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
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"The ancient saying, "There is nothing in the intellect which was not first in some way in the senses," and senses being explorers of the world, opens the way to knowledge.
Maria Montessori
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Upcoming Dates
Thurs. & Fri., Feb 6 & 7 Beauty & the Beast presented by Upper El & Middle School 6:30 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 7 Cub Scout Meeting
Thurs., Feb. 13 Bring in a tomato product for IPM
Fri., Feb. 14 End of Second Trimester
First Communion Mass of Enrollment , 8:15 a.m.
Sat., Feb 15 "Love and Marriage" Evening with Dr. Andrew Sodergren
7:00 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 17 NO SCHOOL, Teacher Records Day
Fri., Feb. 21 Second Trimester Progress Reports
Fri., Feb. 21 Cub Scout Meeting
Feb. 24-28 Parent-Teacher Conference Week
Fri., Feb. 28 NO SCHOOL, Conference Make-Up Day
Mon., March 3 Financial Aid Application Deadline
Wed., March 5 Ash Wednesday, 8:15 Mass
Thurs., March 6 Parent-Child Atrium Evening, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sat., March 8 "Our Backyard" SPRING GALA
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GSCM Drama Department Presents Beauty and the Beast
Thursday and Friday, Feb. 6 and 7, 6:30 p.m.
The GSCM Drama Department, featuring Middle School and Upper Elementary Students, will present Beauty and the Beast on Thursday, February 6th and Friday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. here at GSCM. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
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Parents -- How Will You Celebrate Valentines' Day?
Dinner in a crowded restaurant? Buying a dozen roses?
Why not shake things up this year and spend an evening learning about love?
Would you like to help your love grow?
Join us on Saturday, February 15th at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate the vocation to love in married life with a presentation by GSCM parent, Dr. Andrew J. Sodergren, M.T.S., Psy. D. of Ruah Woods. What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day then to spend an evening with your husband or wife learning:
- how you can help your love grow
- how to overcome common obstacles in marriage
- what Pope John Paul II's teachings in Theology of the Body can tell us about married love
We hope you'll join us at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori for this joyful celebration of love and good conversation. Wine, cheese and delicious desserts will be served. Childcare will be provided. In order that we may plan for appropriate childcare, please RSVP by Feb. 10th to Nancy Toon at (513) 271-4171 or ntoon@gscmontessori.org.
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Montessori Moments
Children as Teachers in a Multi-Age Environment
By Carrie Bucksath, 3-6 Directress
The multi-age classroom is a key characteristic and possibly one of the most beneficial assets of the Montessori environment. While our classrooms each have two adults, we are still obviously outnumbered by the children. The multi-age environment, however, provides many more "teachers" in the classroom. Montessori believed that if a child can teach a skill, then he has mastered that skill. It also allows the children the opportunity to observe children at different ages and abilities as they complete their work and absorb some of the richness and skills of the lessons they observe.
One day, I observed the children teaching each other in my preschool/kindergarten classroom. In just a few short minutes, I saw many examples of this.
- One of our three year old children was looking for a letter from the Sandpaper Letter shelf and was unable to find it. Rather than going to ask a teacher for help, he went over to one of the kindergarten children and asked for help, and she joyfully went and helped the child find the letter he needed (she didn't do it for him, she helped him find it himself!).
- Another three year old child he was having difficulty recalling the name of one of the Sandpaper Numerals and one of our five year old children offered him the name of that number.
- Two of our younger children were working with the Geometric Solids. They were having trouble recalling the name "pyramid" and one of the children passing by heard the boys deliberating and stopped to offer up the name for them.
These examples all came in just a few minutes of observation! The children enjoy helping others as much as they enjoy having another child help them to be successful! Plus, the benefits of children observing other children working are immeasurable!
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Interested in Exploring Catholicism?
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.
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Gala News:
Thank you to all those who have submitted donations for this year's Spring Gala taking place on Saturday, March 8! We have received several quality items, but we are still in need of more silent auction items.
Please note that we are NOT asking families to pay for a donation, but to kindly ask their favorite business to provide a gift for our silent auction.
Ideas for donations include, but are not limited to:
- · Neighborhood restaurants
- · Hair salons
- · Gym
- · Movie theaters
- · Art or Dance studios
A list of items has been posted on VolunteerSpot to help give you some ideas. If you choose to solicit a donation that is on the list, sign up on VolunteerSpot or send an email to Mary Beth Escamilla at mbviv@hotmail.com. Donations not listed on VolunteerSpot are also welcome and may be entered on the Gala website "Our Backyard" or emailed to Mary Beth Escamilla.
The link to view or sign up for items on VolunteerSpot is http://vols.pt/41MZhH.
Auction items may be dropped off at the school office. Thank you for contributing so generously to the support of our school!
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Office News:
Tomato Products Collection February 13th
Our next collection for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry will be Thursday, February 13th. We'll be collecting tomato products: whether pure tomato products (sauce, diced, etc.) or foods containing tomatoes (Spaghetti-Os, ravioli, etc.).
Please remember this when shopping for groceries this weekend. And thank you for all your generosity in past collections.
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Sports News:
2014 St. Gertrude Bulldogs Track
The St. Gertrude Track Program is open to ALL students in grades 1-8 in St. Gertrude School, All Saints, Good Shepherd Montessori, Nativity, and St. Mary's. Our program is also open to those students who are active parish members of the schools listed above in Religious Education or home schooled.
Practices are held at Madeira High School.
Meets are on Saturdays - a few of the 7-8th grade meets are held Friday nights. The meets are structured as follows
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Grades 1-4
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Instructional in nature. Running events include 50m, 100m 200m and a 400m relay. Field events are: Softball throw, long jump, (High Jump & shot put for 3rd & 4th)
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Grades 5-8
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Longest running event 800m, Field events are Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put, and Discus
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Head Coaches and Assistant coaches are needed.
Important Information: Cost $45 Registration Jan 27 - Feb 28
First Practice On or around March 4th First Meet Mar 28-29 St. Jude Invitational
Click Here to Register
If you have any questions please contact our Program Coordinators: Lesley Marsh lwmarsh87@gmail.com
Jill Vonderhaar jmvonderhaar@gmail.com
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Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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