Parent Education Nights
The teachers of CMS present curriculum to parents in the context of Parent Education Nights. These evenings are an opportunity for parents to broaden their understanding of Montessori curriculum and materials. What are these materials your children may have spoken of? Where did your children pick up that vocablulary? How was your child exposed to that concept? Indulge your curiosity and attend Parent Education Night: Jan. 21 at 6:30 for Lower Elementary parents and Jan. 26 at 6:30 for Preprimary and Upper Elementary parents!

Note to Lower Elementary parents: We have received 4 responses regarding the curriculum area to be presented; if you have not sent back your slip and you are planning to attend, please email Heidi at hhelenab@hotmail.com and indicate whether you would prefer to be enlightened in the subject area of Language Arts/Language Processing, Math/Geometry, Science or Cultural (Geography, History, study of other cultures). THANK YOU!
- posted by Heidi @ Thursday, January 15, 2004

 
School Calendar Revision
Typically, CMS teachers attend the national conference of the American Montessori Society each year; the school calendar for this academic year reflected this annual event – April 22 and 23, we were originally scheduled to be off school. Recently, the teachers became aware of a different national Montessori Conference that offered workshops some of the teachers found more attractive; thus, a unanimous decision was made to attend the conference for the National Center for Montessori Education this year. The effect of this decision upon CMS families is a change in the school calendar; please note that the two days off school for teachers to attend the Montessori conference have moved from April 22-23 to March 18-19!
- posted by Heidi @ Thursday, January 15, 2004

 
Haiku
The Lower Elementary class began studying Asia this week. For Writing Workshop today, exposure to haiku seemed the natural thing to do! The students listened to several haiku poems and practiced the syllable pattern as a group. When the group dispersed, some of the children chose to read the haiku of children around the world (check out Children’s Haiku Garden: www.tecnet.or.jp/~haiku/) while others went straight into composing haiku of their own! While many of the students were challenged a bit by the syllable pattern (traditionally 17 syllables, most often 5-7-5 pattern), the outcome was impressive! The following are some of their very first attempts at haiku (imagine how the watercolor illustrations will look!):

sand on the moist ground
bold butterflies in the air
they land in my hair
~ Lauren B.

frogs are so happy
they hop with their long, strong legs
they’re kind of slimy
~ Hannah

the rainbow is bright
so bright it is beautiful
it makes me happy
~ A.J.

the lake is so big
its as big as a river
it is colorful
~ A.J.

an awesome canyon
of beautiful animals
lone adventurer
~ Ron B. & Travis V.

rainforest precious
beautiful for eyes to see
disappearing fast
~ Douglas M.

black and white with socks
full of energy he runs
my dog barks a lot
~ Emma S.

"Frog"
bulging eyes webbed feet
hopping, leaping, fly eating
winter mud sleeping
~ Pauline S.

- posted by Heidi @ Wednesday, January 14, 2004

 
Counting Our Blessings
~ contributed by Miss Melody

Kyle Meadows has once again wowed us with his woodworking skills by constructing a beautiful oak aquarium stand for the preprimary classroom.

Chris Bachman set up the aquarium for us and will guide us in fish farming. He also contributes his time and talents to working with lower elementary students, usually three mornings a week!

Many thanks to Douglas Davis for the snow/ice-free steps and walk at school. He has generously volunteered to clean them the entire winter season.

Thanks to Christie Bricking , there is now coffee in the teacher area of the office -a first for Cornerstone (not counting Susan's occasional runs to Starbucks!) Teachers, volunteers and visitors now can feel so grown up, not to mention
revived! Christie also donates her time on a weekly basis to the CMS office and will be helping to maintain CMS's library and get the Parent Lending Library up and running!

Lisa Schneider works in the office weekly, taking care of scrip orders and various other odd jobs -- essentially whatever the teachers need done!

Kathleen Hardy has also spent quality time in the office, handling the phone, listening to readers or whatever odd jobs remain at the end of a week.

Lora Davis continues to supply the preprimary class room with fruits and vegetables frequently enjoyed in South America. Mango chunks drizzled with lime juice was a hit, as well as pineapple ("is this the pinecone?" several asked
once it had been cut up). Loved or feared was the fried plantain. When ripe it looks like a huge black banana, but is never eaten raw. Many were reluctant to try it after it was fried to a light golden brown, drizzled with lime juice, sprinkled with salt and a TINY bit of brown sugar*, but those that did were hooked. Just ask Cole, Chas or Sarah. Next week we'll try pepitos and another
TBD fruit.
*I've discovered many children will try a new food if you appear to be putting
brown sugar on it.

Thanks to Dina Velkly and Kate Brown, the preprimary volunteers who come weekly
to listen to readers and Tom Schurter, Chas's grandfather, a new recruit who joined
this last Thursday.

In the upper elementary classroom, Mary Jo Theis is a regular volunteer!

- posted by Heidi @ Sunday, January 11, 2004