All Saints' Day Mass and Eucharistic Procession:

Thursday, Nov. 1, 8:15 a.m.

Please join us for Mass on All Saints Day, followed by a Eucharistic Procession led by Fr. Ruffino Ezama. Weather permitting, after Mass we will make a Eucharistic Procession, processing behind the Blessed Sacrament around the school, representing the members of Church Triumphant who are continually praising God in heaven. We will have a litany of saints at the lower entrance, and conclude with benediction in the church.

Please note: There will be no school Mass on Tuesday, October 30.

Fall Jamboree: Sat., November 3, 6:00-8:30 p.m.   

Favorite Color/Animal Day: Fri., October 26

Mary and Heidi Gruber, our guest 'Principals of the Week', have planned a special out-of-uniform day for Friday, October 26. Students are invited to wear their "favorite animal" or "favorite color" shirt. No accoutrements such as tails, hats, whiskers, or wings. However, you can wear 'Bengal stripes' or other sports jerseys related to animals.

Parent-Child Evening: Thurs., Nov. 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Pre-primary and elementary parents are invited to spend an evening in the classroom with their child during our upcoming Parent-Child Evenings. One of the most relaxing and enjoyable parent education opportunities, this is an evening for listening to your child and exploring the fascinating Montessori environment together. Please come and experience the interest and joy of your child's learning in the Montessori classroom.

Although our teachers will be on hand, the focus is on parent-child interactions and the evening is not intended as a time to conference with teachers.

Mission Alive!   How Do We Bless Our Children?

By: Amy Scuglik, 6-9 Our Lady of Fatima

How do we bless our children? This is a question that we have as parents. At GSCM, it is wonderful to know that our staff is constantly asking this question as well. It is our mission to constantly ask ourselves this question because collectively we embedded it into our school philosophy. Speaking for our entire staff, I can safely say this question is what consumes us in the teacher's lounge, during staff meetings, and often as we lay in bed at night. How do we bless these children?

At church, I heard someone speak on this topic. As the speaker began giving specific ways to bless children, I couldn't help but think of the many ways how our "gem of a school" carries this out so beautifully. Not only does our staff try to model the ways to bless children, we directly teach the children the way to bless others.

The first way is through meaningful touch. At GSCM, the children are greeted each morning with a firm handshake by Mr. Teller and their teachers. Direct eye contact is expected as part of this sincere greeting. Many parents have continued these expectations outside of school and have informed us that coaches and adult friends of the family have commented on their child's use of this simple, sometimes forgotten, gesture.

We also encourage use of "The Touch Rule" at GSCM. The students are permitted to hug, hold hands, high five, shake hands, and tag. These are ways we can show others we care. Rather than scold them for kicking, being too rough, and always telling them what they MAY NOT do, we remind them of the touch rule and the appropriate ways that they SHOULD treat one another. We encourage meaningful touch.

Probably the most important way we use meaningful touch, a way that is unique to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and our school, is by directly teaching gestures. We teach that we can "do" prayer with our bodies. We have materials, songs, and special celebrations to "do" prayer. One simple example is how we teach the sign of the cross. It is an entire lesson by itself, as important as any other lesson given. The child is directly shown how to press in the sign of the cross onto their bodies, because it is a seal and a shield. We teach that it was pressed on their forehead at baptism and that it can be used at anytime, anywhere to remind us of Jesus.

Next, we can bless our children through spoken words of encouragement. You may have been taught, "Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you." AT GSCM, we teach our students that words DO hurt. We teach grace and courtesy lessons that directly teach the students what to say in certain situations. More than just "yes please" and "no thank you", teachers intervene when appropriate and teach when students are having difficult social interactions. We teach that using a kind tone of voice effects how others will respond to you.

As part of the Montessori philosophy, we also use positive reinforcement to encourage our students. However, our philosophy differs from other descriptions of positive reinforcement. In fact, we don't tell our students, "good job". Rather, when students approach the adult to show them their good work, we pay close attention to a specific detail and compliment it. Or we might respond, "It looks like you feel proud of that. You worked hard on that didn't you? We are careful not to steal away the intrinsic motivation and satisfaction that the child is feeling. Rather than completing the work for teacher approval, they begin to complete the work for themselves. Their work is no longer a burdensome task that has been asked of them, but a joyful challenge where they are celebrated for their unique ideas and attitude towards their work.

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Grandparents and Special Friends

Over 150 grandparents and friends spent the morning on our campus last Friday for the Annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day.   Amie Bressert, our event coordinator and her crew of volunteers, provided a warm greeting and hospitality for our guests from the moment of check-in.   Students had the opportunity to show their grandparents and special friends many of the Montessori works, take them for delicious snacks in the Atrium, shop the Book Fair and entertain in song and recitation in a standing room only crowd at the end of the morning.   Thank you to everyone who attended and all who worked diligently to make this event a success. 

Office and General News  

New Lunch Option for Students in First - Eighth Grades

Yesterday was the first day for our new lunch option, Schoolhouse Fare. For more information Click Here.  The order window for the rest of this month is over, however, you may now order lunches for November.   

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.

95 Boxes of Pasta Collected!

GSCM families contributed 95 boxes/bags of pasta last week for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry. This is a very, very generous amount! Thank you for your generosity.

Thanks also to the Middle School students who helped publicize the collection and collected the items at the door on Thursday.

The next collection will be Thursday, November 15th. Mark your calendars and watch the newsletter for what item we will be collecting.

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.

PTO News 

Save the Date: Sat. Nov 17, Community Boutique

Plan now to attend the GSCM Community Boutique on Saturday, November 17 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. held here at the school. Shop for Christmas gifts among offerings of jewelry, religious articles, kitchen items, and more - many from small businesses owned by families from our school. Invite your friends and enjoy a day of shopping brought to you by the GSCM PTO.

We're looking for student entrepreneurs so if you make jewelry, candles, hair barrettes or other items, consider hosting a booth. Student booths are $5. (forms available in the office).

Are you interested in being a vendor? Pick up a form in the office with details. For more information or questions, please contact Rhonda Hamall at 238-4459 or Rhonda@hamall.us

Box Tops for Education

Thank you for all the box tops submitted so far this year. Each box top you send in helps raise money for our school! Please check the expiration date on your box tops and then send them on the collection sheet, in an envelope or in a Ziploc bag with your child's name, teacher and the total number of box tops. There is a collection bin just inside the office. Thanksgiving collection sheets will be available for November submissions. The student who collects the most box tops in the month of November will win an out of uniform pass. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Lisa Schmitz.  

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!