes, Hotel stays

 

Airline miles or Hotel points

 

Ski Packages

 

Host a Party in your home/restaurant

 

Donate a party space, Country Club, Restaurant

 

Hair, Nail, Facial, Spa, Skin care gift certificates

 

Golf, Tennis, any type of sports lessons

 

Sporting Goods gift certificates

 

Electronics:  IPOD, MP3 players, Game Systems, Digital cameras, Palm pilot, DVD players, laptops

 
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SUMMIT AND BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS METROWEST/CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS LAUNCH THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH A "LITTLE" MENTORING

 


Big 2The students of Upper El and the Lower El third graders welcomed Sasha, a "Little" (ie. Little Sister) from Big Brothers Big Sisters to their classroom on March 4 for a discussion on mentoring.


Sasha, a seventeen-year-old senior enrolled at Framingham High School, captivated the students with her personal story about growing up without a father, and the many challenges that come with being raised by a single parent.  She also explained how being given a "Big Sister" from BBBS at the age of six turned her life around, and helped shape her into the person she is today.

 
Big 1


Her inspirational account and engaging manner put ever
yone at ease, which resulted in a very lively
question-and-answer session, as well as a discussion about what a mentor is and what impact they have upon those they interact with.  One of the students asked what advice she had for the sixth graders graduating this year about going to new schools in September.  Now a "Big Sister" herself to a "Little," a six-year-old boy, Sasha simply offered, "Stay open.  Be open to making new friends, and hearing advice from grown-ups.  You may not want to hear what they have to say, but keep yourself open to their advice.  I've learned that they usually know what they're talking about."
 
The students were perfect hosts and a good time was had by all.  They shared a snack of muffins and fruit kabobs, and then treated Sasha and BBBS Program Coordinator Melissa Yetman to a tour of the school.  All in all a morning the students of Summit Montessori won't soon forget.

-- Monica Shay

Save the Date!  Sunday, March 20th is Summit's "White Van Day" at Frozen Ropes

What is a "White Van

Day" you ask?   It is an afternoon on Sunday, March 30th, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm of FUN celebrating our "teaming up" with Big Brothers Big Sisters of MetroWest/Central Massachusetts at Frozen Ropes in Natick.

 
This year Summit has agreed to provide BBBS with much needed indoor athletic equipment, board games and arts and crafts to support their mentoring relationships between the "Bigs" and their "Littles".  To honor this commitment, Summit is seeking donations of these items at this event.
 
Bring a newly purchased item to put into our "We are the Champions" collection van, and you and your child will have the opportunity to take a picture with "Wally" the Green Monster of Fenway Park, and one of the Berestein Bears!  There will be face painting, balloons, refreshments, a goodie bag to the first 100 guests, and a chance to win a special activity at Frozen Ropes!
 

Come show your school spirit!  Bring the whole family and all of your closest friends to celebrate the gift of our children, and those advocating to make our world a better place to grow up in.
 

Looking forward to seeing you there!

 Big 1
Montessori education is featured in the Boston Globe

On February 18, 2008, the Boston Globe ran a fascinating article about Montessori Education, and how many public schools are adopting the Montessori method.  For more information, see the full article by clicking here.

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Renowned Psychologist Michael Thompson to speak at the Sage School
 
Thanks to Mary Ann Ciampa for submitting this announcement from the Parents' Independent School Network:

Michael G. Thompson PhD will be speaking at the Sage School (171 Mechanic Street,
Foxboro, MA) on Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 7 - 9 pm.  Dr. Thompson's workshop on "Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children," is free and open to the public.

This presentation walks teachers and parents through the complex social world of childhood and addresses a number of questions: What do social relationships in school predict about happiness in adult life?  What is the normal sequence of child friendships, from the parallel play of the two-year-old to the intimate self-disclosure of the adolescent?  Why do cliques form and what are the differences between boy and girl groups?  Why are children scapegoated and how can their parents and schools protect them? 

Open to all parents, teachers, school counselors, administrators, and any one interested in learning more about the social lives of children.  There is no cost to attend this event.  The evening is sponsored by the Sage Parent Association. 

To visit Dr. Thompson's website, click here. 
 
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