Parents,
We have our first field trip coming this Friday. Please make arrangements to drop off and pick up at the park. The morning class will have their field trip from 9 to 11:30 and the afternoon class. The afternoon class will have their field trip from 12:00 to 2:30. If you need help with transportation please contact our room parents for help. The information can be found here 2019-2020 Parent Permission Slip Oaklawn Park We could still use a few more chaperones for both classes. Email me if you would like to help. Please dress your child for the weather. It is always very cold in the mornings at Oak Lawn Park. We could use some donations for snack for our field trip here is the link to sign up https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/503381
Throughout this year we will be studying Sean Covey’s Seven Habits for Happy Kids. The seven habits are:
Be Proactive
Begin With the End in Mind
Put First Things First
Think Win-Win
Seek First to Understand then to be Understood
Synergize
Sharpen the Saw
We will be talking about being proactive this month. We will talk about how certain things that happen to us that might push us into having a negative mind like when a friend hurts our feelings or we become angry over something, or we lose something we love. We will then talk about how we can choose how we react to these feelings. This is called being proactive as opposed to reactive. A reactive person may say “He made me mad!” A proactive person would say “I choose to forgive”. A reactive person would say “I am like this because of how I was raised.” A proactive person would say “I choose to do things differently than how I was raised.” Being proactive is about choice. We can not prevent or protect our children from all the hardships that they will face. However, we can teach them to be proactive and choose how they will react to hardship, thus turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
We will begin our study of maps this week by talking about the maps and what they are used for as well as the difference between a map and a globe. In botany this month we will be studying leaves. In physical science we will be looking at the differences between day and night and in zoology we will be talking about invertebrates. In practical life this month we will begin some of our food preparation jobs. These activities are some of our students favorites. As teachers we like them but for different reasons. These activities help teach students order, concentration, coordination as well as independence. This month we will be making toast and slicing apples. We could use donations of bread and whole apples.
Our annual Fall Festival is happening this Friday. This is such a fun family event. It is an opportunity to bring family and friends to the school and have a great time. This is the one opportunity for your child to wear their Halloween costume at the school since we do not allow costumes on Halloween. I would encourage you and your families to attend. The link to purchase wristbands and tickets is here: https://checkout.square.site/buy/I6V2IBMZG2U276NOXMYGFQNN
Wristbands will get you onto the custom event rides (not including the obstacle courses, rock wall, and some slides), the tickets can also be purchased at the same website separately or in packages with wristbands. Tickets are good for carnival games, rock wall, slides, etc. Some vendors will only be taking cash (Jr. Artisan Fair and food trucks).
We are still looking for a lot of help with carnival games! Please sign up on track it forward here: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/501254 If you are able to help out with that but can’t figure out how to sign up on track-it-forward, email MAPA at this address and they will be happy to find a place for you: mapa@mariamontessoriacademy.org Without enough volunteers not only will games not be able to stay open to raise money, but rides will also shut down.
Have a great week!
Ms. Jen & Ms. Jess