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Volume 48, Issue 40
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June 20, 2013
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"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired
by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."
~Maria Montessori
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Thursday, July 4th - School Closed in observance of Independence Day
Friday, August 9th - Last day for Toddler & Primary Summer Program
Monday, August 12th through Friday, August 16th - School Closed
Monday, August 19th through Friday, August 23rd - School Closed; Teachers In-Service
Monday, August 26th through Thursday, August 29th - New Student Orientation; ADM & ECP in session
Friday, August 30th - School Closed; ADM & ECP in session
Monday, September 2nd - School Closed in observance of Labor Day
Tuesday, September 3rd - First day of school for returning students Wednesday, September 4th - First day of school for new students Sunday, September 15th - 4:00 to 6:00pm Welcome Picnic (rain date 9/22 Thursday, September 19th - 7:00- 8:30pm Primary & Middle School Back To School Night Thursday, September 26th - 7:00-8:30pm Toddler & Elementary Back To School Night
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End of Year Festivities
"Peace, Love & Happiness"
With a few rumbles of thunder in the distance and dark, threatening clouds drawing near, the End of Year Festivities were celebrated with joyous singing, speeches and accolades for our rising 6th year elementary students. Many families stayed to enjoy pizza, but the planned musical after-program had to be cancelled due to the rain. The Auction of Classroom Projects raised $1,320.00 to go toward the Parent Association and the Labyrinth. The electronic pre-bidding was lively and fun and the final call for bids added a bit more excitement to some of the item's existing bids. Thank you to all of the families who braved the weather forecast and joined us to celebrate another wonderful year at MANJ!  | | Afternoon Primary Students |
 | | Elementary Students |
 | | 6th Grade Students Moving Up |
Additional photos taken during the End of Year Festivities can be found on our Shutterfly web page.
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Parents, your help is needed! 
Ms. Brin Burnham, ADM co-directress, will be traveling to the AMI Montessori Congress in Portland , Oregon from July 31st to August 3rd. The The cost for airfare to Portland is considerable. This is where you can help! If you are to make a tax deductible donation of frequent flyer miles, it would be greatly appreciated! Please contact Ms. Doris in the office at 856-461-2121 or at manjoffice@manj.org.
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A Final Spotlight . . . on MMUN:
"Knowing what we must do is neither fundamental nor difficult, but to comprehend which presumptions and vain prejudices we must rid ourselves of in order to be able to educate our children is most difficult." ~Maria Montessori
This quote by Maria Montessori really applies to the classroom, the home, and the Montessori Model United Nations experience. Please  take some time to reflect on what it really means. How could this change the dynamics of your relationship with your children? This is one of the things I have reflected on since the M.M.U.N. experience. I have also thought about how grateful I am for the dedicated support of parents who chaperoned and went above and beyond to raise the funds so that there would be minimal out of pocket expenses and helped make possible this unique and important experience for the children. THANK YOU!
The reflections of the children demonstrate their gratitude for your support:
- No matter how old you are, you can still make a change.
- The fear that I did overcome was that I spoke with more delegates this year.
- I learned that there are countries in need.
- II learned that if you want to be heard you have to speak up.
- You can't just expect things to happen, if you really want them to happen you have to be the one who makes them happen.
- You need to be grateful for what you have because other people in America and around the world don't even know where or when they are getting their next meal.
- I learned that I have to be grateful for my family because there are so many children around the world who don't have parents and so we also need to be grateful for everything we have.
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Click here to read all of the student's reflections.
 Every year that I do this I gain deeper insights personally and experience the children's insights. It seems to me that what they come up with, most adults take for granted or don't even think of. What a gift for them to be able to experience something like this at such a young age. There is a lesson that we give in the Montessori classroom called the hand timeline. This lesson teaches the children to think about the fact that there are people all over the world and they are just like us. We can use our imaginations and think about what they might be doing, what their life might be like, and we can even care about them. The experience at the M.M.U.N. brings this lesson and several others to life for them. They meet these people from all over the world, talk about people and their issues from all over the world, and learn to truly care about what is going on in the world. What is going on in the world could just as easily be happening close to home.
Next year, there is the opportunity for twenty students to attend. That means there are at least forty parents that have the opportunity to contribute in some way. For those parents that don't have children attending yet, it is likely that someday you will. This is a very good cause! Please feel free to share or contribute ideas to raise money for this trip next year. Maybe there are parents that have political connections to other countries, or someone can come in and speak about other cultures and what those children go through. There are countless ways to support the M.M.U.N. experience. It does not need to stop  when we come home or begin when we receive our given assignments.
Sincerely,
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Summer Reading: Elementary & Middle School
During the last week of school, Elementary (current and rising 1st years) and Middle School students were given Summer Reading Lists. Click the links below to the list for your child's class:
Lower Elementary (Rising 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade)
Reading/Book Report Instructions
Reading List
Upper Elementary (4th, 5th and 6th grade)
Reading/Book Report Instructions
4th Grade Reading List
5th Grade Reading List
6th Grade Reading List
Middle School (7th, 8th and 9th grade)
Adolescent Summer Reading
These links are also posted on the class pages on the "Our Community" section of our website.
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Updating our Weekly Bulletin Email List
Over the summer, we will be updating the list of email addresses which will receive our Weekly Bulletin and other pertinent communications. Please take a moment to email Ms. Doris at manjoffice@manj.org from the address you wish to receive email communications. Include the email addresses of anyone else who would like to receive communications: spouses, grandparents, family members.
Thank you for helping with this important over summer "housekeeping" update!
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Be on the lookout. . . .
Back to School Packages
will be mailed Mid-July!
We are currently preparing the Back to School Packages for all students enrolled for 2013/2014. Once completed, packages will be mailed to each enrolled family. At that same time, we communicate via email that the packages have been sent along with instructions on what to do if you do not receive your package in the mail.
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game!
As the school year winds down, we hope everyone is taking some  time to enjoy some quality family time!
It is time to make plans for our annual Montessori Day at the Campbell's Stadium to see the Camden Riversharks! This is a great family event to meet or catch up with other Montessori families and alumni.
The game will be on Saturday, August 3 at 5:35pm. Tickets are $12/each, and our school will get $5 for EVERY TICKET SOLD! Proceeds will go toward Montessori Model United Nations 2014.
Additionally, this will be our first benchmark fundraiser for next school year. This means any Upper Elementary/Adolescent student, 9 years or older who is eligible to attend MMUN, can earn $$$ to go directly to the cost of their trip.
To purchase tickets complete the form below or contact Wendy Amato (email) or by telephone at 856-296-8197.
Riversharks Tickets Order Form
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Celebrate the Summer Solstice
Friday, June 21st
Contributed by Kelly Moore (Alden/ADM, Kaia/Ms. Metaxia)
 The Summer Solstice--also referred to as Midsummer--marks the longest day (and shortest night) of the year. It is a time to celebrate what the warm weather and long days of Summer brings: the joys of being outside with everything in bloom and the bounty of fruits Mother Nature provides! "I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where ox-lips and the nodding violet grows;
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine."
(Oberon in act II)
~ William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream",
Fun ways to celebrate the longest day:
- Start the day with Yoga Sun Salutations
- Pick wildflowers and weave them together to make necklaces, crowns, or hair decorations.
- Go to the beach--there's nothing like a day under the sun to celebrate the sun!
- Plan a picnic out in a natural setting--with plenty of fresh fruit.
- Go berry picking!
- Read a passage from a Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Have a bonfire and chase fireflies--continuing the heat and light of the solstice into the evening!
- Make some nature-and-sun-inspired crafts:
- Sun Weaving
- Or if you're more ambitious, a GIANT Sun Weaving
- Summer Solstice Wand
- Nature Crown & Cuffs
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"Did my wife and I, when our children were young, 'dictate' to them? The dictionary says that means 'to instruct with authority'. We are, therefore, guilty as charged."
~ John Rosemond
Parenting offers both challenges and rewards. Please check the "Parenting Tips" page on the website for some informational examples that can offer guidance and solace! manj.org/links
MANJ Tax ID #: 22-1774-347
Target ID #: 27762
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Contact Info
Director of Development
Beverly Russell
856-461-2121 |
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