News from The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori

April 16, 2013

In This Issue

Attention Kroger Shoppers! It's time to re-enroll so that you can raise money for GSCM
Go to http://www.kroger.com/Community/Pages/community_rewards.aspx

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

"Educating is very demanding, sometimes it is quite hard on our always limited human capacities. But educating becomes a marvelous mission if it is done in collaboration with God, who is the first and true educator of every man."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Upcoming Dates

April 15-18 Middle School Civil Rights Trip

Friday, April 19 GSCM Moms' Retreat, 8-3 at GSCM Wednesday, April 24 Parent Presentation: Summer Facility Plans,

6:30 - 7:00 p.m..

Wednesday, April 24 Parent Forum: "Facebook, Social Media, and

Our Children", 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 25 "Ask Our Father" Campaign Kick-Off, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, April 26 Eucharistic Adoration, 11:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 28 Come worship together at Old St. Mary's

church, 9:15 a.m.

Monday, April 29 3-6 Parent Night: Encouraging Your Young

Child's Literacy Skills, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 1 "Cinderella" Dress Rehearsal, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 2 First Communion Parent Meeting, 5:15-6:15

p.m.

Thursday, May 2 "Cinderella" (Upper El/Middle School Drama),

6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 3 "Cinderella" (Upper El/Middle School Drama),

6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 7 3-6 Parent Event: Raising Inquisitive,

Independent Children, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 8 May Crowning

8:30 (elementary/middle school)

10:00 (pre-primary)

May 15-18 First Communion Retreat

Saturday, May 18 First Holy Communion, 10:00 a.m. at GSCM

Wednesday, May 22 Fine Arts Center Benefit Concert, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, May 27 Memorial Day, No School

Friday, May 31 Field Day, Last Day of School

Saturday, June 8 Summer Work Day, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

GSCM Moms' Retreat: This Friday, April 19

All Moms of GSCM, a (much-needed) day of Christian renewal will be held for you at our church at GSCM on Friday, April 19th. The retreat has been conveniently scheduled during school hours from 8:00 a.m.to 3:00 p.m. This day of reflection will help you discover what's missing in your life and answer questions like, "Where is the joy or peace?"

Fr Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh, an *amazing* and world-renowned speaker, will lead our day of reflection. We will also enjoy a testimony from a local Catholic mom who has seen the hand of God in her vocation,

The retreat is being generously sponsored by the GSCM PTO, so it is FREE for all mothers of the school. Delicious coffee and yummy snacks will be included. A catered lunch will be provided for $5.00 or you may bring your own lunch.

Seriously consider taking the day off and/or getting a babysitter for your younger children (nursing infants are welcomed). Make it a great Friday that will help lead you to spiritual renewal or bolster your life as a mother.

Please RSVP to Bridget Kaufman by email, phone or text. Bridget_Kaufman@yahoo.com

Local-513-696-9011 or Cell- 317-313-7887.

"Ask Our Father" Campaign

St. Augustine once said, "Pray like it all depends on God; work like it all depends on you." In this spirit, we are initiating a school-wide prayer campaign for the success of our summer building plans.

Summer Improvements Parent Presentation: Wed., April 24, 6:30-7:00 p.m.

Parents who missed the Spring Gala can see our beautiful new school video (courtesy of Karen Guilford) and enjoy an overview of our summer imporvement plans with Dan Teller, including a preview of architectural renderings.

"Ask Our Father" Student Assembly: Thur., April 25, 2:30 p.m.

We will share our school video, present our summer plans to our K-8 students, and introduce a prayer campaign for the success of our work. More information to follow in future newsletters.

Eucharistic Adoration: Fri., April 26, 11:00-2:30

Coming before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, we will ask Our Father for blessings on our summer work. Preschool through lower elementary children will participate in Exposition at 11:00 a.m. Upper el and middle school students will participate in Benediction at 2:30 p.m. All parents and students are invited to spend time with Jesus throughout the afternoon.

Flowers Needed: Please consider donating a potted plant or flower of any size shape, or color to decorate the altar and church for our special day of Eucharistic Adoration. If each child or family would like to donate a lovely flower for the altar, please bring it to school the week of April 22-26th. There will be a box in the front entry way labeled for you to leave your donated flowers any time that entire week. If the children would like to make their flowers more special by putting their names or a name tag on the flower pots this would be a beautiful gift to our Lord! The child could put a name tag labeled "To Jesus, Love, (and their name)" or any other creative way the child would like to offer his/her gift to Jesus that week. After the Eucharistic Adoration day all the flowers would be planted around the school yard and play ground areas in order to beautify our entire campus area with the children's flowers to Jesus.

Summer Work Day: June 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Now it will be time for us to work "like it depends on us"! Join us for part or all of our summer work day. We will prepare for summer renovations, paint, clean, do minor repairs, etc. More information to follow.

Parent Forum: "Facebook, Social Media, and OUr Children"
Wed., April 24, 7:00 p.m.
Please join us in the Middle School for an open forum discussion about social media, Facebook in particular, and your children. Ask questions! Share experiences! This is a chance to share our collective wisdom and learn from one another. Some of you have personal experience with this and could pass along your wisdom to others who are just beginning to guide their child through the many twists and turns of the cyberworld. RSVP or questions: please contact Mary Hamiter at mhamiter@gscmontessori.org
.

3-6 Parent Night: Encouraging Your Young Child's Literacy Skills

Monday, April 29, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

What early language skills will help my 3-6 year old prepare for reading and writing?
How are these skills developed at a Montessori school and how can I support these skills at home?
What is phonemic awareness? Why is it the foundational skill for future language skills? How can I help my child develop this language skill?

Please join our pre-primary teachers on April 29 to learn more about your young child's developing literacy skills and how you can encourage them at home. Please RSVP to ntoon@gscmontessori.org

GSCM Fine Arts Center Benefit Concert

Wednesday, May 22, 7:00 p.m.

Featuring

David Fishlock, CSO Chief Percussionist
Gabriel Pegis, CSO Principal Violinist
Michael Chertock, CSO keyboardist
Catherine Fishlock, Mezzo Soprano
And other guest youth artists!

The money raised at this concert will help create our Fine Arts Center. Please consider purchasing a ticket as a friend, patron or benefactor of the arts at GSCM! More info to come!

Join other GSCM Familes at the Novus Ordo Mass at Old St. Mary's Church

Sunday, April 28, 9:15 a.m.

Year of Faith Logo As a component of our community's faith journey during the Year of Faith called by His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, we would like to invite our school families to worship together on Sunday, April 28 at the Novus Ordo Latin Mass (9:15AM) at Old St Mary's Church in Over the Rhine.

Cincinnati is one of the few places in the world where the Novus Ordo Latin Mass is celebrated (as opposed to the more common Tridentine Latin Mass). There will be plenty of Latin-English Mass guides, so it will be very easy for all to follow along. The GSCM community will have a unique opportunity to broaden our faith experience as we journey along together through the Year of Faith.

Old St. Mary's is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest standing house of worship in the city of Cincinnati. Here in 1841-42, the German Catholics of Cincinnati built St. Mary's Church, reportedly using bricks baked in their own kitchen ovens. The church has been renovated throughout the years, and is now a holy and beautiful environment to spend time with God.

Old St. Mary's Church is located at 123 East 13th Street. Street parking is ample, however there is a large lot next to the church, as well as a smaller lot behind it.

The pastor has asked how many GSCM families will be attending, so please RSVP to dteller@gscmontessori.org if you plan to attend.

Building News

Roof Replacement

Over Easter vacation, we replaced the roof on the school building. This work was long overdue, and when we purchased the building in December, the Board of Trustees made this our first priority. Not only are we water-tight now, but the roof's new white reflective surface will help keep the building cooler in warm weather. Many thanks to Dalton Roofing for working so cooperatively with us to complete this important improvement in a timely manner.

Kudos to GSCM Staff!
Our staff recently completed 21 hours of professional in-service with LETRS (Language Essentials in Teaching Reading and Spelling). The presenter, Dr. Richard Sparks, is an internationally-recognized researcher and educational consultant, and has served as a graduate professor of education at the College of Mt. St. Joseph since 1980. With this breadth of experience, the following words about our staff are particularly powerful. Dr. Sparks said,

I presented three LETRS (Language Essentials for Teaching Reading and Spelling) modules to your teaching corps at Good Shepherd Montessori School [21 hours of in-service]. I have presented dozens of workshops and seminars and taught many, many graduate courses in my career since 1980. I can honestly say that the teachers at your school are the most knowledgeable group about the sound-symbol system and the structure of the English language that I have encountered in one place. All of the teachers were not only interested in the content of the modules but also asked relevant and challenging questions. Each time, they were so intent on the material, no one seemed to notice that time had expired and the session was in "overtime." What a bright and engaging group!

Office and General News
Attention Kroger Shoppers! Raise Money for GSCM. Re-enrollment Required Now.

The Kroger Community Rewards program allows schools and other non-profit groups to raise money for free. Parents, family members, and friends earn dollars for GSCM every time they use their Kroger Plus card! By enrolling and asking others to enroll, 4% of what Kroger Community Rewards enrollees spend goes back to the organization of their choice as a donation!

Re-enrollment is required every April. Please take the time to re-enroll or enroll for the first time now! Follow the link below and select The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori (organization number 80140).

http://www.kroger.com/COMMUNITY/Pages/community_rewards.aspx

If you have any questions about enrollment feel free to contact Nicolay Walz at nicolay.walz@cchmc.org, or 513-290-5529.

Summer Drama Camp

The Backyard Theatre Company director and founder, Rhonda Hamall, invites you to Summer Drama Camp!!

Week 1: July 15 - 19

Week 2: July 22 - Aug. 2 (this is a 2 week camp )

Week 3: Aug. 5-9 for 5th grade thru 8th grade (only)

All camps 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Friday performances 11:15 to 12:00 noon

Campers Kindergarten through 8th grade

Come Join The Fun! No experience necessary.

Costume making, set direction, basic theatre terms, plus live theatre experience

All 1 week camps $125, 2 week camp $250

Registration includes camp T-shirt and live performance Friday of each week. Guests welcome at performances. New plays presented each week. Questions or more information contact Rhonda Hamall

513-238-4459 or rhonda@hamall.us

Reminder: IPM Collection This Thursday

Don't forget Thursday's collection of beans for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry. You can bring it in a day or two early or, if you do forget it Thursday, you can bring it in Friday.

McNicholas High School presents Grease

McNicholas High School presents Grease: The School Version on April 19 at 7:30 p.m., April 20 at 7:30 p.m. and April 21 at 2:00 p.m. All tickets are $10.00 To purchase tickets email vcombs@mcnhs.org.

Grease: Junior High Preview Night Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m. is a special Junior High Preview Night for McNicholas High School's spring musical Grease. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., families are invited stop by our Future Rocket Soda Shop for a light pre-show dinner of hot dogs, sodas, & a special treat, compliments of McNicholas High School. Admission is free, but a $5 donation to the Rocket Theatre program is suggested.

Bring your entire family to join us for this festive occasion. Reserved seating is available for large groups with advanced notice. Contact Julie Dumont at jdumont@mcnhs.org or 231-3500 x5825 by April 11 to reserve your seats for Preview Night today!

McNicholas Summer Camp Schedule Announced

Launch into Summer 2013 with the Rockets! McNicholas High School is excited to again offer summer day camps for students entering grades 1-9! Camps run the weeks of June 10, 17, and 24, and July 15 and include our Rocket Athlete Champ Camps and our Blast Off for Fun Camps.

Click here for a detailed list of camps. Every camper will receive a t-shirt. For more information, visit www.mcnhs.org and click the Summer Camp icon at the bottom of the home page. Register by April 30, 2012 and save 10% per camp! Laffalot Camp requires a separate registration form and does not qualify for discounts. Click here to register for Laffalot Boys Camp and Laffalot Girls Camp. Questions? Contact Director of Communications Angie Noble at 513.231.3500 x5824 or anoble@mcnhs.org.

Thank You, Family!

We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
back to top