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May 2, 2014

  

  

 

In the final weeks of school, our Elementary and Middle School students will experience several memorable occasions to draw their academic learning full circle, not the least of which are the overnight field trips they take that correspond to specific elements of their curriculum. Our 8th graders left Thursday to fly to San Jose, Costa Rica for ten days to visit with a sister school, the Summit Montessori School, in Coronado. While they are there, the students will 1) perform community service by rescuing and incubating sea turtle eggs at a local hatchery, 2) visit the rainforest and an active volcano site, and 3) enjoy a multi-day home stay and cultural immersion experience with a native Costa Rican family. 

 

When they return, the Middle School will prepare for their final visit of the year to the Land Campus in Oak Ridge where they will officially invite and welcome the 5th graders into their new tribe families (Black Bear, Otter and Raccoon). That same night, the 8th graders will complete their "solo night" at the Land where they begin the process of leaving the nest of GMS which many of them have known since they were 2, 3 or 4 years old. 

 

The ensuring days will involve them completing the last of their school work, taking End of Course tests for high school academic placement, participating in Council of Elders interviews, and putting the finishing touches on their graduation speeches. Thursday, June 5 will be an emotional and exhilarating day as we conduct our annual Moving Up Ceremony (in the morning) which honors every child who is advancing to a new division followed by the 8th grade graduation (in the evening) which showcases the talents, accomplishments and personalities of each individual 8th grader. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us for both the Moving Up Ceremony and the Graduation. 

 

For those of you who might want an opportunity to get to know our 8th graders more personally and imagine how a Montessori education can help prepare your own child for the world beyond the walls of GMS, we encourage you to volunteer to be an interviewer on the Council of Elders. The format is designed such that each 8th grader meets one on one with a panel of three to five adults for 30-40 minutes to answer questions and describe the important life lessons they have learned during the course of their Middle School experience. It will be worth every minute of your time!! All interviews will take place on Wednesday, June 4th. Please email Nancy Hofer if you would like more information or would like to participate. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Frank Brainard

 

$250 Tuition Credit Offered
Admissions News for 2014-15
Word of mouth has always been our best form of advertisement. Help us spread the word about the amazing educational experience your child is having at GMS!

As a special thank you to current families, we are continuing to offer a $250 tuition credit each time you help us enroll a new family for 2014-15. The new family will acknowledge your referral in writing when they register for the new school year.



Rhea Egbert,  
GMS Director o


Mommy/Daddy & Me Story Time
Please encourage your friends with Toddlers to visit our campus at one of our Mommy/Daddy & Me Story-time Programs this Spring

Friday, May 9 at 9:30am storyteller Frank Brainard

YEARBOOK PRE-ORDERS
2013-14 Yearbook Orders Due May 15
 

Buy the official GMS yearbook for $15 each! The book includes articles about all aspects of our

school, student pictures, and detailed descriptions about the exciting activities in which students

participate. Please send the Order Form to the front office by Thursday, May 15th and attach payment.

 

Thanks - The GMS Yearbook Staff

RCB PARENTING SEMINAR: MAY 13 & 20
RCB Light : the condensed version

 

Tuesday, May 13:  

RCB Principles;   Mistaken Goals of Misbehavior

Tuesday, May 20:  

Discipline vs. Punishment;  Parenting Styles 

 

Class time:  8:30 - 11:00 AM

Location:  Greensboro Montessori School Conference Rm

 

Cost for two sessions:  $90, includes book (1 or 2 parents);  $80 without book

-         Free for past RCB participants  -

 

For more information, please contact course facilitator, Joyce Ann Starks

 

GMS Faculty Highlight: Cathy Moses, Upper Elementary Teacher
Meet Cathy Moses - GMS Upper Elementary Teacher
 
One of Cathy Moses' former students, Emily Coates, who is now a cardiac care nurse with Cone Health System (see in this week's alumni article below), remembers when she was in Lower Elementary at GMS and Cathy brought her personal collection of reptiles to school to share with the class so the students could experience them first hand. That activity went hand in hand with another sensorial activity that had students blindly feel an animal hide or skin, describe it, and attempt to figure out what it was by using only their sense of touch. This lesson just gives you a small glimpse into the unique person of Cathy Moses.
 
For some years at GMS, Cathy Moses has been well known as a lover and caregiver of reptiles... of all animals actually. Some students in Upper El and Middle School today remember her pet corn snake, her pet gecko called Frank, and her terrarium filled with Madagascar hissing cockroaches.
 
Cathy started her professional career as a social worker and a marriage and family counselor before becoming a Montessori teacher in 1991 (and then joining the GMS faculty in 1993). She made her initial steps toward teaching in 1989 when her son, Ben, was enrolled at the Montessori School of Anderson in South Carolina. Shortly after completing her Montessori credential for the elementary classroom for 6-9 year olds, she learned that her family was relocating to Greensboro and she immediately contacted her lead trainer, Russell Long, who was an administrator at GMS. Russell hired her on the spot and Cathy never looked back. Last year, Cathy made the leap from teaching Lower Elementary to teaching Upper Elementary at GMS. And this Fall she started the training for the Montessori teaching credential for 9-12 year olds. Funny thing is that Russell Long is her mentor once again. If you didn't happen to see Cathy on campus today, that's because she left at lunchtime to travel to the training center in Raleigh for the whole weekend to take her oral exams. (She needs some extra kudos for Teacher Appreciation Week!)
 
Outside of school, Cathy spends a lot of time hiking, camping, working in her home garden, and devising ways to travel to Maine to spend time with her 20 month old grandson, Will. She has two cats, a boxer named Daisy, and a loving husband of 34 years, Bruce. She loves tackling new computer skills and finding ways to integrate technology into the curriculum. Her favorite Montessori material is one called test tube division. She says that she loves it because the kids love it and "it really helps the kids get the concept of division so quickly."
 
When asked why she loves being a Montessori teacher so much, Cathy's whole face lights up and she says, "I love being able to be a positive influence on their academic and emotional lives." 
 
GMS Alumni Highlight: The Coates Sisters, Sarah and Emily
Sarah Whittemore (left) and Emily Coates (right) 
Meet Sarah Whittemore '97 & Emily Coates '99
In 1997, the first 8th grade graduating class of Greensboro Montessori School was comprised of three students. Sarah Coates (now Whittemore) was one of the three proud students who received her GMS diploma that June. 

Sarah's younger sister, Emily, graduated from GMS two years later and then their brother, Ethan, graduated in 2006. 

Both Sarah and Emily matriculated to Grimsley High School from GMS and then went on to study at UNCG. Sarah received her BA in Psychology in 2005, and Emily received a BA in Spanish in 2007.

Music has been a major influence in their lives since they were very young. They participated and traveled with the Greensboro Youth Chorus and then with the Grimsley Madrigal Singers. But even before that they took on lead roles in GMS musicals during Middle School. They fondly recall a performance of "Persephone" which was an intensive week long children's opera production, and from time to time they still catch themselves humming the tunes. 

Where are they now?

Sarah moved to Orlando, FL seven years ago to pursue a full-time career with Disney World. Sarah works at Epcot Center as a featured vocalist in the world-renowned Voices of Liberty, a premiere a cappello group. She performs seven shows per day. Outside of her full-time job, she also enjoys doing solo and session recordings for television and radio jingles. Sarah's husband, Scott, is also an entertainer/actor at Disney and stars in the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue in Pioneer Hall at the Magic Kingdom. 

After finishing her first bachelor's at UNCG in Spanish and traveling abroad to Cuervanaca, Mexico and Medellin, Colombia, Emily worked as a paralegal for a local law firm that specializes in immigration law. She then decided to pursue a career in health services and returned to UNCG to obtain BS in Nursing. Upon graduation in 2011, she joined Cone Health System and works as an RN on the Cardiac Progressive Care Unit. Emily recently married her college sweetheart Josu� Monge and they are expecting their first child in September. She is already looking forward to being a new GMS parent!

When recalling her days as a student at GMS, Emily says "Montessori education has given me an appreciation for nature and for taking time to explore the outdoors."

Sarah credits GMS with encouraging her to have a "life-long love of learning, and to be confident in [her] own unique abilities and to follow [her] passion."

"We both still keep in contact with many of our classmates from GMS. When we see them, it seems like we just pick up right where we left off."

At GMS, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Coates family for being the pioneers who laid those first foundational blocks for what has become an exceptional Montessori Middle School that embodies the best elements of a progressive, creative, and process-driven program designed for and by adolescents. Thank you Paul Coates and Cindy van Laar!!

Photos of the Week
Lower El students share songs from Brazil and New Orleans in the World Music Concert.

GMS 8th graders await their flight at PTI.
Costa Rica or Bust!



Kaleb and Ian provide the beat while music teacher, Betsy, provides the piano melody.

Special Thanks to GMS dad, John Robbins, a professional sound engineer, for stepping in at the last minute to run the sound board for the Lower El concert. 

Lily proudly shares her science project on fungus. 
       
Peter demonstrates his science fair project for a friend.

Upcoming Events
National Teacher Appreciation Week - May 5-9
LET YOUR CLASSROOM, LIBERAL ARTS AND CASA TEACHERS KNOW HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE ALL THEY DO FOR YOUR CHILDREN
  •  
  • CASA Potluck Dinner - Cinco de Mayo theme- Monday, May 5th at 6pm in the GMS Gym
  •  
  • Storytime with Frank Brainard - Friday, May 9th at 9:30am
  • storytime and a snack for current and prospective toddlers and their parents  

  •  
  • Redirecting Children's Behavior Course: the condensed version

    Tuesday, May 13:  RCB Principles;  Mistaken Goals of Misbehavior

    Tuesday, May 20:  Discipline vs. Punishment; Parenting Styles

    GMS Conference Room, 8:30 - 11:00 AM

    Course Facilitator:  Joyce Ann Starks, Certified Parent Instructor, INCAF; former GMS teacher 
  • Cost for two sessions:  $90, includes book (1 or 2 parents); $80 without book;  Single session:  $45
  • For more information:  [email protected] or call 392-9380   /   RCB website:  www.incaf.com

      
  •  
  • Upper Elementary World Music Concert - Thursday, May 15 at 7:00pm
  •  
  • Upcoming Field Trips
  • 2nd and 3rd level Lower El students travel to Earthshine, Lake Toxaway, NC (May 14-16)
  • 4th level Upper El students travel to the NC Outer Banks  (May 28-30)
  • 5th level Upper El students travel to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown  (May 28-31)
  • 6th level Middle School students travel to Washington D.C. (May 5-9)
  • 7th level Middle School students travel to Tucson, Arizona  (May 4-9)
  • 8th level Middle School students travel to San Jose, Costa Rica  (May 1-10)

  •  
  • GMS Community Dinner at The Land Campus in Oak Ridge - Wednesday, May 21 (EVITE to follow)
  •  
  • School Closed for Memorial Day - Monday, May 26 (No CASA)
  •  
  • Middle School Concert and Art Show - Wednesday, May 28
  •  
  • Lower Elementary Cultural Fair Open House - Friday, May 30 - 8:30-9:30am
  • stop in to see the Lower El students' end of year projects, displays and presentations featuring the fundamental needs of people living in the diverse cultures of Africa.
  •  
  • Council of Elders interviews for 8th graders - Wednesday, June 4
  •  
  • Moving Up Ceremony and 8th Grade Graduation - Thursday, June 5 
  •  
  • Last Day of School, Early Dismissal - Friday, June 6
  •  
  • Family and Children's Farewell Party for Frank - Friday, June 6 - starts at 12:00pm in the Gym, Lunch provided

  • REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP NOW - LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

     
    MONTESSORI AL FRESCO SUMMER PROGRAM
     
    Register for the 2014 Montessori Al Fresco Summer program (9 weeks, all-inclusive from June 9 through Aug 19; excluding June 30--July 4) by clicking the link below. 
     


     
    WEEKLY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS - JUNE 23-27 & JULY 21-25
     
    Weekly summer camps are offering creative, outdoor learning experiences for children ages 3 and older. Camps will be led by GMS teachers and staff.
     
    Primary children ages 3-6 can join us for Arts, Crafts & Gardening
    Primary and Lower El children ages 4-9 will experience A Week in the Woods 
    Rising Upper El and Middle School students can choose from "Dumbledore's Army Boot Camp"and "Can You Dig It?" archaeology camp.  

     



     
    TRAILBLAZERS CAMPS AT GMS - SUMMER 2014

    Back by popular demand - Trailblazers and Trailblazers Extreme led by John Archambault (GMS Upper El teacher) and Morgan Kratovil (former GMS Middle School teacher)

    TRAILBLAZERS   - July 14-18 (Rising Upper El and Middle School students)
    This is a very popular camp for those who love being outdoors and exploring nature. The focus of this camp is to have fun hiking through our state parks and national forests. In addition to the hikes, hikers will swim, practice good hiking etiquette, and learn basic wilderness survival skills. The experience will promote an appreciation of our state's resources and of nature itself. Campers will meet in the office each morning and return by 5:00pm daily. 

    TRAILBLAZERS EXTREME - July 28- Aug 1  (Rising Upper El and Middle School students)
    Similar to the Trailblazers camp with longer, faster-paced hikes. The camp includes some swimming, but greater emphasis will be on hiking and exploring longer trails. Some days may be quite strenuous. Recommended for EXPERIENCED hikers. 


    FUN FACTS & REMINDERS
    SPRING IS IN THE AIR WITH THE BIRTH OF 3 NEW BABIES THIS WEEK 
    IN THE GMS COMMUNITY
     
    CONGRATULATIONS to 
    the Shankarling family, the De Vries family, and the Wolf family.
     
     
     
    New AMS Video! "The Parent Perspective"

    Check out AMS's latest video, in which parents tell us in their own words why they love Montessori education for their families. Feel free to share this video on your social media sites or email to a friend who may be considering Montessori education for their child. 
     

     

     


     
    The GMS Student Directory and Community Handbook are accessible through the GMS website. Please register to become an authorized user!
     

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