Weekly Update 5/9/19

Message from the Environments

Message from the Young Children's House

Young children are born to move and their movement and balance is so integral to basic neurological function. In the YCC we are introducing Bal A Vis X movement into our environment to help improve rhythm, balance and cognitive function through specialized exercises and games. Bal A Vis X is an acronym for Balance/Auditory/Vision/eXercises. We want to be able to give the children another opportunity to engage the mind and body together. This week we begin with a balance board and a bean bag clap. The balance board exercises stimulates cognitive processing activity and the bean bag clap introduces rhythm and auditory patterns. 

Message from the Children's House

We are so excited to be in this Easter season full of joy and new life. We are spending much of our time outside tending the outdoors and enjoying the peaceful work environment of chirping birds, shady trees, and fresh air. We are looking forward to the growth and companionship these next few weeks will bring.

Message from Elementary

What a busy and exciting week in Elementary!  The first communicants are preparing to receive Our Lord at Mass on Friday.  To that end, the children have been "entering in" to this important work by embroidering the red crosses on their white garments, decorating their candles, and discussing the aspects of Reconciliation, which they will receive on Thursday morning.  Please continue to pray for them as they journey with the Good Shepherd!

In other news, the opera is really coming together!  Children brought costumes on Monday, and the older students have been rummaging through our Persephone costumes box to piece together odds and ends that will work for Harlequin.  If you have not sent your child's costume in yet, please do so.  We will be notifying you in the next few days if you need to send in a fee so that we can order online.

The opera will have a dress rehearsal, open to parents and young children, on Friday, May 24th at 10 a.m.  The actual performance will be at 6 p.m. the same day.  We are starting to focus on acting now that we know all of our songs!  Mrs. Finnarty, the Caputos' grandmother, has agreed to be our accompanist, so things are really moving in the right direction. 

Message from Erdkinder

Please join us for the Erdkinder's power point presentation on the book titledIsabel of Spain: The Catholic Queenby Dr. Warren H. Carroll. [Dr. Carroll's wife, Anne Carroll will be attending!] 
Queen Isabel of Spain was an amazing monarch, mother, wife, and she did so much to change history as we know it. You are not going to want to miss this! 

When: Tuesday, May 28th, arrive at 6:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served. The power point presentation will start at 7 p.m. and everything should be wrapped up by 8:30 p.m. 
Where: RMS (12625 Fitzwater Dr, Nokesville, VA 20118) in the Erdkinder Building.

RSVP HERE

End of the Year Schedule Details

As we approach the end of the year, there are several events we would like to invite you to participate in.

Elementary Opera –  May 24th  

1. There is a 10:00 am show for the children in our school. All families are welcome to attend this show, even those with no children in the opera. The show will take about an hour.

2. The main showing will be at 6:00 PM in the Auditorium. All family and friends are welcome. In lieu of tickets, donations will be accepted to cover the royalties and other expenses for future productions.

Elementary Pool Party – May 28th

The children would like to continue our tradition of having a pool party for the Elementary class during the last week of school, and Dr. R has kindly helped us to organize it.  It will be on Tuesday, May 28 at Sudley Club (8613 Rixlew Lane, Manassas).  Arrival will be at 8:15 a.m. at RMS.  We will shuttle children over to the pool for a 10:30 a.m. arrival, so we need drivers to accommodate our 36 students.  Please note that if you would like to meet us at the pool with your children rather than coming to school first, that is fine, butwe would like a heads-upin advance so that we do not arrange more drivers than we actually need.

Graduation –  May 30th  1:30 PM

Graduation will take place in the auditorium and is open to whole community. Families should arrive between 1:15 and 1:30 and are welcome to stay for cake in the cafeteria after the ceremony.

Sending Up – May 31st 11:10 

This is an in-school ceremony only. You will receive an invitation if your child is moving up.

No End of Year Potluck 

Given all the fun activities the children will be enjoying at the end of the year, we have decided to break tradition and not have an end of year potluck. Pick up will be at half day as always.There will be no Later Pick Up on the last day so all children should be picked up by 12:00 PM.

Academic Calendar for 2019-2020

The Academic Calendar and Phase-In Schedule for the 2019-2020 year are linked below. Please look at them carefully as we have made some changes to our usual schedule for the upcoming year.

Academic Calendar 2019-2020
Phase-In Schedule 2019

Upcoming Events

• 5/9/19 - First Confession and Ceremony of Light

• 5/10/19 - First Communion 11:00 AM - All Saints

• 5/19/19 - Farm Brew Live Guild Event

• 5/21/19 - Last Day of Tuesday Atrium

• 5/22/19 - Last Day of Wednesday Atrium

• 5/24/19 - Elementary Opera, Dress Rehearsal 10:00 AM and Performance 6:00 PM

• 5/27/19 - No School - Memorial Day

• 5/28/19 - Elementary Pool Party

• 5/28/19 - Erdkinder Presentation 6:30 PM

• 5/30/19 - Ascension Thursday - Mass at All Saints 8:30 AM; 9:45 Late Start

• 5/30/19 - Elementary Graduation 1:30 PM

• 5/31 - Last Day of School - 11:45 Half Day Pick up for All Programs

Reminders

Fresh Egg Sale!!

Erdkinder’s chickens are still at an almost 100% production rate! After we supply our customers, we will be selling our super healthy soy-free, non-GMO, pasture raises eggs for only $3 a dozen at dismissal. We accept checks made out to RMS or cash. We would also very much appreciate more egg carton donations - we are almost out!

Prayer Requests

Fusco Family

Erica Fusco, the Tuesday morning assistant catechist and the mother of RMS staff Miss Emilia and Miss Sophia, as well as Michaela in our Elementary class, was in a serious car accident over the weekend. She has broken vertebrae and other injuries and will have a long recovery. Please pray for her and the family as they support her and each other during this time. 

Constantine Family

Margie Petersen, the aunt of Theresa Constantine in our Erdkinder program, died suddenly over Easter. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for the family to be lead to the best decisions for the her orphaned sons Matt and Mark.

Rolling Admissions

If anyone you know has not yet applied to our school, please note that we are still accepting applications for our Toddler and Primary programs until they are full. Tours can be scheduled at this link: https://www.renaissancemontessorischool.org/schedule-a-visit

 

May Pizza Form

The May Pizza Form is now available. Orders are due with payment no later than the Wednesday before each Friday you want pizza. The form is below or always at the top of the Weekly Updates.

May Pizza Form 
 

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 
 

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 

Liturgy of the Light Details

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