N E W S L E T T E R NO. 116 FEBRUARY 11, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REGISTRATION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTING IN SEPTEMBER
Please find attached a LETTER OF INTENT and the new fee schedule for the school year starting in September 2008. All parents who are interested in enrolling their children for the new school year, please submit a LETTER OF INTENT together with a $970.00 ($620.00 for a half-day Casa) deposit by Friday, February 29, 2008. The $970.00 ($620.00 for a half-day Casa) deposit constitutes the downpayment towards the 2008/2009 tuition fee.
If you decide to pay a monthly fee, you will be deducting this $970.00 ($620.00 for a half-day Casa) from your September/08 tuition fee; if you elect the annual tuition fee, you will be deducting $970.00 ($620.00 for a half-day Casa) from your full payment, which is due on Friday, June 13, 2008.
We will be holding a spot for your child until February 29, 2008. After February 29, 2008, all remaining spaces will become available to the general public. Please let Felix know if your child is not returning this September.
A note for parents whose children will continue in a primary class:
Half-day children who are turning 4 in 2008 should advance this coming September to a full-day class. However, half-day children who are turning 3 in 2008 may continue in the new school year, either in half-day or full-day class.
Children who are turning 4 or 5 this year, in 2008, and who are presently attending full-day classes, should continue in a full-day class in the new school year. It is essential that children complete the cycle of work awaiting them in the primary class, and remain in a Casa class until they reach the age of six.
A note for parents who are interested in enrolling their children into a elementary class:
All children who are turning 6 this year (2008) will be ready to move to a 6-9 lower elementary class. Children who are turning 9 this year (2008), and who have completed a three-year cycle in the 6-9 environment, may be registered into the 9-12 class.
For any additional information about registration please contact Felix.
Workshop - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 3-YEAR CYCLE AND ITS COMPLETION
We would like to invite all Casa parents to a workshop titled: The Importance of the 3-year Cycle and its Completion scheduled for Thursday, February 13, 2008 at 7:00 pm. The guest speaker will be Sandra Girlato, the Director of Training at the Foundation for Montessori Education.
Workshop - Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
INTRODUCTION TO 9-12 AND TRANSITION TO OTHER SCHOOLS
All parents with children who are attending the 6-9 levels are invited to a workshop presented by Jim and Niamh, the 9-12 teachers on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 7:00p.m.
Workshop - Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
MATERIALS PRESENTATION WORKSHOP BY ELEMENTARY (6-12) STUDENTS
The Materials Presentation workshop scheduled originally for February 7, 2008 has been moved to Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 7:00 in place of a Casa workshop scheduled for that day. All Casa parents are invited to come. We apologize if this has caused you any inconvenience.
Guidelines for parents during the materials presentations by students:
* All elementary students will be participating.
* All parents are welcome to visit all four elementary classes.
* While engaging in conversation with children presenting materials, please be mindful of the questions you ask.
* Please observe a child presenting the material, listen, and see the scope of work.
* Please keep the engagement with a child to a minimum and allow yourself to see as many presentations in different classes as possible.
* Please do not cross-examine the children.
* Please let your teacher know if you are planning to attend.
AMI CASA CONSULTATION
Mrs. Sandra Girlato will be conducting tri-annual consultation for Casa teachers over three days on February 13, 14, 15, 2008. This program is part of the requirements for the AMI School Recognition Program.
VALENTINE’S DAY – February 14, 2008
As Valentine’s Day fast approaches, we would like to inform you of how we will be celebrating the holiday.
Casa information - we are asking that cards not be distributed throughout the school due to the many problems that arise within the classes. Past experience has shown that the young children can become very frustrated for several reasons – not receiving Valentine’s, the inability to read what is written and who the card is from, and the difficulty of distributing the cards themselves, to name just a few. Please be assured that Valentine’s Day will be discussed and celebrated within the classes in an age and developmentally appropriate way. The celebration will vary depending on the class. Thank you for your cooperation.
Elementary information - the elementary children are older, and therefore are able to celebrate this occasion on a different level. They do really enjoy writing and reading their greetings. Therefore, the exchange of cards in the elementary class will take place inside the classroom. Please make sure that your children make their own Valentine’s or, if they have already purchased store-bought Valentine’s, to write a personal greeting or a poem on the back.
Happy Valentine’s Day !
FAMILY DAY, FEBRUARY 18 2008 – A new Statutory Holiday
Shortly after being re-elected, the Provincial Government announced the creation of a province-wide statutory holiday called Family Day. We are writing to confirm that Humberside Montessori School will be celebrating Family Day on Monday, February 18, 2008. This statutory holiday will occur on the third Monday in February of each year, beginning February 18, 2008, for the purpose of emphasizing and celebrating the importance of families taking time to be together.