From the Director`s Desk: 12/24/2008

Dear Parents,
We are working hard on improving our communication within the School. Help us know How Are We Doing by completing the Survey that was sent to you in an email message last week.

It was brought to my attention that a couple of parents did not receive an email or flyer regarding Sunday's Chanukah Party.  We do our best to distribute flyers at pickup and send email reminders. We know that flyers can get missed or lost, which is why we rely heavily on email for our school communication.  I am now concerned that some of our important school emails aren`t reaching parents.

I ask that you please help us find out who is receiving these weekly bulletins, by filling out the survey we sent via email on Monday, Dec. 22. By filling out the Survey, we will know that our email list is correct and up-to-date. If you find the email was not sent to your primary or preferred email then you can let us know in the comment section of the Survey.

For those who took pictures during the Chanukah parties, we ask if you could forward some of your favorites to Amanda Boltax so that we can share them on our web site.

Happy Chanukah and have a wonderful winter vacation.

Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash

From the Director`s Desk: 12/19/2008

Thank you to our volunteers and all the parents who made pledges last night in our Annual Giving Campaign Phone-a-thon. We know some of you weren't home to receive the PTO's call, so please return their message promptly so they can record your pledge donations and help us meet our goal of $10,000. All pledges are tax deductible, so get your money in before the end of the year to claim your tax break for 2008.
 
The money we raise during this important campaign is used for essential items for our classrooms. Every year, each classroom needs to replenish some equipment. The PTO has explained in a detailed letter the school's needs and how your donation will help. Our Annual Giving Campaign will run through March.

Chanukah Parties

This year we are having our Annual Chanukah Party with the Aish Community  on Sunday, the first night of Chanukah. We will light the candles together and enjoy a Chanukah performance from our children.

We hope you can all join us Sunday at 3:30. The event is hosted by Aish Hatorah. The cost  for the party is  $5 per person,  2 years old and up. To sign up go to www.aishdc.com

The schedule for the party is as follows:

3:30 - 4:00:  Welcome, arts and crafts for children and class for parents "Chanuka Then and Now", by Lori Palatnik.

4:00 - 4:30: Sing-a-long Chanukah songs and Alef Bet children`s performance.

4:30: Rabbi lights the candles, singing `Hanerot Halalu` and 'Ma-oz Zur'

4:40 - 5:00: Refreshments

In addition, our school will have a combined classrooms Chanukah party on Dec. 24 at 11:15 a.m. Parents are invited to attend for a sing-a-long at the school.

Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash

Other upcoming events

• Jan. 30:  Alef Bet Montessori Family Shabbaton, 5:30 p.m. at the Aish Cente.
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From the Director's Desk: 12/12/2008

Dear Parents,

Last week you should have received a flyer with a plea from the  PTO to help our school by donating to our Annual Giving Campaign. As part of this campaign, the PTO will be holding a Phone-a-thon on Thursday, Dec. 18. Parent volunteers will be calling you to request a pledge; please do not let them go empty handed.

In comparison to other area Montessori schools (see chart below) our school's tuition rates are very reasonable. However, while the Alef Bet tuition provides a sufficient budget to maintain our school, we do not have the funds for extra resources without your help.
 

Name of School	Full Day Primary	Half Day Primary	Toddler	Other fees
Alef Bet Montessori	$8,300	$5,800	$9,200	n/a
Aidan Montessori, DC	$18,301	$12,302	$13,532	$1,800 Initial fees + 500 enrollment fees
Butlers Montessori, Darnstown	$11,900	$7,900	n/a	n/a
Lone Oak, Bethesda	$10,700	$8,505	n/a	$1000 initiation fees
Manor Montessori, Bethesda	$10,600	$8,400	n/a	n/a

The money we raise during this important campaign is used for essential items for our classrooms. Every year, each classroom needs to replenish some equipment. The PTO has explained in a detailed letter the school's needs and how your donation will help. Our Annual Giving Campaign started this month and will go on through March. We thank you in advance for participating.

Also, this past Sunday we enjoyed an inspiring lecture about marriage and parenting from Rabbi Steve Baars at the home of the Ratners. I wanted to thank Rabbi Baars for volunteering his time, Rachel Frier for organizing the event and Daniel and Ilana Ratner for opening up their home for this wonderful event.

 We plan to hold another lecture in Rabbi Baar's Bliss series and encourage parents to join us for the next event.

Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash

Chanukah Parties

The Aish Center in partnership with Alef Bet Montessori will be holding its Annual Chanukah party Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Aish Center. Featuring Chanukah songs from our very own Alef Bet Montessori students. Flyers will be sent home with more information.

In addition, our school will have a combined classrooms Chanukah party on Dec. 24 at 11:15 a.m. Parents are invited to attend for a sing-a-long at the school.

Graffiti

A few weeks ago an act of vandalism struck our building over the weekend. The vandals spray painted on the playground fence and on the brick wall facing the playground. We reported the incident to the police, who visited the premises and filed a report. We also alerted the neighborhood association to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity during Friday night or Saturday night on our premises.

Aish volunteers are trying hard to erase the graffiti using a pressure washer and chemicals, but so far without much success. If anyone knows how to get rid of spray paint graffiti, the volunteers will be happy to hear your advice.

Other upcoming events

• Tuesday: Open House and a class: Discipline and Self Discipline, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Elementary Talk & Open House at KMMS, 7:30 in Silver Spring

Jan. 30:  Alef Bet Montessori Family Shabbaton, 5:30 p.m. at the Aish Center

From the Director's Desk: 12/5/2008

Please make sure to check your child's backpack for our school's December/January newsletter. This newsletter was a joint effort with Kemp Mill Montessori School in Silver Spring and is filled with important dates and upcoming events, as well as articles about Montessori for toddlers through elementary-age children. We think it's our best effort to date and highly recommend that you read it and show it to any family or friends that might be interested in Montessori.

Next week (Dec. 9-12) we will be holding Parent-Teacher Conferences. The Primary classes will have a noon dismissal on Tuesday and Wednesday and the toddlers will have noon dismissal on Tuesday and Friday for conferences. Please make sure you have signed up for a time to meet with your child's teacher. Sign-up sheets are posted on the entrance doors.

We will be selling Chanukah gift wrapping paper as a fundraiser for our school. You can purchase two rolls for $5.00 from your child's assistant teachers.

Speaking of Chanukah, please note that the PTO has scheduled a meeting Wed. Dec. 10 at 9:15 a.m. to discuss, among other things, the upcoming Chanukah party. All parents are invited to attend the meeting in the Aish Center's upstairs library.

Other Important Dates

• Dec. 14: Social Event for parents – Bliss Seminar at the Ratners’ home, 10 a.m. to noon

• Dec. 16: Open House and a class: Discipline and Self Discipline, 8:30 p.m.

• Dec. 17: Elementary Talk & Open House at KMMS, 7:30 in Silver Spring.
• Dec. 21: Aish Community Chanukah Party, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Aish Center.
• Dec. 24: Alef Bet school Chanukah Party, 11:15 a.m.
  

Ayelet, "Ellie" Lichtash