September 20, 2010

We’re off to a great start in Lower School! The students are settling into new routines, classrooms, teachers and classmates. After our first full week last week, I saw some tired faces during Friday’s dismissal—mine included! I was excited today to see rejuvenated faces ready for another week. As you’re busy establishing routines for the new school year, getting children to bed at a consistent time each night is so important. Check out this article for incentive to follow a schedule with your child’s bedtime routine! http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=getting_enough_sleep_could_make_kids_smarter

Fifth graders are already demonstrating wonderful leadership qualities. On September 11, Maddie M. and Bryan Y. did a wonderful job with raising and lowering the American flag as the School gathered around our flagpole for a moment of remembrance. I was very proud of the two students, especially since the raising and lowering of the flag is always a new experience for fifth graders in September. Fifth graders are also selected to serve as table heads each month. Four students have the opportunity to serve as a table head to their peers, third and fourth grade students. Many fifth graders have come forward and expressed interest in this fun leadership responsibility. While it is fun, it is an important job in that the table head needs to ensure all students are eating a healthy lunch, appropriate table conversation is being held at that table and that concerns are reported to a teacher. That can be a tough job when your best friend is sitting at your table! Soon, we will have fifth grade safeties assigned, which will be very helpful during dismissal.

Reminders:

It is important to view your child’s teacher’s web page regularly. On the page, you’ll find reminders, special classroom notices and often photos and sometimes, videos of your child or your child’s classmates. If you need assistance logging onto, or even finding the parent section of our web site, please feel free to call me and I would be happy to walk you through the process.

Join us for Lower School Parents’ Night at 7 PM on Thursday, September 30. Parents will gather in Bell Hall for introductions to our many Lower School special subject area teachers. Following the time in Bell Hall, parents will travel to the classrooms for a presentation by your child’s classroom teacher. The evening concludes at approximately 8:30 PM.

Don’t forget to check out the wonderful Afternoon enrichment courses on our web site (you can link to this area from the Afternoons Enrichment article in Schoolhouse News). The options are fantastic and offer our students many fun ways to spend their time after school.

As always, please feel free to contact me at smarotta@montgomeryschool.org or by phone at 610-827-7222, ext. 220 if ever I can be of assistance! It’s my honor and pleasure to share many happy moments with you and your child during this school year.