New 3- and 4-day preschool option for 3-year olds in 2014-15. See "Program News":
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Upcoming Dates
March 31-April 3 Middle School Spring Trip
Fri., April 4 Mom's Scripture Study 9:15 a.m.
Tues., April 8 PTO Meeting 8:15 a.m. in the Music Room
Fri., April 11 Fine Arts Fair, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at GSCM
Friday, April 11, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Music Performance at 7:00 p.m.)
GSCM upper elementary and middle school students will showcase their art on campus in the Fine Arts Center building. Experience viewing your child's masterpiece(s) on display in our art show/gallery exhibit, where you and your student walk amid the art, peruse the pieces, discuss methods used to create, etc.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the child to celebrate their success as an artist, view their classmates work, and receive well-deserved praise and recognition for hard work done in art class.
At 7:00 p.m., students will perform music selections for those in attendance. Although the music performance will begin at 7:00 p.m., this is an open house-type event, allowing families to participate at the time most convenient for them.
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Facility Improvement News
Please Take a Minute to Vote
GSCM has become a finalist in a Spring Makeover contest for a chance to win a free and much needed upgrade and enhancement of a pre-school classroom. If we win the makeover for one classroom, it will free up funds to upgrade the other two pre-school classrooms. We are asking every GSCM family to vote today and every day through April 7. Tell your friends and family to vote for us too!
Go to www.ReSourceweb.org and vote for The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori.
Questions, contact Jana Widmeyer jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org .
Natural Playscape Design
At the Spring Gala we shared our plans to design a natural playscape for the playground area between the school and the mulched play-set area, and extending up the hill towards the church as well as towards Berwick St. This design will include a fence for children's safety.
For more details about our natural playscape project, please go to https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rqPopuY3Fv-FefrcjpmYIf9hsuGS-3m0ZuyQ96pPH5A/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=5000
Meet our Designer: Rachel Robinson
We have retained the services of Rachel Robinson to design our playscape. Rachel's design work involves all phases of design including master planning, construction documentation and observation. As a Landscape Architect, she has worked on a wide variety of projects including natural playscapes, nature centers, historic sites, residences, streetscapes, office complexes, and educational facilities.
Design Team Forming
We are forming a GSCM design team to work directly with Rachel this spring. If you have a particular interest and/or skill in outside play and play area design and would like to participate as a member of our core design team, please contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org). This team will be limited in size. While all volunteers may not become members of the core design team, all will have an opportunity to provide input as our design process unfolds.
Our Lady, Queen of Angels Chapel: Help Needed Moving Altar
Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh at the Athenaeum has provided an altar for our Queen of Angels Chapel. We are in need of a person with a pick-up truck who is able to deliver the altar from the Athenaeum (on Beechmont Ave. in Mt. Washington) to GSCM. Helpers will be provided. If you can help, please contact Dan Teller.
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Montessori Moments
Student-Led Drama
By Jeana Olszewski, Lower Elementary Directress
At our weekly "Wednesday Theater," our lower elementary children practice presentation skills and learn how to be polite audience members. Presentations might be work from the classroom, poetry recitation, performing plays with Reader's Theater scripts, or sharing research. After each presentation, audience members ask a question or give a compliment about the presentation. This emphasizes grace and courtesy and prepares the children for guest speakers in the classroom.
Recently, two second level girls asked to present a play for Wednesday Theater. They had already formed their group, which - to my surprise - included students from all three grade levels. These students were not usually together; it was interesting that they had joined forces for this play. Of course they were given permission.
Throughout the week I noticed the children working together and practicing the scripts. When it came time for their presentation, they asked if they could get what they needed from their lockers. The rest of the class sat in a circle and waited. I was completely surprised by what they did next. Each child came in with a costume and props. They set up the scene from the play in the center of the room using furniture and items from the classroom. Each child knew exactly what they needed to do to set up. As they presented the play, each child read his or her part with expression and great fluency. I could not believe how much they had accomplished without any assistance or input from a teacher.
This is a gift of our Montessori classroom. These children were given freedom within structure. They took that freedom and developed a wonderful presentation that exemplified teamwork and creativity (and helped build reading fluency!) Only in our school would a teacher appreciate being completely unaware of what her students were doing!
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Program News
Calamity Days Make-Up Plan: Blizzard Bags, April 17-May 5
We have had seven calamity days this year. The Ohio legislature has decided that any calamity days beyond the allotted five must be made up in one of these ways:
1. Add days to the school calendar
2. Add 30 minute increments to each day of instruction (to be added after your normal dismissal time) until you cover the additional school days
3. Send home 'Blizzard Bags' for student instruction.
Our school will use Option 3 - Blizzard Bags, which are packets of required work that students must complete in lieu of the two excess calamity days. For kindergarten and grade school students, your classroom teacher will send the child's Blizzard Bag to parents via email on Friday, April 11. The work should be completed between April 17 and May 5 and is due no later than Monday, May 5.
Please note that per the law, this is not 'optional' school work, but is a required part of the year's course of study. Work will be checked and (as appropriate) graded as required work.
Positions Available:
GSCM is hiring for the following positions for 2014-15:
- Extended Care and After Care Directress (11:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
- Part-time Technology Coordinator: Time commitment is approximately four hours/week.
Applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest to Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org).
3- and 4-Day Option for 3-Year Olds
Beginning next school year, 3-year olds may select a 3- or 4-day option for attending our morning pre-primary program. The 5-day program is also available. Children must turn four after October 1, 2014 to utilize this option.
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PTO News:
PTO Board Members Needed for 2014-15
From Lisa Schmitz current PTO President
Do you enjoy learning about our school, meeting new people and being a "good shepherd?" The PTO Board is a small group which meets monthly to plan and discuss upcoming events. We also implement new ideas and fund various important events throughout the school year.
We have (5) board positions that need to be filled for the continued success of the PTO next school year.
Open positions: Vice President, Secretary, Celebrations Chair, Community Outreach Chair, Arts & Education Chair
Please prayerfully consider joining us at our next PTO meeting, Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at 8:15 am in the Music Room to learn more or contact any of the board members listed below.
Current Board Members:
Lisa Schmitz: lbschmitz61@gmail.com
Jane Koenig: dnjnkn@msn.com
Maria Lang: mlang31@cinci.rr.com
Nicolay Walz: nicolay.walz@gmail.com
Carrie Ellis: carrielynnellis@yahoo.com
Christine Godar: chiristinegodar@hotmail.com
Sheri Mitchell: sheri.mitchell@verbargsfurnniture.com
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Office News:
Parking Issues
Please remember that parents may temporarily park along the left side of the entrance drive at pick-up and drop-off times only. There is no parking along the entrance driveway at other times. There is no parking/standing at any time on the right side of the driveway leading up to the school. Parking on both sides of the drive makes it much too hard for other cars to pass by.
Shampoo Collection April 10th
Our next collection for Inter Parish Ministry's food choice pantry will be Thursday, April 10th. We'll be collecting shampoo: it's obviously not a food, but it is a necessity for everyone, and it's an item people can't purchase with food stamps.
Please remember this when shopping this weekend. And thank you for continuing to support our efforts.
2015 Rome Pilgrimage
Space remains for the 2015 Pilgrimage to Rome (with stops in Assisi, Florence, and Orvieto). Visit the pilgrimage website for updated information: Falconsinrome.wordpress.com
Note that the early enrollment discount has been extended through the end of March and that Fr. David Meconi, S.J. has been confirmed as our chaplain. For more information or if you have questions, please contact GSCM parent, Sean Burns umpsean@gmail.com
Spiritwear Orders
If you want to place an order for spiritwear, the orders are due by April 15th and will be delivered on April 30th. Click here for a spiritwear order form. Orders from last ordering period should be in this week.
Graphic Designers -- We Need You!
If you are a graphic designer (or know someone who is) and you have some time to help out with upcoming projects at GSCM, please contact Annie King at aking@gscmontessori.org or (513) 236-1917. Thanks!
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Thank You, Family!
We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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