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

"The child is truly a miraculous being,

and this should be felt deeply by the educator."

Maria Montessori,

The Absorbent Mind

Upcoming Dates

Wed., Aug. 27 Spirit Wear Orders Due

Fri., Aug. 29 Mass, 8:15 a.m.

Mon., Sept.1 Labor Day, NO SCHOOL

Sun., Sept. 7 Natural Family Planning Course, 3:00 p.m. (1^st of 3 weeks)

Mon., Sept. 8 Blessed Mother's Birthday (wear blue)

Tue., Sept. 9 First Communion Parent Meeting, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Thurs., Sept.18 Pre-Primary Parent Education Evening 7:00 p.m.

Sept.15-18 Middle School Odyssey Trip to Hico, WV

Sept. 17-19 Upper Elementary Trip to Camp Kern

Tue., Sept. 23 Picture Day: Pre-primary and Upper El (out of uniform)

Wed., Sept. 24 Picture Day: Lower El and Middle School (out of uniform)

School Pictures: Sept. 17 and 18

Weather permitting, Debra Shepard Photography will be taking school pictures on these dates:

Tues., Sept. 11 Pre-Primary and Upper Elementary classes

Wed., Sept. 12 Lower Elementary and Middle School classes

Students may be out-of-uniform on the day they are photographed.. An order form for pictures will be coming home soon by backpack mail.

Program News

Check Schoology

Your child's teacher is posting important information and will continue to post exciting news and photos about the great learning happening in the classroom. Be sure to check your Schoology account so you are up-to-date!

Classroom Names

Please note that our classrooms are named in honor of Our Lady and the archangels. We refer to our classes by these names, not by teachers' names:

St. Gabriel: Mrs. Shade/Mrs. Richard

St. Raphael: Mrs. Damico/Mrs. Eicher

St. Michael Mrs. Bucksath/Mrs. Alfieri

Our Lady of Fatima: Mrs. Scuglik/Ms. Leopardi/Mrs. Robinson

Our Lady of Lourdes Mrs. Olszewski/Ms. Filer/Mrs. Laskey

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mrs. Griffin/Miss Cameron/Mrs. Rieke/Mrs. Lotterer

Queen of Angels Mr. Bennett/Mrs. Hamiter/Mrs. Ratajczak

Welcome, New Staff Members

We welcome the following new members to our staff this year:

Ø Kara Shade is a pre-primary directress in 3-6 St. Gabriel'

Ø Lori Richard is an assistant teacher in 3-6 St. Gabriel'

Ø Liz Laskey is an assistant teacher in 6-9 Lourdes'

Ø Mary Lozen is the Preschool Extended Careand After-Care Directress

Ø Ali Scholl is an assistant in the lower el program.

Ø Sarah Waligura is a Speech Language Pathologist for children served by the Ohio Jon Peterson Scholarship Program

Ø Heidi Wachtman is our school psychologist from Cincinnati Public Schools

These staff members have taken on new positions in our school:

Ø Eileen Alfieri (Myers) is now a pre-primary assistant in 3-6 St. Michael

Ø Shannon Lotterer is now an assistant teacher in 9-12 Guadalupe

For a biographical sketch on all of our staff members, go to our website, www.gscmontessori.org.

Lunch Helper Needed for Extended Preschool Program

Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Days: M/W/F or five days/week

Compensation: $18.00/day (can be directly applied to tuition)

Duties: Assist our Extended Care Directress with the lunch process for extended care preschool children, including:

· Escorting children from the playground/preschool classroom to the St. Joseph House

· Assisting with transition time as children arrive and settle in at the St. Joseph House

· Assist children with hand-washing, preparing for lunch, eating, and cleanup

· Assist children with transition from lunch to rest time

VIRTUS training and a background check must be obtained.

If interested, please contact Dan Teller: dteller@gscmontessori.org or 271-4171.

Subs Wanted

We are seeking to add to our substitute teacher list. If interested, please contact Nancy Toon (ntoon@gscmontessori.org ) , who will inform you of the necessary steps to become a sub.

Physical Education

Tuesday (lower elementary)

Thursday (kindergarten, upper el, and middle school)

On phys ed days,children should wear sneakers. Girls should wear either shorts/pants, or sports shorts beneath jumpers or skirts.

Drama Club/Class

This year we will again be offering an after school drama club for the Lower Elementary and the Upper Elementary/Middle School students. The club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:15. We are blessed to have Rhonda Hamall once again leading our drama clubs. Look for more information about sign-up and performances as the year progresses. Kindergarten students will have a weekly drama class with Mrs. Hamall on Fridays.

Virtues Education

What is a Virtue?

A virtue is a good habit.

A good habit is called a virtue. A bad habit is called a vice. Habits grow by practice. God always gives us the grace to choose and do what is good. If we think about what is right and open our hearts to God, we will make good choices and grow in virtue. Virtues make us free, happy, and holy.

Virtue for September: Faith

Home projects will be sent home via classroom teachers on August 29. They will also be posted on our website (the link will provided next week) and shared through your classroom Schoology account.

What is a Saint?

A saint is a person who is in heaven. God wants us all to become saints in heaven. When the Catholic Church tells us we can be sure a certain person is in heaven, that person is a canonized saint. These saints loved God very much and led lives filled with virtue. They give us good examples of how to get to heaven and we can ask them to help us with their prayers.

Saints for September: Faith

Grades K-3 St. Martha
Grades 4-6 St. Jerome
Grades 7-8 St. Augustine

Office News

Updated Information: IMPORTANT!

As you may recall from Parent Orientation, we are asking everyone to log on to the GSCM Portal and confirm/update your family information, emergency contacts, children's allergies, etc. It is critical that we have updated information on your student(s)!

Even if you already updated your portal information, please log on to ensure that all of your changes were indeed saved (it's easy to miss that Save button!) also remember to check/ update EACH of your children individually - you will need to enter your emergency/pick-up contacts for each sibling.

ALL FAMILIES should "Verify" (date stamp with digital signature under the "verify" tab) their information after they have checked each tab, NO LATER THAN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. Please contact Nancy: ntoon@gscmontessori.org if you need your user name and password for the GSCM Portal. These updates are, of course, for the safety of all of our children here at GSCM.

If you want to receive the weekly Tuesday newsletter by hard copy each week, please contact Nancy Toon (ntoon@gscmontessori.org) even if you told her last year. Otherwise, we will send it to you only by email. This first issue is being sent to every family by both hard-copy and (if possible) email. The newsletter contains important information. Please take time to read it.

Office Hours

Our official office hours are 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Frequently, staff is in the building and the office later than 3:30. However, if you want to be certain of contacting an office staff person, please visit or call before 3:30 p.m.

Transportation Changes

If your child rides the bus, be sure to send in the Transportation Update form to Nancy Toon if you have not done so already.

Anytime your child will have a long-term change in transportation plans, please submit a new "Transportation Update." (available on our website on the Parent Page under forms)
For single-day changes in bus transportation, please notify the office by written note or a phone call prior to 2:00 p.m. A Transportation Update form is not necessary for single-day changes.

Call in Absences and Sign in When You Are Late

Please be sure to notify our office by 8:30 a.m. if your child will be absent. If your child rides the bus to school in the morning, we will call your home if the teacher lists your child as absent but we have not heard from you.

If you arrive after 8:00 am (elementary & Middle School), or after 8:15 (pre-primary), please make sure that you sign your child in, in the office.

2013-14 Yearbooks

2013-14 yearbooks have been distributed to all students who ordered and paid for one. There were a few extra yearbooks that were sent with our order, these will be sold on a first come first serve basis for 25.00. Please contact mrieke@gscmontessori.org if you would like to buy one of these treasures of memories from your child's 2013-14 school year.

Parent Notices
Car Pooling Notice or Child-Care Needs
If you need assistance with car-pooling or obtaining child-care, we can put your notice here. Please send your information to Nancy Toon at

ntoon@gscmontessori.org

Natural Family Planning Course

Begins Sunday, September 7, 3:00 p.m. at GSCM

As a GSCM parent, we want our kids to thrive. While their school environment is designed to help them do just that, their home environment should be even better. Children can truly thrive in the context of a healthy marriage. If you want to give your children the real gift of a truly happy and healthy home, why not consider learning Natural Family Planning (NFP)?
GSCM parents, Andrew & Ellie Sodergren will be offering a three-part NFP class series beginning Sunday, Sept., 7th, at 3:00 p.m. right here at GSCM!! For more information or to sign up, click here
(click the "Register for Classes" tab and put in the school's zip code: 45227) As the late Pope St. John Paul II said, "We encourage NFP in couples because we believe its use can help couples grow in the virtues which strengthen their personalities and their marriages." We all need help once in a while. Let's get help for the things that really matter for our kids! If you have any questions you can reach the Sodergrens at 513-386-7523.

PTO NEWS

GSCM Business Listings in the PTO Directory

If you are a business owner or would like to advertise your profession, be sure to sign up to be included in the PTO Directory's Business Listing. This is a FREE service offered to all GSCM families. All you have to do is fill out the Business Directory form Click here for form and submit it to the Development Office by the end of August. Opportunities are also available to purchase ad space to highlight your business or profession. The form is attached. Deadline is August 31.

Mass, Confessions, and Spirit Day

Holy Mass on Fridays, 8:15 a.m. Please join us!

Singers Wanted

Would you like to assist with singing at our weekly Mass? Please contact Mary Hamiter mhamiter@gscmontessori.org or Jana Widmeyer jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org

These priests have graciously agreed to celebrate Eucharist with us this year:

· Comboni Missionary Priests - Fr. Joe, Fr. Brian

· Fr. Benedict O'Cinnsealaigh, Mt. St. Mary Seminary

· Fr. Terrence Quinn, OP, St. Gertrude Church

· Fr. Ron Williams, IHM Church

On Friday, October 31, Bishop Joe Binzer will celebrate Mass at our school!

Priests Needed

We are grateful to these priests who share their ministry with us and enable us to celebrate the sacraments. Besides Mass, we also seek priests through the year to offer the sacrament of Reconciliation and to lead us in Eucharistic Adoration. If you know a priest who would be willing to offer his services to our school, please contact Dan Teller (dteller@gscmontessori.org)

Spirit Day and Spirit Wear: Thursdays

So that we can dress nicely for Mass on Fridays, Spirit Day is on Thursdays. Spirit Wear orders are due tomorrow! Any questions contact Jeana Olszewski jolszewski@gscmontessori.org

Confessions

This year our 3^rd-8^th grade students will have four opportunities to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. individual classes stay after Mass for confession and we celebrate a Penance Service during Lent.

Safety

Children and adults are asked NOT to use the lower entrance doors except for bus arrival/dismissal and preschool recess. The doors remain locked. Parents, if your children remain after school, they must be under your supervision and must not use the lower entrance doors, so that they may remain locked.

Parking, Recess, Driving

Parking Guidelines

We would like to keep the large parking lot (by the modular building) as free of cars as possible, so that the children have room for games during recess. Please try to park in the small lot north of the church. If you do park in the large lot, please park along the perimeter of the lot, so that the center area is free for children's play.

Driving Guidelines

There is no traffic permitted on the large lot between 11:30-1:00 due to student recess.
Please drive carefully on Roe St. Neighbors have asked that we maintain a safe speed.
Please drive slowly on school grounds at all times, EVEN IF YOU ARE LATE!

Volunteer News

2014-15 Family Volunteer Update

The volunteer coordinator positions for 2014-15 are posted on the GSCM website parent page and accessible through this link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UDXtM4yLN__EVReo6sGSYUfmGqdbPVYoQwOASRERMUM/edit?usp=sharing

You should be hearing from a PTO or GSCM staff member about your responsibilities.

There is also a VolunteerSpot link to sign up for events http://vols.pt/1PdNF8 More shifts will be added as event needs arise. We ask families to sign up for at least 3 "shifts" over the school year.

If your family has not signed up for a volunteer coordinator position, please view the openings. Nicolay Walz, PTO Volunteer coordinator, would be happy to discuss positions and help you find something that is a good fit for you! You can email her at nicolay.walz@gmail.com

Thanks for sharing your time and talents with the GSCM community,

Important Information for Volunteering at GSCM

All people who work or volunteer with children in any of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati parishes, schools, or institutions must attend a VIRTUS® Child Awareness Session for the Decree on Child Protection and must complete a background check through Selection.com.

This requirement includes all field trip and overnight (Camp Kern) chaperones, classroom volunteers, and Walkathon or other GSCM event volunteers.

GSCM is offering a VIRTUS course TONIGHT, Tuesday, August 26, 6:00 - 9:00 pm in the middle school building. Register for this course at www.virtusonline.org. The VIRTUS training is free.

If you have questions about the VIRTUS program, contact Jana Widmeyer at jwidmeyer@gscmontessori.org.

SUMMER WORK THANK YOUS

Thank you to the following families who volunteered their time at our Summer Work Days:

Lotterer Standridge Aust Cameron Tankersley Widmeyer

Lancaster Fisher Galocy Sabo Kerrey Hamall

Dammarell Stuebbe Damico Taylor Myers Toon

Eicher Paulin King Stagaman Restle Richard

Shade Underwood Smith Scuglik Gruber Wolfe

Mellott McLinden Limke Teller

What a difference your efforts made!

Were you there and accidently left off this list? Please let us know.

Thank You, Family!

We appreciate your taking the time to read our newsletter.
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