We must help the child to act for himself,

will for himself, think for himself;

 this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit."   Maria Montessori

Education for a New World

Upcoming Dates

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)

Nov. 17-21          Parent-Teacher Conference Week

Fri., Nov. 21        Conference Make-Up Day, NO SCHOOL

Nov. 26-28          Thanksgiving Vacation, NO SCHOOL

Sun., Nov. 30      First Sunday of Advent

Tues., Dec. 2      First Tuesday:  Montessori Language, 10:30-11:30 a m

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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First Tuesdays:  Montessori 101 for Parents and Friends

Our school is blessed with a treasure trove of ideas and practices arising from Montessori education and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) - ideas and practices that we want to share through a series of parent education events called "First Tuesdays:  Montessori 101."  These one-hour sessions will enrich your appreciation of your child's school experience, and will also enhance your experience as a parent.

The entire "First Tuesdays" program is available at www.gscmontessori.org and is being sent home to all pre-primary parents by hard-copy. Please see below for our first event.  We are looking forward to exploring the wonderful world of Montessori education with you!

Montessori Language

Julia Damico, Presenter

Tuesday, December 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

How does the Montessori classroom build a rich language experience for my child?  How do children learn to read and write?  What will my child be working on at age 3? age 4? age 5?  How can I support my child's developing language skills at home? 

Julia will walk you through the Montessori Language curriculum, beginning with early language activities (matching, sequencing, syllable work, I Spy and rhyming) and then examining the sandpaper letters and the movable alphabet sequence.  If time allows, we will also look at how our Montessori children explode into reading! 

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Montessori Moment

The Montessori 3-6 Class:  A Micro-Society for Virtue and Learning

By Kara Shade, Pre-Primary Directress

There is among the children an evident sense of community.  This rests on the noblest feelings and creates unity in the group.

Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind.

The Montessori pre-primary classroom, made up of 3-6 yr. olds, is a micro-society.  It offers the children fundamental social experiences and the opportunity to learn basic social skills.  Socialization is a developmental process, which cannot be forced.

In Montessori classrooms, children are always living and working in an active community.  Since we have one pink tower, one set of spindle boxes, and one apple slicing work, the child must learn to wait for it to be placed back on the shelf.  Important social qualities derive from this.  The child comes to see that he must respect the work of others, not because we tell him, but because this is the reality of his environment.  He learns to develop the virtue of patience as he is waiting for a work.

This Montessori environment and atmosphere fosters cooperation, and sensitivity to the needs of other children. Most Montessori children naturally help one another and are genuinely concerned for the well-being of their classmates. Younger children model the behaviour of older children, and the older students are eager to help the younger ones.  Many times an older child will help clean up a spill or help a child slice an apple.  When a child gets upset and cries, the whole community gets concerned and tries to help.  Many children will ask, "why is he crying?"  Some will hug the crying child and one may even get a Kleenex to help dry the tears.  The virtue of charity is fully alive and is being lived out amongst our little community.  These experiences of being empathetic, loving and caring will help to set the foundation for their adult life.  "Character formation cannot be taught.  It comes from experience and not from explanation."Maria Montessori

A few weeks ago, a new child in our classroom, was working with Color Box II.  As a kindergartener was walking by; he stopped and observed the younger child working on the rug with the color tablets.  The new student looked up and saw the kindergartener standing there.  The kindergartner casually started asking the new student "which one is blue", "point to orange", etc.' The kindergartner was giving the second period of a Montessori lesson: asking the new student "to show him" a particular color.  After the spontaneous second period lesson, the kindergartener said, "good job," and both students smiled. Both students were strengthened emotionally and mentally through this lesson.  The older ones are happy to be able to teach what they know.  The younger ones gain enthusiasm as they watch what the older ones are doing.

The events above are a good example of how the structural elements of the Montessori classroom, (such as the three year cycle, community building activities and the child's freedom within the classroom) work to facilitate spontaneous acts of virtue and learning.

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Principal Search Committee

The Board of Trustees has appointed a six-member committee to lead our search process for a new principal.  This committee will field resumes, interview candidates, and make recommendations to the Board.  The Board will render the final decision as to the selection of a new principal for our school.  Our Search Committee consists of:

                Trustees:             Rachel Sabo, Dan Teller

                Teachers:            LinMarie Cameron, Mary Hamiter

                Parents:               Lisa Schmitz, Jerry Shade

We are blessed to have such a faithful, wise, and experienced group of people on our Search Committee!  Please pray that the Lord will send an excellent pool of candidates.  Please share our search with others who may know qualified candidates.

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Call for Christmas Card Artwork

We are accepting artwork submissions from our students to be considered for the GSCM yearly Christmas Card with the theme:  "Generosity in Christmas."  (Generosity - giving without counting the cost.)

Criteria:  Any Material.  Two dimensional.  Between  5" X 7" and 9" x 12" in size.

Turn artwork into school office by Wednesday, November 19.

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