Director's Desk 10/29/09
Why do we NOT use Baby Einstein DVD?
An important Parent Alert information - if you purchased a Baby Einstein DVD or if you intend to purchase one. click here
The gist of it : Early childhood education is best achieved by getting down to the floor and playing with your child or reading a book, not through TV or DVDs.
Coffee with the Director:
Please join us for a Coffee with the Director on Nov 19, Thursday, at 8:45 - 9:45 - Discussion on Discipline, Self Discipline and Montessori @ home.
December 10 - Toddler Community discussion on Transition to Primary - Parent meeting.
Reminders:
- Friday Night Shabaton - this Friday 10/30 at 6 p.m. Dinner made by the parents and Shabat Service for the family.
- Challah Order Forms, to support our art programs, are available on our website, under Parents Page/Forms.
- If you borrowed a book from our library, kindly return it to our office.
- We are starting the Nature Program next Thursday, November 5 @ 4 p.m. at Croyden Creek Nature Center.
Parents are welcome to come for a TRIAL lesson next week at the cost of $8 per child.
- Change of Cloths - Weather has changed - please make sure to send an extra set of cloths for the winter - mark your child's NAME on each item, and leave them at school.
- During the month of Nov here are the following closing days:
- Nov 12 - closed Prof Day;
- Nov 17 - Noon Dismissal (open Nov 18);
- Nov 26 and 27 - closed for Thanksgiving.
Why Less TV is Better for your Child
Children's health advocates warned that increased television watching is linked to delayed language skills and obesity. Click here for the article.
Did You Know about Child Subsidy Support?
The Childcare Subsidy Program at www.mdchildcare.org allows families under a certain income threshold to apply for subsidy support. Click Here.
How to Keep Flu Virus Away
This week one case of Swine Flu was reported in our school. Another family reported that the pediatrician's office treats regular flu and H1N1 flu virus (aka Swine Flu) in the same manner. The family says that it is not the worst disease, and it is manageable, though it takes some time till the fever is gone (between 5 to 7 days).
Lets all reinforce good health habits that could slow or stop spreads of a virus:
- Wash your hands and your child hands frequently with soap;
- We want to make sure that if children are not feeling well, they are staying at home; Avoid close contact with people who are sick; Stay home when you are sick;
- We ask you to be proactive and letting us know if your child is not coming to school (leave a message on ext. 20);
- We will follow all guidelines of the Health Department, CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and MCPS;
- We will continue to keep the level of cleanliness in the school facility that helps keep us all safe;
- We continue to enforce policy of not sharing food or drink;
- Develop a family emergency plan in case one of the family members is sick:
- CDC recommends that you stay home until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Keep your sick child at home and avoid sending other children to school to avoid epidemic;
- Store appropriate medication and vitamins, food and other essential supplies;
- Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing; Teach your child to sneeze and cough at the elbow;
- Practice other good health habits: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious food, and manage your stress;
- Call 1-800CDC-INFO for more information. CDC website is on http://www.cdc.gov. or click here.
- Information about Montgomery County Swine Flu Clinic and shots click here.
Director's Desk 10/23/09
Reminders:
- RSVP for the Shabaton Dinner, Friday 10/30, with Janel at janel@alefbetmontessori.org.
- Show of Hands for the Nature Program starting October 28 or 29.
Nature Center - Croyden Creek. Renana (the mother of Ta-eer ad Beeri) has volunteered to coordinate a Nature Program at Croyden Creek Nature Center located right next to Rockville Civic Center (about 8 min drive away from the school). Renana says that many of these programs are conducted over the summer and are really enjoyable for the children. Renana is trying to coordinate a program for the fall/early winter months for a class:
When: either on Wednesdays or Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Starting: Oct 28 or Oct 29
How long: one hour
Ages: children ages 3- 6, but younger (2.5 can join with a parent).
Cost: $48 per child
How Long: 8 week session
Requirements: Min 8 children, Parent attendance optional (
does not need to be a 1:1 ratio)
The program includes: indoor and outdoor activities (weather permitting) including a story, craft making, short hike.Each week focus on one topic:
Spiders,Bats, Turkeys, Trees/Leaves, Animals' Homes, Winter Birds, Turtles, Snakes, Owls
If you are interested, please send an email to Renana Dolev Harel at assafusa@hotmail.com or on her cell at 240-7446437 indicating the number of children you wish to enroll, whether and your preferred day: Wednesday or Thursday.
Israel & Human Rights Watchdog. I thought to draw your attention to an important read at the NY Times this week. Robert L. Bernstein, the founder of the flagship group Human Rights Watch, examined the critique against Israel in the recent years. For full article click here .
For Our Kids, For Ourselves, a Jewish Community Support Group for Parents with children w/ ADHD, Sensory Processing, Anxiety & other related diagnoses, is proud to sponsor a Presentation and Discussion led by Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Judi Lapidus on the topic of "How Can I Help My Child Cope - Strategies for the Classroom, Home and other Social Environments?". Click here for more info.
Director's Desk 10/16/2009
This Saturday 10/17 - Montessori Madness
Please do not forget - the book club event this Saturday at 8:30 p.m. A discussion of the book Montessori Madness at Alef Bet Montessori School, with Trevor Eissler, the author, is a unique and unusual opportunity for our school. Mr. Eissler will be talking earlier on that day in Columbia at one of the largest Conferences for Montessori educators about this book, and he kindly agreed to come to our school and hold the discussion.
Whether you read the book or not, this is an important evening to
attend. I do have 2 more copies of the book available in the office,
if anyone needs a copy.
It is highly recommended for both parents to attend and make it a
date. Wine and Cheese will be served.
Please RSVP with Janel at janel@alefbetmontessori.org.
C U Sat Nite
Save the Date - School Shabaton on Oct 30 - PTO event
We have a date for our First Shabaton, for Oct. 30, Friday at 6 p.m.
Our Shabaton is a school event, where we all the school families gather together for a Friday Night Meal.
This is a volunteer based activity - your help is needed.
We meet around 6 or 6:30 p.m, have a service for family, children and our guest, than we eat around 7:15 p.m.
This is fun evening for the whole family. It is highly recommended to
attend. The charge is only to cover the cost of the food ($15 per adult, $10 per child, cap - $50 per family).
Please email Jackie Mizrahi, if you are willing to volunteer.
Please save the date. We will send the exact schedule next week.
Calendar Updates
11/12 - School closed - Professional Day
11/17 - Professional Day, Noon Dismisal NEW
11/18 - Regular dismissal. No Professional Day
(We had to change the date due the the request of the Professional coach).
Extra Curricular Activities -
Note - if your child is signed up for an extra curricular activities, they are welcome to stay at school until 3 p.m. on the day of the activities, and he can attend Soccer or Gymnastics right after school. Parents who would like to carpool - please let Janel know.
Soccer - Show of Hands - Tuesday 3:15 p.m.
Please email Iris Yachin, if your child is interested in taking soccer this fall. Starting Tuesday 10/12 - 11/24, 7 session cost is $95, location is Tilden Park (down the road from our school). Spots are still available.
Gymnastic Class at Marvatots - Monday 3:30 p.m.
On Monday of this week we started our after school gymnastics class at the MarVa Gym. We now have 6 enthusiastic children registered in the 3-5 year old class! We also have one more child registered in the under-3 year old class and will hold another trial class on Monday, October 19th, at 3:30 pm. The fee for the trial class is $18, and will be applied to the session fee if parents chose to register for the remainder of the session. Registration is still going.
Books from Our School Library
Parents are welcome to borrow reading materials, and DVDs from our small library in the office. If you are holding a book from our school, please remember to bring it back within 2 weeks so that other parents can use it. Thank you.
Challah Fundraiser - Challah Order Forms
Stefie Brodsky has volunteered to orgenize the Challa Fundraiser. For every Challah you or your family purchase, the school gets $ for its art programs. We have posted an oder form under School Forms (on the left side bar), or you can click here. Forms should be send back to the school office for Stefie Brodsky, with your check to Alef Bet School- please indicate Challah Fundraiser. Orders must be in by Wednesday for delivery on Friday. Challahs can be picked up from the school on dismissal time on Thursday and Friday.
Why Not Haloween?
In our Jewish Community, we do not celebrate Halloween. Click Here to to read why.
Ellie
Director's Desk 10/2/2009
Suka Hop - This Sunday
Rabbi Palatnik, of the Aish Center, is visiting with our children once a week to tell a story, show the shofar, touch the Four Spcies, and more. Rabbi Palatnik is inviting the school parents to join a fun activity on Sunday Oct 4. We are going through our School's neighborhood from one suca to another tasting delicious food. Meet at the School on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Sign up at www.aishdc.com. Or click here. Hope you can join
Soccer Class for Our School
Our school is having a Soccer class together. Starting on Tuesday 10/13 through 11/24. Class is 40 min long for each session, starting at 3:15 p.m. at Tilden Woods park, not far from school on Tilden Lane. Cost is yet to be determined (around $ 105) for 7 meetings. If you are interested in signing in, please let Iris Yachin know, (the mother of Oree, Adam and Aitan) at irismy.art@gmail.com, and she will send a flyer to your home, with a registration form. Please specify your address. Flyers will also be available upon our return from Sukot Holiday. We highly encourage your participation for boys and girls 3.5 year old and over. It is a wonderful social opportunity.
"Pizza in the Hut" Oct. 6 @ 7:30 p.m.- Social event for Parents only
Please join us for a wonderful talk with our guest speaker Lori Palatnik, at the Baars' family "Hut". Lori Palatnik is a fantastic and internationally known speaker and author. She will talk to us about "Building a Joyful Family."
We will sit in the sukkah for some beer and pizza. Pizza is home made by Daniel Ratner, who voluteered to make it! This is a great oportunity for parents to meet each other socialize. The Baars family lives not very far from the school on 6012 Roseland Drive, Rockville MD 20852.
Please RSVP to Janel Herman by Thursday Oct 1. We just need a count for the servings.
Gym Class at MarvaTots - Update
We now have four children registered for the MarVa gym in the 3-5 year old class. And we have two children interested in the under 3 year old class, but a minimum of 4 children is required to move ahead with the class.
As such, the owner of the gym has indicated that on October 12th, children not registered for either class may participate for an $18 fee on a trial basis. If they choose to join the class, the $18 is ducted from the total $180 due for the session. And, if after the under 3 year old trial class, we have enough kids to move ahead, the same would apply.
Calendar
Friday 10/2 - Noon Dismissal (Sukot Eve)
School Closed till 10/9. Back in school 10/12.
10/6 - Tuesday, Pizza in the Hut
10/17 - Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Montessori Madness. Parents' Educational Night.
Parents Observations in the Primary Classrooms -
On 10/13 and 10/14 we will be happy to schedule observation for parents for the Primary classes. Please sign in with Janel at the office, for Parent Observation in the classroom. Observation time is for one hour between 9 - 11 a.m. The observation is only for the Primary Classes at this time of year. The Toddler class is not ready yet for visitors. We will schedule observations for the Toddler classroom in November.
How to Keep Flu Virus Away
Last year outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus (aka Swine Flu) kept us all alert to the cleanliness of our classrooms and habits of our children. It is still important to take precautions but no need to panic the children. We continue to monitor the situation through CDC website and alerts from the appropriate agencies. Along with that, lets all reinforce good health habits that could slow or stop spreads of a virus:
1. Wash your hands and your child hands frequently with soap;
2. We want to make sure that if children are not feeling well, they are staying at home; Avoid close contact with people who are sick; Stay home when you are sick;
3. We ask you to be proactive and letting us know if your child is not coming to school (leave a message on ext. 20);
4. We will follow all guidelines of the Health Department, CDC and MCPS;
5. We will continue to keep the level of cleanliness in the school facility that helps keep us all safe;
6. We continue to enforce policy of not sharing food or drink;
7. Develop a family emergency plan- in case one of the family members is sick, store appropriate medication and vitamins, food and other essential supplies;
8. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing; Teach your child to sneeze and cough at the elbow;
9. Practice other good health habits: get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious food, and manage your stress;
10. Call 1-800CDC-INFO for more information. CDC website is on www.dcd.gov/swineflu/
Did you know....“[M]ost innovative entrepreneurs were very lucky to have been raised in an atmosphere where inquisitiveness was encouraged. We were stuck by the stories they told about being sustained by people who cared about experimentation and exploration. Sometimes these people were relatives, but sometimes they were neighbors, teachers or other influential adults. A number of the innovative entrepreneurs also went to Montessori schools, where they learned to follow their curiosity. To paraphrase the famous Apple ad campaign, innovators not only learned early on to think different, they act different (and even talk different).” Harvard Business Review Blog Click here for full article.
Other Montessori educated innovators:
* Sergey Brin + Larry Page (referred explicitly to Montessori in their Barbara Walters interview)
* Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com
* Will Wright, Inventor of Sims
* Katherine Graham, Owner-Editor of the Washington Post
* Julia Child, First TV Chef
Happy Holiday,
Ellie Lichtash
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