Director's Desk 3/27/2009
Registration for next year due April 1st
Signed
2009-10 Enrollment Contracts along with the first month's tuition to
secure your child's spot for next year is due Wednesday. We
have mailed each family that expressed an interest in enrolling for
next year a Registration Packet. If you have not received one, please
email Janel.
Matzah Bakery Field Trip
We
will be having our annual Matzah Bakery field trip this Thursday, April
2 at 5268a Nicholson lane, Rockville MD 20852. This is in the same
same shopping mall with Shoppers, Home Goods and Rhodman's. Please make
sure to bring your child to that location, instead of school, at 8:45
a.m sharp. The program starts precisely at 8:45 a.m. and will end at 10
a.m. Staff and chaperons will drive the children back to school at 10
a.m. to continue a regular day. If you are just dropping off your child, please leave a car seat for them for the return trip.
Camp Registration
Camp information and registration forms are out. Please check our web site for information on the Summer Program and to download a registration form. Forms are also available through the office. Please email Janel Herman if you would like the office to send a form to you.
Director AbsentEllie is out of town through April 3, 2009 for personal reasons. Please contact Janel
Herman at ext. 18 or (240) 994-5090 (cell) for any administrative
business, and Miriam Singer (240) 606-6588 (cell) regarding the
classroom.
Pesach Holiday
School is closed for Pesach beginning April 6. Classes will resume April 20. Happy Passover to all.
Alef Bet Montessori Staff
The Director's Desk 3/18/2009
Camp Registration
Camp information and registration forms are out. Please check our web site for information on the Summer Program and to download a registration form. Forms are also available through the office. Please email Janel Herman if you would like the office to send a form to you.
Next Year's Registration
Registration
for next year is on-going. We have mailed each family that expressed an
interest in enrolling for next year a Registration Packet. If you have
not received one, please email Janel and she will assist you.
Meeting with the Director Summary
During the past month, I had a chance to discuss the recent personnel changes with the Gefen and Dvash parents. On
Tuesday (March 17) we held a ‘Meet with the Director" session for the
Rimon class. Parents of other classes, who had not had the chance to
meet with me were also encouraged to join. This
meeting was a good opportunity to resolve problems and bring to the
attention of the school issues that parents consider of importance. I
would like to share with you the notes from that meeting:
- Change in Staff:
We addressed the recent changes in the school. We shared the expressed
pleasure that the staff feels having Efi on board as an assistant in
the Dvash class. I shared comments from the staff that summed up how
much the staff enjoys Efi's help, good nature, commitment and joy in
working with children.
- Next Year's Staff:
Parents asked about the staff for next year, and I assured everyone
that the current staff has been offered contracts for next year and all
are expected to continue with us.
- Communication:
Parents and the school discussed that when a staff member leaves, it is
always better to keep the information simple and neutral. Parents of
the school would like to discourage rumors and unwarranted information.
They also would like to encourage other parents to avoid gossip and
rumors. If a parent feels he faces a conflict or difficulty, it is
always best to contact the school and bring the issue to the Director's
attention. We would like to foster a Positive Culture of Communication
in our school and avoid unnecessary triangles, where two or more
individuals are talking about a third party. We would like to encourage
positive communication by referring the complaining individual(s) to
the third party with whom they can share their complaint and bring a
positive resolution.
- Male Staff Members:
The school acknowledged that having a male staff member should be
talked about openly. We assured parents that all staff members who work
with children must go through both State and Federal background checks.
We also check the references of previous employers. It was noted by the
school that other schools have male staff members and in some schools 4
out of 5 primary classes have one male member. We also referenced a
letter from a male director of another school, Rob Schultz, of
Brilliant Star Montessori School in Saipan, who used to be a teacher.
He noted that when he was working on his Human Development degree, he
was the only male out of over 400 students in the department. Later
on, when he and his wife ran a daycare, they had open talks with
parents about male staff. Rob says that “due to stereotypes and
misnomers in our society, any man who wants to work with young children
is suspicious. This is a reality.” The lesson learned from his
experience is to welcome an open conversation about the topic with our
parents. We also reviewed our Bathroom Policy:
- The bathroom door is always open when a staff member is in there with a child.
- Changing of clothing is done in the passageway, and not in bathrooms.
- Children are expected to exercise independence, climb on the potty or toilet, and clean themselves.
- Staff members who are taking care of a child who had an accident will call another staff member to help out.
- We
stressed that by far the most important element the school looks at in
hiring a staff member, regardless of gender, is the desire of the
person to work with children, their instinct about child safety, their
willingness to reach the child at his level and communicate with them
respectfully. Our hiring policy is non-discriminatory and follows the guidelines of federal law.
I
wanted to thank all the parents who joined us for the meetings. I
appreciate very much that you took the time to come and discuss the
school with me. Thank you for being a great part of the school.
Important Calendar Dates
- April 2 (Thursday):
Mazza Bakery Field Trip at 5268a Nicholson lane, Rockville MD 20852..
This is in the same same shopping mall with Shoppers, Home Goods and
Rhodman’s. Please make sure to bring your child to that location,
instead of school, at 8:45 a.m. The program starts precisely at 8:45
p.m. and will end at 10 a.m. We will drive back to school at 10 a.m. to
continue a regular day. Please help us by volunteering to chaperon for
that day.
- April 6 – April 17: School is closed for Pesach. Happy Passover to all.
Director Absent
I will be out of town through April 3, 2009 for personal reasons. In my absence, please contact Janel
Herman at ext. 18 or (240) 994-5090 (cell) for any administrative
business, and Miriam Singer (240) 606-6588 (cell) regarding the
classroom. Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash
Director's Desk 3/12/2009
Important Meeting
During
the last month, I had a chance to discuss the recent changes in
personnel with Gefen and Dvash parents. I would like to invite the
Rimon Class parents, who have not had a chance to talk with me, for a
talk with the Director addressing the recent changes in the school.
I welcome parents to come and bring their questions about the changes. The discussion will be on Tuesday, March 17 at
9 a.m. – 9:45 after drop off. Although the changes did not affect
Rimon’s class directly, and parents of Rimon were invited to join the
previous discussion, I think it is appropriate to call for a separate
class meeting and hear the parents. I would appreciate very much if you
could come. Thank you for being a great part of the school.
Purim Celebrations
We
would like to extend a special thank you to Robyn Paley who organized
the Purim Show, directed and arranged for all the staff costumes.
Mishloch Manot Fundraiser
Our
successful fundraiser was spearheaded by PTO chairperson Rachel Frier
and treasurer Aimee Robins. Thank you for organizing the Mishloch Manot
and taking the time to order it and stuff it with goodies.
Post Shabbaton
I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our Family Shabbaton co-chairs, Stephanie Blank and Ruth Baars,
for planning such a wonderful and successful event. It is important for
our children to see that their school is also a community and what
better way than sharing a Shabbat meal with our Alef Bet families.
Thank you to all the parent volunteers for their assistance: Amanda and
Andy Boltax, Rachel Frier, Janel Herman, Kathy Juda, Lauren Milner,
Wendy Hookman-Vasa, Iris Yachin and Eldar Zilber. We also would like to
thank the Morah Ety, Morah Adi, Morah Chava and her sisters, Ariella,
Brucha and Tova for their help. And a special thank you to Lori
Palatnik for her inspiring talk and baking over 90 yummy challah rolls!
Director Away
I will be leaving for Israel March 20 for personal family reasons and
am scheduled to return April 3. I will be able to read emails
occasionally. In my absence, contact Janel Herman at ext. 18 or (240)
994-5090 (cell) for any administrative business, and Miriam Singer
(240) 606-6588 (cell) regarding the classroom.
Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash
Director's Desk 3/5/2009
From the Director`s Desk: 3/5/2009
This
week our staff had a Professional Day. Our staff enjoyed a discussion
with Janet McDonell, who joined us on Tuesday for a special afternoon.
In addition, our Toddler staff, participated in a Professional Day on
Thursday with the PJLL, on the topic: How to Be Jewish When You Are
Two-ish.
Shabbaton Tonight!
We
look forward to seeing all of you who RSVP'd for our Family Shabbaton
tonight, March 6. We will begin the evening at 5:30 p.m. upstairs in
the Toddler Room for Shabbat Sing. We will have healthy snacks for the
children to keep them satisfied until dinner, which should begin about
6:45 p.m. I would like to thank ahead of time all the parent
volunteers, especially Ruth Baars and Stephanie Blank for all their
hard work in coordinating this event.
Upstairs
- 5:30: Shabbat Sing (Healthy snacks are available for the kids)
- 6:10: Shabbat: Sanctifying Time -- Lori Palatnik
Downstairs
- 6:10: Kabbalat Shabbat -- Rabbi Palatnik
- Welcome/ Dvar Torah -- Rabbi Palatnik
- 6:45: Kiddush and dinner; followed by a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Baars and yummy dessert
Purim Party
On
Monday all children should be dressed up for Purim. Parents, please
join us at 10:30 a.m. for Purim party and parade, it will be a noon
dismissal.
There is no school on Tuesday, March 10.
Shabbat Sholom
Ayelet "Ellie" Lichtash