From the Principal
We have now come to the close of Term 2! It has been an action packed term. Open Day, Spiky Hair Day, Money Snake, Canteen, Science & Music excursions, pipers visiting, refresher courses, Naplan, Trivia Night and more!
Thank you to all who have contributed their time and efforts over the term to help in some way either in the classroom, with events or as part of our many committees. Without parental involvement the community would lose so much.
A big thank you to Lori, Liz, Sarah, John and Chantal for the amazing Trivia Night! Without your time and efforts the evening would not have happened. We all appreciate the great organisation that has gone into this fundraiser. So much fun was had! The costumes were very creative and highly entertaining – certainly a topic for discussion. Well done to you all for all the effort put into them! Can’t wait to see the photos. The evening raised $7000 – which is a great success!
Thank you to the F&SC for their efforts with fundraising this term, with Entertainment books, picture plates and so much more. All fundraising money contributes to the classroom materials and educational resources to support the Montessori program.
A final big farewell to Sharmini! Thank you for all that you have contributed to Canberra Montessori School and the best of luck in your new ventures.
A big, big thank you to Alice– our Cycle 3 Eucalyptus Directress– for continuing to work with the children in Term 3 until our new directress arrives in Term 4 – Esperanza Obnamia. The children and families are more than glad to know that you will still be with the students for a little while longer.
Karen Mitu is on her way to Australia and we all look forward to welcoming her as our Cycle 1 Dryandra Directress in Term 3.
Thank you to all Class Parents for your support this term and for continuing to create a wonderful supportive community for the Classroom Directresses, new parents and current parents. I look forward to meeting with you all early in Term 3 in order to touch base. I will arrange a time to meet next term.
Thank you to John Bury for his work with Canteen this term. Please read the article written by John about his experiences with the children during Canteen. Anyone interested in helping in 2010 please let John Bury know!
You all may have noticed that the Fitness Track is in! The children have been going from station to station trying each of the fitness routines. Thank you to Bob Dent and the Learnscapes Committee for coordinating this project. The children are delighted to now be able to not only play and have fun but also get fit! I can’t wait to get down onto the track and get fit myself (out of this office chair)! Next term looks like it will be Staff Fitness training?! Get those joggers out!
Our second Gazebo is now complete – awaiting a paint job but already used each playtime by the students. We
received a letter from the Cancer Council congratulating us on our decision to supply shade sails and
covers for the students with the Pride Funds given to us from the government. It is extremely important that the students are well protected from the harsh Australian sun.
There has been an influx of observers coming to the school over the last term. They have all commented on how amazing it is to see the children working so independently and with such self discipline. Another aspect that seems to be brought to my attention during interviews is how much the observers have enjoyed watching the children delight in their learning. This again is only made possible because of the extremely dedicated staff at Canberra Montessori School. Thank you to all staff for their commitment to the children and the Montessori environments being provided for the children.
I would also like to extend a very special thank you to all the Board members who, behind the scenes, are guiding the school in the direction of stability, growth and above all Montessori pedagogical values. Their support and dedication over the term is highly valued and can be a thankless task. However, it is reassuring to know that those who have taken on this huge responsibility have done so with integrity, commitment and above all a desire to ensure that an environment is provided in order to offer all children an excellent Montessori experience.
Term 3 will bring us a term of continued development with our new Building Education Revolution project. Work will commence in Term 3 on our new Multipurpose Environment which will include the PTP environment and a large space (about the size of an empty classroom) for educational and event purposes. Please see the plans in the display case outside the office. We are all very excited about this new project as it will offer so many options to utilise a much needed space. Unfortunately, funds did not extend enough for us to complete Stage 2 of our Hall project – the larger hall space – however plans have been drawn up for future development. Further details will be forthcoming as they arise. Hard hats on!
We have also completed applications for the BGA (Block Grant Authority) for another classroom extension onto Karri. We will be notified of the success of our application late in the year or early next year.
So things are moving along strongly and well. It has been great to see so much development in only 2 terms. Imagine where we will be in another 5 years! Very exciting!
“Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future”.
Tina Forsyth
Principal
Upcoming Dates
TERM 2/3 2009
July 1 Canteen
July 2 C3 – Excursion Mirinjani
July 6-19 School Holidays
July 20 Pupil Free Day
July 21 Students return to school
July 25 & 26 Assistants Workshop
July 31 Tree Day
Aug 3 Musica Viva Excursion
Aug 6 New parents’ morning tea – 9.15am
Aug 15 & 16 Assistants workshop
Aug 15 Working Bee
Aug 19 Parent Information Evening
Aug 23 Working Bee
Sept 14 Parent Information Evening 7pm
Sept 24 Canteen Day
Sept 25 Last day of Term 3
Please see School Calendar for events during Terms 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 2009
Monday 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
Car Park Safety
Please remember:
- Drive slowly
- Follow the arrows – the right direction
- Ensure children walk beside you
- Be aware of reversing vehicles
- Drive slowly!
Board Members
Our current Board Members are as follows:
Vlad Aleksandric (Former Parent)
Craig Davis (Eucalyptus)
Sue Wigg (Red Gum)
Thea Huber (Red Gum)
Alex Tyson (Karri)
Edgard Kagan (Dryandra & PTP)
Sue Edmondson (Former Parent)
Carol Sutton (Grevillea)
Tony Warren (Banksia/Melaleuca, Karri, PTP)
Liliana Russell (Red Gum)
Steve Stern (Melaleuca & Karri)
Catherine McMaster (Eucalyptus)
Practical Life in a Montessori Setting
In a Montessori environment the children will be using glass, knives, graters and real practical life equipment in order to develop independence and a sense of understanding of the ‘real’ world environment. All use of materials is given with safety lessons and supervision.
101 Things Parents Can Do To Help Children
By Barbara Hacker
61. Help children to maintain a calendar, becoming familiar with days and months, or counting down to special events. Talk about it regularly.
62. Get a pet and guide your child to take responsibility for its care.
63. Refrain from replacing everything that gets broken. Help children to learn the value of money, and, the consequences of actions.
64. Take a night time walk -- listen to sounds, observe the moon, smell the air.
65. Take a rain walk. Wear coats and boots to be protected, but then fully enjoy the rain.
66. Allow your Cycle 1 child to use his/her whole body and mind for active doing. Save computers for the Upper primary years and later when they become a useful tool of the conscious mind.
67. If you must travel without your child, leave notes behind for him/her to open each day you are gone.
68. Expose your child to all sorts of music.
69. Talk about art, visit statue gardens, make short visits to museums and look at a couple of pictures. Make it meaningful and enjoyable. Don't overdo.
70. Help them learn to sort: the laundry, cutlery, etc.
Canteen
The next canteen day in August will celebrate 4 years and 32 canteens at the CMS.
It all started when Adrian asked Christine [then the Principal] if there was a canteen at this school he was about to be enrolled at. Noticeably disappointed that one did not exist, I said that we could always start one. Little did I know then how popular it would become with the children. Many of the children soon called me " the canteen man".
What started off as an idea now involves Cycle 3 students, some dedicated parents and a cooperative staff preparing over 90 orders each canteen day for delivery to the classrooms. An added bonus is that all profits go to the school, To date almost $5000 has been donated to buy new equipment for our children.
From the very beginning the idea was to get the children to do as many of the jobs as possible. This gives training in several important areas including cutting up fruit and vegetables, making sandwiches and wraps, counting up money, and also how to make a production line so every order can be assembled and then sent out.
Many of these children had not done some of these tasks before so the process has become an important lesson to them. At least now I don't get the complaints "do I have to do this".
Canteen day is one that the children throughout the school look forward to. What really makes it all happen is the help of some of the parents to supervise all of this effort. Unfortunately, in 2010, three of us who have worked from the very start with the canteen will have left the school as our children graduate on to high school. Unless other parents take over from us there will be no more Canteen Days at CMS.
A Canteen Coordinator is needed now in order to learn the ropes [it does require a fair bit of time] as well as some more parents to help 3 hours on canteen day.
As an incentive, all hours go towards community hours, but it also requires a bit of dedication to help both the school and the children.
If you can find the time to help please contact John Bury [Karri] or Sarah (Acacia Director).
2009 INDIGENOUS SPORTS DAY
WHERE: Boomanulla Oval
34 Goyder Street, Narrabundah
WHEN: Tuesday 7th July 2009
TIME: 10AM – 3PM
AGE: Open to the community and friends
COST: NIL
The ACT Indigenous Sport Program, Sport and Recreation Services together with Australian Federal Police and Aboriginal Corporation for Sporting and Recreational Activities (Boomanulla Oval), will host the annual Sports Day as part of the 2009 National Aboriginal Islander Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC) with…...
Ø Giant Slide and Rock climbing Wall
Ø Wrestling, Cricket, AFL, Softball, Lawn Bowls
Ø Special Olympics and Sports Ability activities
Ø Touch and Rugby League games
Ø Kids at Play Vans (Interactive fun/safe playing equipment for juniors aged 2-5 years
Ø Colouring and crayon activities
Ø Bead making/Face painting
Ø Fairy floss and popcorn
Ø Lunch, snacks and drinks
Ø Show bags and more…….
No need to RSVP, just turn up and enjoy the activities on the day
For more information, contact:
Jo Robson (Indigenous Sport Program) on 0409 789 070
Darren Williams (Boomanulla Oval ) on 6295 8557
Kenny Nagas (PCYC, AFP) on 6296 1292