The end of September is upon us and home projects are due.  Please help your child to be prepared.  I also wanted to remind you to read everyday with your child.  Also, please check the actual blog website to link to the dolch sight word list.  Your child practices these in the classroom, but I would strongly recommend having your child practice these at home as part of their daily homework.  The site includes games you can play online, lists you can print and create your own games, or just make a set of flash cards.  I would recommend my beginning readers to start with pre-primer and work from there.  There is a set for every grade level.  If you are uncertain where to start your child, please feel free to email me.  An easy way to access your child would be to have them read from the printed list.  Some children may need a few from first and all of second.  The idea is to have your reading these site words.  If your child is reading beyond third grade level, these dolch words do not apply.

I also wanted to remind you about water bottles.  Please make certain your child has one.  I feel it is very important for students basic needs to be met, but it is also a big distraction to have children continually asking to use the drinking fountain.  Water bottles are a great solution.  I encourage your child to take them home to be washed on the weekend and returned Monday.  Also, most of the water bottles do not have names on them.  Please label them or I would be happy to.  I am sometimes hesitate to write on items, but if a child does not have a name, I will start labeling them.

I am also needing help with leveling our classroom library books.  If you are looking to get in some of your volunteer hours, I could really use the help.  I have already created the leveling system, it’s just a matter of looking up the book on book wizard and placing a sticker on the book.  This could be done anytime during the school day or even after school.  I hope to have this done very soon.  If you are interested, please email me.

I also know a few of your volunteered to come and read with the students.  I would love to have this in place starting the week of the 6th.  If you are still interested in coming to help, ideally, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings anytime from 9:15-11:15 please email me.  We could really use your support.  If you do want to help and these time don’t work, let me know.  I will not turn away help.

Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Dear Parents,

Next semester for Upper Elementary studio I will be teaching The Art of Physiology.  My vision is to be doing hands-on-dissections and having professional visits from people relating to health science and physiology.  I would like this class to be a more in-depth approach for those students who are seeking and are interested in anatomy sciences, being doctors, nurses, dentists or anywhere in the health field.

Have a splendid week,

Ms. Nicoletta

Hi families,

All first and third graders where sent home last week informing you about hearing screenings.  If you do not want you child to have his hearing screened please sent back the form.  Otherwise, all first and third grade students will be screened.  You will be contacted if a concern arises.

We are starting a new box top store this year.  These are those labels that come on food packaging that help raise money for schools.  Students can bring in their trimmed box tops once monthly for goods.  My understanding is things like MMA pencils and such can be purchased using the box tops. The first store will be held this Wednesday.

Our school cross country team is hosting their first meet this Tuesday at TOADS.  We would love your support.  Come out and cheer them on.  The meet starts at 4:30 p.m.

This Friday is early out at 1:00 p.m.

Also, save the date, November 12, 6:30 p.m.  Our school will be hosting a “Get down and dirty with the Montessori Materials” night.  You will be able to see Montessori materials your children are using in the classroom.  You will learn that snake game, is not about snakes, but mathematics equations and that stamp game has nothing to do with rubber stamps.  This is a great night to learn more and ask questions.

Yearbooks are now available to order online.  Visit .www.memorybook.com/parentpay  The pay code is 75924 and can be order now through January 16, 2015.  Cost is $20 or personalized for $25

I also needed to mention formally that students are not allowed to bring their own balls and such to recess.  Students are more likely to not follow the grace and courtesy when bringing their own equipment and often feelings are hurt.  We have a P.E. supply shed which children are available to use equipment from.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful children with us.

We as a school value the importance of team building and creating a community not only in our school, but in each and every classroom.  Each year brings a new dynamic when we mix new students with the old.  This particular year we have really slowed things down and have revisiting the importance of being a team and working to build community.  This week really started out rough.  We have had several students who have felt left out, had unkind things said to them, etc.  I know we as adults understand how cruel kids can be to each other.  It kills me inside when I see these sort of things happen.  We set work cycle aside Thursday morning and we had some very focused lessons on character building  I read them a story relating to the concept of how we can fill each others buckets.  We verbally talked about what emptying someones bucket looks and feels like and what filling someones bucket looks like.  I then had a small glass bucket with clear stones which was our classroom bucket and students could come to myself or Ms. Lily and tells us when they noticed our classroom bucket was being filled.  They would smile as they would help fill our bucket.  We saw new friendships come together and students being mindful of their actions toward each other.  We also demonstrated, with using fancy pencils, how alone we can break easily, but together, we are strong.   These lessons created a new vocabulary inside our classroom and seems to be working well.  I would encourage all of you to take sometime this weekend and speak with your children about friendships, how they can include others, be mindful of the things they say, and how they feel when they are helping and working together.  I feel strongly that in order for students to succeed academically, we need to also address emotional needs.  It is my goal and deepest wish that we will create an environment  where every student in our classroom feels safe, loved and be able to shine like the star they are.

Just a reminder back to school night is Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  This is will be an open house style event for adults only.  For those of you who are new to our classroom this year, I will have a paper for you to fill out on your student.  This gives me a little deeper understanding of your child and provides some insight in how to best reach their needs.  We will also have sign ups for helping with reading, field trips, and such.  I know the evening is brief and if you feel we need more time to visit about your child, please email me and we can set a time to meet.  I look forward to visiting with you.

Parents, this is a follow up concerning Certified Drivers.  The front office asked that we share this with you.

Thank you for all your support in providing supplies for our classroom this year.  Students are getting anxious to have their three ring binders, yet we are short for about a third of the class.  I do know some of you mentioned that you were in the process of donating supplies.  If you could bring these in by Monday it would help me know where we stand in need for supplies.  If all you donate is the 1 1/2 inch white binder, pencil pouch for three ring binder, and dividers, it would be much appreciated.  Thanks so much.

Also, it is a dress code infraction for not having inside shoes.  I understand how challenging this can be, especially this time of year and this is why it has been held off for a week.  Monday, students will be given a dress code violation for not having these.  The only exception will be families who have contacted me regarding shoes coming in the mail.

If you need to contact me, the best way is through my school email, which can be found anytime on the school website.  Or for your reference: bherrera@mariamontessoriacademy.org

Emails sent through this blog go to an account which I don’t use.  This is generally standard for all teachers at MMA.  The best way to contact all teachers is through school email.

Thank you for all your support.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Just a quick reminder to sign up for snack HERE.

We have a really fun group this year and it is so much fun getting know these new faces.  Students have been busy getting to know each other, creating teambuilding experiences, and learning the grace and courtesy of our school.  Next week we will be starting our great lessons and slowly transitioning into our regular work cycle.  As always, if you have questions, concerns, or celebrations, please email me.

If you are interested in helping our classroom by becoming a certified driver for our field trips, please plan on attending back to school night on September 4th.  Background checks and fingerprinting will be done at that time.  The cost is $60 and is good for 5 years.  If you are new to our  classroom this year and are already certified, would you please let me know.  Certified drivers help make it possible to attend fieldtrips.  We do not have a busing system here at Maria Montessori Academy and therefor it is up to the parents to provide transportation for your own student to fieldtrip sites.  With the help of certified drivers, we are able to make fieldtrips possible for students who need rides.  If you are interested, please send me a quick note.  The time you spend as a certified driver counts toward your 40 volunteer hours.