December 3-16 Gold Awards

Congratulations to the following students!

Prekindergarten:
Heidi V. - Ms. Janney
Ashlyn P. - Ms. Getz
Kody K. - Ms. Janney
Kat R. - Ms. Getz
Cianna C. - Ms. Getz
Aidan M. - Ms. Janney

Grade 1:
Lizzie C. - Mrs. Vaughan
Jackson S. - Mrs. Vaughan

Grade 2:
Claire G. - Mrs. Clay

Grade 5:
Emma V. - Mrs. Batson
Katie O. - Mrs. Barker
Megan R. - Mrs. Barker
Chris M. - Mrs. Barker
Katie K. - Mrs. Barker

November 19-December 2 Gold Awards

Grade 1
Cole C. - Mrs. Vaughan
Allison H. - Mrs. Vaughan

Grade 3
Julius G. - Mrs. Wetzel
Niklas G. - Ms. Miles
Katie C. - Mrs. Wetzel

Grade 5
Emily L. - Mrs. Barker
Arielle L. - Mrs. Barker
Cat C. - Mrs. Barker

November/December Web Sites to Browse

With the hoiday break quickly approaching, I thought it might be helpful to include some sites that will be fun to explore as a family. Holiday break is the perfect time to practice math facts, key boarding skills and of course, READ, READ, READ!! Enjoy browsing!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/
This site is fun to go to for the "younger child" (my Ellie loves a good craft project!!) for ideas on easy to do projects at home.

http://www.familyfun.com/
Nice site for good old family fun! Find wonderful recipies, game ideas, projects, travel ideas, etc.

http://www.funbrain.com/
Practice math facts for the different grade levels.

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000448.shtml

Practice keyboarding skills - this will be so helpful for third through fifth grades.

http://fun.familyeducation.com/holidays/christmas/29608.html

Teach your kids to give to others in need during the holidays. Here's a wonderful article that's sure to inspire the spirit of giving for all families.

Dress Code

Please remember that the dress code will change to our winter uniform beginning after the Thanksgiving break on December 1. Please see the parent handbook on pages 18-22 for uniform details.

Gold Awards for November 10-18

Congratulations students!

Kindergarten:
Ella S.- Mrs. Oakes

First Grade:
Lizzie C. - Mrs. Vaughan
Belle V. - Mrs. Vaughan
Anjali B. - Mrs. Vaughan
Aiden M. - Mrs. Rex
Drew P. - Mrs. Rex

Third Grade:
Amy R. - Mrs. Wetzel

Fourth Grade:
Michael D. - Mrs. London
James P. - Mr. Guidotti

Fifth Grade:
Kate K. - Mrs. Barker
Carly D. - Mrs. Barker
Cat C. - Mrs. Barker

Gold Awards for November 3-7

Kindergarten:
Paulina P. - Mrs. Oakes
Millena C. - Mrs. Oakes
Tabitha M. - Mrs. Oakes

First Grade:
Courtney P. - Mrs. Rex

Fifth Grade:
Chris G. - Mrs. Batson

Culture Connections Festival 2009

On Friday, January 16, 2009 we will hold a Culture Connections Festival to kick off Cultural Arts Week. This event will allow students to show pride for their own culture as well as learn about other parts of the world.

Activities for the day will be completed with grade buddies. The rich learning experience will include enjoying a Parisian café in our own library, writing haikus, completing art activities from foreign lands, games played in our gymnasium that are enjoyed in other nations, as well as experiencing smartboard activities involving other countries. Lunch will be served featuring a meal from another country, which will extend to Cultural Arts week, when each day a different nation will be highlighted during lunch time. The day will end with a fashion show to view ethnic attire.

Volunteers are needed! Please help us make the festival a success. Email Deb Deckman at ddeckman@montgomeryschool.org if you are interested in volunteering and/or if you have an outfit to be highlighted in our fun fashion show.

Fall Fun Day 2008

Many thanks to the many parents who helped make this year's Fall Fun Day a wonderful event! Special thanks to Jennifer Volatille, who chaired the day's festivities. The children had such fun with their grade buddies on the hay ride, gathering pumpkins and eating all the yummies. The Halloween decor was spectacular, and there were even faces available for the students to decorate their pumpkins.

The afternoon Halloween parade was exciting, with Travis Camp (Mrs. Knauss - Kindergarten, Class of 2018) winning the raffle for the chocloate Halloween house donated by the grandmother of McKenna - clas of 2015, Tucker - class of 2013 and Jacob Matus - class of 2011.

Gold Awards for October 27-31

Congratulations to the following students:

Prekindergarten:
Evan H. - Ms. Getz
Zoe Y. - Ms. Getz

First Grade:
Cole Y. - Mrs. Vaughan
Bryce E. - Mrs. Vaughan
Drew P. - Mrs. Rex
Aiden M. - Mrs. Rex

Second Grade:
Matthew F. - Mrs. Clay

Fourth Grade:
Michael D. - Mrs. London

Fifth Grade:
Conor R. - Mrs. Barker
Molly S. - Mrs. Barker

Gold Awards for October 20-22

Congratulations students!

Kindergarten:
Emma v. - Mrs. Oakes
Travis C. - Mrs. Knauss
Michael R. - Mrs. Knauss
Ella H. - Mrs. Knauss
Spencer G. - Mrs. Oakes
Grace G. - Mrs. Oakes
Auden O. - Mrs. Oakes

First Grade:
Mario S. - Mrs. Vaughan

Second Grade:
Matt R. - Mrs. Baumeister
Grace H. - Mrs. Baumeister
Liam B. - Mrs. Baumeister
Grace G. - Mrs. Clay

Third Grade:
Katie C. - Mrs. Wetzel
Kayla N. - Mrs. Wetzel

Fourth Grade:
Jackie v. - Mrs. London

Gold Awards - October 14-17

Many wonderful students have received gold awards this year. Many wonderful students have not received the award yet this year. Those who have not received the award are doing kind things and are lovely, sincere students. The “trick” of the gold award is to get “caught” by any school professional doing a deed that goes above and beyond the daily good manners and expectations we have for our students. Let me give you an example.

A few weeks ago, I was visiting a kindergarten classroom early in the morning. As I was leaving, a fifth grade student was walking a kindergarten boy to the room. I was touched by this scene and upon saying thank you to this older boy, I was told that this fifth grader rides the bus with this younger student. They didn’t know each other before, but this older student felt it was important to walk this younger student to the classroom daily to make sure he could find his way. This is a gold award moment!

The students celebrate these acts together. These are teachable moments we can all learn from. While the natural reaction might be, “I wish I had received that,” instead I’m hearing, “Good job!” Focusing on the positive – that is what this is all about.

Congratulations to this week’s award recipients:
Kindergarten:
Henry L. – Mrs. Knauss

First Grade:
Patrick T. – Mrs. Vaughan
Lizzie C. – Mrs. Vaughan
Cole Y. – Mrs. Vaughan
Hunter B. – Mrs. Rex
Bryce E. – Mrs. Vaughan
Belle V. – Mrs. Vaughan
Cole C. – Mrs. Vaughan

Second Grade:
Laura L. – Mrs. Clay
Matthew F. – Mrs. Clay
Danny H. – Mrs. Clay

Third Grade:
Sofia R. – Mrs. Wetzel (received two!)
Tucker A. – Mrs. Brown
Sarah S. – Mrs. Wetzel

Fourth Grade:
Juliana R. – Mrs. London
Lee Lee M. – Mrs. London
Jack C. – Mr. Guidotti

Fifth Grade:
Brett A. – Mrs. Barker
Molly S. – Mrs. Barker

Gold Awards for October 6-10

Congratulations students!

Kindergarten:
Emma v. - Mrs. Oakes
Ella S. - Mrs. Oakes
Tyler R. - Mrs. Oakes
Preston H. - Mrs. Oakes
Olivia G. - Mrs. Oakes
Shane L. - Mrs. Oakes
Samuel L. - Mrs. Oakes
Abby C. - Mrs. Knauss

Second Grade:
Ciara M. - Mrs. Clay -two awards!

Fifth Grade:
Cat C. - Mrs. Barker
Will G. - Mrs. Barker
Brett A. - Mrs. Barker
Sam C. - Mrs. Barker

Gold Award Winners September 29-October 3

Congratulations to the following students!

Kindergarten:
Emma v. - Mrs. Oakes
Tyler R. - Mrs. Oakes

First Grade:
Courtney P. - Mrs. Rex
Jackson S. - Mrs. Vaughan

Second Grade:
Danny H.- Mrs. Clay
Claire G. - Mrs. Clay
Simone K. - Mrs. Baumeister
Liam B. - Mrs. Baumeister

Fourth Grade:
James O. - Mr. Guidotti
Jack C. - Mr. Guidotti

Fifth Grade:
Carly D. - Mrs. Batson
Chris R. - Mrs. Barker
Sara S. - Mrs. Batson

October Web Sites to Browse

www.internetsafety.com
InternetSafety.com has tips right at your fingertips to help ensure that your child’s online experience remains positive.

www.cafemom.com
A place for moms to connect with one another! Share, support and have fun with other moms from all over.

www.parenting.org
A wonderful online resource for free parenting help. Get answers to your parenting questions with resources and guidance on how to successfully raise, praise, discipline, teach and love your child.

www.familyeducation.com
Find activities, parenting tips and current events affecting your family, parenting blogs and more!

Uniform Reminder

Please remember that the change from the fall/spring uniform to the winter uniform begins after Thanksgiving break on December 1. Refer to pages 18-23 in the parent handbook for detailed uniform information.

Poem from Parents' Night

Some of the parents who attended Parents' Night asked if I would post the poem I read in my opening remarks for the evening. This poem really spoke to my heart in conveying the extreme honor and privilege we all have in teaching the students at Montgomery School. By working together as partners, together we can make a positive difference in raising your child. The words of the poem sum this up nicely.

WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?
Author Unknown

Whose child is this?"
I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?"
I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

Gold Awards for the Week of September 22-26

I'm so happy that the gold award excitement continues to build! It's a proud face that goes home with a gold sticker. The feeling of pride for doing something good is definitely contagious. Congratulations to this week's gold award winners!

Prekindergarten:
Cooper G. - Ms. Getz
India H. - Ms. Janney
Matthew R. - Ms. Getz

Kindergarten:
Isabella L. - Mrs. Knauss
Reilly D. - Mrs. Knauss

First Grade:
Sophia H. - Mrs. Vaughan

Second Grade:
Nicole D. - Mrs. Baumeister

Third Grade:
Keefer R. - Mrs. Wetzel
Tres M. - Mrs. Brown
Gene K. - Mrs. Brown

Fourth Grade:
Jack C. - Mr. Guidotti
Sam R. - Mrs. London
Alexandra P. - Mrs. London

Fifth Grade:
Conor R. - Mrs. Barker

Gold Awards for the Week of September 15-19

Prekindergarten
Abagail G. - Ms. Getz

Kindergarten
Olivia G. - Mrs. Oakes
Ryan K. - Mrs. Oakes

Frist Grade
Belle V. - Mrs. Vaughan
Cole C. - Mrs. Vaughan

Second Grade
Ainsley V. - Mrs. Baumeister
Ryan P. - Mrs. Clay

Third Grade
Lauren H. - Mrs. Wetzel

Fourth Grade
Jadon D. - Mrs. London
Rachel Y. - Mr. Guidotti

Fifth Grade
Kevin R. - Mrs. Batson
Grace N. - Mrs. Barker
Mackenzie D. - Mrs. Barker
Olivia K. - Mrs. Barker

Gold Awards for the Week of September 8-12

I am so proud of the following Montgomery students, who recieved the gold award during this past school week! Feel free to comment and leave the students a note of congratulations.

September 9
George H. - Grade 4, Mrs. London

September 10
Cole Y. - Grade 1 - Mrs. Vaughan
Zach B. - Grade 4 - Mrs. London
Lizzie C. - Grade 1 - Mrs. Vaughan
Aidan W. - Grade 1 - Mrs. Rex

September 11
Erica H. - Grade 3 - Mrs. Brown
Grace C. - Grade 4 - Mrs. London
Tucker A. - Grade 3 - Mrs. Brown

September 12
James P. - Grade 4 - Mr. Guidotti

Kindergarten March 2008

September Web Sites to Browse

www.howstuffworks.com

This is a fun and helpful site for the questions your children may ask that deserve an answer. Type in global warming, for example, and find an explanation to describe the concept, plus what we, as citizens can do to help.

www.commonsensemedia.org

Kevin introduced this site to me a couple of years ago, and I love it. As a parent I find it very helpful. Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families. Parents can review new movies, TV programs, etc.

www.criticalthinking.com

This site has "award-winning products" available for purchase, which have helped students of all abilities achieve better grades and higher test scores. Many items build critical thinking skills, such as "What Would You Do? Book 1." This book gives children the opportunity to apply their moral values to real-life moral issues. Good family discussion problems here! Check it out!

www.richardlouv.com

Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods (a great book that I would recommend for all parents)has developed this informative site about nature defecit disorder -the disconnection between child and nature.

Afternoon Dismissal

Half Day PreK
The morning PreK section dismisses at 11:30 AM. Dismissal takes place at the back of the school building, where a car line will form. Parents should pull up to the third sidewalk to the PreK staff person.

Extended Day PreK, Full Day PreK, Kindergarten through 5th Grade
Dismissal takes place at 3:15 PM in the Lower School. A car line will form at the end of the day, and it is important that parents wait patiently in the car line. Children are divided into groups for the car line, based on last names. The K-Z group will be together at the first sidewalk and the A-J group at the second sidewalk. PreK dismissal will be at the third sidewalk with the PreK staff person. A teacher will walk your child to the car. It is very important to have your family name card posted in your car so it is visible to the staff.

Parents may park at the Farmhouse and walk up to the Schoolhouse to pick up their child. Please do not report to the classroom, but rather at the back of the Schoolhouse at the car dismissal location. Please check out with the teacher on dismissal duty.

If your child is going to be picked up by anyone other than the designated person recorded on your dismissal form, or if your child is to go home in a different manner (bus, with a friend, etc), it is imperative that you notify us in writing or call Deb Deckman, extension 247, before 1:00 PM. We will not send your child home with a different person or in a different way without proper notification and authorization.

Morning Drop Off

Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 AM. All students who arrive before 8 AM must report directly to the gym for Early Mornings. Parents will be billed accordingly for this service. The start of the school day is 8:30 AM in lower school. If arriving by car beginning at 8 AM a staff greeter will help your child out of the car in the back of the school building. PreK students should be dropped off at the third sidewalk in the back of the school building with the PreK staff person. If possible, have your child on the right side of the car so he/she can exit safely onto the sdiewalk. Please do not allow your child to exit on the left side of your vehicle. If for any reason you need to ge out of your car, we ask that you park in the Farmhouse parking lot and walk your child to the Schoolhouse. After 8:30 AM, please walk your child to Mrs. Deckman's office for check in, which is located off of Bell Hall.

Dress Code for September through November 25

The following is the dress code for the lower school during the start of the school year through Thanksgiving break. The Montgomery web site and parent handbook have a detailed description of the dress code for the entire year for both lower and middle school. Unless noted, uniform items may be purchased through Lands' End or Flynn and O'Hara.

PreK
A uniform is not required for our PreK students. Children should dress in comfortable clothing with sturdy shoes or sneakers. Sandals are not appropriate footwear.

Kindergarten-4th grade
Girls - white polo shirt or collared blouse worn under the jumper (purchased at Flynn and O'Hara). The monogram will not be seen and is therefore not required when worn under the jumper. The maroon cardiagan or Montgomery fleece (both purchased at Flynn and O'Hara) may be worn with the jumper. Short white socks with dark brown or black shoes, with a closed back are acceptable footwear.
OR
White polo shirt with the Montgomery School monogram with a khaki front paneled skort, available at Flynn and O'Hara. Shirts should be tucked in. Footwear is the same as above.

Boys - navy or khaki plain twill pants or shorts with a white polo shirt or a white turtleneck are worn in the fall. Shirts must be monogramed with the Montgomery School name and tucked in. Cargo pants/shorts are not acceptable. Maroon sweaters or fleece (both purchased at Flynn and O'Hara)may be worn. Footwear must be short white socks with dark brown or black shoes with a closed back.

Grade 5
Girls - gray cord kilt purchased through Flynn and O'Hara is worn no shorter than two inches above the knee. A while polo shirt or blouse with the Montgomery School monogram is worn with the kilt. Shirts should be tucked in. The maroon crewneck or V-neck cardigan sweaters or the Montgomery fleece are acceptable. Footwear must be short white socks with dark brown or black shoes with a closed back.
OR
the khaki front-paneled skort may be worn. The white polo shirt with the Montgomery School monogram must accompany the skort. Short white socks are worn with dark brown or black shoes with a closed back.
Boys - navy or khaki plain twill pants or shorts are worn with a white or light blue oxford shirt, tucked in at all times. A plain black or brown belt must be worn. Only the maroon sweater or fleece (both purchased at Flynn and O'Hara) will be acceptable. Short white socks are worn with dark brown or black shoes with a closed back.

Athletic Uniforms
Athletic uniforms are worn by students in grades four and five during physical education classes. The Montgomery maroon or white shorts with the gray Montgomery T-shirt or the Montgomery sweatsuit are available for purchase in the gym during Welcoming Day.
ALL STUDENTS - only sneakers are allowed on the gym floor during physical education classes.

Caught Ya!

This 2008-2009 school year I will be acknowledging positve acts that staff members "catch" our students doing called the "gold award." This doesn't include the positive acts we expect (such as holding a door open, saying, "Good Morning," or being kind to a student visitor), but rather a random act of kindness that goes above and beyond our expectations. Staff members will be awarding this "gold award" as they see the event occur. One rule of this is that students can not ask to receive a gold award. It needs to be a witnessed event that happens as a result of positive intentions! Students receiving the gold award will be recognized on a bulletin board outside my office and will be posted on this blog. Feel free to send them a notice of congratulations!

GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS:
Wednesday, September 3
Nick Cavalieri - Grade 2, Mrs. Clay

Thursday, September 4
Erica Hild, Charlotte Gascoigne, Haley Smith - Grade 3, Mrs. Brown

School Uniforms

We will be reviewing our current uniform during the 2008-2009 school year. While we explore our options, we welcome your input and hope you will send options for consideration. Thank you!