The Eucharist shows us what value each person,

our brother or sister, has in God's eyes,

if Christ offers himself equally to each one,

under the species of bread and wine.

St. John Paul II

Upcoming Events

Fri., May 16       GSCM Mom's Retreat, 8:00-3:00 at GSCM (see below)

Fri., May 16       Mass of Recognition for First Communicants, 8:15 a.m

Fri., May 16       Cub Scout Meeting 3:00 p.m.

May 19-23         GSCM Fine Arts Fair Exhibit

Tue., May 20     Montessori 101: "Moving Up", 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Tue., May 20     Lower El Drama Dress Rehearsal, 1:30 p.m.

Wed., May 21    Staff-Middle School Whiffle Ball Game, 1:00

Thurs., May 22  Lower El Drama Performance, 6:30 p.m.

Fri., May 23       Cub Scout End of Year Party 3:00 p.m.

Mon., May 26    Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL

Fri., May 30       Final School Mass, Candle Ceremony for 7th/8th Grade

Fri., May 30       PlayScape Design Open House, 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Mon., June 2     Sixth Grade Retreat

Tue., June 3      Last Day of School/Field Day/Progress Reports

Fri., June 6        8th Grade Graduation, 5:00 p.m.

Summer Work Days

Sat., June 14     Summer Work Day 1 (chapel renovation)

                          GSCM Summer Garage Sale (8:00 a.m. - noon)

Sat., July 12      Summer Work Day 2 (landscaping, chapel painting)

Montessori 101:

Preparation for "Moving Up" to Kindergarten and First Grade

Tuesday, May 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Pre-Primary teacher Julia Damico and Lower Elementary teacher Amy Scuglik will answer questions regarding skills that children need as they move into kindergarten and first grade.  What kind of work can your child do over the summer to help them hit the ground running for the next school year?  How important is their academic base? How can you foster their concentration and order at home? How much is too much? Every parent struggles over the summer with providing a good balance between work and play. Yet, studies still show that children lose on average one month of grade level equivalency over the summer months. Come and find out how to bridge that gap.

Child care available. RSVP required to Nancy Toon (ntoon@gscmontessori.org) by May 19.

GSCM Moms' Retreat: Friday, May 16

All moms of GSCM, a day of Christian Renewal will be held for you at our church at GSCM on Friday, May 16. Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh will our day of reflection and prayer again this year.

The retreat is being generously sponsored by the GSCM PTO, so it is FREE for all mothers of the school. Coffee and snacks will be included along with a catered lunch for $8/person or feel free to bring your own bagged lunch. 
 

The retreat has been conveniently scheduled during school hours from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. The subject of the retreat will be prayer and how we can include God in our very busy lives to bring us peace.
 

Please RSVP to Bridget Kaufman by email, phone or text.

Bridget_Kaufman@yahoo.com

Local: 513-696-9011 or Cell: 317-313-7887
 

GSCM Fine Arts Fair: May 19-23

Next week, students' visual artwork will be on display in our Fine Arts Center. The Center will be open after school each day for students and parents to tour and view the art. Student docents will be on hand as guides.

Volunteers Needed to Mount/Display Art: May 15, 16, 19 after school

Shannon Treier, our art teacher, is seeking volunteers to help display the children's art work. Shannon needs help mounting and displaying art work at these times:

• Thurs/Fri., May 15/16, 2:45-3:45 (or as long as you can stay)
• Mon., May 19:       2:45-3:45 (or as long as you can stay)

Elementary and middle school children can also assist. Please contact Shannon Treier at streier@gscmontessori.org.

Lower El Drama Performance

Thursday, May 22, 6:30 p.m.

Come join us Down the Rabbit Hole, the first through third levels drama production of Alice in Wonderland on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 PM. Tickets are on sale at the door, three dollars for students and five dollars for adults. Don't be late for this very important date!

Special Masses

Friday, May 16: Mass of Recognition for First Communicants

Fresh from their First Holy Communion, our First Communicants will receive Eucharist with our entire school community for the first time. The children will wear their white garments as a sacramental sign of the link between baptism and Eucharist as sacraments of initiation into the Christian life. This gives the school community an opportunity to recognize those who have made such a special spiritual journey this year.

Friday, May 30: Final School Mass with Candle Ceremony

Our final Mass of the year provides an opportunity to express special thanksgiving for the gift of our school and school community. At the end of Mass, a "Candle Ceremony" enables all of our students to recognize the upcoming departure of our 8th grade class. Our graduates pass lit candles to their 7th grade peers as a sign of the passing of leadership to next year's oldest students. 

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Facility News

Natural PlayScape Planning Open House

Friday, May 30, 2:30-4:00

A design team composed of your teachers, parents and your principal has been working with the Landscape Architectural Firm, Rachel Robinson Design, to develop plans for a Natural Playscape.  The PlayScape will introduce varying nature based activities that will extend our Montessori based education to the outdoors.   All GSCM parents are invited to a "PlayScape Design Open House" by our front entrance on Friday, May 30, 2:30-4:00 p.m.  We will share the Preliminary Master Plan and have time for questions and parental input.  No RSVP required.

Hillside Path

Perhaps you have noticed the new natural steps and wood-chip path leading up the hillside to the former site of the Marian statue overlooking the school.  Boy Scout Will Pappalardo has undertaken this as his Eagle Scout project.  This path will make accessible another portion of our grounds, one which affords lovely views of the campus and beyond.  Eventually, we plan to re-install another statue and create an attractive level gathering place on this part of the hillside.  We thank Will for his efforts for the betterment of our school!

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Eighth Graders High School Bound

Congratulations to our upcoming 2014 graduates who have selected their high school destinations.  We are proud to have you take the spirit of The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori into the broader community!

Sofia Andersson                McNicholas High School

Melissa Damico                 St. Ursula Academy

Kendra De Graaf               Milford High School

Dayle De Graaf                 Milford High School

Joseph Harris                     St. Xavier High School

Josh Junker                        La Salle High School

Luke Junker                       La Salle High School

Nicodemus Kaufman         Undecided

Julia Lotterer                      Ursuline Academy

Ann Rieke                          McNicholas High School

Victoria Wilhelmy             Summit Country Day

2014 Graduation:  Friday, June 6, 5:00 p.m.

The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori Class of 2013 cordially invites you to its Graduation Mass and Ceremony on Friday, June 6,, at 5:00 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church.  A reception hosted by the class of 2015 will follow in the Middle School.

Confirmation and Baptism Announcements
Please pray for our eighth grade student Victoria Wilhelmy who will be confirmed at the Cathedral with Old Saint Mary's Church on Tuesday May 13, 2014. Congratulations Victoria! Please pray the following prayer for her:

All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by water and the Holy Spirit
you freed Victoria from sin
and gave her new life in Baptism.
Send your Holy Spirit upon her
to be her helper and guide.
Give her the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of right judgment and courage,
the spirit of knowledge and reverence.
Fill her with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Welcome to the Sheepfold

Congratulations to Jack Underwood (3-6 D) who was baptized at the Cathedral on May 4. Jack's parents and sister were received into the Church this Easter. Alleluia!

Montessori Moments

Middle School Education and Education for Peace

By Joan Ratajczak, Middle School Humanities Teacher

"Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war."
Maria Montessori

This famous quote from Maria Montessori illustrates that part of Montessori education is to teach children the way of peace so that war and division are not inevitable. 

Pope Francis made these remarks in his homily on peace in 2013:

"Creation retains its beauty which fills us with awe and it remains a good work. But there is also 'violence, division, disagreement, war'. This occurs when man, the summit of creation, stops contemplating beauty and goodness, and withdraws into his own selfishness.

By studying the causes of war throughout history, the child can see that acts of selfishness lead to destruction. Likewise, reading and learning about noble examples of selflessness opens their eyes to the peace and reconciliation that can come from a life lived for God and the good of others. 

The Pope says further:  "Look upon your brother's sorrow and do not add to it, stay your hand, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter!"

In the Middle School morning meeting we affirm one another through acknowledgements.  As the day progresses, we observe students help one another through a difficult math concept, to study for a test, explore a creative endeavor, or work together in community service. When conflicts arise, we practice peer conflict resolution. The day ends with a prayer, a handshake, eye contact, and a sincere expression of goodwill for the rest of the day.  Through such lessons in courtesy, we show our respect for one another.  In this way we fulfill the words of Maria Montessori and Pope Francis to establish peace by encounter. The education in peace at GSCM gives hope that the world will learn the lesson as well.

6-9 Lourdes Special Spirit Wear Sale

6-9 Lourdes is thrilled to offer an "End of the Year" spirit wear sale!!!  The funds raised from this sale will go toward our service project for Pregnancy Center East.  Any funds raised over the cost of this service project will be donated to GSCM for various improvement projects.  This spirit wear has been approved for GSCM spirit wear days!  (Not a part of the regular uniform.)  The timeline on this is tight.  Orders are due May 15th and will be distributed on June 2nd. Click here for order form  Click here for spiritwear designs

Please note the payment options. Payment is going directly to the company we are working with, not GSCM.  A hard copy of the order form was  sent home with the youngest child in each family.  Order forms can be returned to your child's teacher or placed in my mailbox.

Thank you for your support!  Please email me if you have any questions at jolszsewski@gscmontessori.org

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Office News:

Important:  2014-15 School Calendar Revised

The newly revised 2014-15 school calendar is available online.  We changed the date of the Walkathon/Fall Festival (early dismissal) and the staff in-service day (no school for students) in October. 

You  may drop off your tax deductible donations any school day between 7:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. after this Friday, at the two-door garage located near the Middle School behind the Church (there will be a charitable receipt for you to take for tax purposes near the door), or if you need to get your things out of your house before the 16th you can drop them off to Eileen Myers at the St. Joseph house.  . 

If you can help out with organizing / advertising, please contact Eileen Myers emyers@gscmontessori.org or 513-675-2931.  We can also arrange a pick up for larger items if needed.

Yearbook, Deadline Extended until May 16th

Order your yearbook by this Friday, May 16^th.  This year there are 2 ways to pay for your yearbook:  you can order online at www.schoolannual.com or you can complete the order form and return cash/check in the attached envelope.  (additional order forms available in the office).

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Sports News:

Congratulations to GSCM's Girls on The Run Team!

   GSCM's 3rd through 5th grade team just finished their spring season by participating in the GOTR's 5K event downtown with nearly 3600 other runners and walkers.  All of the girls did an amazing job Saturday and throughout the season!  Teammates were Ava Ellis, Bella Heverin, Caroline Widmeyer, Elena Paulin, Elise Stagaman, Emani English, Emma Olszewski, Evie Schmitt, Heidi Gruber, Isa Kaughman, Jada Greek, Katherine Fisher, Madeline Fisher, Mariana Richards and Erin Finn who attends Sands Montessori.   Special thanks to Jeana Olszewski, Jill Greek, Kathy Paulin and Susan Fisher for coaching!

If anyone is interested in having fall GOTR team for either 3rd-5th graders or 6th-8th graders, now is the time to plan and volunteer.   Deadline for our school and coach commitment is May 31.  Contact me, Kim Gruber, at jgruber7@cinci.rr.com as soon as possible and I'll help you get a team started.   
  

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