Montessori Moments = Events Calendar + What’s Happening:
What’s Happening Central’s 17th Anniversary November 12, 2024!
___________________________________________________
Seventeen Things We Love about Central
Calendar of Events
November 2024: Fill the Van Food Drive & GrandDays! Central’s Anniversary
Conferences: Lower El, Upper El, Middle School
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Everyone Gives!
11 Main Campus Carpool: Fill the Van for the FeedMore Food Drive
12 Central’s Anniversary! SCHOOL PRIDE DAY!
12 Infant and Toddler Campus Carpools: Fill the Van for FeedMore Food Drive
13 Adolescent Program Campus Carpools: Fill the Van for FeedMore Food Drive
14 Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
20-26 GRANDDAYS! Watch for Info & V Link (This is a change)
27-29 Autumn Break: School is Closed to All: Watch for V hour for Facility Work
December 2024: Cookie Drive, Winter Celebrations, Winter Package
Conferences: Infant/Toddler & PrePrimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Everyone Gives!
2 Elementary & Middle School: Central Annual Cookie Drive 1: Watch for Info
2 Elementary & Middle School: Cookies and Songs Parade 1 to Fire House Number 1!
Thanks, First Responders: Watch for Info
2-3 Infant/Toddler Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
3 Preprimary & Primary: Central Annual Cookie Drive 2: Watch for Info
3 Kindergarten: Cookies and Songs Parade 2: FireHouse Number 1! Thanks, First
Responders!
4 Whole School Cookie Drive for Winter Celebrations! (Potluck applies)
6 Elementary & Middle School: Winter Celebration 1: 5:30-6:30 or 4:00-5:00 Watch
for Info
9 Upper El & Mid. School: Winter Market Day
10 Preprimary Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
13 Primary: Winter Celebration 2: 4:00-5:00: Watch for Info & V Link
18-20 Open to Winter Package Families Only: Closed to All Other Families
23-27 Winter Break: School Closed to All
30 Open to Winter Package Families Only: Closed to All Other Families
31 Winter Break (cont) School Closed to All
What’s Happening?
Pre-Primary
Several children march into the beautiful autumn afternoon each carrying supplies. They place colorful chalk, bowls of water, and paintbrushes on the outdoor table. A couple of friends choose the chalk and add bright spots of color to their fence. Two other friends use the paintbrushes and water to wash away old chalk marks. The youngest child observes for a few moments before opting to crunch their feet into some nearby leaves instead.
Primary C
The state of Maine has been missing for quite some time. Once it was found, all of the students gather around to see and smile. One student, who especially enjoyed this work, proudly restores Maine to the box so the United States puzzle is complete once again and ready to use.
2001 Cultural Enrichment
“Can I hold the corn husk doll?”The doll is one of many cultural items representing Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous cultures. Students are learning about materials, motives, makers, and more. They guess which materials were used for an embossed item with a deer and tree on it: “Petrified wood? Plastic”? They make a collective sound of recognition and surprise when they learn the medium is deer antler. Students smile, share, and help each other try on necklaces, and moccasins.
Upper Elementary
The newly formed Writers Club members gather and wait for a student to pick a writing prompt from the writing club bowl. The prompt says, “Write a humorous story about a mischievous literary character getting into trouble’. After a few giggles, students spend the afternoon writing and illustrating their stories. One student shares their story about a family, whose names all begin with a ‘J’. Another student shares their story about a family member creating a play with chickens and pigs. A dragon who takes things from friends and then learns to share is the basis for a story. The theme of the Hero’s Journey is evident in each of the stories.
Primary A
An older student sees a food preparation work on the shelf. They take it to a table. The work contains a bowl, a little tray, a cutting board, and two mandarins. The student peels the mandarins and puts each piece one by one on the little tray. Once they are done preparing the mandarins, they count how many friends are in the classroom and they start offering a piece to each one. There are enough slices for each friend to have one!
Infant/Toddler
An infant rushes around the playground as fast as their little legs will carry them. Stopping abruptly to inspect something on the ground, the child bends over to pick up a leaf that has fallen from the tree. Picking the leaf up, the child stands up and gives it a smell. The smell turns into a taste and a guide reminds the child that leaves (of this type!) are not food. The child looks at them quizzically and seems to decide the guide must be mistaken. Bringing the leaf to their mouth again, the child gets ready to give it one more tiny taste before the guide reminds them to not eat the delicious-looking leaf one more time.
Middle School
At their last tennis lesson in the park, the students couldn’t help but smile as they practiced their swings under the warm, autumn sun. They laugh and cheer each other on, grateful that the weather is still mild enough to enjoy being outside. The golden leaves fall around them as they play, adding to the fun. After the lesson, they lingered, savoring every last bit of the warm weather and the chance to enjoy the park together before colder weather begins to set in.
Lower Elementary
The playground is full of students who are working in small groups to memorize their poems for GrandDays! It's as if the sunshine has increased their ability to memorize lines and in no time at all, many of the children excitedly let their friends know that their lines are memorized! There are buckets and baskets and piles of large golden yellow fig leaves blanketing the yard. They become fans, beds, leaf soup, and carpets for acorn people only ½ inch tall.
Primary B
As children walk in from the playground they begin sitting around the group time rug for a music lesson with rhythm sticks. We first tap a song about a clock to show how music can speed up and slow down. Then we sing, “Tick Tock Goes the Clock”, a song that turns our rhythm sticks into kitten whiskers, walrus tusks, and bunny ears. Laughter is heard in the final part of the song as our rhythm sticks become alien antennae! We then tap out the syllables in our names one at a time as children put their rhythm sticks away and wash their hands for lunch.
Special V Opportunity & Community Support Opportunities
WANTED! Tree Saplings
These are not V-hour eligible, but this kind of gift might work out for you and our students. A sapling for a family and more space in your yard! The Tree Protectors (lower-el students) love trees! If you find a little tree sapling in your yard and want someone to adopt it and give it a good home, please dig it up and bring it to school! Many children would like to take a tiny tree sapling home to their yard!
Our Little Free Sapling Garden is located by our main 323 Carpool Gate.
Central’s Little Free Library and Pantry
Thanks for helping us give back to our neighbors. A neighbor who depends on this pantry asked that food donations include food in 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 benefits from your modeling of giving to others. It inspires them and helps them see how they can help others. This is a huge deal.
What’s Happening Central’s 17th Anniversary November 12, 2024!
___________________________________________________
Seventeen Things We Love about Central
- Children rushing into classrooms happy and laughing
- Gardens filled with discoveries just waiting to happen
- Parents who give so much so that all of our children receive as much
- Teachers who are our first responders, caretakers, educators
- Neighbors who build fountains honoring neighbors who promote Peace
- Geese singing as they pass overhead
- Children who organize themselves into a club called the Plant Protectors
- Middle School students who manage our Daily Soup produce
- ‘River’ studies that align with heavy rains that create our short-lived Montessori River
- Babies, babies, babies
- Gifts of trees made by PAC
- Full Little Free Pantry stocked by our parents and children for our neighbors
- Room Parents who work with and fully support our busy teachers
- Beautiful children’s books donated to our Little Free Library
- Grandparents who share their original poetry with our children
- Parents who join us for lunch from time to time
- Toddlers determined to manage their own bags (larger than they are)
Calendar of Events
November 2024: Fill the Van Food Drive & GrandDays! Central’s Anniversary
Conferences: Lower El, Upper El, Middle School
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Everyone Gives!
11 Main Campus Carpool: Fill the Van for the FeedMore Food Drive
12 Central’s Anniversary! SCHOOL PRIDE DAY!
12 Infant and Toddler Campus Carpools: Fill the Van for FeedMore Food Drive
13 Adolescent Program Campus Carpools: Fill the Van for FeedMore Food Drive
14 Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
20-26 GRANDDAYS! Watch for Info & V Link (This is a change)
27-29 Autumn Break: School is Closed to All: Watch for V hour for Facility Work
December 2024: Cookie Drive, Winter Celebrations, Winter Package
Conferences: Infant/Toddler & PrePrimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Everyone Gives!
2 Elementary & Middle School: Central Annual Cookie Drive 1: Watch for Info
2 Elementary & Middle School: Cookies and Songs Parade 1 to Fire House Number 1!
Thanks, First Responders: Watch for Info
2-3 Infant/Toddler Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
3 Preprimary & Primary: Central Annual Cookie Drive 2: Watch for Info
3 Kindergarten: Cookies and Songs Parade 2: FireHouse Number 1! Thanks, First
Responders!
4 Whole School Cookie Drive for Winter Celebrations! (Potluck applies)
6 Elementary & Middle School: Winter Celebration 1: 5:30-6:30 or 4:00-5:00 Watch
for Info
9 Upper El & Mid. School: Winter Market Day
10 Preprimary Parent/Teacher Conferences: Sign-Up & Zoom Link
13 Primary: Winter Celebration 2: 4:00-5:00: Watch for Info & V Link
18-20 Open to Winter Package Families Only: Closed to All Other Families
23-27 Winter Break: School Closed to All
30 Open to Winter Package Families Only: Closed to All Other Families
31 Winter Break (cont) School Closed to All
What’s Happening?
Pre-Primary
Several children march into the beautiful autumn afternoon each carrying supplies. They place colorful chalk, bowls of water, and paintbrushes on the outdoor table. A couple of friends choose the chalk and add bright spots of color to their fence. Two other friends use the paintbrushes and water to wash away old chalk marks. The youngest child observes for a few moments before opting to crunch their feet into some nearby leaves instead.
Primary C
The state of Maine has been missing for quite some time. Once it was found, all of the students gather around to see and smile. One student, who especially enjoyed this work, proudly restores Maine to the box so the United States puzzle is complete once again and ready to use.
2001 Cultural Enrichment
“Can I hold the corn husk doll?”The doll is one of many cultural items representing Haudenosaunee and other Indigenous cultures. Students are learning about materials, motives, makers, and more. They guess which materials were used for an embossed item with a deer and tree on it: “Petrified wood? Plastic”? They make a collective sound of recognition and surprise when they learn the medium is deer antler. Students smile, share, and help each other try on necklaces, and moccasins.
Upper Elementary
The newly formed Writers Club members gather and wait for a student to pick a writing prompt from the writing club bowl. The prompt says, “Write a humorous story about a mischievous literary character getting into trouble’. After a few giggles, students spend the afternoon writing and illustrating their stories. One student shares their story about a family, whose names all begin with a ‘J’. Another student shares their story about a family member creating a play with chickens and pigs. A dragon who takes things from friends and then learns to share is the basis for a story. The theme of the Hero’s Journey is evident in each of the stories.
Primary A
An older student sees a food preparation work on the shelf. They take it to a table. The work contains a bowl, a little tray, a cutting board, and two mandarins. The student peels the mandarins and puts each piece one by one on the little tray. Once they are done preparing the mandarins, they count how many friends are in the classroom and they start offering a piece to each one. There are enough slices for each friend to have one!
Infant/Toddler
An infant rushes around the playground as fast as their little legs will carry them. Stopping abruptly to inspect something on the ground, the child bends over to pick up a leaf that has fallen from the tree. Picking the leaf up, the child stands up and gives it a smell. The smell turns into a taste and a guide reminds the child that leaves (of this type!) are not food. The child looks at them quizzically and seems to decide the guide must be mistaken. Bringing the leaf to their mouth again, the child gets ready to give it one more tiny taste before the guide reminds them to not eat the delicious-looking leaf one more time.
Middle School
At their last tennis lesson in the park, the students couldn’t help but smile as they practiced their swings under the warm, autumn sun. They laugh and cheer each other on, grateful that the weather is still mild enough to enjoy being outside. The golden leaves fall around them as they play, adding to the fun. After the lesson, they lingered, savoring every last bit of the warm weather and the chance to enjoy the park together before colder weather begins to set in.
Lower Elementary
The playground is full of students who are working in small groups to memorize their poems for GrandDays! It's as if the sunshine has increased their ability to memorize lines and in no time at all, many of the children excitedly let their friends know that their lines are memorized! There are buckets and baskets and piles of large golden yellow fig leaves blanketing the yard. They become fans, beds, leaf soup, and carpets for acorn people only ½ inch tall.
Primary B
As children walk in from the playground they begin sitting around the group time rug for a music lesson with rhythm sticks. We first tap a song about a clock to show how music can speed up and slow down. Then we sing, “Tick Tock Goes the Clock”, a song that turns our rhythm sticks into kitten whiskers, walrus tusks, and bunny ears. Laughter is heard in the final part of the song as our rhythm sticks become alien antennae! We then tap out the syllables in our names one at a time as children put their rhythm sticks away and wash their hands for lunch.
Special V Opportunity & Community Support Opportunities
WANTED! Tree Saplings
These are not V-hour eligible, but this kind of gift might work out for you and our students. A sapling for a family and more space in your yard! The Tree Protectors (lower-el students) love trees! If you find a little tree sapling in your yard and want someone to adopt it and give it a good home, please dig it up and bring it to school! Many children would like to take a tiny tree sapling home to their yard!
Our Little Free Sapling Garden is located by our main 323 Carpool Gate.
Central’s Little Free Library and Pantry
Thanks for helping us give back to our neighbors. A neighbor who depends on this pantry asked that food donations include food in 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 benefits from your modeling of giving to others. It inspires them and helps them see how they can help others. This is a huge deal.
