The Montessori Messenger
The Montessori Messenger Volume One
 October 8th

First Edition 2009-10'

Dear Community,
  • Welcome to Volume one of The Montessori Messenger 2009-10! 
  • The Messenger is a very important part of the communications from the school to you.  Each week you will receive a new issue with important news from the week.  I will usually include the following components:
 

A letter from the Head of School

 An indepth notice about upcoming events

 A description of a Montessori Material or Classroom  

 Health and Wellness
 
A Final Thought 
 

If you have something of importance and would like to have it published in the Messenger please don't hesitate to drop it off at the office.

Thank you,
Shane Terzaken
Editor 

 
A Letter from the Head of School

 
I want to thank all of you for your patience as we start this school year.  We increased our student count from 90 students last year to 127 this year.  We have 33 new families and 55 new students.  We have depended on the wisdom and commitment of our 72 returning students and their families to shepherd our new students and new families through this period of adjustment.
 
The new students have needed preliminary movement lessons, assessments to ascertain where each one is along the many strands of the curriculum, and many "grace and courtesy" lessons to help the children work within the Montessori classroom.
 
Returning students have needed reviews of material, assesment of needs, and new lessons.  Of course, we have made adjustments for our growing community which includes new classroom staff.  You have seen us make many changes in the early weeks to serve the needs of the children and the families.  So there is a lot going on!  It is still disjointed at this moment, but the classroom communities are already far ahead of where they started. 
 
When you come to observe, you will see a community of independent learners all working off a common synergy.  Be sure to contact the office in late October to schedule a time to observe and see the progress being made.  Thank you and we are looking forward to a great school year.
 
Thank you,
Peggy Higgins   
Enviromental Education Update
The Chameleon Pavilion

 
We are very close to opening our Environmental Program in the Chameleon Pavilion.  This outdoor program will be guided by Jason Addams, Bob Patterson, and Neva Tucker.  The purpose of our outdoor program is to promote the importance of the natural environment.  Through environmental design, we are creating a stimulating place for students to learn and play.  
Upcoming Events 
  • 10/12 School Closed
  • 10/13 Pizza Delivery 10am
  • 10/14,15th,and 16th Iowa testing for 1st Grade only
  • 10/15 PTO Meeting, 6:30pm Williams farm clubhouse, 3320 planters lane, Adults Only
  • 10/16 Original Artwork orders due
  • 10/20 Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30pm
  • 10/22 International Night, 5:30-7:30pm
  • CiCi Pizza Night
  • Flu Shot permission form due tomorrow 10/9

 

Health and Wellness

 
Thank you for understanding the importance of keeping children home when they are sick.  Of course, children must be fever free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.
Thank you for encouraging hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.  Grace and courtesy that is consistent from home to school is very helpful for the child's development.
Thank you for car pooling.  Thank you for limiting the time your engine runs on school grounds.  Car exhaust is toxic at ground level as well as a pollutant.  Exhaust from all combustible engines combine to produce adverse effects on the health of car users and innocent bystanders. 
FYI, we have had two cases of PINK EYE in the Primary Classrooms.   
 
Thank you,
Staff

International Night

International night is approaching! 
 
The date for the event is October 22 and will run from 5:30-7:30PM.  This will be a fun night to celebrate different cultures and to try different foods, as well as enjoy each other's company and (hopefully!) the beautiful weather.  The children will march in an international parade.  Your child may dress in an outfit typical of the cultural dress of a certain country.                          
The directresses and students are working hard to get ready for the event, but we also need your help in making this year's International Night a success.  In the classroom the children will make a small flag (6"x8") of their chosen country to carry in the parade. 
Each family is asked to bring a dish from a different country.  Please label your food containers and serving utensils so we can return them to you.  In addition to providing food for the evening, we will need vounteers to help set up and clean-up.  The set-up voluteers will set-up tables, ice chests, water stations, trash cans and hang flags.  Set-up volunteers should arrive at 4:00pm and clean-up volunteers will start at 7:15pm and finish around 7:45pm.  The tasks for clean-up will include things such as taking down tables, picking up trash, and organizing any leftover food and/or dishes.
There is a sign-up sheet in the front office for you to list what dish you are bringing.  There is a separate sign-up sheet for volunteers.  Please let your classroom directress know when your child has chosen a country costume.  We know that with your help International Night will be a huge success! 

Quote of the Week

 "Whoever touches the life of a child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future."

 
 -Maria Montessori