The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori is dedicated to providing an outstanding education to children ages three to fourteen in a Catholic atmosphere faithful to the Magesterium of the Church. Using the philosophy and techniques of the Montessori approach, including religious education through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, our goal is to enable each child to develop as a well-integrated human being: spiritually, intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally
Register for Kroger Community Rewards Program Create an account here. You willl need an email, password, zip code, then enter your Kroger Plus Card number. Then go here to register for the Community Rewards Program and select The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori (#80140). Over the next two weeks, you will receive more information about registering in this program. Please help us reach our goal of increasing participation by 60 people.
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Upcoming Dates
Wed., Oct 10 Walkathon donations due
Thurs., Oct. 11 WALKATHON, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 12 Staff In-service, NO SCHOOL
Oct. 15-19 Book Fair
Fri., Oct. 19 Grandparents/Special Friends Day
Thurs., Nov 1 All Saints' Day Mass and Eucharistic Procession 8:15 a.m.
Sat., Nov. 3 Fall Jamboree, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
2012 Walkathon: "Step into the Year of Faith!"
Walkathon Special Guest: Fr. Kyle Schnippel,
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Vocation Director
Father Kyle Schnippel will join us on Thursday to kick off our 8th Annual Walkathon! Ordained a priest in 2004, Fr. Schnippel was appointed as Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 2006. He works to recruit qualified young men for the priesthood, as well as a general promotion of the priesthood and religious life among the faithful.
Grandparents/Special Friends Day: Friday, October 19 All students are welcome to invite their grandparents or special friends to join us for this special day. The children love to share their school one-on-one with their special guests. A short presentation, atrium open house and book fair will also take place. Our schedule: 8:50-9:00 arrival 9:00-10:30 classroom visits with children 10:45-11:30 student presentations in church Please help us plan by sending in your RSVP. Click here to register Book Fair at GSCM Week of October 15 - October 19 The Book Fair begins October 15 and runs through October 19, Grandparents' Day. Look for GREAT deals on gift-quality classic and Newbery & Caldecott Award books. Plan to do your birthday and Christmas shopping. A beautiful book is a gift to be cherished for a lifetime. This Independent book sale and the Usborne books will be in the lower hallway. Come visit anytime during school hours and support Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School! See the Book Fair flyer here Fall Jamboree: Sat., November 3, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Save the date: Saturday, November 3 is our 3rd Annual Fall Jamboree, from 6:00-8:30 pm at Moeller Knights of Columbus Hall in Anderson (across from Turpin H.S.). The Fall Jamboree is an evening of friendship and good, old-fashioned fun (including children's activities and square dancing with live music)! This is a social family gathering and does not cost anything. A great way to relax, enjoy our wonderful community and kick off our Annual Fund! Click here for details and to RSVP Back to top
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Mission Alive!
Enkindling Learning "Under the Heat of the Flaming Imagination"
By Jennifer Griffin, Upper Elementary math/science teacher
Maria Montessori wrote, "Human consciousness comes into the world as a flaming ball of imagination. Everything invented by man, physical or mental, is the fruit of someone's imagination. In the study of history and geography we are helpless without imagination..."
Dr. Montessori's sentiment is certainly true in the sciences as well. Our upper elementary students recently finished a unit on astronomy which led to an appreciation of the size of our universe and the objects that make up the heavens. This included black holes - a popular research topic in the classroom. The children were all so eager to understand what a black hole was, where were they found and has anyone traveled to a black hole before. One could almost see the electrical synapse in the brain through the gleam in their eyes as they read and discussed these mysterious, ominous objects. When they discovered there is a super-massive black hole located in the center of our own Milky Way, the silence said it all.
While watching a recent video clip on Curiosity's mission to Mars, the teams of scientist continually referred to their use of imagination to make this mission possible. They had to imagine everything that could go wrong and then problem solve together to move the project forward.
The Montessori teacher realizes the secret to good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination. (To Educate the Human Potential) Science learning provides teachers with endless opportunities to inspire students and exercise their minds.
This year is our school-wide Science Fair. All the students will be participating at some capacity in this great event. The children will get to apply the scientific method and use their own imagination to complete a project that will be on display for the school community. Everyone is invited to see what our creative, future scientists have discovered. The Fair will take place on December 7th in the church from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. This will be a celebration of the imagination.
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Catholic Identity
Welcome to the Year of Faith!
"The 'door of faith' (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime." - Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 1
The Year of Faith begins October 11, 2012. It is a timely and much-needed call from the Holy Father for a renewed dedication to the Faith. It is also chance for each of us to accept the Pope's challenge and vigorously seek an encounter with Jesus Christ so that this is a year in which we help make his desire for the Church's renewal a reality.
Faith in Action: Weekly reflections to help you live the Faith...
You can sign up to receive an inspiring and insightful weekly Faith in Action message from some of the Church's most popular speakers and writers. These short reflections will also include a simple practical action step for the week that will show you how to put your Faith in Action. Sign up at TheCatholicYearofFaith.com.
Faithful Citizenship
In "Reflections on Voting 2012", the Catholic Conference of Ohio states: "Catholic voters are called to properly form their consciences in preparation for voting and for the continued advocacy for just laws and policies required after voting."
Citing the U.S. bishops: "Catholics often face difficult choices about how to vote. This is why it is so important to vote according to a well-formed conscience that perceives the proper relationship among moral goods. A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who takes a position in favor of an intrinsic evil, such as abortion or racism, if the voter's intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil. (par. 34, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, USCCB)."
The entire CCO document "Reflections on Voting 2012" is available at :
http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/elections/educatelec2012/reflectquestions2012.pdf
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Office and General News
New Lunch Option for Students in First - Eighth Grades
You should have already received an email regarding the new option for lunch Monday - Thursday called Schoolhouse Fare. For more information Click Here. Children may still pack their lunch any day and pizza is still offered on Fridays. Due to the earlier lunch time that the K's and Extended Care children have we are only offering this new option to the First - Eighth Grades at this time. Yesterday was the last day to order for lunches between October 15th and 31st. The November ordering window will open soon If you have any comments or suggestions, please email ntoon@gscmontessori.org.
IPM Collection Thursday, Oct. 18th
Again this year, GSCM is collecting food donations for the food pantry at Inter Parish Ministry in Newtown. IPM serves families in Clermont County and eastern Hamilton County by providing assistance with food and clothing, as well as other services to help families meet crises and improve their lives: for instance, an elder ministry, backpacks, and school supplies, and a toy collection for the holidays.
For the past several years, IPM has seen a 25-30% increase in the number of families needing food. This month we are collecting boxed pasta of any kind. Please bring in on or before Thursday, October 18th. One box per student adds up to a great deal of help to families in need. Thank you for your support for this project.
Another Easy Way to Earn Money for Our School:
Target® will donate up to 1% of your REDcard® purchases to GSCM. If you are a Target Credit Card holder all you have to do is designate The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori in the "Take Charge of Education program". Target will donate an amount equal to one percent of your Target purchases and one-half percent of your Target Visa Credit Card purchases made everywhere else. Enrollment is free.
GSCM recently received $480 from this program and that is with only 11 REDcard holders signed up. For more information, Click Here then click on Redcard and then under "Take Charge of Education" click on learn more, or contact our development director, Jana Widmeyer
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No Medication Allowed With Student
Your help in following the guidelines of our handbook is much appreciated. Our student handbook states the following:
In the event that medication must be administered to a student by someone other than the student's parent/guardian during normal school hours, or while the student is on school premises, participating in or attending school functions, the following procedure must be followed:
- Written request must be obtained from the parent/guardian before school personnel may administer any medication. In the case of prescription medication, this request must also be signed by the child's physician. The request must include instructions as to name of medication, dosage, time, and duration of medication, and possible side effects. An authorization/release form is included at the end of the handbook. A faxed copy may be accepted from the physician. When medication is to be administered for two weeks or more, a hard copy must also be sent in.
- Prescription and non-prescription medication must be in original containers (child proof) and have an affixed label including the student's name, name of medication, dosage, route of administration, and time of administration.
- All medication to be taken by students will be locked out of children's sight and reach.
- A school staff person will administer or dispense the medication to the child according to the parent's instructions. In the case of prescription medication, the doctor's instructions are required.
- Parents should either bring the medication and signed permission forms to school themselves or send them with a responsible adult.
At no time may children administer their own non-prescription medication, including cough drops, vitamins, ibuprofen, etc. or keep these items in backpacks, lockers or lunch boxes.
Send in Your Empty Ink Cartridges
Just a reminder - We are collecting ink cartridges for recycling again this year. There will be a labeled bin for cartridge donations. Through recycling we are able to receive some of our much needed paper and office supplies! Thank you for your help!
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PTO News
Have you heard about Hulafrog???
Here's an easy way for you to subscribe to an online newsletter that will tell you about local events for families AND earn cash for our school at the same time! Each new subscriber will earn $1 for GSCM.
Hulafrog also has weekly deals for kids and parents of 50% off or more. Hulafrog will never share your email and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Monday, October 15th kicks off the Subscribe for Schools contest to see which school can get the most subscribers. That school will earn an additional $100!! The contest ends October 26th so don't delay.
Please help GSCM earn cash by clicking on the following link and let the good times roll!! Click Here
Your PTO thanks you in advance for your help!
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Program News
QAMS/GSCM Grads Earn Distinction as National Junior Merit Semi-Finalists Two QAMS/GSCM alumni (class of 2008) Max Gruber and Emily Lotterer, were recently named among the top one percent of students in the nation as semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program! Max, a senior at St. Xavier H.S., is the son of John and Kim Gruber. Emily, a senior at Ursuline Academy, is the daughter of Dave and Shannon Lotterer. In addition, Kristen Ochs, who attended QAMS for eight years from preschool through 5th grade, was also named as a semifinalist. Congratulations to Max, Emily, Kristen, and their parents for this achievement!
GSCM Choir
GSCM Choir practice will begin Tuesday, October 16th. All interested 9-12 and Middle School students are invited to attend the first meeting which starts immediately after school in the rear of church.
Subsequent practices will take place on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of every month after school lasting until 4 p.m. Come to this first session prepared to sing and have fun. Additionally, Mrs. Blasch is looking for at least one parent volunteer who would like to assist with the practice sessions. No musical expertise is necessary to volunteer. If you can volunteer as assistant director or maybe even as an accompanist, notify Mrs. Blasch. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Blasch, GSCM Music Teacher & Choir Director, at 390-7221 or via email
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Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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