Monday, April 29th, which is the first day back at school after Easter break, is our in-school celebration of Easter (Liturgy of the Light). It is the greatest celebration of the year with the children and so requires some special preparation, both at the school and at home. This year as we do every year, drop off will start at 9:45 am, in order for the staff to prepare for this beautiful celebration.
As much as we would love to make this celebration a whole school event including parents, practically it is not possible, therefore the celebration must be limited to students and staff. There is no Parent-Infant class this day. Thank you for your help in making this celebration seamless and beautiful for the children.
Just as if they were going to an Easter vigil, the children will be walking into a darkened school building and we will begin our celebration immediately. As this celebration begins in silence, the ringer on the school phone will be turned off. Please make a special effort to arrive on time because if you are late, we will not hear you. We will be walking down to the auditorium to celebrate as a whole school. The doors will be closed and the phone will be turned off at 10.00 am sharp so that we can all participate in this special event. In the event of a late arrival, you will need to wait until we are finished as we will be in auditorium for our celebration this year. The celebration may take up to an hour or more. The school doors will open again at 11:30 AM; late arrivals may join us then.
Safety note: The children will be receiving individual candles as part of the celebration. Please have all long hair pulled back and do not wear loose clothing (Primary children) with flowy skirts, etc.
This celebration is made even more beautiful with lots of flowers. If you have cut branches, flowers from your garden, extra Easter lilies etc., please consider sending them in. The children love to process with flowers and to see the whole prayer table surrounded by flowers and flowering plants!
Weekly Update 4/11/19
Messages from the Environments
MESSAGE FROM THE YOUNG CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY
Observation...observation...observation! As we prepare for upcoming conferences, it is an honor to be tasked with the opportunity to observe your children. As the caretakers for the children in the YCC, we view ourselves as Assistants to the Children. We prepare an environment they can not yet prepare for themselves, we set the boundaries within that environment they can not yet set, and we provide them with a sensorial experience to develop language and skills that they need to be successful in their world. Yet, the children are doing the hard work of developing themselves and we are simply assisting them in that development...and so much loveliness has happened since last September!
Each day a new child is presented before us. One who has changed even since yesterday and it is our task to meet each one of them where they are when they walk in the door. Who is this child? And more importantly, who is this child in the eyes of God? Observation is the key to unlock this mystery. As the adults in their lives, no matter how much we love them, we can not turn them into something they are not. We know this with our minds, and love them unconditionally with our hearts, but seeking to understand and accept each child’s unique personality, quirks, and development timeline requires us to step back and observe them objectively and without judgement.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE
We are enjoying the culinary arts! Recently we’ve been able to set up works and presentations allowing the children to bake and cook almost entirely independently. So far we have made mostly bread and quesadillas, but we hope to introduce more options soon. There is such a beauty and reward in this work of the hands, by which they are able to feed others.
MESSAGE FROM ELEMENTARY
With the help of Mrs. Blanchette and Mrs. Caputo, the Elementary children have begun demolition of the wooden bleachers in the outdoor space. Much of the wood is rotten, so it is a project long overdue. Preparations are also underway for the construction of raised beds. Spring has sprung, and the children are eager to spend time outside, whenever possible.
MESSAGE FROM ERDKINDER
Fresh Egg Sale! Erdkinder’s chickens are at an almost 100% production rate! After we supply our customers for the Easter break, we will be selling our super healthy soy-free, non-GMO, pastured eggs for only $3 a dozen after school on Thursday and Friday of this week. We accept checks made out to RMS or cash.
SCRIP
Reminder: All SCRIP profits you earn before June 1st are applied directly towards your Family SCRIP Contribution charge in TADS. You can order scrip weekly at www.shopwithscrip.com and drop off your cash or checks by Tuesday. If you haven’t set up an account yet, our enrollment code is 8F91287E14129.
Remember that if you want to earn that $300 quickly, it is best to set up a PrestoPay account because you can purchase and use electronic SCRIP immediately from your handheld device or home computer, no more dealing with dropping off checks and waiting a week for your cards to arrive.
Forgot to place an order? No problem, there is a SCRIP binder in the office with an array of cards for purchase. Simply go into the office and Kristina will help you through the purchase process. Any questions or problems please contact Rosanne Garvey at rosanne505@verizon.net or 703-447-9229.
Please Log Your Volunteer Hours
As we near the end of the year, please make sure to log all your volunteer hours in Track It Forward before May 15th. Those families who have uncompleted service hours after this date will be billed at $10/hour on your June invoice.
You can log your hours in two places:
1. RMS Website Volunteering Page
2. Track It Forward
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences Are Next Week
Parent-Teacher conferences occur twice a year; once in the fall and once in the spring. The conferences provide parents with one-on-one time with the teacher, to share our joint observations of the child, so we can best acknowledge who they are and what they need next.
Use the links below to schedule a conference.Please be aware that because of the HVAC work going on in the building during conferences, the Parent Lounge and other indoor spaces are not available for children not participating in a conference.Thank you in advance for your prompt arrival.
Toddler
Primary
Elementary
Erdkinder
Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking into hosting a fall community building event such as an Octoberfest or Family Fun Day here on our grounds. This event would be something simple with possibly a few activities for children, some food trucks or food and beer for purchase. Rather than a fundraiser, it would be an opportunity to come together as a community and invite families from the area to join us.
We are looking for two people to help coordinate this event. If you are open to this opporunity, please reach out to Kristina for more details.
Community Events
Journey of a Disciple Talk at Seton
On Tuesday, May 7th Seton will be hosting Jennifer Ristine, a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi for a reflection on Mary Magdalene's call to conversion, to accompany Jesus, and to mission. See the flyer below for details.
EVENT FLYER
Upcoming Events
4/15/19 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day
4/16/19 - NO SCHOOL - Parent-Teacher Conferences
4/17/19 - NO SCHOOL - Parent-Teacher Conferences
4/18 - 28 - NO SCHOOL - Easter Break
Reminders
Montessori Mondays Series Complete
Our Montessori Mondays series has been a lovely addition to the Parent Education offerings here at RMS and we are so thankful for the time together. The series is now complete for the year. We look forward to offering something similar again next year.
Save the Date for the Elementary Opera
We have set a tentative date for the Elementary Opera of Friday, May 24th in the evening. Please save the date. Also, if you plan to be out of town that weekend and your child will not be able to be there that evening, please let us know now so that we can adjust roles if needed.
Parents Guild Farm Brew Live Event
We invite you to join other RMS parents (and kids if you would like) at 2 Silos/Farm Brew Live in Manassas in the afternoon on May 19. (Exact times TBD.) Come enjoy the afternoon with us--Two Silos features an outdoor fireplace, a Peterson's ice cream truck with specialty ice cream and drinks, a playground, corn hole, fire pits and several different food options. They do ask that you do not bring in outside food and children must be with their parents the entire time. We will try to meet in the area near the fireplace. Check it out: http://farmbrewlive.com
Weekly Update 4/4/19
Messages from the Environments
MESSAGE FROM THE YOUNG CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY
The Kingdom of God, it grows and grows... In the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we share five of the most essential Kingdom parables: The Mustard Seed, The Precious Pearl, The Leaven, The Growing Seed, and The Hidden Treasure. In the Young Children’s Community, we find the most essential moment of each of these most essential parables and live them out each day. All year the children have been looking at the jars of different kinds of seeds that we keep on display in the classroom. When we show them the Mustard Seed, they are amazed how much smaller it is than any of the others. We live the Leaven as we stir the yeast into the flour to make dough for our daily bread. We live the Precious Pearl through stories and surrounding the children with beauty and precious items purely for their enjoyment, just as our Creator does for us! We occasionally place a special and beautiful item on the prayer table or snack table to live out the Hidden Treasure. Now, as we prepare our outdoor garden beds we are also preparing our hearts to enjoy the parable of the growing seed.
MESSAGE FROM ELEMENTARY
This week, the sixth years were given the opportunity to visit Richmond, thanks to Paula and Tim Hugo. Their day includes a guided tour of the House, Senate, and Capitol. The oldest children in our community are really eager to stretch their wings and to see the world beyond the classroom, and we are grateful to the Hugos (and to Mrs. Wood who helped chaperone) to make it possible!
Harlequinrehearsals are happening daily now! The children are learning their songs and are getting more and more comfortable with the story and their roles within it. We are still looking for an accompanist, so if you have any leads on one, please let us know!
MESSAGE FROM ERDKINDER
Erdkinder is working on the amazing story Isabel of Spain - The Catholic Queen, written by Warren H. Carroll. We are enjoying illustrating and summarizing her saintly life. Isabel was recently named a Servant of God.
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences occur twice a year; once in the fall and once in the spring. The conferences provide parents with one-on-one time with the teacher, to share our joint observations of the child, so we can best acknowledge who they are and what they need next.
Use the links below to schedule a conference.Please be aware that because of the HVAC work going on in the building during conferences, the Parent Lounge and other indoor spaces are not available for children not participating in a conference.Thank you in advance for your prompt arrival.
Toddler
Primary
Elementary
Erdkinder
Montessori Mondays Series Complete
Our Montessori Mondays series has been a lovely addition to the Parent Education offerings here at RMS and we are so thankful for the time together. The series is now complete for the year. We look forward to offering something similar again next year.
Save the Date for the Elementary Opera
We have set a tentative date for the Elementary Opera of Friday, May 24th in the evening. Please save the date. Also, if you plan to be out of town that weekend and your child will not be able to be there that evening, please let us know now so that we can adjust roles if needed.
Parents Guild Farm Brew Live Event
We invite you to join other RMS parents (and kids if you would like) at 2 Silos/Farm Brew Live in Manassas in the afternoon on May 19. (Exact times TBD.) Come enjoy the afternoon with us--Two Silos features an outdoor fireplace, a Peterson's ice cream truck with specialty ice cream and drinks, a playground, corn hole, fire pits and several different food options. They do ask that you do not bring in outside food and children must be with their parents the entire time. We will try to meet in the area near the fireplace. Check it out: http://farmbrewlive.com
Upcoming Events
4/9/19 - First Communion Meditation 6:30 PM
4/10/19 - Parents Guild Meeting 8:30 AM
4/15/19 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day
4/16/19 - NO SCHOOL - Parent-Teacher Conferences
4/17/19 - NO SCHOOL - Parent-Teacher Conferences
4/18 - 28 - NO SCHOOL - Easter Break
Reminders
New Tenant on Campus
We are happy to welcome Pampas Fox Catering to our campus. The old school kitchen is being refurbished and Pampas Fox will be cooking out of it on a regular basis. They have their own parking and entrance in the alley so we will not see much of them, but the owners, Jorge and Lucia Bruno, are long time members of the local Catholic community and we are pleased to have them put the kitchen to good use!
How to Earn a $500 Tuition Credit
Many of our families have come to RMS because they've heard from an existing school family how happy they are at Renaissance. These personal referrals are the best marketing any school could ask for and we want to reward you for them!
With open enrollment beginning,now is the perfect time to to make a referral through our “Referral Bonanza” program.
Here's how it works:
Talk to your friends and family with young children and encourage them to schedule a visit by calling the office or through our online scheduler at https://www.renaissancemontessorischool.org/schedule-a-visit/. We will be sending home a flyer for you to hand to a family you think might be interested as well!
Any referred family that decides to apply after their observation and visit will have their application fee refunded.
If a referred family is admitted and decides to enroll, the referring family will get a $500 tuition discount.
If you feel you don’t need that discount but your referred friend does, you can gift it to them!