September 2011 Parent Newsletter
Greetings, and welcome to the 2011 – 2012 school year! We are truly excited to be back, and have spent the last week and more in preparing the classrooms, fine tuning curriculum, and thinking about your child and how excited we are for he/she to be with us.
For those returning, moving up, or new I would like to share or refresh some procedures for the year:
We know that communication is so important to the confidence and success your child experiences at FCD. That is why each week your child’s weekly folder will go home with important updates and “work” to be signed and returned Monday of the following week. The Primary (3 – Kdg) will include a weekly newsletter, while the Pre-Primary will publish a bi-weekly newsletter. Of course, additional communications will be sent home during the week. It is important that your child have a small bookbag to carry all of these papers. Thanks!
Carpool – Optional - this is offered between 8:45am – 9am at the sidewalk area near the mailbox. Please do not block the circle, and having your child on the right passenger side helps for a safe exit. Ms. Debbie, Ms. Lorraine, Ms. Rebekah, and Ms. Shoshana will all be assisting with carpool.
Please strive to be on time. Children do not like walking into a class that has already started. Allow yourselves time in the morning so that you are not rushed. Conversely, please be sure to pick your child up on time at noon or 3pm. This year we are going to have the Primary children dismissed from the playground at 3pm. (Pre-Primary will be dismissed from classroom.) Parents would buzz in, come down the hall to the back door, and children who go home at 3pm will be on the left side of the playground. Your child’s teacher must see you, then she will sign you out. Bookbags can be collected from the hallway as you pass your child’s classroom and exit the building. We tried this dismissal procedure during the summer program and it seemed to work well. Of course, if the weather is bad/too cold, etc. we would have inside dismissal.
Also, as a reminder, and with the weather still warm and sunny, please apply sunscreen before arrival and we will follow-up during the day, as needed. Thanks!
This week we will be celebrating Maria Montessori’s Birthday!
She was born August 31, 1870. I will be visiting the classrooms to introduce or review her life, and why we call this a Montessori School. On Wednesday and Thursday we will host a coffee and donuts social for parents at arrival in Maria’s honor and hope that you will join us between 7am – 9am.
Next week we will begin back to school class dinners: Room 1 on Tuesday, September 6th, Room 3 on Wednesday, September 7th, and Room 2 on Thursday, September 8th. Please arrive at 5:30pm for Parent Meeting, while children can play on the playground with staff supervision. Then at 6:15pm we would gather to enjoy a potluck meal with FCD providing drinks and desserts. A sign-up will be posted on your classroom door this week. We hope that you have this scheduled on your calendars! The Pre-Primary will be meeting on Wednesday, September 14th.
Please note 2 changes on the year long calendar:
1. Our pasta/salad lunch is moved to Friday, September 16th, not September 8th. A permission slip will be going home soon.
2. Our Montessori Matinee Workshop for Parents is moved to Saturday, October 8th @ 2pm, not Saturday, September 17th, due to a staff development workshop.
Finally, as a staff we are adopting the “virtues” of simplicity, patience, and compassion as our theme this year. I think Maria would agree! Welcome, and we are so glad that you are here!
Ms. Louise, Director
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April 26th, 2011 Parent Newsletter
Dear Parents,
As the end of the year approaches ever too quickly, I wanted to touch base with you. First, as our Pennies for Peace project winds down, we want to thank you for all your support here at school and in the home.
Next week, May 2 – May 6, we celebrate our annual Appreciation Week: for our children, our staff, and you!
We kick off the week with a Grab n’ Go Breakfast on Monday, May 2, hosted by Ms. Lorraine. Stop by for some coffee, juice, bagels, and a fruit grain bar. It is our way of saying thank you, and that we appreciate all that you do.
On Tuesday, May 3, we provide a pizza lunch for the children. If it is warm enough, we will picnic outside under the umbrellas!
Wednesday, May 4, is our Staff Appreciation Potluck Lunch. Parents can sign up to send in favorite dishes so that the staff can enjoy this special treat.
Thursday, May 5, we have some fun with wear your favorite t-shirt day: good day to wear the new P4P shirts!
Then on Friday, May 6, not only will we have an ice cream social for all, but we will also gather at the Peace Pole to close off our P4P project, and announce the grand total.
On behalf of the FCD Staff, thank you for making this such a wonderful year!
Ms. Louise, Director
March 2011 Parent Newsletter
Greetings! The month of March came in gently as we move on to Spring. We were so thrilled to celebrate Montessori Education Week this month with the children, families, and staff. We managed to pack many activities into the week, and the highlights included the parent, “What I Like About Montessori Education For My Child” essays, as well as the FCD slideshow produced by Ms. Kathleen. Of course, nothing can top the Peace Banner, made by you, which is now on display in the front foyer. Thank you all for making this Week special and for choosing FCD for your child.
Re-enrollment forms for next year are due into the office by March 15th. Please see Ms. Debbie if have not received your contract for the 2011-2012 school year.
Enrollment for Summer Under the Red Roof is coming along nicely. However, openings for the Pre-Primary are down to 4-5 per session, so please let us know if you are interested before we open these spaces up to the community. Thanks!
Our Kindergarteners have 2 special events coming up: the traditional Irish Potato Heads display, and a trip to the Weinberg for a play in early April. Thank you for all the contributions of treats and donations to their Bake Sale. They netted $77 towards future activities. Thank you!
As a Montessori community, we are trying our best to teach the children to be not only independent, but also interdependent. Thus, each month we engage in some kind of outreach project. Last month we collected, and sent 150 pairs of shoes to El Salvador. This month we will kick-off our Pennies for Peace project, collecting pennies to help build schools for girls in Pakistan. We will be hosting many activities to tie students, parents, and staff together. A full schedule of events and activities will be released soon. Meanwhile, if you haven’t read Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea or Stones to Schools, these make great readings with our P4P project!
We are looking forward to Parent Conferences on March 25th! It is always such a pleasure to share in the “specialness” of each child. Looking forward to a the new season and to the growth and beauty that unfolds each day!
Ms. Louise, Director
Around the world Montessori Education Week is being celebrated Monday, February 28th through Friday, March 4th. Last year Frederick Country Day wrote to Governor O’Malley to proclaim this celebration and recognition by the State of Maryland. We do so to bring honor to the work and play of Maria Montessori: as you look at the calendar for this week, many wonderful activities are planned for families, children, and staff.
There are three exciting activities we are thrilled to be a part of: 1. A parent essay on “What Montessori Means to My Child” which puts those who respond into a gift card raffle! 2. A video of “I Love My Montessori Classroom” produced by our own Ms. Kathleen, Assistant Teacher in Pre-Primary classroom, featuring the real stars of FCD, your children! 3. A Peace Gathering on March 4th where we will unveil the Peace Quilt, made from the squares contributed by our FCD families.
All of this, in addition to parent socials, sundaes, sing-a-longs, and a real live diorama of the life of Maria Montessori! We look forward to a great week and invite you to share in our appreciation and honor for the life and legacy of Maria Montessori.
MONTESSORI WEEK ACTIVITIES
MONDAY, FEB 28:
Montessori Parent Appreciation Social, a.m. Refreshments.
Maria Montessori Timeline.
Montessori Quotes Shared with Children & Parents: “My Child is Honored at Frederick Country Day” Stickers!
TUESDAY, MARCH 1:
Make Your Own Sundae Ice Cream Social.
Frederick Country Day Community Sing -A-Long
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2:
Kindergarten Bake Sale.
Parents Reflections, “What I LIke About Montessori for My Child” viewing in foyer.
Parent Raffle.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3:
Frederick Country Day Birthday Walk, 1997 – 2011
Staff Pizza Lunch.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4
Peace Pole Ceremony @ 11:00 a.m. Bubble Release!
“I Love My Montessori Classroom” Video & Peace Quilt Unveiling.
(based on the book Growing an In-Sync child by Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman)
Did you ever wonder about freedom in a Montessori classroom? Are you interested in the mixed age groups and learning how children ages 3-6 can function together in a common space? The answers lie in what is known as “the secret of childhood”. Come learn the “secret” that Maria Montessori observed over 100 years ago…and that modern- day therapists Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman confirm in the book Growing an In-Sync Child. In this forum you will discover the dynamic link between movement and discipline that has Developmental Psychologists and Occupational Therapists focusing in on Montessori Education in 2011.
1. Movement and Development: Wednesday, January 19th 6pm-7:15pm
Muscular Education
2. Development and Intellect: Wednesday, February 2nd 6pm-7:15pm
Montessori Planes of development (brief charting)
3-6 yr olds in the same environment
3. Intellect and Discipline: Wednesday, February 23rd 6pm-7:15pm
Kindergarten year…
“If the child is not yet master of his actions, if he cannot obey even his own will, so much the less can he obey the will of an adult.”
“Discipline is therefore attained indirectly, that is, by developing activity in spontaneous work.” (M.Montessori, (1948) The Discovery of The Child)
We are excited to be offering this three-part workshop to parents and the community.
(Childcare will be provided for FCD students in the Rainbow Room.)
Please see the sign-up in the foyer for workshop and childcare, or call the school at 301-694-7000.
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December 2010 Parent Newsletter
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
It was very heartwarming to share in our FCD’s Thanksgiving feasts with families, especially with our visiting grandparents. We now move into a new month, and despite the many activities planned, we know our teachers will do their best to keep everyone on track. We know how excited we all get at this time of year.
Many of our staff attended a workshop presented by the author of the best seller Growing an In-Sync Child by Kranowitz/Newman. Because early motor development is one of the most important factors in a child’s physical, emotional, academic, and overall success, we discovered that simple movements such as skipping, rolling, balancing, and jumping can make a world of difference for your child. We are now implementing some of the 60 activities to help with sensory processing, perceptual motor skills, and visual processing. For the Primary classes, we have designated Thursday as In-Sync Day and will be offering special activities during the day. We hope to be able to offer a parent workshop in January to share in some of the ideas presented so that you can try these out at home. Stay tuned.
Outreach: At FCD we strive to connect our children and families with the local community, as well as to reach beyond as world citizens. Thank you so much for the $200 forwarded to UNICEF. We also thank you for the many dozen of cookies that were baked by you and packed up and already sent to deployed military, along with 150 cards from our families and staff. Another community event chaired by Ms. Antoinette and Ms. Cynthia was the organization of the first ever Wounded Warrior Project, held November 27th at Baker Park. We hope to make this an annual event!
In December, we invite interested families to form a caroling group to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. FCD has offered to supply families with flyers and song sheets. This could be a great annual family outing, bringing families and neighbors together for a great cause.
If this is December can January and registration for the 2011-2012 year be far behind? January will be pre-registration for our current FCD families; we will be hosting Open Houses on Saturday, January 29th, and Sunday, January 30th for the community.
Wishing all of our families happy holidays and peace in family traditions.
Ms. Louise, Director
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NOVEMBER 2010
Greetings as we welcome the month of November! Before moving on to some fun activities this month, I wanted to share with you the great joy we experienced at the North American Montessori Teacher’s Conference last month. The central theme revolved around bringing nature into/and outside of the classroom. With our herb/vegetable/and herb garden in its waning days (yet, with much fruition), the children “put the garden to bed” by weeding, pruning, and harvesting plants, and now, by planting bulbs and potatoes for Spring viewing….the children are finding new uses for the classroom botany cabinet, identifying and matching leaves, and gifting other classrooms with repotted plants. The children are also being introduced to the gem and flower of each month, and lessons on each are on the shelves to investigate. Maria Montessori believed that the outside should be the classroom, with so many lessons to be learned from being in, and with, nature. We continue to thank you for your kind donations of flowers to the classroom, too. The children love to cut and display these in small vases around the classroom. We will continue to look for opportunities to bring nature into each classroom.
We hope to see many parents visiting before conferences to get a bird’s eye view of the richness of the day. The Staff are also looking forward to Parent Conference Day on November 12th. Childcare is available during your conference time, with registration.
Our monthly Peace gatherings are a great community time. For United Nation’s Day we were able to gather around the Peace Pole and send wishes for peace to all of the seven continents. Ask your child about the continent colored balloons that took off into the air, unexpectedly! One child remarked, “Look, we’re really sending peace around the world!” Our next gathering is scheduled for November 16th @ 9:30am. Please join us! Special thanks to all who dropped off the UNICEF boxes this month. Thanks!
On Saturday, November 13th, from 10am until noon, we will be part of the Pre-School Mom’s Fair at the Elks Club in Frederick. This is an Open House for all pre-schools in the area and Ms. Monica, Ms. Shoshana, and Ms. Antoinette will be there for FCD. If you are a parent who would like to join us at the table to add your input for ourschool, we would welcome your presence. Please see Ms. Louise for more information.
Of course, November means Thanksgiving Feasts and each class has a special day to enjoy this together. We also are looking forward to our annual Thanksgiving Week Grandparent Visiting Days on November 22nd and 23rd. It is such a treat to watch grandparents sitting beside their little one, smiling away!
We have been enjoying Toddler Tales on the first and second Thursday of the month with toddlers 18 months and up, along with parent(s). Please extend an invitation to any friends who would like to join in with us.
Our Outreach Project for November has changed: we are going to be baking and sending cookies and cards to the deployed troops in time for the holidays. Children will be baking the week of November 15th and we will open our FCD kitchen on Saturday, November 20th from 10am – 2pm for mom’s or dad’s to bring prepared batter or already made cookies, pack them up for shipping, and join in holiday songs and card making. All donations would be shipped out on Monday, November 22nd. We have joined in this project in past years, and it is always an honor to bring this small bit of home to other’s so far away from families and loved one’s.
Looking ahead: There will be lots of activities for the month of December….both in the classroom and for the family. Look for more information to arrive in your child’s weekly folder.
Finally, we dedicated the Peace Garden at the Peace Pole this month to our late Montessorian teacher, Ms. Kim Coker. Staff gathered for a lovely ceremony and to plant the garden fairy plaque in her name. Special thanks to our own, Ms. Lisa, for designing and purchasing all the beautiful mementos. Please stop by with your child for a rest. Explain to them that a wonderful teacher, who loved FCD, helped to plant the Peace Pole a few years ago. She loved peace, and she loved the children at FCD. Thank you!
Ms. Louise, Director
OCTOBER 2010
This past weekend many of our staff attended the annual Montessori conference in Baltimore. The theme this year was the significance of the scientific mind in the Montessori classroom: recognizing, fostering, and allowing it to grow through nature and through real and hands-on experiences. Last spring we planted our first school garden with herbs, flowers, and vegetables, along with a compost bin. Needless to say, this past week the children were out harvesting carrots, rosemary, marigolds and other plants. There are so many science lessons evolving from the children’s garden…..ask your child about this!
Parent Conferences….by now you have seen the sign-up in the foyer for November 12th. For those who are new to FCD, this is a day set aside to meet with your child’s teachers to discuss his/her growth and development. You will be receiving a written report prior to this meeting.
Although FCD is closed conference day, we do offer childcare for your child during your conference time. You must register for this so that we have adequate coverage. Also, the week before conferences we invite you to visit in your child’s classroom to share in their wonderful day. Please see the sign-up for this, too, on your child’s classroom door.
Thank you for you support of the Claire’s Gourmet fundraiser. We were able to purchase new materials for each classroom with the nearly $600 in profit! Thank you!
Some events planned for this month:
- Pumpkin Patch Field Trip on Wednesday, October 20th , followed by staff development in the pm.
- Grab ‘n Go Breakfast in FCD foyer 7am – 9am – FCD foyer, Friday, October 22
- Student Pictures – Monday, October 25th – am
- United Nation’s Day and Peace Gathering on Thursday, October 28th at 9am – all invited
- Annual Harvest Fest 10am – noon on Friday, October 29th. Thank you for all the game/goodie bag donations and volunteer coaches!
Enjoy these beautiful fall days! We love taking the children outside to breathe in the crisp fall air. And we are reminded of the words of Maria Montessori, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.” And that was said many years ago! Peace, Ms. Louise
SEPTEMBER 2010
Already we have had the great pleasure of meeting together with both Pre-Primary and Primary parents, as well as a special Kindergarten year evening. Another FCD event that has proven to be a fun gathering is the Grab n’ Go Breakfast hosted by our own Ms. Lorraine of Room 6 in the FCD foyer. We have decided to offer this again on Wednesday’s in September, and then twice a month beginning in October. This runs from 7am through 9:15am and is a great way to meet new friends and make new FCD connections!
In Memoriam…some of our families will remember Ms. Kim Coker, Montessori Directress in room 2, who was a member of our staff up until two years ago. Ms. Kim valiantly survived cancer for many years, while at the same time caring and supporting staff, the children, their families, and acting as a proud mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She loved to dress as the May Queen each year and enthrall the children with her storytelling. Being very artistic, she sewed and put together our 32 foot peace dove which we have carried in many peace celebrations. She truly loved Montessori and she loved being at Frederick Country Day. She was very much loved by all. A memorial is planned at FCD in October.
In my last newsletter, information about the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading, writing, and spelling was highlighted. We are pleased to share that each Primary classroom now has “O-G” wipe off boards, that each child has what is called a “sound pack”, and that children are individually being invited to “P-A-T” (Phonological Awareness Training) during the week. These lessons are in addition to the phonics lessons the children are doing daily, using the moveable alphabet, or picture cards, or sandpaper letters, to mention a few lessons. Also, through a State grant we were able to purchase a reading program which is also a systematic, phonological series of picture cards, word cards, and books to supplement and complement our reading program, designed for children age three through Kindergarten. We invite you to view these materials upon drop-off or pick-up.
We had our first visit from Peacemaker, the Puppet, this month, close to Maria Montessori’s 140th Birthday Walk. Ms. Louise presented a time line of Maria’s life, complete with miniature furniture and other materials…almost like a dollhouse version of Maria’s life. Then Peacemaker, the Puppet, visited, bidding hello to all the children, joining in the universal plea for peace poem, and talking about being kind and helpful to each other. Peacemaker will be visiting again on September 21st, World Peace Day. We will be having a gathering at the Peace Pole at 11:30 am for song and ceremony. We will be singing “Light a Candle for Peace” and we will be pausing for a minute of silence, wishing for peace in our school, our homes, our community, and in the world. Please plan to join us at the Peace Pole.
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming up! This is a great opportunity to increase your child’s library with good literature, while supporting FCD, where we are able to purchase additional media materials for each classroom.
Our Kindergarteners have a whole year of activities planned out: some of the highlights include acting as morning greeters, reading to the Pre-Primary, organizing bake sales, and special field trips.
They will be proudly wearing their FCD t-shirts on each field trip!
Claire’s Gourmet Fundraiser is now up and running…we hope to use the profits from this to assist in purchasing materials from the Montessori Conference in Baltimore in October. We appreciate your support!
Please note our September Outreach: Contributing to the Soldier’s Boxes – we are joining with the Ft. Detrick community in sending care packages to deployed military. We have joined in this service for many years now, along with having the children make cards and drawings. Again, we thank you for your support.
Finally, thank you for your welcoming smiles, your cooperation with returning weekly folders on Monday, and for sharing your lovely children with us.
Ms. Louise, Director
SUMMER 2010
Greetings from the sun and the fun of Summer Under the Red Roof at Frederick Country Day! We are half way through our thematic summer program, gearing up for Pioneer Week, Jungle Week, and Under the Big Top. Even with our camps full for each session, we have been able offer daily water play, dramatic plays, yoga, bike day, and a complimentary Friday lunch. Both the children and staff are having fun with this change of pace scheduling. After August 6th, FCD closes for 2 weeks: one week of maintenance: cleaning, polishing floors, painting as needed. Then on August 16th our teachers return for a week of In-Service, part of which is to reassemble each environment and have it ready for you for Open House Friday, August 20th. The energy and enthusiasm are contagious as we all look forward to the first day of the 2010 -2011 school year on Monday, August 23rd.
Over the summer, the Md. Dept. of Education has mandated that a parent must initial the sign-in/out roster either upon arrival or dismissal. We have had success with introducing this change during our summer program, and we are discussing this implementation for the fall since many parents use the carpool drop-off.
Each family will be receiving a welcome letter in early August, detailing everything you need to know prior to the first day of attendance. Please look over this information carefully and do not hesitate to call should you have any questions. A yearlong calendar will also be included in this packet. I have tried to be as detailed as possible regarding all events, parent workshops, professional days, special lunches, etc. so that you can plan accordingly.
During the summer we have continued to reach out to the wider community. We thank our families for the generous donations to the Ft. Detrick Food Bank and to the St. Jude Trike-a-thon, collecting $179. 14! We look forward to continuing our monthly connections to the community as world citizens.
“ORTON – GILLINGHAM” LANGUAGE SKILLS CONCEPTS TO BE INTRODUCED THIS FALL
I was very fortunately blessed to complete an intensive Orton-Gillingham course this summer. Orton-Gillingham is a multi-sensory approach to teaching reading, writing, and spelling. It meshes beautifully with Montessori and I will be sharing some of the basics of phonological awareness, including activities and games, with staff during our in-service week. For our Primary classrooms we have purchased a new reading program which is in line with this approach. We are very excited to be able to have the same materials for all three classrooms! This company, Waseca, is the same company that developed the beautiful Biomes materials we introduced this past year.
Enjoy the rest of the summer! Ms. Louise, Director