I love you Jesus, you're my best friend forever and ever.

This is the day that you have risen.

I have loved you for my whole life.

For me you are the one I love most.

Atrium prayer by Zoe, age 6

Nov. 18-22         Parent-Teacher Conference Week

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

Nov. 27-29         NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break  

Tues., Dec 3     Catechesis of The Good Shepherd Parent Night 7pm  

"Help Me Come Closer to God by Myself"

Encountering Jesus through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

December 3, 2013, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Childhood is the time for a spiritual life marked by wonder, joy, and a personal relationship with Jesus.  How does the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd respond to these capacities of the child and nurture a joyful, genuine relationship between the child and Jesus, our Good Shepherd? 

Dan Teller will present a series of beautiful atrium presentations, and offer insights as to how you can nurture your child's spiritual formation.

Program News

Will You Help Us Win "Preschool of the Year 2013?"

We are excited to announce we have been nominated & are participating in "Hulafrog's Preschool of the Year 2013 ~ Parent's Pick" contest! We would LOVE to win & need a little help from our friends to earn the prestigious title! The contest is simple & running via Facebook from Mon, Nov. 18 at noon - Tues. Nov. 26 at noon.

Voting is easy! 

1) Follow this link https://www.facebook.com/HulafrogCincinnatiEastsideOH 

2) Click on the "Preschool Contest" box (next to "likes" at the top of the page), 

3) Enter your email address to subscribe for free to Hulafrog's editorial "Our Picks" (local, can't miss family & kid-friendly events) 

4) Write "The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori" in the voting box to cast your vote for your favorite preschool program. 

You'll be stepped through the process, once you are on the preschool contest page. Please be assured that Hulafrog keeps your email address private & never shares your information.

If you are not familiar with Hulafrog, the site has quickly become the go-to resource bridging parents & caregivers with the best family & kid-friendly events, goods, services & organizations, including schools. Parents love to check their jam-packed events calendar to find all sorts of up-to-date, local, family events including park or library affairs, festivals, open houses, open studios, story times, open play... anything fun they can get out & do (lots of them are free too)! Hulafrog's comprehensive biz directories are used to search for classes, camps, birthday party venues, schools plus so much more!

And even more important, this contest will be a GREAT way for us to spread the word locally about our wonderful school. Your endorsement alone speaks volumes when prospective parents are deciding where to send their little ones to school.

Thank you so much for giving The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori your vote of confidence in this fun contest!  If we win, we will receive a free marketing campaign on Hulafrog to promote our upcoming open house to thousands of local parents, PLUS a donation from Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Anderson that we can use for a pizza party & of course exclusive bragging rights to being named "The Preschool of the Year ~ 2013!"

Conference Childcare

Parents, please remember that children may not be left unattended while you are in a conference. If you have a conference scheduled between 3:00 and 5:30, and you need childcare for any of your GSCM children, we are offering childcare in our aftercare program.  The cost is $5 per child for 30 minutes.  You must contact Nancy Toon in the office to let her know that you will be using it with the date/time and number of children.  Payment is due the day of the conference.

Montessori Moment

"I Can't Wait to Learn That!"

By Jeana Olszewski, Lower Elementary Directress

One advantage of the mixed-age Montessori classroom is the inspiration and motivation that an older student's work can impart to a younger child.  In our classroom, the second levels have been learning dynamic (borrowing/exchanging) subtraction with a math material called   the bead frame.  In working through our Montessori sequence, the first levels have not yet worked with the bead frame. 

I have observed one first level girl who has watched almost every lesson I have given the second levels with this material.  After a few days of just watching and not saying anything, she excitedly came to me with a big smile on her face.  Our conversation went like this:

 "Mrs. Olszewski, could I have a lesson on the bead frame today?  You know, the one the second levels are using."

I replied,  "Of course,"  but then looked at the clock and it was time for gym class.  "Oh, it is time to clean up, so I won't have time to give it to you today.  I can give it to you in the morning."

 "What?  Aww... no!  I really wanted that lesson.  Could you give it to me first thing, like very first thing in the morning?"

 Of course, I promised that I would.  The first level child then went to Ms. Filer and announced that she was getting a bead frame lesson, right away, very first thing, in the morning.  

So, of course, first thing in the morning, we met and I told her what to bring to the lesson. The look on her face was priceless.  I gave her the lesson.  She was attentive and quickly understood the work.  I stayed with her a bit, and then gave her additional problems to do independently.  She worked for more than a half hour and did 9 math problems.  At the end, as I was checking her work, she asked if tomorrow she could have a lesson on the bead frame with exchanging (regrouping.)  "Of course," I replied.  "How about first thing in the morning?"

 And so the cycle continues.  Our environment lends itself to endless inspiration and fosters a love of learning.  What a blessing it is to have the freedom and ability to respond to each child's inspiration and desire for learning.

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Atrium Moment

By Jana Widmeyer, Catechist

One thing that makes GSCM different from other Montessori schools is that we offer a Montessori based religion program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).   While this program is found in some Catholic, Episcopal and a few Protestant parishes around the world, there are very few schools that offer CGS.  We are very fortunate to have this beautiful program at the core of our school.

Our students spend time each week in the Atrium.  Recently, after a group lesson on the Summary of the Law in which Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, the children were busy with individual work.  One boy was copying the 10 Commandments to hang on his bedroom wall.  Another child was making a manger scene with a live flower as the star over the stable.  A group of children gathered around the small altar and read and sang.   Two girls made a large poster with the words, "I love Jesus".   

Ray a 1^st level student along with Joseph and Liam both 2^nd levels wrote a song together.  Each one provided a verse.  Joseph, in sharing this song with the class at prayer time, told them it was a "call and response" song.  He led and we responded.

God, I love you.                        God, I love you.

Yes, I do.                      Yes, I do.

I shall not kill.                I shall not kill.

Yes, I won't.                  Yes, I won't.

God you are my shield.God you are my shield.

Yes, you are.                Yes, you are.

That same day, 1^st level student Gabe also wrote and presented his song to the class.

We wock [sic] in God's Foot Steps.

The path of the good shepherd of God

I will wock in his foot steps

We shall wock in God's foot steps.

We chood [sic] do it

We chood do it

Then we chood

Don't you agree?

The words of Jesus ring so true in the Atrium.  "Let the children come to me...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16