Community Central
Even as the last days of our summer program wind down, plans are being made for our upcoming staff work week. There is so much to do. Calendars will be finalized and set. Teaching teams will be created and will collaborate. Classroom assignments for new and returning teachers are being made as well. Positive Discipline for the Montessori Classroom books will be distributed, read and referenced. We have a visiting presenter joining us to provide us with training and the specific skills needed to manage the important work our assistants do.
PAC has scheduled a food truck to stop by and provide our staff with delicious food and beverages in the top parking lot that will be set for just such an occasion. (Thank you, PAC!) We will also host our important First Meeting for Central parents who have agreed to assume the leadership/volunteer positions of Classroom Support Parents and PAC Parents.
We have lots of information to share with you over the next few weeks. We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to partnering with you to afford our children the enriched and beautiful educational experiences only a Montessori program can provide.
Montessori Moments Events Calendar
Even though COVID may not continue to create major disruptions to our school calendar events and dates, please know that all dates are tentative.
August 2023: Optional Parent/Teacher Conferences
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Lower Elementary
21 Solar Oven Camp: Elementary & Middle School: Watch for Info
25 Last Day of Summer Session 2023!
28-31 Closed to Families: Staff Professional Development & Work Week!
September 2023: School Year 2023-2024 Begins! Go, Buzz Bees, Go!
Parent & Teacher Conferences: Infant/Toddler and Preprimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Upper Elementary
1-4 Closed to Families: Staff Professional Development & Work Week & Holiday
8 Upper El & Middle School PIN Event: Watch for Info
11 Infant & Toddler Parent & Teacher Conferences Sign-up opens
11 Preprimary Parent & Teacher Conferences Sign-up opens
15 Lower El & PIN Event : Watch for Info
18-22 Infant and Toddler Parent & Teacher Conferences
21-22 International Day of Peace: Teachers and Students Observe
22 Primary PIN Event : Watch for Info
25-29 Preprimary Parent & Teacher Conferences
What’s Happening?
Infant & Toddler
The lights are dimmed while quiet instrumental white noise plays in the background. It’s naptime for two of our youngest Montessorians. One child, covered up by a soft sleepsack, is gently placed on their back into the crib. Immediately the child rolls themself over onto the tummy, places a thumb in their mouth, and quickly drifts off to sleep. The second child, following the same rest time routine and showing all the same signs of sleepiness, is placed into their sleepsack and gently placed onto their back in their crib. Deciding they’re not quite ready for rest time, the child sits themself up and starts shaking the bars of the crib. Making eye contact with a guide, the child sticks an arm out through the bars of the crib and waves, “Hi!”. After a few moments, the “not tired” infant gently eases themself down and settles into sleep.
Primary B
A group of children sit around a new work, an animal classification puzzle. The material consists of different animals that can be sorted based on the animal kingdom they belong to. “The polar bear isn’t a reptile. Its a mammal,” an older friend explains. After they complete the puzzle, they set the pieces back out and start again. Later in group, the children learn about the different characteristics of each animal kingdom (Mammals, Reptiles, Birds,Fish, Amphibians, and Anthropods).
Pre-Primary
Students burst onto the fig tree playground full of energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors. A group of students make their way to the back of the playground behind an apple tree. The students have created a den made out of outdoor cushions and logs. The students curl up on the cushions and pat each other before announcing, “It’s time to wake up!” Once all of the friends are awake they begin to gather mulch and tiny crabapples that have fallen onto the ground in their buckets. One student notices a hole in the log and the other students gather to investigate. One student takes an apple and drops it into the hole only for it to disappear! The students rejoice in their discovery and gather new materials to drop into the hole.
Primary A
The children have gotten up from their naps and already have a variety of materials out in front of them, each selected spontaneously by the child without teacher direction. The children are deep in concentrate and seem not to see the adult who has entered the classroom holding the hand of a child who is returning to class after having a short peaceful reset time in the front office. The returning child also appears calm and happy and immediately makes their way to the shelve and selects a beautiful tray set with two glass bowls, one filled with natural wooden beads and one holding a single two foot long thread with a bead tied onto the end to prevent the other beads from falling off. The child settles into their work cycle and is concentrating so hard that she is slow to look up when all the children are called to line up to hydrate and head outside for a sunny afternoon playtime.
Elementary & Middle School
Students sit in a circle on a large rock in the middle of a canal on the James River. Students are asked what they observe about the rock they are sitting on. One student observes, “ I see sand and pebbles on the rock.” Another student states that they see plants growing in some cracks. The students are asked what they think these materials and living things do to the rock. A student suggests that these change the shape of the rock. A discussion ensues on how different types of weathering: biological, chemical, and physical forces shape the rocks that surround us in this beautiful environment. One student notices that there are minnows swimming in the pools surrounding them. Students all gather around to observe the behavior of the minnows and appreciate the beauty of the surroundings.
Primary C
A child is reading a book a pumpkin plant that spontaneously began to grow in a compose pile to his friends. His eyes light up when he stands in front of our compost bin and spies an actual pumpkin plant growing in it! The children see two trees and three large coconut shells in beautiful newly-formed soil as well. His friends agree that this is a wonderful thing. They quickly began to assess the other plants growing in the outdoor classroom and collect sage, mint, and thyme. They agree that they will keep a close eye on the ‘volunteer’ tomato plant that had been moved out of the compost bin and into its own pot on the deck. The herbs are brought into the room and the children select tiny vases to place their herbs in. They set the vases on tables about the classroom and happily settle into their lessons.
Central’s Little Free Library and Pantry
Thanks for helping us give back to our neighbors. A neighbor who depends on this pantry for food has posted a request on the pantry asking that donations include food containers that someone without a home, kitchen, or can opener can manage. We ask that donations contain only foods within the expiration date. All foods should be as healthy as possible. We can do this!
Month of Giving
Books for Little Free Library & Food for Little Free Pantry
Please feel free to send your donations in with your child. Individual classrooms will collect these items and the front office will manage them. Older students will help us keep our pantries stocked with your generous gifts. Your child (and our neighborhood community) benefits from your modeling of giving to others. It inspires them and helps them see how they themselves can help others. This is a very big deal.
Month
Classroom
August
Lower El
September
Upper Elementary
Even as the last days of our summer program wind down, plans are being made for our upcoming staff work week. There is so much to do. Calendars will be finalized and set. Teaching teams will be created and will collaborate. Classroom assignments for new and returning teachers are being made as well. Positive Discipline for the Montessori Classroom books will be distributed, read and referenced. We have a visiting presenter joining us to provide us with training and the specific skills needed to manage the important work our assistants do.
PAC has scheduled a food truck to stop by and provide our staff with delicious food and beverages in the top parking lot that will be set for just such an occasion. (Thank you, PAC!) We will also host our important First Meeting for Central parents who have agreed to assume the leadership/volunteer positions of Classroom Support Parents and PAC Parents.
We have lots of information to share with you over the next few weeks. We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to partnering with you to afford our children the enriched and beautiful educational experiences only a Montessori program can provide.
Montessori Moments Events Calendar
Even though COVID may not continue to create major disruptions to our school calendar events and dates, please know that all dates are tentative.
August 2023: Optional Parent/Teacher Conferences
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Lower Elementary
21 Solar Oven Camp: Elementary & Middle School: Watch for Info
25 Last Day of Summer Session 2023!
28-31 Closed to Families: Staff Professional Development & Work Week!
September 2023: School Year 2023-2024 Begins! Go, Buzz Bees, Go!
Parent & Teacher Conferences: Infant/Toddler and Preprimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Upper Elementary
1-4 Closed to Families: Staff Professional Development & Work Week & Holiday
8 Upper El & Middle School PIN Event: Watch for Info
11 Infant & Toddler Parent & Teacher Conferences Sign-up opens
11 Preprimary Parent & Teacher Conferences Sign-up opens
15 Lower El & PIN Event : Watch for Info
18-22 Infant and Toddler Parent & Teacher Conferences
21-22 International Day of Peace: Teachers and Students Observe
22 Primary PIN Event : Watch for Info
25-29 Preprimary Parent & Teacher Conferences
What’s Happening?
Infant & Toddler
The lights are dimmed while quiet instrumental white noise plays in the background. It’s naptime for two of our youngest Montessorians. One child, covered up by a soft sleepsack, is gently placed on their back into the crib. Immediately the child rolls themself over onto the tummy, places a thumb in their mouth, and quickly drifts off to sleep. The second child, following the same rest time routine and showing all the same signs of sleepiness, is placed into their sleepsack and gently placed onto their back in their crib. Deciding they’re not quite ready for rest time, the child sits themself up and starts shaking the bars of the crib. Making eye contact with a guide, the child sticks an arm out through the bars of the crib and waves, “Hi!”. After a few moments, the “not tired” infant gently eases themself down and settles into sleep.
Primary B
A group of children sit around a new work, an animal classification puzzle. The material consists of different animals that can be sorted based on the animal kingdom they belong to. “The polar bear isn’t a reptile. Its a mammal,” an older friend explains. After they complete the puzzle, they set the pieces back out and start again. Later in group, the children learn about the different characteristics of each animal kingdom (Mammals, Reptiles, Birds,Fish, Amphibians, and Anthropods).
Pre-Primary
Students burst onto the fig tree playground full of energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors. A group of students make their way to the back of the playground behind an apple tree. The students have created a den made out of outdoor cushions and logs. The students curl up on the cushions and pat each other before announcing, “It’s time to wake up!” Once all of the friends are awake they begin to gather mulch and tiny crabapples that have fallen onto the ground in their buckets. One student notices a hole in the log and the other students gather to investigate. One student takes an apple and drops it into the hole only for it to disappear! The students rejoice in their discovery and gather new materials to drop into the hole.
Primary A
The children have gotten up from their naps and already have a variety of materials out in front of them, each selected spontaneously by the child without teacher direction. The children are deep in concentrate and seem not to see the adult who has entered the classroom holding the hand of a child who is returning to class after having a short peaceful reset time in the front office. The returning child also appears calm and happy and immediately makes their way to the shelve and selects a beautiful tray set with two glass bowls, one filled with natural wooden beads and one holding a single two foot long thread with a bead tied onto the end to prevent the other beads from falling off. The child settles into their work cycle and is concentrating so hard that she is slow to look up when all the children are called to line up to hydrate and head outside for a sunny afternoon playtime.
Elementary & Middle School
Students sit in a circle on a large rock in the middle of a canal on the James River. Students are asked what they observe about the rock they are sitting on. One student observes, “ I see sand and pebbles on the rock.” Another student states that they see plants growing in some cracks. The students are asked what they think these materials and living things do to the rock. A student suggests that these change the shape of the rock. A discussion ensues on how different types of weathering: biological, chemical, and physical forces shape the rocks that surround us in this beautiful environment. One student notices that there are minnows swimming in the pools surrounding them. Students all gather around to observe the behavior of the minnows and appreciate the beauty of the surroundings.
Primary C
A child is reading a book a pumpkin plant that spontaneously began to grow in a compose pile to his friends. His eyes light up when he stands in front of our compost bin and spies an actual pumpkin plant growing in it! The children see two trees and three large coconut shells in beautiful newly-formed soil as well. His friends agree that this is a wonderful thing. They quickly began to assess the other plants growing in the outdoor classroom and collect sage, mint, and thyme. They agree that they will keep a close eye on the ‘volunteer’ tomato plant that had been moved out of the compost bin and into its own pot on the deck. The herbs are brought into the room and the children select tiny vases to place their herbs in. They set the vases on tables about the classroom and happily settle into their lessons.
Central’s Little Free Library and Pantry
Thanks for helping us give back to our neighbors. A neighbor who depends on this pantry for food has posted a request on the pantry asking that donations include food containers that someone without a home, kitchen, or can opener can manage. We ask that donations contain only foods within the expiration date. All foods should be as healthy as possible. We can do this!
Month of Giving
Books for Little Free Library & Food for Little Free Pantry
Please feel free to send your donations in with your child. Individual classrooms will collect these items and the front office will manage them. Older students will help us keep our pantries stocked with your generous gifts. Your child (and our neighborhood community) benefits from your modeling of giving to others. It inspires them and helps them see how they themselves can help others. This is a very big deal.
Month
Classroom
August
Lower El
September
Upper Elementary
