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DVMS Summer Update | August 9, 2014

This has been the first summer since the school started where we haven't moved or renovated to create a new classroom.  It has been a true pleasure.  It has allowed me to slow down a bit and assess what we do well - and what more we can offer the children of DVMS and Strata.

 

It has always been our goal to be considered a leader in offering excellence in Montessori education.  In many ways this vision has been realized. This year over 20 schools visited DVMS and Strata to observe in our classrooms.  The notes and accolades offered by our Montessori peers have been inspiring.  But what I love about the DVMS staff is that at all of our end of year meetings you could hear the passion of the teachers to better the school.

 

By the time you read this there should be 100,000 views of A Montessori Morning, the incredible video that Lindsay Palmer did one day at our school.  It has been seen all over the world and is the most watched Montessori video this year (even more than one about NBA Superstar Stephen Curry).  A friend of mine got in an argument with a teacher at another school who couldn't believe a child of that age was capable of such diligence and independence.  

 

We love the families in our school and feel very honoured by their faith in us and their passion for the school.  Occasionally families move to different cities - it breaks our heart - but we always get the most heartwarming letters. I asked the families if I could share the letters.  We removed the names to protect the innocent.

 

This was written to one of the teachers:

 

I wanted to send you a note to express our deep gratitude for the role you played in my daughter's life for the past three years as well as all the wonderful gifts you have given and instilled into her. She was so young and shy when she walked in your doors. Over the years I have seen so many positive developments in her that I know have come from you and your guidance. We had a lot of things going on in our life when we showed up at the school. I honestly am so grateful for your guidance being the one constant that I could depend upon and I always believed that she could not be in a better place than she was in Casa North. Every time I stepped into the classroom I was struck by the feeling of kindness and warmth I felt there. Its a beautiful place... and you are making it one. Your efforts and care that you have put into my daughter are simply priceless and I just wanted you to know that you are truly doing an amazing job. I truly believe in what you do and the way it has shaped my little girl for the future. It has given her the foundation she needs to keep growing and learning being a kind, caring person. My daughter has many wonderful memories she will be taking. There hasn't been many nights in our house where your name has not come up followed by something she has learned from you, or her sharing a special conversation she has had with you. For me, I honestly want you to know how grateful I am for you and you presence in her life over the last few years.... I truly believe you have impacted her in such positive ways. She has drawn so many positive experiences from having you around, so for that.. thank you. 

 

 

We both walk away from the school and her classroom with a heavy heart as we wish she could continue here but we need to make a move to Calgary for now and then see where it takes us from there. We will miss you guys and this school more than I can tell you.  I wish each of you the very best. 

 

 

And this was written to the school:

 

Dear Tony,

 

I just wanted to thank you for providing such an excellent school this year for our two youngest.  Of all the schools our various children have attended in our moves over the years (5 schools in 4 years!), yours far exceeds all the rest.  What you are doing for the community and children is wonderful, and I can only hope this type of learning and environment will eventually extend to all schools across the country.  Our children had such a fabulous year - we will most certainly miss DVMS.

 

Have a wonderful rest of the summer.  Get those kids away from the videos  and screens and into the forests and streams.

 
Tony Evans - BA AMI Elementary
Director of Schools

DVMS/Strata

 

 

 

 

 

Important Dates. Put These in Your Calendars.

Monday, August 18 

  • Hot Lunch registration deadline

Thursday, August 28, 10:00-11:00 a.m. 

  • New Casa Student Orientation

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 8:30 a.m. 

  • First day of school

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 3:00-4:00 p.m. 

  • Elementary Parent Orientation

Saturday, Sept. 13, 11:00 a.m.  

  • DVMS Community Picnic at Webster's Falls - This is a fair weather event!

Monday, Sept. 15 - Wednesday, Sept. 18 

  • New Parent Interviews

Tuesday, Sept. 16  

  • Casa and Sibling Photo Day

Wednesday, Sept. 17  

  • Elementary Photo Day 

Friday, Oct. 3 

  • DVMS Community Dinner
  
Event and Information Details

Hot Lunch Registration 

  • Hot Lunch enrollment forms can be submitted online through our website (2014-2015 menu is also available at that link). The hot lunch enrollment deadline is Monday, August 18th, so that we can hit the ground running, with full bellies, starting Sept. 2.

New Casa Student Orientation 

  • Orientation for new Casa students and their parents will be on Thursday, August 28th, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
  • Students will be greeted by their classroom guides and escorted to their learning environments. Parents will remain in the gymnasium for the parent orientation session and will meet their children on the playground when both orientations are over.
  • We ask that parents refrain from accompanying children to their classrooms, even if there are tears (there will be a few tears). Setting clear expectations and procedures from the beginning makes the overall transition to schooling much easier, for both children and parents (mostly parents).

First Day of School 

  • Awwwww...summer's over. The first day of the 2014-2015 school year is Tuesday, September 2. We will be handing out calendars that day.
  • We kindly ask all students to arrive at 8:30 every day. The Montessori day consists of 3-hour work cycles. The purpose in having long, uninterrupted blocks of work time is to allow students to select work freely and become absorbed in work that has a particular fascination for them at each point in their development. Interruptions, no matter how valuable the alternative activity might seem to be, disturb the children's focus, concentration, and intellectual exploration.
  • Enrolment has increased and in order to avoid congestion in our parking lot and foyer we request that 'experienced' DVMS students be dropped off at the entrance to the walking gate and see themselves in.

Elementary Parent Orientation 

  • This orientation session, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, is open to all elementary parents, both Lower and Upper. You are strongly encouraged to attend to chat with the teachers and go over some of the routines and expectations for the year.

DVMS Community Picnic

  • Our annual welcome back picnic at Webster's Falls, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bring the kids and a picnic lunch, some frisbees, soccer balls, kites, and such, and come see all the DVMS folks you've missed over the summer. This is a fair-weather event.

New Parent Interviews 

  • Interviews for parents of new DVMS students, at each level, will take place Monday Sept. 15, Tuesday Sept. 16, Wednesday Sept. 17, and Thursday Sept. 18 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Online sign-up will be shared closer to the date.

Photo Days 

  • Photos will be taken over the course of two days this year:
  1. Tuesday, Sept. 16, for Casa children and their Elementary siblings, and
  2. Wednesday, Sept. 17, for Elementary students.
  • Photos will once again be taken by the wonderful Lindsay Palmer.

DVMS Community Dinner 

  • The annual DVMS Community Dinner. Join us for cocktails, a delicious meal, and a whole lotta fun.
  • More details to come closer to the event.
  • Set aside the evening of Friday, October 3. Let us know if you need help finding a sitter.

DVMS Contacts
Each Montessori environment can be contacted at <name of room>@dvms.ca:

Immunizations 

  • We are required to keep a record of your child's up-to-date immunizations. When your child has any updates to their immunizations we require these on file. Please ensure that your child's immunizations are up-to-date and if they have had any updates in the last year please notify Skye in person or at [email protected].

Personal Information Change Form 

  • Over the summer, or during the course of the year, if you happen to move, change employers, get a new phone number, a new email address, or other changes we shpuld know about, please fill out a personal information change form. These can be obtained in the office or can be filled out and submitted electronically.

Dismissal, Alternate Pick-Up 

  • The school day ends at 3:30 and it is important that we account for each child's dismissal. Please ensure that your child says goodbye and shakes the hand of the staff member standing at the gate. This ensures that each child's dismissal is noted on the attendance sheet.
  • If someone other than the primary caregiver or contact is picking up your child, please fill out an alternate pick-up form located in the office at the beginning of the day, or, if this is not possible, by email. Our staff may request to see photo ID for alternate persons picking up students.
  • We do encourage an active social time after school, however, due to the number of students, parents, and siblings in the playground it can become chaotic, so we ask that you supervise your child once you have arrived and ensure that if your child becomes disorderly, you quickly take them home.

The After School Program 

  • Our after school program commences at 3:45 and runs until 5:00. If children are not picked up by 3:45, you will be invoiced for participating in the after school program. The charge is $3/half hour.

Telephone & Email List Distribution 

  • Every year we distribute a parent telephone and email list. This encourages community and helps when arranging play dates and organizing carpools. If you do not wish to be included, please let Skye know during the first two weeks of school, either in person or via email at [email protected].
 
Dundas Valley Montessori School | [email protected] | http://dvms.ca
14 Kemp Drive
Dundas, L9H 2M9
905-627-1073

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