"You have to look at people with two eyes.

One eye sees what the person is now.

The other sees what the person can become.

You have to keep both eyes open all the time."

Miles Horton

Upcoming Dates

Tue., Oct. 21         Mass of Intention for First Communicants, 5:30 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 24          Grandparents/Special Friends Day

Sun., Oct 26          Fall Open House 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 31           Mass and Eucharistic Procession with Bishop Binzer

Nov. 3-7                 GSCM Book Fair

Thurs., Nov. 6         Parent-Child Evening, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 7              End of First Trimester

Mon., Nov. 10         Teacher Records Day, NO SCHOOL

Thurs., Nov. 13       "Purity in the Digital Age" with Dr. Andrew Sodergren, 7:00 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 14            First Trimester Progress Reports (gr. 1-8)

GRANDPARENTS DAY 2014

Please Invite Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles or Special Friends

to

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

at The Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori

October 24, 2014

9:00 - 11:30 am

The children love to share their school one-on-one with their special guests. 

No family in town?  Let us know if you would like us to arrange for a special guest to visit with your child.

 To register Click Here or by phone at 513-271-4171.

Grandparents' Day Volunteers Needed:

We are expecting over 150 guests and really need more volunteers!  Please consider volunteering for one of these tasks on Grandparents' Day: check-in, valet, refreshments or clean-up. We still need more help in all of these areas.  Please  Click Here and then click on October 24th to sign up for 2014 Grandparents' Day. If you have further questions about Grandparents' Day contact Amie Bressert (amierae@gmail.com) or Mary Beth Escamilla (mbviv@hotmail.com). 

GSCM Fall Open House:   Sunday, October 26 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

3 Things to Know About GSCM's Fall Open House

1)  It's this Sunday, October 26th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

2)  We currently have 2 volunteers signed up to help . . . 

And we need more!  Please Click Here and lend a hand this Sunday. 

3)  If you invite them, they will come.  

Please help us get the word out about this event!  Post a message on your Facebook page, invite a friend, forward the email you received last week.  You could get a $500 tuition credit if a family you invite enrolls in the school!

Five-day preschool or full-day kindergarten:  $500 tuition credit , Three- or four-day preschool:  $300 tuition credit

Conditions:

Mass and Eucharistic Procession:  Led by Bishop Joseph Binzer

Friday, October 31, 8:15 a.m.

It is our tradition to celebration All Saints Day with Mass and a Eucharistic Procession.  Because this solemnity falls on a Saturday this year, we will have our annual Eucharistic Procession following Mass on Friday, October 31. 

Weather permitting, after Mass we will make a Eucharistic Procession, processing behind the Blessed Sacrament around the school, representing the members of Church Triumphant who are continually praising God in heaven.  We will have a litany of saints at the lower entrance, where the pre-primary children will join us.   Then, we will all process back to the church for final Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament.

As a special treat for our community, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer will be our celebrant and lead our procession.  This is a lovely way to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints!  Please join us!

Parent-Child Evening (For Pre-Primary and Elementary Children and Parents)

Thurs., Nov. 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Pre-primary and elementary parents are invited to spend an evening in the classroom with their child during our upcoming Parent-Child Evenings.  One of the most relaxing and enjoyable parent education opportunities, this is an evening for listening to your child and exploring the fascinating Montessori environment together.  Please come and experience the interest and joy of your child's learning in the Montessori classroom. 

Although our teachers will be on hand, the focus is on parent-child interactions and the evening is not intended as a time to conference with teachers. 

GSCM Book Fair 

The GSCM Book Fair begins November 3 and runs through November 7.  Look for GREAT deals on gift-quality classic and Newbery & Caldecott Award books.  Plan to do your birthday and Christmas shopping.  A beautiful book is a gift to be cherished for a lifetime.  This Independent book sale and the Usborne books will be in the lower hallway.  Come visit anytime during school hours and support Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School!

GSCM Parent Speaker Series

"Purity in a Digital Age"

Thursday, November 13, 7:00 p.m.

Presented by GSCM Parent and Catholic psychologist Dr. Andrew Sodergren

Today's technology allows us to stay connected with friends and family and give us access to endless information right at our fingertips.  However, with great power comes great responsibility.  In this talk Dr. Sodergren will discuss the dangers of digital pornography, how to protect yourself and your kids, and how to free yourself from its clutches.

Childcare available (donations accepted).  To reserve child care space please RSVP to ntoon@gscmontessori.org. 

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Montessori Moment

The Joy of 'Big Work'

By Julia Damico, Pre-Primary Directress

"Notice that the child has a personality which he is seeking to expand; he has initiative, he chooses his own work, persists in it, changes it according to his inner needs; he does not shirk effort, he rather goes in search of it, and with great joy overcomes obstacles within his capacity."                                               Maria Montessori

I often reflect as a teacher on the issue of self-esteem in our society. Some adults mistakenly believe that if children fail, they will lose self-esteem making future success that much more difficult.  We know as parents and educators that competence builds confidence. In this Montessori environment, children actually have the means to seek out situations in which to gain competence.

Lately, in our class the children refer to this effort as "big work." I will say to a child, "Where would you like to start today?" and often the reply is, "I'm not sure, but I would like to do a "big work." In our math area, the golden bead exercises often fulfill this desire do to something big. The purpose of this work is to teach the four operation using large numbers for example; 4698 + 2879 = _________. The children then proceed to "go to the bank" and retrieve these quantities in golden beads. They actually retrieve that exact bead count. It is a long process, filled with movement, many materials, etc. Usually, two children work together and each retrieves an addend.

One day two boys decided to try to make a really big number by "going to the bank" many times. They chose the largest numbers the work would allow each time. After 45 minutes, their sum was 25,489. They came running and skipping over, "Look at our bank game! Is it the biggest number ever?" To which I reply, "Yes, I do believe that is a new world record for the bank game. I don't ever remember seeing a number that big!" This work has been repeated many times by different members of our class. If I recall correctly, the "new world record" is approximately 45,000.

So often in our society, we try to smooth the road for our children by making things easier. Not only is this a disservice to them, it is often in direct contrast to what they want. Because in the end, it doesn't matter if I think a task or a project is too hard or too long for them, but rather if the children think so.  I have found in this environment that not only do children rarely perceive something as being too difficult, but will actually work to expand it. It's as if they are driven to put themselves in situations that will build their competence. Trying and failing at something hard does not erode self- confidence.  Children are wonderfully cognizant of the fact that the joy is in the attempt.

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PTO News

Poinsettia Sale Coming Soon!

Buy a poinsettia to brighten your home for the holidays, give one (or more) as a gift, or purchase one in memory of/honor of someone to decorate our chapel during Advent (take home after Advent).  The PTO will be selling poinsettias from October 21-28 (take home packet will be coming home by backpack mail soon).  The cost will be $13 - $14.50 each.  The orders will be delivered to our school the first week of December for pick up.   

Box Tops Update

As of Monday, October 13th our Box Tops Collection has been better than expected.  School-wide we collected 1340 Box Tops!!

The homeroom turning in the most was Our Lady of Fatima (Scuglik/Leopardi).  Following closely was St. Raphael (Damico) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Olszewski/Filer) squeezed out the Middle School to place third.  

Our Lady of Fatima will receive an extra special treat for their accomplishment.  Congratulations!!

Collection sheets came home by backpack mail.  If you didn't get one by backpack mail and would like one, stop in the office and pick one up or pick up extras!  (sending box tops in a baggie with child's name and classroom is also okay)  Remember to check the expiration dates!  We will continue to run our Box Tops Collection Contests throughout the school year so keep clipping!!