I am busy getting ready for the 08-09 school year. As I schedule students, I think of the excitement that will fill the halls on August 11th. There is always so much freshness, hope, and anticipation when we start a new year. Most of our students will be returning to the same teacher. Part of the class will have rolled up to the next level. All classes will get new members coming in. The first few weeks teachers and students returning to the same class will induct the new students into their classroom culture by modeling acceptable classroom procedures and behavior.
We welcome our new students and parents. A Montessori classroom is very different from a traditional classroom. We hope that you will study this philosophy and method. It is a wonderful way to educate children, but if you come from a traditional background, it can be confusing.
Look for a letter from me toward the end of the week that has pertinent information in it about the beginning of school. Also, I will soon be doing a call out. I am looking forward to greeting our returning families and meeting our new families. It won’t be long now.
Finally the hot, dry weather has broken. The rains brought the cool air. I was beginning to think we wouldn’t have a fall, but the nights are nippy and the days a little warmer. This brings to mind all the holidays we will be celebrating in a few weeks. The Annual Pasta Dinner always seems to herald the beginning of fall. We had a wonderful time and raised money that will be put to good use in helping our teachers. Just being together as a school family is just as important as the money we raise.
It is hard to believe that a little more than a quarter of our year is gone. The students are settled in and working hard. In just a few weeks we will have the week of Thanksgiving off to visit with family and friends. It is always important to keep reading even during times off.
We have had a fabulous beginning of school. The first day was a success. Parents flooded the gym for a reception after getting their children settled in their classrooms. After just three days, we are beginning to get back into the routine of arrival and dismissal. Even though we still have a few tears as the three year olds get accustomed to leaving mommy and going to school everyday, there seems to be more this year who want to independently walk to class by themselves.
I am happy that our classes are completely full. More students have been able to take advantage of the available seats left open when former students moved away.
Teachers are busy teaching their students the procedures and how to work as a classroom community. Grace and courtesy is a priority with our staff. Rewards and punishment are minimal. Respect between the students and teacher is optimal.
Here’s hoping for a great year with many successes.
It is very busy around Stanford right now. Teachers are drifting in and working on their rooms. The custodians are working hard to get the building clean and shiny. The phone is ringing, and we are answering lots of questions. The PTO met last week, and planned for opening events. In the middle of it all there is an excitement brewing for this new school year. Let me hear from you if you have any questions.
It isn’t news to anyone in Nashville that this is a long, hot summer. I hope everyone is enjoying vacations, sun drenced days, and time off from the classroom. All too soon we will be back in school. Parents, what are you doing to support and/or increase your child’s reading level? I hope that you are reading to your child, having him/her practice reading to you, and discussing what they read. What are some of the to things you are doing to help your child be a good reader?
Every thing we do in school works toward the end, and we’ve had a great beginning and ending for the 2006-2007 school year. The Fly Over ceremony for our kindergartners was a huge success. I love this tradition. Every child should have a day where everyone is cheering for him. One of the biggest rewards of my job is seeing the smile on those children’s faces. We also had the Fly Away ceremony for our fourth graders who are leaving us and going to middle school. This is always a bitter sweet time. It is a time to celebrate their growth and accomplishments, but mourn their departure.
We are already working toward next year. We will have sixty new three year olds and a few students at other age levels. We start the year off with a picnic on August 9th at 6:00 p.m. This is a time to meet the teachers, see old friends, and get prepared for the first day of school. After a short time of rest the staff will be back and ready to go. Have a safe and happy summer!
The students had a three day weekend. They always seem to come back refreshed, and Tuesday was no exception. Monday was an in-service day, and the teachers not only learned more about teaching reading, but spent some time in our garden/court yard. That area is being used often now that the weather is pleasant. I see students eating lunch out there, playing, and working in their gardens.
Our schedule is getting very busy with end of the year activities. Next week, May 7-11, will be Teacher Appreciation Week. Please write your child’s teacher a note or send a small gift to let her/him know how much you appreciate the place that teacher holds in the life of your family.
Last Friday evening Stanford hosted its first Stanford Social and Marketplace Bazaar. It was a rip roaring success. The halls were lined with vendors who sold candles, jewelry, handmade purses, tea, make up, and many other wares. Concessions of hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts were set up in the cafeteria. The gym was decorated with posters dipicting music and dance themes while the disco ball hung from the ceiling lending an air of fun and excitement. Ms. Onedia was our fabulous DJ. She was helped by Mr. Marcy. Kids, parents, and school staff cut a rug on the dance floor. There was so much energy in that room that it was almost palpable. I believe a good time was had by all. It will definitely happen again next year. We love getting our families into the school.
Report cards came out yesterday. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
We will have our Mega Party Friday afternoon. This is to celebrate reaching and exceeding our fund raising goal. All children will be participating in the party because this was a community goal and as a community, we reached it.
Don’t forget that Monday, April 30th, is in-service for teachers. Students do not report.
This is our first day after our mini-break. We all had our coats on while helping the students out of their cars at arrival. We went from record breaking highs to record breaking lows in tempretures. However, it is toasty warm in our building. Our elementary students are chugging away on last minute reviews before the third and fourth graders begin TCAP testing on Tuesday, April 10th. We will be finished Friday except for make ups. Our students are ready to show off their hard work. The specials teachers have plans for the first and second graders while the third graders test. Remember that it is especially important that our students are well rested, have a good breakfast, and arrive on time.
We are looking forward to our Stanford Social and Market Place Bazaar. This will take place on April 20th. You will want to mark your calendars. This is a family event that you don’t want to miss. I know I am looking forward to it.
Isn’t it beautiful this time of year? We are enjoying the flowers in our garden and some classes are adding flowers to their garden. This is our last week before TCAP. Our elementary students are working hard to get those last minutes of review in. Next week we will be testing Tuesday through Friday. Parents can be a big help by seeing that their children get to bed early, have a good breakfast, and arrive on time.
We’ve been tuckin’ in, tuckin’ in around here. Please make sure that your child has his/her shirt tucked in before he/she gets out of the car. The students are really looking neat with their shirts tucked in.
Be sure to put our Social/Bazaar on your calendar. It will happen on April 20th. I think this is going to be a fun family evening.
