Dear Parents,                                                                                                    September 2, 2011

We are so excited to start a new school year and are happy to have you with us. We wanted to share some of the important highlights, for those of you who missed our Back to School Night Monday Sept. 1, 2011. Here is a short recap: 

• If you have not received an email from Ellie Lichtash, please contact me to add you to the e-mail list. 
• Please check the Parents Page on the left side bar on the website for Director Desk and Bulletin updates. 
• Vision: we shared our vision of expanding the school and growing into an elementary class in the future. 
• Introducing Rabbi Buxbaum. Rabbi B invited the school parents to join the  Aish Community for the High Holidays services at the JCC of Greater Washington. Free Admission for Alef Bet Families. Check www.aishdc.com
• Introducing - Miriam Singer, our Judaic Director, and Sarah Rivka Goodman. 
• Introducing - Co Chair of the PTO: Karen Galanti and Iris Yachin. Important: Please return the Volunteer page to us on the first day of school. PTO meeting times, click here. 

• Extra Curricular Activities - at additional cost:
• Soccer: children 3 and up can join a Soccer session on Tuesdays at 3:15, at Tilden Woods. Registration online will be available soon.
• Dance Studio on Roseland Drive, walking distance from the school. A volunteer is needed to coordinate a school class.
• Music Kids is offering violin classes at our school for an afternoon program. These are private lessons at addtional cost. See School Forms on the left bar of the website. 

• Calendar items:  
• School closed 9/5 – Labor Day 
• School closed 9/28, 29 & 30 – for Rosh Hashana. 
• Shabbaton 11/4 – School Friday Night Dinner for the whole family at 6 p.m. 
• Apple Picking Thursday 9/22 at 4:30 p.m. at Homestead Farm 
• Mark the date – Oct 25, 8 p.m.. Open house and introduction to Montessori at Home for Parents of our school 

• Staff: Our 3 classrooms are named after the 7 species of Israel: Rimon (Pomegranate), Dvash (Honey) and Gefen (Vine). Each class has a Montessori teacher and support staff members. Miriam Singer is the teacher for Rimon, Farhana is the teacher for Dvash, and Sharmaleen is the teacher for Gefen. Efi and Sarah Rivka are supporting the Dvash class. Adi and Vicky are supporting the Rimon, and Marcia is supporting the Gefen class. There are times that a support staff from one class will be supporting another class for Hebrew or Judaic programs.  
• Communication with our school - Please use the Notes at the end of the Parents Handbook to communicate with the Teachers, or leave a message on Extension 20. 
• Arrival – importance of arriving on time. If you cannot get at 8:45 a.m., better if you come at 8:30! We will enforce locked door policy at 9 a.m., because of interruption to the Rimon Class. If you arrive after 9 a.m., please use the upper level door. 
• Dismissal – Please note: in order to accommodate the number of cars on the driveway, parents have 2 options – Kiss and Ride Carpool Line or Park your Car and say Goodbye at the Door. If you choose Kiss and Ride, please do not get out of your car. If you need to take your time, please park your car. Morning time and dismissal are the busiest time for the teachers. Please try to avoid those times to have conversations with them. Parents are asked not to enter the classroom in the morning – but say Goodbye at the Door. 
• Parents are invited in our classroom: 
• Come and observe our classroom after the first Month – Please call to schedule time – you can join us on Friday mornings from 8:45 – 9:30, or schedule another time. 
• Join us on Shabbat party, any Friday at 11 a.m. (avoid the first week) 
• Join us for the Birthday party of your child (talk to the teacher how to do so) 
• Meet with the teacher every Wednesday at 2 p.m. – 2:30 in the library for the first month. And every first Wednesday of the month from November till June. 
• Coffee with the Director, every Thursday at 8:45 – 9:30 a.m. for the first month, and every first Thursday of the month from November till June. 
• Observation for an hour is scheduled on the calendar. 
• Most important phone number –Extension 20. This is where you can leave a message for your child's teacher. Also extension 20- check inclement weather and the emergency line. Please do not leave messages on the Directors’ line if they are for the teachers (such as: your child is late, he forgot lunch, you wanted to check if you need to bring diapers, etc. 
• Make sure to pick up a School Shirt for your child and for yourself (used on Field trips and school activities.
• Volunteer’s List for the year to the PTO – be sure to sign up for 2 items on the list 
• Late Dismissal Option – 4:30 p.m. (not on Fridays) – please let us know if you are interested. The cost for the year is on our tuition schedule. You can drop off per day as well. 
• Jim Joseph Foundation – This year we we are fortunate to have the Jim Joseph Foundation of the Federation of Washington DC offering scholarships for Jewish education.  A few families from our school were granted the scholarship. 
• If a parent is travelling,  or if there is a change in the house such as- Grandma is in town – please let us know. Your child’s emotions are dear to us, and every little change in the house affects her/him. 
• How to ask your child a question so that you can understand the answer - We will be discussing this delicate item on our meeting during the Coffee with the Director. Recommended read – How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Farber and Elaine Mazlish.

Ellie Lichtash and Alef Bet Montessori Staff