Fri., Feb. 15         End of Second Trimester

Mon., Feb. 18      NO SCHOOL, Teacher Records Day

Feb. 18-22           Parent-Teacher Conference Week

Fri., Feb. 22         NO SCHOOL, Conference Make-Up Day

Thurs., Feb. 28     Parent-Child Atrium Evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sat., March 9       "Our House" SPRING GALA

Other Important Dates:

Jan. 22-Feb. 8       Priority Registration Period for 2013-14

March 4                Financial Aid Application Deadline  

GSCM Children's Choir Performance 

On Saturday, February 9th, GSCM Children's Choir will perform at the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum (3738 Eastern Ave. 45226) at 10:30 a.m. for Macy's/Artswave's Fine Arts Sampler Weekend event.  The event is free and open to the public.  Come watch our students perform and show support for our school and the Arts!

GSCM Drama Department Presents Cinderella!

Auditions: Wednesday, Feb. 6 after school

The GSCM Drama Department, featuring Middle School and Upper Elementary Students will present Cinderella. Performances will be May 2nd & 3rd. Auditions will be Wed. Feb. 6 after school. Pick up sample scripts for auditions this Friday at dismissal from Mrs. Hamall.  For more info contact:rhonda@hamall.us  

Fine Arts Fair Postponed 

The following are excerpts from a blog that one of our teachers shared. It was entitled "On Time" and is by Montessori directress Claire Paglia. The entire blog can be found at: http://mariamontessori.com/mm/?p=2126#.UQ1oxNoD_8A.gmail  

It is so vital to set up a consistent routine at home so that one is able to get from place to place on time. Children at this age are looking to us to know how we should be as human beings. If we set up the precedence that it is acceptable to walk in late to school, church, plays, baseball practice, ballet rehearsal or a violin lesson, the children begin to develop a habit of arriving after events are under way and never really understand the impression that it has on others.

On the other hand, if we can offer to the children a predictable routine and schedule so that they know when things are happening, it often takes the stress and chaos out of leaving on time. They can depend on the same series of events to happen before they must be in the car on the way to school, practices, etc.

On time and in school
So, what might happen if you arrived at [a] party early with ample time to settle in, put your coat away and greet your friends? You have enough time to get a drink and find your seat before the meal even begins. How do you feel? Are you more settled? Are you feeling more at peace or even excited about the upcoming events for the evening?

The children are the same. They begin their day with more joy and peace when they have enough time to adjust and transition into the environment when arriving on time. Also, when they are attending for the full five-day week, the children feel they are even more of an active participant in the daily life of the community. The children even aid each other in finding their work for the day and gearing up for new lessons on exciting materials.

Mario Montessori, Jr, in his book Education for Human Development, reminds us that, "Adults are the representatives of the outer world and the most important source of guidance for the child. ... Man is not born with pre-established behavior patterns but with the ability to form them during youth. He does this through his personal experiences in his interaction with the environment. These experiences are internalized, and thus structure his inner world."

Our role is even more vital for the child, for we demonstrate the very behavior that we are hoping to see. We help the child to experience how courteous it is to be on time, participating fully in the classroom activities and how both impact the surrounding environment.

Another Enjoyable Talent Show

GSCM has some very talented students. Twenty-one children in 18 different performances entertained parents, grandparents and guests at the 3rd Annual GSCM Talent Show last Thursday. From Second grader Katherine Fisher's opening acappella rendition of The Star Spangled Banner to 3rd grader Lucas Valle's dancing, with Zachary Richard's Tae Kwon Do and the singing Kaufmanns and piano and drum solos, it was an hour of jam packed songs, skits and poetry. If you missed it, you really missed something memorable. Thank you to all the performers and their parents. Look for pictures coming soon to the GSCM Facebook page.

Honoring Our Lady of Lourdes: Feb. 11

This year we named all of our classrooms after the archangels (for the pre-primary classrooms) or after a title of the Blessed Mother (for our grade school classrooms). Nicole Filer, lower elementary teacher in 6-9 Lourdes, shared the following reflection with her class community about the upcoming feast day of their patroness, Our Lady of Lourdes

This past week has given us all an opportunity to reflect on the great blessing it is to attend a Catholic school. The parents, faculty, students, and community at Good Shepherd are warranted experiences and opportunities not available elsewhere. Atrium, weekly school masses, special liturgical celebrations, and daily classroom prayer all provide the children and community with teachings and virtues that direct our hearts and minds back to Christ. Maria Montessori hoped to give children a glimpse of the universe so that they may then see the great scope of life, creation, humanity, and the unique and unrepeatable role they play in it. What a blessing we have that these children are presented with this ultimate Truth every day that we may then use as a building block for all other lessons.

Having the opportunity to share our Catholic faith also warrants the chance to share many smaller stories and lessons on a day-to-day basis. February 11th is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of one of our 6-9 classrooms. In addition to being our special model, she is more largely recognized by the Church as the patroness of those suffering from illnesses and those in need of healing. Our Lady first appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France more than 150 years ago. Thousands of pilgrims still flood to this place every year to pray and bath in these springs, in hopes of attaining deeper personal conversion and healing. For those of you unfamiliar, you can find more information about St. Bernadette and Lourdes here: http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/lourdes.htm

As we approach this special feast day, I invite you to join me, and many others around the world, in preparing for her feast day by praying this novena in her honor. The novena consists of a prayer and small reflection for each day, beginning today and concluding on February, 11th. A link to this novena can be found here: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm

I hope to take this opportunity of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes to educate children about this beautiful story and grow closer to her. If you or anyone you know has been to Lourdes, or have stories and items you would like to share with the class, please know they are more than welcome!

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!

If you are non-Catholic or away from the Church and would like to speak personally with someone at our school to ask questions or learn more about the Catholic faith, feel free to contact

            Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org)

            Jana Widmeyer (jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org)

One of us can speak with you, or we can direct you to another member of our community who can do so.

2013-14 Registration Information

Registration materials for 2013-14 are being mailed to all families today via U.S. Mail. You should receive your registration material by Thursday.

Priority Registration Period for 2013-14: January 22-February 8

The priority registration period for the 2013-14 school year will run from January 22 through February 8. During this time, current GSCM students may re-register and their siblings may apply for acceptance for 2013-14. We reserve enrollment for all current students and give priority consideration for all sibling applications through February 8. After that date, openings are no longer reserved but are offered to new applicants. Re-enrollment forms and tuition information will be sent home on Tuesday, January 22 and will also be available on line at  www.gscmontessori.org.

Financial Aid Application Process for 2013-14 School Year

The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori offers a financial aid program for current and incoming students. To apply for financial aid for the 2013-14 school year, parents must submit a financial aid application to Private School Aid Service by Friday, March 4. By mid-April, GSCM will notify parents of the amount of aid (if any) they will receive from the school. Financial aid applications are available from Lynette Rosati Shim in the school office and can be downloaded from our website, www.gscmontessori.org. Go to "Admissions/Financial Aid." If you have any questions, please contact Lynette Rosati Shim in the school office. 

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