October 29, 2013

In This Issue

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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

If we pray, then we will believe.

if we believe, then we will love -

because the fruit of Faith is love,

and the fruit of love is service.

Iif we want to deepen our Faith,

we must deepen our oneness with Christ.

Without seeing him we pray to him,

we turn to him, we cling to him,

we love him without seeing him.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Upcoming Dates

Fri, Nov. 1 All Saints' Day Mass and Eucharistic Procession,

8:15 - 9:45 a.m.

Fri, Nov. 1 Mom's Scripture Group, 10:00 a.m.

Tues., Nov. 5 First Tuesday "Montessori Language", 10:30-11:30 am

Thurs., Nov. 7 Parent-Child Evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 8 Oratory Festival Finale, 1:30 p.m.

Fri. Nov. 8 End of First Trimester

Mon., Nov. 11 NO SCHOOL, Teacher Records Day

Fri., Nov. 15 Progress Reports (Elementary/MS) go home

Nov. 18-22 Parent-Teacher Conference Week

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

All Saints' Day Mass and Eucharistic Procession:

Friday, 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, where the pre-primary children will join us. Then, we will all process back to the church for final Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

This is a lovely way to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints! Please join us!

"First Tuesday" Montessori 101: Montessori Language

November 5, 2013, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the atrium

How does the Montessori classroom build a rich language experience for my child? How do children learn to read and write? What will my child be working on at age 3? age 4? age 5? How can I support my child's developing language skills at home?

Carrie Bucksath will walk you through the Montessori Language curriculum, beginning with early language activities (matching, sequencing, syllable work, I Spy and rhyming) and then examining the sandpaper letters and the movable alphabet sequence. If time allows, we will also look at how our Montessori children explode into reading!

Child care is available for this event. Please RSVP to Nancy Toon, ntoon@gscmontessori.org.

Parent-Child Evening (For Pre-Primary and Elementary Children and Parents)

Thurs., Nov. 7, 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.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Over 170 grandparents and friends spent the morning on our campus last Friday for the Annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. Our event

coordinators and volunteers provided a warm greeting and hospitality for our guests from the moment of check-in. Students had the opportunity to go to mass with their grandparents and special friends, show them many of the Montessori works in the classrooms, take them for delicious snacks in the Atrium, shop the Book Fair and entertain in song and recitation

n at the end of the morning. A special thank you to Mary Beth Escamilla, Amie Bressert and Sheri Mitchell for coordinating the event and a big thank you to everyone who attended and all who worked diligently to make this event a success.

Montessori Moments

Open-air Poetry

By LinMarie Cameron, Upper Elementary Directress

As we prepared for Rick Sowash's recent visit, the Upper Elementary class focused on writing descriptive passages with "juicy" words. The student writers tried to paint the picture in the reader's mind by touching on their senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch. The formal assignment over, the class focus moved on to the oratory research, but some students were captivated by the idea of writing with vivid imagery.

The next week, a trio of students brought me the poetry they'd been writing in open class time, and asked if they could work on the hillside. The warm sun and light breeze would be the perfect inspiration for their art, they explained, and they assured me it would be a positive learning experience for them. Of course, they'd be good role models for others.

What winning ways these children have! Not only are they becoming dedicated writers, but our Upper El students are continually developing their persuasive reasoning skills. Watching them work out on the hillside was a positive experience for me as well-the Montessori environment isn't limited to the classroom, nor the curriculum to the teacher.

Office News

School Pictures

Pictures came home by backpack mail last week. All picture orders should have been turned back in to your child's teacher no later than today, (except makeup/retake orders). Orders received after today will not be processed.

Picture orders should be back before Thanksgiving break.

Congratulations

Congratulations to GSCM Middle School students Joseph Harris, Nicodemus Kaufman, and Nick Widmeyer whose soccer team won the league and advances to the state tournament.

Reminder of Cold Weather Dress Code

In the last newsletter we asked you to be sure to label clothing now that it is getting colder and children are wearing sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts etc. In this newsletter we would like to remind you what the dress code is for sweaters/sweatshirts, tights/leggings, and boots being worn to school. The dress code in the student handbook states the following:

Sweaters: A plain navy or red sweater (cardigan, crew, V-neck or vest) may be worn, (with or without the GSCM logo).

Sweatshirts: Official "The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori" sweatshirts, purchased through the school spiritwear, may be worn in lieu of uniform sweaters. No other sweatshirts may be worn in the classroom.

Boots: No boots may be worn in the classrooms (children may wear boots at recess and of course to and from school whenever they like and they have to have boots for recess when it snows. Students just need to have an extra pair of shoes to change into for the classroom).
Exception: middle school students may wear 'Ugg'-like or dress boots in the months of November through March only.

We appreciate your help in making sure that your child comes to school in the proper attire.

Reporting Absences

Parents, please make sure when your child is going to be absent that you call the OFFICE to report it. Please try to call by 8:30. You should call each day that your child is going to be out, unless you indicated the number of days he/she would be out initially. Telling the teacher is not sufficient. If you email, make sure that you get a response. If Nancy is out of the office she will not be checking her email.

Thanksgiving Dinner at St. Margaret/St. John Parish

The members of St. Margaret/St. John Parish would like to invite you and your families to a delicious turkey dinner on Sunday, November 10^th. The dinner will be held at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, 6000 Murray Rd. 45227. It will run from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. Everything from the entrée to the dessert is included for the low price of $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. If you have any questions please call Maryann or John Heitker at 271-6808

Correction to Directory

Please correct Deborah Sensel-Davis' email in your directory. She is listed under "staff". Her email is dsensel-davis@gscmontessori.org

Lands End Sale

November 4-12 Lands End is having a Friends and Family Sale . 30% off everything online and in store and free shipping on orders over $50. Our school code is 900041674 and the logo is 1192492k if you decide to order.

Sports News:

Congratulations

Congratulations to GSCM Middle School students Joseph Harris, Nicodemus Kaufman, and Nick Widmeyer whose soccer team won the league and advances to the state tournament.

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. We are pleased to list our sponsors:

PREMIERE SPONSOR