Motor Skills Making Way For Mental Growth

By Jennifer Ashton, Primary Guide

When the children arrive in the morning, there are many things to tend to, and first is the tying of their shoes! In the classroom we have a Bow Tie Frame that the children can us to practice tying a bow, and this week we have two more children successful with this task! The exclamation of joy was heard across the room, “I DID IT!” We also have a lacing frame, which is usually introduced after the bow tie frame (about age 3 1/2 to 4) but I am observing 2 1/2 and 3 year olds working on it with extraordinary concentration! They have seen older children lace up shoes and they are watching me lace up their shoe over and over, (because oh, how fun it is to take the laces out of shoes!) The children love to do these things for themselves and they are learning to be careful and precise in their movements as they are refine their muscular coordination.

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Once the shoes are tied, they are ready to begin their day. As I am often in the cubby area greeting children as they arrive, by the time I get into the classroom, activity is in full swing. Children are folding and laying the napkins and glasses on the community table, others are preparing food (so the classroom always smells delicious!) A group of children with untied shoes is sitting (or rolling around) on the center rug, waiting for help from me or an older friend, and another child is often sitting with a basket of clothes and washcloths to be folded from the previous days laundry.

There are a myriad of ways to look after the classroom throughout the day, such as sweeping up spills, dusting, watering plants, and polishing. The children take great interest in the tasks of daily life, which helps them connect to their classroom, slow down and settle their bodies, and develop concentration. Consequently, when I sit down to give them the lessons of reading, writing or math, they are ready to enjoy and receive it. Maria Montessori refers to this as education of movement. We give the children something to handle: trace an outline of a letter with their finger, hold a thousand cube in their hand, or manipulate a binomial puzzle. We are interacting with children in a way that is natural to them and they are learning at the same time!

These daily actions involve judgement and will, self-disciple and an appreciation of orderliness, all of which are growing in the children each day that we are together and reminds me of a song we often sing in the classroom, “the more we are together, together, together; the more we are together the happier we’ll be!”

Surround Your Children With All Things Good, Their Environment is Forming Their Soul

By Claire Nguyen, Toddler Guide

"The child has a different relation to his environment from ours... the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul. He incarnates in himself all in the world about him that his eyes see and his ears hear." Maria Montessori (The Absorbent Mind, p.56)

There is a term that comes to mind right now in the Young Children’s Community for me -- the absorbent mind. Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children under the age of 6 years old take in information effortlessly, just as a sponge soaks up water. She further stated that from birth to the age of 3, children do this completely unconsciously. Dr. Montessori referred to this as the "absorbent mind." Some may or may not be familiar with this term but I wanted to share how this is fully present in the toddler community!

I had the pleasure of observing a child working with clay for some time recently. After 15-20 minutes, I noticed the child continued to be very focused and concentrated on the work in front of her. At the other side of the room, out of sight of the child working with the clay, Mrs. Clune was working with another child. She was providing the nomenclature for table setting, one by one, slowly naming the table setting items “plate”, “fork”, “spoon”, etc. Each time she provided the name of a table setting item, the child working with the clay repeated each word, while still fully focused and working on the clay. Not once did she turn around to look at what Mrs. Clune was presenting to the other child; it was almost as if they weren’t there. But yet, the child working with the clay was absorbing this other information fully.

In The Montessori Toddler, Simone Davies writes, “The ease with which a toddler learns gives us opportunities, as well as responsibilities. Opportunities because they absorb with such ease the language around them (building a rich vocabulary and understanding), how we handle furniture and objects (ideally with care), how we treat others (ideally with respect and kindness), where we put things (creating order), and the beauty of the environment around them. Responsibilities because, as Dr. Montessori points out, a sponge can absorb dirty water as easily as it can clean water. A child will pick up negative experiences as easily as positive experiences.”

With this in mind, let us therefore be mindful, as much as possible. Let us also be positive role models for our young children, to provide beauty, and to offer kindness for them to absorb.

Weekly Update 9/19/2019

Message from the Principal

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.” -St. John Paul the Great

Dear Parents,

Our Mardi Gras team is already hard at work! Under the leadership of co-chairs Sarah Klump and Laura Osmer-DeMuth, the team is really taking shape and our 12th Annual Mardi Gras promises to be one of the best yet.

There is still lots of help need to make this event successful and raise the needed money for RMS. It really does take all hands on deck and there are many different ways to contribute, from sending emails from home to setting up on the night of. Please pay close attention to the emails from Sarah and the team and give of your time generously. Not only is this a great way to fill your 20 volunteer hours, but also a great way to get to know the parents of your children's school friends.

God bless,

Kristina Fox
Principal
Renaissance Montessori School

Message from the Environments

MESSAGE FROM THE YOUNG CHILDREN'S HOUSE

The Young Children’s Community has been engaged in hard work everyday and is establishing their routine. Routine is essential to toddlers as it provides a sense of security and safety. When the children arrive, they know to change into their indoor shoes so they can begin their day in the classroom. They choose materials they wish to work with for the morning period, participate in our prayer gathering, partake in a communal snack, and end their day outdoors in the garden. The young children like knowing what will happen next because the predictability allows them to thrive and it minimizes difficult moments of transition.  
 
As part of our routine in the environment, the toddlers are learning how to BE in our prayer gatherings. When I ring the bell, the children know the sound means to stop what they’re doing and listen for directions. The toddlers also know the ringing of the bell indicates it’s time to prepare for our prayer service. The young children proceed to the prayer table while singing our atrium gathering song, get a carpet square from the shelf, sit on the carpet square with their legs crossed around the prayer table, and wait quietly for the prayer service to begin.
 
The young children have been given the nomenclature of the prayer table, green prayer tablecloth, prayers cards, and the statue of the Good Shepherd. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we continue to learn more about Him everyday when we gather around the prayer table. Together, we try to make silence so that we can hear the whispers and secrets the Good Shepherd desires to share with us. We conclude our prayer service with songs, which the children enjoy thoroughly.  It is a delight to have the toddlers participate in these prayer services! The innocent responses of the young children are pure joy and their light truly enriches our community.  Mrs. Clune and I are truly blessed, thank you God!
 

MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE

Sighs of contentment were faintly heard in the Children's House this week, which was at times almost silent, except for the hum of activity. The children are finding their groove in the classroom. You may get feedback from your children about stringing beads or washing dishes and wonder, “When will I hear about reading and math?” Rest assured, it is all there, and it is happening too, but what they love most, and is also the foundation of a peaceful Montessori classroom, is Practical Life. It is what brings them satisfaction.

Children are natural pattern seekers and in the classroom there are patterns all around. We ALWAYS tuck in our chair when we get up, and ALWAYS carry one object at a time, and a tray with two hands! We ALWAYS fill water into a pitcher and from a pitcher into a bucket and from a bucket into the sink . . . we NEVER fill a bucket at the sink! Even with all the variation of Practical Life, dish washing, hand washing, cloth washing, table scrubbing, or vegetable cutting, there is a sequence and a pattern to all of these things, and it brings comfort and confidence to children as they learn how to do things for themselves. Pattern and repetition leads to mastery and mastery leads to joy. There are many opportunities to ‘tie a bow’ each day, beginning with their new shoes, once in the classroom there are apron ties, and some children recently discovered a hidden one is in the Spindle Box! A child who just learned to tie this week, tied a bow for a friend’s apron and then said, “I did it! I tied your apron!”  It was cause for great celebration!
 

MESSAGE FROM ELEMENTARY

Building community is a big part of our work in Elementary.  We can already see the benefits of a large group of experienced children at the top of our class this year!  We have observed a large group conversation among the children, resetting the “rules” of fort building during outside time, without the help of an adult.  We have seen the gentle redirection of one of our newest members by an older one about how to bring up topics of concern in a class meeting while respecting everyone’s privacy.  We have depended upon the feedback, especially during transition times and clean-up, of our most settled students and have marveled at their capacity to bring the less settled ones literally and figuratively in line. The opportunities the children have in a Montessori setting to be in charge of themselves and each other is only possible, however, when all parties are able to give and receive feedback in gracious ways, so we are supporting that (perhaps most important!) work daily in many and varied situations.
 

MESSAGE FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL

The basis of society is movement with a useful aim.-  Maria Montessori, Lecture 23

We have begun preparations for the Fall garden. The school truck was filled to the brim with beautiful, dark, rich compost. Thanks so much to the many helping hands of the middle and elementary students. It took about two hours to empty and then clean out the truck. The children worked hard, appeared to have a joyful lightness about them, and never complained once. It was beautiful to see.

Mrs. Wolf ordered garlic for the first bed and in the second, we are researching lettuces, kale and hearty herbs. Mrs. Caputo is well on her way to purchasing a hoop house for us, from a grant she applied secured for the school. The hoop house will keep the growing process going year round.

We are grateful for so many helping hands!


 

Mardi Gras 2020

We need YOU for RMS Mardi Gras 2020!

Our immediate volunteer requirements include, but are not limited to:
• Games Coordinator
• Marketing/Website/Design Coordinator
• Photographer
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Registration/Check-in Coordinator

Email us atmardigras@rmsmail.orgto let us know in what way you would like to share your talents to help us coordinate this exciting event!

And don’t forget to save the date!
January 25, 2020

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!!!

Understanding God's Design for Child Development

A One-Day Workshop for Parents, Caregivers, Catechists and Anyone Who Works With Children

Saturday, September 21, 2019 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Our friends at the Cultural and Catechetical Montessori Association (CCMA) are offering a wonderful opportunity to hear engaging and informative speaker Maggie Radzik, M.E., who has dedicated her life’s work to guiding and learning with children of all ages. Maggie will discusses the discoveries of Dr. Maria Montessori about the planes and stages of human development and how they can enhance your understanding of supporting your child's growth and discovery of his/her unique giftedness.

SIGN UP HERE

Picture Day is March 25

Picture Day for the 19-20 year has been scheduled for March 25th, 2020. This is also a Mass day for the Feast of the Annunciation. Please try not to schedule appointments etc. that day so your children can be in our class pictures!

As a reminder: we will also be requiring the Dress Uniform on Picture Day this year. Please help make sure your child has all the necessary pieces so they can conform. Click HERE for a link to the uniform guidelines. There is also a uniform exchange closet in the Parents Lounge at the school for you to drop uniforms in good condition and take what you need as well.

Soccer Classes

Hello Parents of children 7-9 years olds. Soccer Academy is offering a six week clinic on our campus at 3:15 on Wednesdays starting October 2nd.

Below is a class description provided by Soccer Academy:
This program provides fun, fast-paced soccer-related games and activities. It helps develop motor skills, cognitive abilities and peer relationships for soccer players between the ages of 7 and 9. Sessions are 45 minutes in length, once a week on a Wednesday at 3:15pm. There must be a minimum of 12 participants for this class to run.

To register, please go towww.soccer-academy.com, then click "Register Now." Once you login and select your child’s age, you can than select our clinic to sign up. We look forward to seeing you at soccer practice!

Upcoming Events

• 9/22/19 - Parent-Infant Begins

• 9/29/19 - Back to School Bonfire

• 10/8/19 - Parents Guild Meeting 8:30 AM

Reminders

From the Parent Guild

Back to School Bonfire

Please join us on Sunday, September 29th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM in the RMS fields for a Back to School Family Bonfire. We will have music, a bonfire, and a small fire with all fixings for S'Mores. The event is BYOB for adults and kids. Please camp chairs or picnic blankets and roasting sticks if you have them. We look forward to a fun family gathering.

Volunteer Hours and Tracking

Once again we will be using a tool to help parents easily track the 20 required service hours - Track it Forward. All new families should have received an email directly from Track It Forward with an invite to set up your account. If you did not receive this email, please let Kristina know.

As always, we are here to help so let us know if you have any questions at all!

An Important Announcement About SCRIP

As announced in a separate email, we have decided that beginning this year, the Family SCRIP Contribution will become a Family Mardi Gras Contribution.

The program will work much the same as SCRIP did, but instead of earning down the fundraising goal with SCRIP, families can earn it down with Mardi Gras sponsorships or by selling Mardi Gras raffle tickets. We believe that this will help our community focus all our fundraising attention on the Mardi Gras, the amazing event that so many of our parents already spend so much time making a success.

To read the full announcement letter, click here.