From the Principal………..

Welcome back to Term 2 2009! We are at the end of our first Week of term and the children have settled in nicely. The cold weather seems to have settled in nicely too!

Now that I have had a Term’s settling period we have put some plans forward to continue to improve and build upon the wonderful work that is going on at Canberra Montessori School. We are reviewing and developing programs within the school with an emphasis on the Montessori Language Program this term. We have taken on a New Initiative to improve the evaluation and collation of information on all of the programs being implemented in order to ensure that quality Montessori is being delivered to our families. 

We are also moving towards continuing to open communications between staff and parents in order for the whole community to work together to the benefit of the children in our care. Please feel free to book in a time to see me if you have any queries or issues you would like to have discussed and addressed.

My top priority has been to seek a Cycle 3 Directress for Eucalyptus. Parents will be informed early this Term about the progress of our search and confirmation of details – thank you so much for your patience and understanding during this process. We shall be considering the best interests of all the children in any decisions made around gaining the right person for the classroom. All transitions from Cycle 2 to Cycle 3 will not be disrupted by this process and we will continue to smoothly transition the students in Term 3.

This Term we are also excited about our NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRIDE PROJECTS funded by the Federal Government. The projects include installing a Music and Geometric Gazebo for the students and a Ball Wall (extending the concrete play area and introducing basketball hoops and textural ball surfaces). There is also a need for more shade in the playground for the students – especially in the C2 & C3 playground – therefore we shall construct some shade cover before summer comes along.

Our Challenge Trail/Fitness Trail is also underway with plans to complete the trail by the end of June. This trail will compose of fitness stations around the perimeter of the C2 & C3 playground, encouraging fitness and health. Thank you to the Learnscape & Sustainability Committee for all your assistance with making these projects happen and to Bob for all the quote gathering (an arduous but much needed task!).

Our Open Day this Saturday 2^nd May was a great success. There were many enquiries and visitors with students of the appropriate age range. There were even expecting mothers eager to begin Montessori education – a great sign. A lot of families were keen to book in for observations which will begin straight away. Thank you to all parents who helped on the day – many families commented on how it was wonderful to be able to talk to current parents. A big thank you to the staff who shared their Montessori experiences with the community.

Tina Forsyth - Principal  

Upcoming Dates 

TERM 2 2009

May 5                     C3 – excursion – History of Sounds
May 13                   Information Evening 7pm – 8.30
May 12,13,14          NAPLAN
May 19                   CMS Board Meeting – Chair Chat Available 6pm
May 23                   Working Bee
May 27                   Ext.day/Grev – excursion Hume recycling
May 28                   Parent Information Evening 7pm
May 31                   Working Bee
June 5                    Pupil Free – AMI Refresher Course
June 8                    Public Holiday Queens Birthday
June 15-26              AEDI Collection Dates
June 23                  Parent Information Evening
June 27                  TRIVIA NIGHT
July 1                     Canteen

Please see School Calendar for events during Terms 2-4 and check Bulletin regularly for changes to published events.

Term Dates for 2009

Term 1:             4 February – 9 April
Term 2:             28 April – 3 July
Term 3:             21 July – 25 September
Term 4:             12 October – 16 December 

Public Holidays 2009Monday 8 June     Queen's Birthday Holiday

Monday 5 Oct      Labour Day
Tuesday 3 Nov     Family & Community Day (to be   confirmed) 

Term Dates for 2010

Term 1:             3 February – 9 April
Term 2:             27 April – 2 July
Term 3:             21 July – 24 September
Term 4:             11 October – 15 December

CMS School Board

A reminder that the Chair's Chat has recommenced  and will continue to be held  30 minutes before every board meeting at 6pm.  Check the bulletin for future times & dates.

 

Pipers – Monday 4th May

On Monday afternoon the children will be enjoying a visit from a bagpipe player who will demonstrate to the children how bagpipes work, the origin of the bagpipe, the parts of a bagpipe and the sounds bagpipes can make. Learning about different instruments and their origins is an important cultural lesson for children and helps them to understand the world around them a little more.Thank you to Alison our music teacher for organising this visit for the children. 

WINTER REMINDER

We are coming into colder weather which means the onset of colds and illnesses. Please remember that the best remedy for illness is rest and the best remedy to prevent the spread of infection is to ask that any child who is ill to stay at home until they are well enough to return to school. Montessori is a hands-on environment, especially in the 3-6 environments. Please look out for coughs and runny noses (especially of the greenish variety!). Thank you.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM - GUMNUT

The afternoon program is available from 12pm-5.30pm. Please make bookings via the Office.

Parents picking up students from Gumnut are reminded that parking is available only in the car park area – please do not drive down to the classroom area. Thank you.

CARPARK AREA

Carpark safety is of utmost importance to us at Canberra Montessori School. We have placed bollards with tape along the pedestrian walkway area to prevent cars from driving across the walkway – a potentially dangerous activity. We shall be increasing the number of bollards so that we can remove the tape – which will allow for easier access for pedestrians. Please ensure that cars do not cross the walkway and please continue to follow the direction of the arrows in order to ensure safe driving practices in the car park area. We are currently investigating signage for the crossing. Please slow down in the car park, even if you are running late. Thank you for your co-operation.

MONTESSORI QUOTES:

‘Work is necessary, it can be nothing less than a passion; a person is happy in accomplishment.’.

‘The child wants to do something sensible’.

‘It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colours, forms or qualities, but that he refine his senses through an exercise of attention, comparison and judgement.’

‘The adult works to improve his environment while the child works to improve himself’.

101 Things Parents Can Do To Help Children By Barbara Hacker

Continued…..

32. Look at family pictures together. Help your child be aware of his/her extended family, names, and relationships.

33. Construct your child's biography, the story of his/her life. A notebook is ideal so that it can be added to each year. Sharing one's story can become a much loved ritual. It can be shared with the child's class at birthday time.

34. Assist your child to be aware of his/her feelings, to have vocabulary for emotions and be able to express them.

35. Play games together. Through much repetition children learn to take turns, to win and lose.

36. Together, do things to help others. For example, take food to an invalid neighbor, contribute blankets to a homeless shelter, give toys to those who have none, etc.

37. Speak the language of the virtues. Talk about patience, cooperativeness, courage, ingenuity, cheerfulness, helpfulness, kindness, etc. and point out those virtues when you see them demonstrated.

38. Refrain from giving your child too much "stuff." If there is already too much, give some away or store and rotate.

39. Memorize poetry and teach it to your child and recite it together.

40. Put up a bird feeder. Let your child have responsibility for filling it. Together learn to be good watchers and learn about the birds you see.

41. Whenever you go somewhere with your child, prepare him/her for what is going to happen and what will be expected of him/her at the store, restaurant, doctor's office, etc.

42. Express appreciation to your child and others and help your child to do the same. Send thank you notes for gifts. Young children can dictate or send a picture. Older children can write their own. What is key is learning the importance of expressing appreciation.

Practical Life in a Montessori Setting

The children at Canberra Montessori School will have access to knives, glass, graters and other practical life activities in accordance to the Montessori Method of Education.

All use of these materials is presented with Safety Lessons and is monitored in each classroom.

Information Evening

Wed 13^th May 7pm-8.30pm

All families of Canberra Montessori School are invited to our Information Evening being held on Wednesday 13^th May at 7pm. The evening will consist of information about the Benefits of a Montessori Education and how Canberra Montessori School can provide for your child’s education. Come and find out more about the Montessori program and how it caters to your child’s needs.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all who have helped with our Open Day event. The turn out was higher than last year and we look forward to new enrolments from this successful day.

 

Montessori Questions & Answers

How do Montessori Children transition into traditional education?

Children who have completed the full Montessori primary program are prepared for high school in mainstream education. They have spent the last 9 years developing their independence and being involved in interest based learning that motivates them as self-directed students.

The students have been treated with honesty and respect and have worked in a framework of clear expectations and ground rules. They have been able to develop time-management, problem solving and group dynamics. These are all skills that take them through the next stage of development.

Some families hear that students find it difficult when taken from the Montessori education – this is generally if students are removed prior to the completion of the program. It is only natural that if the program has been disrupted without have been completely consolidated that the children are the ones who find it difficult once being removed. They have only just started to grasp certain developmental stages and then have been placed into a completely different educational environment.

Overall, graduating students from a Montessori education have continued on to high school having learnt the most important lesson in education – to love learning!

 

Materials for Art

Please don’t through away your cardboard rolls! Bring them in to school for art classes to use. (These include rolls from plastic wrap, aluminium foil, wrapping paper, paper towels etc but not toilet rolls.)