|
|
|
Joliet Montessori School April Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
April 1, 2010
- - - - -
Contact Us
1600 Root Street
Crest Hill, Illinois 60403
(815) 741-4180
fax (815) 741-9753 |
| Health Record
Forms |
|
Documentation for returning children who require updated health, dental and eye exams is included in the April Communication Envelope. Children new to JMS will receive their forms in their registrations packets, which will be sent when placements are finalized. Please call the office if you have any questions. |
Spring Break
Begins today at noon |
|
Classes resume on Mon, Apr 12. | |
|
Greetings!
Happy Spring! It's wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and see the new life springing up everywhere. It's even more wonderful to see our smiling happy children enjoying the outdoors again!
There's so much excitement around JMS as the Adolescent House nears completion. Special events are being planned to introduce our new facility to our school family, as well as to the community.
All of our current and alumni families are invited to a special Adolescent House walk-through event. This will take place immediately after carpool on Tue, Jun 1. The city of Crest Hill will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m.
We will also be getting back to work on the Outdoor Educational Environment. The second phase, including the gazebo, the labyrinth and the raised garden beds, is scheduled to be completed this summer.
More excitement abounds as the students prepare for the annual Spring Event. The adolescents wrote their own version of "Alice in Wonderland," which they started working on long before the 3-D movie came out!
The production is planned for Sat, May 15, at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park indoor theatre. There will be two performances: one at 11 a.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m. Mark your calendars and watch for further details. Between the two plays, our own JMS Orchestra and Band will present their spring concerts.
A special Spring Open House is scheduled for Sat, May 1, at 9:30 a.m. Please invite family and friends who are looking for a positive learning environment for their children to come and watch as some of our children demonstrate how we learn and grow at JMS. We will also be welcoming parents to our April Informational Coffee, scheduled for Tue, Apr 20, at 9:30 am.
Thank you for the many generous contributions to our Annual Fund and the Buy-a-Brick program. We are grateful for your ongoing support!
Enjoy your holiday and your spring break!
Ms. Jan |
|
|
| Elementary Placements |
|
All placements are currently being evaluated and letters will be sent out when placements are finalized. |
| FACTS Tuition Management |
Monthly tuition payment contracts will be executed this spring. Payments will begin in July and run through April, 2011. If you have had a change in your payment plan choice, please contact the office immediately. |
| Conference Feedback Forms |
|
Thanks to those families who have submitted their feedback forms. If you have not yet had a chance to complete the form, please do so at your convenience. A copy is enclosed in today's newsletter, if needed.
Information gathered will be used to make decisions concerning potential improvements for the future.
Thanks for your input! |
| Spring
Planting
Meeting Tue, Apr 6, 11 am |
|
Outdoor Environment team will be meeting outside to do a walk-through of the grounds. Please join us as we discuss the planting needs for spring. |
| Grant Award |
|
We have been awarded a AeroGarden growing system for use in the elementary classrooms.
- - - - -
In other Outdoor Environment news, JMS has been certified as a Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary by the Illinois Audubon Society. We are the first school in the state of Illinois to receive this designation.
Thanks, Jeni White, for your time and effort in applying for these. |
Kindermusik
Openings are still available |
in "Down on the Ground" and "Drums, Drums, Drums."
Registration form is available here. |
Junior Bookworms
Tue, Apr 20 |
|
This month we'll be reading "Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library!" by Vivki Myron and Bret Witter
Class size is limited, registration form is enclosed. |
Cub Scout Informational
Meeting
Thu, Apr 22, 7 pm |
|
Parents of boys ages 6 - 10 are invited to join us at the school as we present opportunities available with the Cub Scouts here at JMS. |
A View of the Classroom
The Arts |
|
Art is not a separate area of the Montessori curriculum; it is an integral component. Throughout the day, even the youngest students are surrounded by the beauty of the materials and activities Dr. Montessori developed for each level. From the smooth, simple elegance of the Geometric Solids to the ever-increasing complexities of drawing using the Metal Insets, Montessori uses all the children's senses to promote an awareness of, and appreciation for, the beauty in all things.
- - excerpt from "The Montessori Way" by Tim Seldin and Paul Epstein |
| JMS Book of the Month
"AMI-USA Montessori School Standards"
edited by AMI-USA |
Ever wonder why we do what we do, the way we do it? Why multi-aged groupings? Why does a 'substantial class size' work in the best interests of the child? How exactly does the use of materials move from the concrete to the abstract?
All these questions and more are succinctly answered in this booklet, available for check out from the JMS Parent Library. | |
| 2010 - 2011 Board of Trustees |
We are pleased to announce the 2010-2011 Board of Trustees for Joliet Montessori School.
The Board of Trustees is charged with supporting the mission of the school by taking viability-focused action on behalf of the next generation of students. Specific responsibilities of the Board of Trustees include ensuring the long-term financial stability of the school, development and monitoring of the strategic plan, and hiring, supporting, and evaluating the Head of School.
The Board consists mainly of current JMS parents, but also includes past parents, past students, and friends from Joliet and surrounding communities. Board members are profiled by the Committee on Trustees to identify individuals who will best carry out the strategic plan and move our school forward.
Each member of the Board has expressed a continuing pledge to the success of JMS. Every effort is made to ensure that the Board embodies a broad cross section of our school community and includes individuals who bring distinct skills to the school.
2010-2011 Board of Trustees
Dawn Polacek, President
Justin Binns, Vice President
Jess Jankowski, Treasurer
Karen Barowsky, Secretary
Heather Bonacorda
Peter Brown
Jen Dolph
Kathy Duranto-Huebner
Robert Forte
Lynn Gonzalez
Donna Martin
Dan Pluth
Jason Rausch
Donna Sabo
Soniya Sant
John Spesia
Mark Streitz
Mark Villegas
Jeni White |
A Word of Thanks!
|
|
We would like to thank three individuals who have ended their terms on the Board: Dave Spesia, Tracy Spesia, and Dave Shea.
Dave Spesia served on the Board for 3 years and worked on the Head Support and Evaluation Committee. His own experience as a school principal helped him serve in an advice and counsel function on this committee.
Tracy Spesia served on the Board for 7 years and worked on various committees and held the position of Vice President for several years. She immersed herself in the ISM philosophy and has helped to pave the way for future JMS students through her dedication and hard work.
Dave Shea served on the Board for 7 years and was a driving force for our current Adolescent House project, while also serving as Board President for 2 years. His expertise in the building industry, as well as his dedication to the school, are evident in the tremendous progress we've made in our Campus Expansion, particularly the Adolescent House.
We are grateful to these three individuals for their time on the Board and hope to continue the work they have begun on behalf of our children and our children's children. |
|
|
 Summer Camp 2010
Informational flier and registration form available here. |
Copies are also enclosed in the Communication Envelope. |
P.O.D. Update
Save the Date - 8/21/10 |
Silent Auction Items Needed - The Parent Orientation  Dinner (P.O.D.) auction committee is asking the families of our parent body and alumni to consider donating a silent auction item. We need items that will provide children and adults with some type of experience, be it fun, educational or both.
We would love to be able to provide packages containing zoo passes, museum passes, gift certificates for dinner, tickets to a show, a play or a sporting event. Do you have a vacation condo that would provide a family or a couple with a weekend away? Please contact Ann Streitz at (815) 354-3510, or Katherine Petru at (815) 723-1663, for an auction donation form.
All items donated will support the school and the money raised will go directly towards costs associated with the Adolescent House and the Outdoor Environment.
Annual Fund Reminder - As we are nearing the end of the school year, we wanted to remind our families that it's not too late support the JMS Annual Fund. If you have not pledged or donated to the school's annual fund, please consider doing so. We will be making reminder phone calls sometime in April. Pledge cards will be sent home today.
Thank you, on behalf of the students of JMS.
Questions? Contact Sue Bebar at (815) 741-4180, ext. 14 |
| Home and School Association |
 Thank you to the generous families who donated items to the faculty luncheon and spring break celebrations this week. |
Spring Play
Upcoming Schedules |
Apr 1 and Apr 8 - Spring Break, No rehearsal. Memorize lines!
All times are 3:30 - 5:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.
Apr 15 - Scenes 1 and 12, followed by scenes 2, 3, 4 and 5. Off book! Publicity Team from 3:30 - 4:15 pm
Apr 22 - Scenes 6, 7, 8 and 9. Off book! Publicity Team from 3:30 - 4:15 pm, and Set Design Team will also be meeting.
Apr 29 - Scenes 10 and 11. Off book! Publicity Team from 3:30 - 4:15 pm, and Costume Design Team.
May 4 - Prop Team with all props.
May 6 - All actors, Off book!
May 14 - Dress rehearsal at Bicentennial Park right after school. This can be a late night, so please bring extra snacks. |
Spring Play
Publicity Team |
The Publicity Team is beginning work on publicizing the school play "Alice in Wonderland." They are creating their own posters, writing their own press releases, and designing the souvenir programs and tickets.
Each member of the cast and crew were given Biography Forms last week to be completed and turned in by Apr 22. These forms will be used by the Publicity Team to include in the souvenir programs. Headshot photographs of all actors and crew members will be taken on Apr 15 and 22 after school, during rehearsals.
Would you like to tell your favorite actor to "break a leg" in our souvenir program? The Publicity Team is selling "Friends and Family Ads" for $10, which will be applied to the costs associated with this wonderful family event. Click here for an order form and more information. |
Spring Play
Volunteer Opportunities |
We have lots of opportunities for parents and students to become involved in our spring event.
** Anyone who is willing to donate time to sewing costumes
** If you have any material that may be lying around that you would not mind donating to the Costume Design Team, or any costumes that may relate to Alice in Wonderland.
** Anyone who is willing to donate time for building the set the weeks of May 3-14 - exact days and times will be posted. Please watch the newsletter for details. This is very important behind the scenes work, and is deeply appreciated.
** We need some props! If you have any we can borrow or are willing to donate these items, that would be wonderful. Just let us know if you would like them back after the play. We could use a cherry picker, pink flamingos (golf club size), pocket watch, misc tea set, 10 magna doodles or small chalk boards.
If you are able to do any of the above, please call Jamie at 815-741-8655 or 815-405-6728. |
| Thank You ! |
|
Kathy Baltz for the time and attention devoted to our Outdoor Environment in preparation for the planting and outdoor work day planning. | |
|
|
