Racine
Montessori School is part of a global community that guides the whole
child toward a life-long love of learning. Children develop
independence, confidence, moral responsibility, social purpose and
inner peace through teacher guidance on self-directed work in a
non-competitive atmosphere. Our school strives to offer strong
academics and support in a setting of self-respect, respect for others
and respect for our environment. | |
Calendar of Events
Friday, February 5
Growing Power Market Basket
delivery, 6:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monday, February 8
Order SCRIP by 9:00 a.m.
Girl Scouts meet after school
Tuesday, February 9
Growing Power Market Basket
orders due by 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10
LAF Meeting, 8:50 a.m. in the
lounge
Thursday, February 11
Full Staff Meeting, 7:45 a.m. in
the lounge
Growing Power Market Basket
payment due by 4:00 p.m.
Friday, February 12
Growing Power Market Basket
delivery, 6:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Valentine's Day celebrated in
classrooms
Gently used children's and youth
books and video donations due
Monday, February 15
Order SCRIP by 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 16
Growing Power Market Basket
orders due by 4:00 p.m.
RMS Board of Directors meeting,
6:00 p.m. in the lounge
Wednesday, February 17
Brownies meet after school
Thursday, February 18
No School: Winter Conferences,
CCP reservations available
**Growing Power Market Basket
payment due by noon
Used Media sale to benefit Haiti
Relief
Friday, February 19
No school: Winter Conferences,
CCP reservations available
**Growing Power Market Basket
delivery, 6:30 a.m. - noon
Box Top collection sheets due
Used Media sale to benefit Haiti
Relief
Saturday, February 20
Market Day orders due
Monday, February 22
Order SCRIP by 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 23
Growing Power Market Basket
orders due by 4:00 p.m.
Elementary Information Night,
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24
Market Day pick-up, 2:30 - 3:30
p.m. in the pole barn
Thursday, February 25
Growing Power Market Basket
payment due by 4:00 p.m.
Extended Day Information Night,
7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 26
Growing Power Market Basket
delivery, 6:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
|
Get Involved!
Lakefront Artist Fair
Saturday, May 1, 2010, is the date of our 29th annual Lakefront Artist Fair.
Keith and Karri Hemmig have responded to our plea for help with graphic design and signs--we thank them so much! They will also offer a photo package, as they did last year, to use as a raffle prize! That's so fantastic! This was a much-desired prize on last year's raffle ticket and I know people will be excited about the possibility of winning it this year, too. Thanks very much, Hemmig family!
We are still in need of PRIZES for our raffle tickets, so if you are able to help us out, we'd be very grateful. Raffle tickets will sell for $1 each or a book of six for $5.
For a small donation of $29, you, too, can become a "Friend of the Fair"!
Meadow's Used Media Sale
If your child has gently used children's/youth books or videos that they no longer use, please consider donating them (by Friday, February 12) to the Meadow for its sale being held during conferences.
Then come browse the offerings on February 18th & 19th during parent/teacher conferences. Proceeds will go to the relief efforts in Haiti.
|
Montessori Quote
"It is a mental chemistry that takes place in the child, producing a chemical transformation. These impressions not only penetrate the mind of the child, they form it; they become incarnated, for the child makes his own 'mental flesh' in using the things that are in his environment. We have called this type of mind the 'absorbent mind' and it is difficult for us to conceive the magnitude of its powers."
- Education for a New World
Maria Montessori
|
|
|
"Focus on Fresh"
A group of conscientious folks from Racine have formed a group called Eat Right Racine, which has an emphasis on food and food system-related issues. They are hosting a community event on Tuesday, March 2nd, in the Gifford Elementary auditorium, called "Focus on Fresh". The evening will include a showing of the movie, FRESH, featuring author Michael Pollan and Growing Power's Will Allen. The doors will open at 6:45 p.m. and the movie will begin at 7:00, followed by a discussion led by Will Allen. In addition, other local groups with a focus on sustainable agriculture and food systems, urban gardening, etc., will be on hand to give information about their efforts and goals. Tickets for this evening of education and entertainment are $10 each, with the proceeds supporting Eat Right Racine and its initiatives. If you are interested in attending, please call the office and we will arrange for tickets for you.Just a note about the Growing Power Market Baskets: RMS had 46 orders in its first week, earning us a profit of $168! The feedback about the baskets has been good. We're pleased to be involved, not just for the fundraising potential, but because it fits in so well with our school's philosophy. Thanks for supporting our efforts! |
100 Food Items/100 School Days
The students in the Tree House Lower Elementary classroom are busily collecting and bringing in canned goods and other non-perishable items to donate to the Racine County Food Bank. Their goal is to collect 100 items to match the 100 school days they will soon mark! Each time an item is donated, the child posts the corresponding number on a chart. Speaking of the Food Bank, we should note that the Meadow students (Upper Elementary) have spent time there recently, helping to organize and stack cans and food items. It has been a very rewarding experience.January Soup MealA huge THANK YOU from the Meadow to all those who purchased our January lunch. In addition to this being our largest monthly lunch to date (90 lunches served!), we also received generous donations from many RMS families and staff for Haiti relief. The total collected for Haiti is now $207, which we plan to add to the proceeds from our Used Book/Video sale, to be held during Parent/ Teacher Conferences on Feb. 18th and 19th. You can help by donating gently used children's books and videos before Feb. 12th and then by purchasing books during the sale. Thank you - we can all help make a difference to those in need.Montessori Services CreditThanks to all who participated in our Small Hands School Credit promotion before Winter Break. We earned $407.30 from purchases made by families! Isn't that wonderful? This comes to us as a credit voucher which we will use to purchase more materials for classrooms.
|
Information Nights
Invitations
to Information Night (February 23rd & 25th) are being sent out to
families of current 4-year olds (for Extended Day), current Extended
Day students (for Lower Elementary) and current 3rd level students (for
Upper Elementary). We hope you'll attend this informative program to
learn about the great things RMS has to offer your child(ren) as they continue on their academic journey.
Benjamin
Franklin once wrote that an investment in education pays the best
dividends. We couldn't agree more and encourage you to read "Hanging in with Montessori"
to provide a framework for thinking about the many considerations
surrounding the decisions you make each year about your child's
education.
Montessori Spotlight
Our friends at Small World Montessori School will host an informative evening, The Montessori Journey, presented by Don Czerwinskyj on Wednesday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. Don is the co-director of Montessori Heartland Teacher Education Center, a Montessori teacher and a teacher education
instructor for over 35 years. Included in the presentation:
* What makes the Montessori curriculum
effective
* How Montessori materials make learning fun
* Importance of preschool and kindergarten
years
* The role of the Montessori Teacher
* How lessons are given
* How Montessori teachers inspire children
to love learning
* How you can help your child succeed in school
For further information, please call Small World Montessori at 632-6797. It sounds like a very worthwhile evening!
Winter ConferencesRemember to sign up for the winter parent/ teacher conferences scheduled for Thursday & Friday, February 18th & 19th. Our Child Care Program is available on those days only if you pre-register and if there is room. Don't wait! If you'd like to arrange a time to observe your child's class prior to the conferences, you may make those arrangements directly with the classroom teachers or call the office and we will make the arrangements for you.
Valentine's DayThis year, Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, so we will celebrate on Friday, February 12th. We ask that the children in Primary and Extended Day classes not
address their valentines to individual classmates. They should simply
bring one signed valentine for each child in the class. (Of course,
children should sign their valentines!) This makes the delivery of the
valentines much easier. In the Elementary classes, the children may
address specific valentines to their classmates.Save the Date!Jane and Dave Clope are working out the details for our RMS Wine Tasting Night on Friday, March 26th. The event will be held in beautiful Taylor Hall at the DeKoven Center. The RMS Wine Tasting event is about so much more than wine! The food, orchestrated by Jane Clope, is incredible, and the entertainment, planned by Tami Payne, sets the mood for a wonderful, social evening out with other RMS families. More information coming soon. |
Parking Lot Etiquette
Drop-off (8:20 - 8:40 a.m.) and pick-up times (11:30, 2:30 & 3:30) at RMS are busy, to say in the least! While we encourage parents to use the drop-off/pick-up line whenever possible (to build independence and self-confidence in the children), some parents will park their car and walk through the parking lot to fetch their kids. Either way, because there is so much activity coming from all directions, for the safety of our students and families, if you are using the drop-off/pick-up line, please patiently wait for the car in front of you to leave and do not try to pass cars that may, for a variety of reasons, be taking longer to unload or board children.
In all cases, please be diligent in watching for pedestrians!
|
Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports
from KidsHealth.Org
Team sports can boost kids' self-esteem, coordination, and general fitness, and help them learn how to work with other kids and adults.
But some kids aren't natural athletes and they may tell you - directly or indirectly - that they just don't like sports. What then?
|
|
|
| Did you know...
...the Montessori system of learning was designed by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), the first woman doctor in Italy? Her work with handicapped and socially deprived children from the slums of Italy inspired her to develop the Montessori method.
| |
|
|
