"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious."
- Albert Einstein
| These Casa students are discovering the joy in curiosity |
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In This Issue:
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On Being an MJDS Parent: Allowing Opportunities for Movement
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Curiosity Is as Important as Intelligence: Harvard Business Review
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The Absorbent Minds of Toddlers by Mimi Li
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MJDS Students Meet Olympian Dorota Urbaniak
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Casa Sports and Health Event
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Welcoming Rosh Chodesh Nissan
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Shinshinim Bamitbach
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MJDS Upcoming Events
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On Being an MJDS Parent: Allowing Opportunities for Movement
Have you ever wondered why your child has a hard time sitting still at the dinner table? Do you ever see children just sitting around when there is an opportunity to run, jump, or climb? As we focus on Sports and Health we note that current research shows the many positive correlations between movement/physical activity, learning and achievement.
You have observed in our classrooms: you know that your child has every opportunity to move within an inherently peaceful environment. What does this mean for you at home? In this article you will learn about your child's need for movement and the many ways you can support this at home. A key to a happy child, and thus a happy parent, is using purposeful activities to allow movement that aids development. (Maren Schmidt)
Read more here or download the pdf
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| Toddler students love to move during recess |
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Curiosity Is as Important as Intelligence: Harvard Business Review
So... movement is important for learning, so is curiosity! Read about the importance of fostering curiosity and emotional intelligence as well as academic intelligence. At MJDS we call this the development of the "whole child".
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is an international authority in personality profiling and psychometric testing. He is a Professor of Business Psychology at University College London (UCL), Vice President of Research and Innovation at Hogan Assessment Systems, and has previously taught at the London School of Economics and New York University.
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| Curiosity and Movement go hand in hand in the Lower Elementary |
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The Absorbent Minds of Toddlers by Mimi Li
As MJDS parents you are becoming more knowledgeable about Montessori Pedagogy; many of you may have heard of the Absorbent Mind and know how it forms an invaluable component in a child's overall development. Dr. Montessori believed that children from birth to about six have a powerful way to learn things: they possess an unconscious absorbent mind, which allows them to absorb a myriad of impressive events. These events, which include image, sound, taste, smell and touch, help the young children adapt to the world, but more importantly, they create and shape the person the child is to become.
Dr. Montessori pointed out that the Absorbent Mind has two phases: the first phase is from birth to three years old and the second phase from three to six years old. During the first phase, the child unconsciously reacts to what he/she feels attractive in his/her environment; his/her thoughts are mostly fragmented, unorganized but abundant. When a child enters the age of three, the second phase of the Absorbent Mind slowly kicks in. He/she begins to organize his/her experiences and classify them into different categories. He/she continues to refine his/her basic skills but is better able to use them more purposefully and reacts more consciously to his/her surrounding world.
Our MJDS toddler classroom is subtly designed and equipped so that the toddlers take full advantage of their unconscious Absorbent Mind. Each activity is carefully planned with points of interest but without over-stimulation which motivates the toddlers to practice the important skills joyfully and nurtures their ability to concentrate.
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| Casa student shows curiosity as he conducts an experiment in balance while refining his motor skills |
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MJDS Students Meet Olympian Darota Urbaniak
| Darota Urbaniak Photo Album |
As part of our Sports and Health Year, Rimon and Shalhevet students met Canadian Olympic Rowing athlete Dorota Urbaniak. The children learned that she has won numerous events on the international circuit including three world championships. She also won an Olympic bronze medal in the women's eights at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She will be participating in the PanAm games this summer. Our children were impressed by her accomplishments, her personality and her personal stories. More of their impressions in next week's newsletter!
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| Shalhevet and Rimon students and staff with Olympian Darota Urbaniak |
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Casa Sports and Health Event
Let's get active together! On Thursday morning the Casa students invite their parents to get active for this year's Sports and Health Event.
Join us in Beth David's Social Hall at 9:30 am dressed in your workout clothes for an interactive event that will get us all moving. We will begin with a short warm up before moving to the various Sports and Health related stations. We will finish the event with some calming yoga stretches.
Please RSVP through the evite or directly to regina@mjds.ca
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| Casa student drawing the PanAm logo for Artistic Gymnastics |
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Welcoming Rosh Chodesh Nissan
MJDS children gathered together to welcome Nissan, the first month on Jewish calendar (according to the Torah). The Torah calls it Chodesh Ha-Aviv-the month of spring, as it marks the beginning of the spring season.
It is in this month that we celebrate Pesach, Passover, from the 15th through the 22nd of Nissan. As we do we commemorate the Jewish people's miraculous redemption from slavery in Egypt, and the birth of the Jewish nation.
A special mitzvah which can be fulfilled only once a year-anytime during the month of Nissan-is to recite the brachah upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom. Many people visit botanical gardens during this time, so as to avail themselves of an opportunity to observe this beautiful mitzvah.
It is mentioned in the Talmud that according to one tradition, the three fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all were born and passed away in the month of Nissan.
Chodesh Tov!
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| Kita Magen David gethers to welcome the new month of Nissan |
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Shinshinim Bamitbach
Dear MJDS parents,
We are happy to invite you to a special evening program- Shinshinim bamitbach - Shinshinim in the kitchen.
We will meet at the Rebick's house on Thursday March 26th from 7:30 to 9:30 to make Shakshuka and and Israeli salad, and discuss different Israeli issues.
Please RSVP at galandishai@gmail.com
See you there!
Gal and Ishai
MJDS Shinshinim
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MJDS Upcoming Events
March 26 - 9:30 am - Casa Sports and Health Event at Beth David Social Hall
March 26 - After School Special Programs Registration Due
March 26
- 7:30 pm - Shinshinim Bamitbach - Shinshinim in the Kitchen
April 2- 10 - Pesach Break - School Closed
April 19
- Rikudiyah: MJDS Elementary Children Participate in the Israeli Dance Festival
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