October 1, 2013

In This Issue

Attention Kroger Shoppers! It's time to re-enroll so that you can raise money for GSCM
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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

"May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us."

St. Therese of Lisieux

October 1 is her feast day.

Tue., Oct. 1 Rick Sowash visit to GSCM (all day)

Tue., Oct. 1 First Communion Parent Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 1 Lower Elementary Parent Education Evening,

7: 00 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 2 Drama Club rehearsals begin (after school)

Thurs., Oct 3 IPM Canned Fruit Collection

Fri., Oct 4 Mom's Scripture Meditation Group, 9:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Thurs., Oct. 10 WALKATHON and Carnival

1:00 Early Dismissal, No PM bus

Fri., Oct. 11 Staff In-Service, NO SCHOOL

Oct. 21-25 GSCM Book Fair

Fri., Oct. 25 Grandparents/Special Friends Day

THIS WEEK...

TONIGHT...

Lower Elementary Parent Education Evening

"Give the World to the Child": Montessori Cultural Studies

Tuesday, October 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Parents Only (Pre-Primary parents, please feel free to join us!)

Our lower elementary teachers will present an overview of our three-year cultural cycle at our upcoming Parent Education Evening: "Give the World to the Child." Curriculum integration is a defining characteristic of Montessori Education, and the "Montessori cultural curriculum" beautifully integrates all subjects,

In her book, From Childhood to Adolescence, Dr. Montessori says, "Let us give the world to the child." She says, further, that we should "sow the seeds of all sciences when the child has a special sensitive period for imagination. (6-12 years)

Please join us for the wonderful opportunity to see many of the cultural materials that your child will experience in the lower elementary. This parent night is open to current 6-9 parents as well as pre-primary parents who are interested in the lower elementary curriculum.

Please RSVP to Nancy in the office ntoon@gscmontessori.org

Walkathon and Carnival News

This year's GSCM Walkathon is shaping up to be the best yet.

Thanks to the leadership of GSCM Parent, Jenny Dammarell and her team, who put together an exciting incentive package, GSCM students hit the ground running at last week's kick off and by Friday had collected just under $2,800 with 56 students participating.

At this point, Mrs. Damico's 3-6 Classroom, St. Raphael, leads in amount of dollars collected per student with 9-12 Guadalupe (Griffin side) close behind. The class that collects the most money by Thursday, October 3, gets a Donuts and OJ breakfast on Friday. And if the students together raise $6,000, Mr. Teller has promised to engage in a water gun battle with the entire student body! Money raised during this Walkathon is for two very good causes - the work of The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori and Hands Together's projects to educate, feed and clothe children in Port au Prince, Haiti.

The Walkathon's success also is dependent on the generosity of our sponsors, many of whom are from our school families. Thank you to Monica Blackburn for spearheading the drive for corporate sponsorships. Please see our list of sponsors at the end of this newsletter

Don't Forget the Carnival

We will continue the Walkathon excitement that evening with the Carnival at school from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. There will be food, games, prizes, entertainment, and raffles. Please plan to join us for a fun event for the entire family. The bracelets that the students earn for collecting Walkathon donations can be exchanged for tickets for Carnival games and food.

To make sure we have enough food and drink, please RSVP for the Carnival on the Walkathon website at www.gscmontessori.org. While there, why don't you order a walkagram, too? Walkagrams will greet all walkers that morning and will remain for all Carnival goers to see, too.

Item Needed: fire pit

If you have one we can borrow, please contact Jana Widmeyer at jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org.

Volunteer for the walkathon and carnival at Click here. Middle School and High School students can volunteer at the carnival for community/school service hours credit. Contact: Jana Widmeyer at jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org.

Mom's Scripture Meditation Group

Fridays, Oct. 4, 18; Nov. 1, 15; Dec. 6; 9:15-11:15 a.m.

In church following Mass.

Please join us every first and third Friday of the month after morning Mass to meditate on Scripture and enjoy sharing with each other. This group is open to all Mothers regardless of faith denomination. Come and share in a time of fellowship with each other as we learn to listen to Our Lord together! If needed, please bring a light breakfast or coffee/drink to sip on during our meeting time. Ladies, this "smooth talking" Word of God has so much more to tell us. You don't want to miss out on HIM! Any questions, email Karen at ekguilford@fuse.net

Grandparents/Special Friends Day: Friday, October 25

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

Invitations and RSVP procedures will be shared with our families soon!

GSCM Book Fair: October 21-25

The GSCM Book Fair begins October 21 and runs through October 25, 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!

Montessori Moments

Caring and Social Awareness in a Multi-Age Setting

By Jenny Griffin, Upper Elementary Directress

"Montessori Moments" can be big and grand, involve two mats lined up side by side, and at times be loud. However, many times these Montessori moments are small and subtle, take place in the corner of a classroom, and are extremely quiet.

I recently was reminded of this during an afternoon open work period in our upper elementary classroom. Our 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade classes operate as one community. For organizational purposes the children are divided into two homerooms in which they start their day and have key lessons. However, during the week children in both homerooms are mixed for specials, open work blocks, and group prayer. This mixing and interacting helps support and emphasize our desire for one community that nurtures and cares for each other.

During the course of an afternoon there is much work accomplished and a bustle of activity. There are also multiple opportunities for social interactions. Recently, I was witness to a very simple interaction that reinforced my appreciation for the multi-age classroom. I was observing two 4^th grade girls excitedly involved in a work. They were looking for a table at which to sit and unintentionally sat in another 4^th grader's vacant seat. I heard from across the room, "Hey, I am working here!" It was apparent that this student felt pushed upon and territorial. The other two students looked taken aback and were about to flee the scene. I thought about intervening and smoothing the ruffled feathers but didn't need to because unbeknownst to me a 6^th grader sitting at the next table was also taking in the scene. She offered gentle, quiet direction. Within seconds the three fourth graders were gathered at the table working on their assignments, interacting graciously and looking over each other's work.

I see this scene over and over again with various outcomes. Watching these small Montessori moments reminds me that the children in our classrooms develop into caring, socially aware communities because they are provided with the opportunity to work and interact in a multi-age setting.

Office News

Reminder: Canned Fruit Collection Thursday

Please don't forget our collection Thursday for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry. We're collecting canned fruit. If you still happen to forget, you can bring it on Friday.

GSCM Parent Communication Network

Communicate directly with other parents at GSCM by using our email networking. When you post a bulletin, a moderator approves the content, then it is sent to all GSCM families via email. Every family will automatically be added to this Google Group. If you would like to opt-out of participation, you can unsubscribe from the community posts at any time by sending an e-mail to gscmcommunity+unsubscribe@gscmontessori.org.

GSCM Choir

Due to insufficient interest, the GSCM children's choir meetings have been cancelled. If there appears to be more interest at a later date, we will pursue it again at that time.

Parking Notice

Morning Drop-Off Drivers: The lane next to the school sidewalk is reserved for drop-off/pass-through traffic only. If you intend to park and escort your child into the school, please park in one of the designated parking spots in our lots.

True or False: GSCM has Facebook and Twitter accounts? True!

Be sure to "like" GSCM on Facebook and "follow" GSCM on Twitter! Social media can help you stay connected with what's going on at school. Plus, it's a great way to spread the good news about our wonderful school with your friends and family.

If you have any questions about GSCM's Facebook and Twitter accounts, please contact Trisha Underwood at tunderwood@gscmontessori.org or Annie King at annking@gscmontessori.org.

Twitter URL: https://twitter.com/GSCMontessori

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Good-Shepherd-Catholic-Montessori/144274302260401

Playhouse in the Park Performance at The Barn

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's production of FAKE FLOWERS DON'T DIE by John Yearley will be performed at The Barn (Woman's Art Club Cultural Center at 6980 Cambridge Ave. in Mariemont) on Sunday, October 6 at 2pm. FAKE FLOWERS DON'T DIE is the 12th recipient of the Macy's New Play Prize for Young Audiences, for which national playwrights are chosen by the Playhouse to create new work specifically for young people. The play is made possible through a grant from the Macy's Foundation. The world premiere play is the story of four children who discover a magic lamp that may or may not grant three wishes. Their initial excitement is tempered when measured against the needs of real-life wishes and the tensions of friendship. FAKE FLOWERS DON'T DIE is appropriate for ages 7 and up. "It's a great play for those beginning their transition to adulthood, those in the midst of that transition and those who have been there before," said Mark Lutwak, the Playhouse's education director. "The circumstances are humorous, quirky and believable." For reservations, please visit www.artatthebarn.org or call The Barn at 272-3700. Admission is $5/person, sponsored by MPF.

Garage Sale Leftovers

Our garage sale is officially over now. If you took items and haven't sent in your donation yet, please do so right away. Thank you to all! We made over $200. We plan on having another garage sale in the spring or summer. We'll let you know in advance so you can start saving items.

Key Found

Did you lose a single key on a University of Alabama lanyard? If so, it's in the office.

PTO News

The New Shepherd and Falcon Wardrobe

The PTO welcomes you to stop by the new Shepherd and Falcon Wardrobe located at the end of the upper hallway by the Spanish room. You may shop the wardrobe's inventory of clean, gently used uniform items at your leisure. By purchasing a used uniform item you will not only be paying pennies on the dollar for a uniform essential, but will also be supporting the PTO in its ongoing efforts of stewarding and enriching our school community.
The Shepherd and Falcon Wardrobe is always accepting donations of gently used items you no longer have use for. If you would like to donate, please accept our sincere thanks. Simply bring in your donations anytime and place in the basket located on top of the wardrobe.

Lost and Found
The Lost and Found is now located in bins located under the wardrobe. Lost and Found items will be cleared out periodically during the school year and the items not claimed will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Bins will be cleared the last day of each trimester as well as after school on the last day before the Christmas and Easter holiday breaks. If you're missing something, don't forget to check the Lost and Found!

Volunteer News

Grounds Care Help Wanted

Can you spend a few minutes after school pulling some weeds from the garden areas (perhaps when your child is here for an after-school activity). Just 10-20 minutes required periodically. If you can help with this volunteer task, contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org). Thank you!

Volunteering Makes School Events a Success! Consider How You Can Help!

You will be getting many requests for volunteering throughout the school year. There is something for everyone! Here are some upcoming needs for Fall events.

Please click here to sign up for 2013 Walkathon on @VolunteerSpot today! If you have any further questions about Walkathon contact Jenny Dammarell (Jbdammarell@yahoo.com)

Click here to sign up for 2013 Book Fair. If you have further questions about the book fair contact Rachel Friemoth (rfriemoth@fuse.net).

Click here to sign up for 2013 Grandparents' Day. If you have further questions about Grandparents' Day contact Amie Bressert (amierae@gmail.com) or Mary Beth Escamilla (mbviv@hotmail.com).

If you can volunteer to help as a Baker throughout the year, contact Rachel Sabo (rachel.sabo16@gmail.com).

If you have any problems signing up or have general questions about volunteering at GSCM, please feel free to contact Nicolay Walz (Nicolay.walz@gmail.com).

Sports News:

GSCM Girls Volleyball

We are currently accepting registration for girls volleyball. Registration is open to girls in 3rd-8th grade. We have enough coaches now, we just need some more players. Registration forms went home with all 3rd-8th grade girls, but if you need another one, contact Mary Rieke. Note the season runs from early January through the first weekend in March and practices should start in December. If you have any questions, contact Mary Rieke at mary.rieke@gmail.com

Boys Basketball Winter Team

What's new in Hoops? We now have aBoys Basketball Team for grades 3 and 4. Marcus Alexander will be leading this group throughout the fall and winter months. We will post the schedule so you can cheer for our Falcons. If your son is still interested in joining them, please contact Marcus Marcus.Lancaster@qg.com for details. Again congrats on the team and good luck going forward!

Cavalier Football Grade School Night

The Cavalier Football program is off to a 3-2 start. This Friday, Oct. 4^th Purcell Marian is hosting the Bishop Fenwick Falcons at UC's Nippert Stadium at 7:30 pm. It is Grade School Night and you are invited to come out and cheer on the Cavaliers. All grade school students and a guest will be admitted FREE and also have an opportunity to have access to the field before and after the game. Students will also get an opportunity to speak with players and coaches.There will be prizes throughout the night along with special recognition of all grade schools in attendance that evening.

Parent Notices

FREE Parenting Webinar:

Get Kids to Listen Without Nagging, Reminding or Yelling

Sponsored by GSCM Sponsor Time Timer

Tired of nagging your kids? Attend a free webinar for parents that is offered by Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and frequent TODAY Show contributor. Join the live webinar on Thursday, October 3, at 9:00 p.m. to discover tools for handling frustrating parenting dilemmas, from toddler temper tantrums to teenage talking back, in a positive and respectful manner.

For more information and to register for the free webinar Click here

Space is limited, so please register today. No webcam is required; parents will see and hear Amy McCready on their screen and be able to ask questions discretely via chat. This free webinar is made possible for GSCM parents by Time Timer, a local business.

GSCM Student Winner of Bookmark Design Contest

Zoe Hyden, a kindergarten student in Mrs. Schmitt's class, is a winner of the Third Annual Bookmark Design Contest at the Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Crestview Hill, Ky. Her bookmark signing event is being held this Saturday from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. For more information, click here

Early Childhood Education Symposium

Saturday, Oct. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Sixth Annual Early Childhood Education Symposium will be held Saturday, Oct. 26 from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lower School Building at The Summit Country Day School Lower School, 2161 Grandin Road, 45208.

· Free. Open to the public.

· CEUs for teachers.

· Complimentary box lunch for those who register by Oct. 24.

· RSVP requested. Walk-ins welcome. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.

This year's keynote speaker is Dr. John Chattin-McNichols who will give an address entitled "Demystifying Montessori." For more information: Click here

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I Formation Course for Adults

You are invited to participate in a Level I formation training for adults, spanning four weekends in 2013 and 2014. Course dates are listed below. A special tuition rate is offered to GSCM parents. For more information, contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org).

Level I Formation Course Objectives

Ø To present the methodology and guiding principles of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as it especially pertains to the 3-6 year old child.

Ø To explore the religious nature and the most vital needs of the 3-6 year old child.

Ø To meditate on the Biblical and Liturgical themes presented to the 3-6 year old child.

Ø To provide an environment of support and encouragement to deepen our own enjoyment of God.

Ø To offer guidelines and assistance in preparing the Level I atrium environment, and in making the catechist's album and catechetical material.