“We adults must see the real humanity in children, the humanity which will take our place one day, if we are to have social progress. Social progress means that the next generation is better than the one before.”
Maria Montessori
Dr. Montessori felt that one of the most significant contributions and actions an individual can make toward a better humanity is to serve children as they move through their developmental phases with respect for their humanity so that they, may in turn, do the same when our generation is gone.
Central and our parents support the child's ongoing work in further developing autonomy, agency, and contributions to social progress in adulthood. These skills are cultivated through service learning, opportunities to work in a mixed-age setting, self-regulation, critical inquiry, and respect for others to benefit the individual and, hopefully, humanity well beyond their years at Central. This is our essential work and action.
One of our alumnus parents, Angela Patton, is the founder of Camp Diva Leadership Academy, CEO of Girls for a Change, and co-director of the documentary Daughters, which is currently showing on Netflix. We invite Central parents to watch Daughters. It is very powerful. The film contains some sensitive and complex content and has a maturity rating of PG-13. It is best suited for adult viewers. There are ways to get involved in supporting the ongoing work featured in the documentary. Anyone can register to host a watch party and invite a group of attendees. The watch party tool kit provides excellent information about starting a discussion, developing action plans, and including people who can offer valuable perspectives on policy, legislation, lived experiences, research, and nonprofit initiatives. Central is also in the early stages of planning and information gathering to host a community impact screening for the larger community. We hope to make this happen. Please reach out if you’d be interested in helping with this project. Thanks.
-Kelly
Calendar of Events
September 2024: SCHOOL SPIRIT MONTH: GO BUZZ BEES! GOOD!
Conferences: Infant &Toddler, Preprimary
PIN: Primary, Lower El, Upper El & Middle School
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Middle School’s Month to Donate
13 Lower El PIN (Parent Information Night) = Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic Discussion
with Questions & Answers: Watch for V Link
15 National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins: Bien!
17-18 School Portraits by Stephanie Garr: Watch for Info
19-20 Infant & Toddler: Parent/Teacher Conferences:
20 International Day of Peace Sing a Long & Recitation of Quotes for Peace
20 Little Kicks Fall Soccer Session Begins!
20 Primary PIN (Parent Information Night) 6:30 to 8:00 Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic
Discussion with Questions & Answers, Watch for V Link
24 School Portraits by Stephanie Garr: Watch for Info
24 Preprimary: Parent/Teacher Conferences
25 Upper El & Middle School: First Day of Tennis (6 week session)
26 CVS & Central’s Annual Flu Shot Clinic 4:00-6:00 main campus Register here
27 Last Friday 4:00 Closing (all campuses: carpool 3:00-4:00)
28 Outdoor Work Day: Autumn Prep of Gardens and Campuses: V hour opportunities!
30 Fall Market Day: Upper El & Middle School Students 5 years & older can buy.
October 2024: PAC: Chili Cook-Off!
Conferences: Primary A, Primary B, Primary C, Lower El
PIN: Infant & Toddler, PrePrimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Middle School
4 Infant & Toddler and PrePrimary PIN (Parent Information Night) 6:30 to 8:00
Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic Discussion with Questions & Answers
Watch for V Link
5 Pop Up Central Yard Sale! Watch for Info.
10 The Big Apple Crunch: Watch for Info
14 Indigenous Peoples Day
14-15 Upper El & Middle School: Pocahontas State Park:Camp Out: Watch for Info
15-16 Primary A: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
17 Primary B: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
22 Primary B: Parent/Teacher Conferences (cont): Watch for Link
23-24 Primary C: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
25 Last Friday: 4:00 Closing: 3:00-4:00 Carpool
26 PAC: Chili Cook-Off: Watch for Info! 🌶️
28 Tentative: Upper El & Middle School Science Fair: Watch for Link
29-30 Lower El: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
31 Lower El: Scary Animal Day: Watch for Info
What’s Happening?
Primary B
An older child stands at a handwashing station next to a new three year old child. The older child first shows the younger one how to go to the sink to fill a pitcher of water, then return to the table and pour the water carefully into the bowl. The younger child smiles as their friend picks up the soap to wash their hands and begins to sing a little song. The two children finish the lesson by pouring the water back into the sink and drying the table with a towel for the next person.
Lower Elementary
The students gather at the group time rug and hear a story called Grandfather Rock, about the creation of storytelling. Later in the day, a student reads a book titled The Girl Who Helped Thunder, which contains many Native American stories. The student is surprised to find a story similar to the story of Grandfather Rock! Excited by the news, the student creates a Venn diagram, reads the story to the class, and invites the children to list the similarities and differences they found in both stories.
Pre-Primary
Two friends are sitting outside together on a warm, sunny morning. One is using both hands to hold a large bucket steady as the other scoops mulch and dirt to dump into the bucket. The child holding the bucket politely says, “Thank you.” for each load of dirt, even after many repetitions. “Thanks for helping!”
Middle School
The students gather for a group lesson about science lab safety. They look at a cartoon image of students in a science lab to determine what safe practices are being followed and which are not. The students laugh as they identify all of the silly unsafe practices they see in the image. A student observes that many of the problems in the image are not present at Central because “We always work together to keep a safe and clean classroom environment!”
Primary A
During group time, an older student noticed that the baskets that contain the rugs are disorganized. "Let's fix them!" they say as they take the initiative. Students take turns, and they start rolling them. They proudly show their friends how the rugs and mats are perfectly rolled and placed in the basket. Once they are done, the students take a quick look and comment, “The rugs are organized, and the classroom looks pretty now. It looks great! We need to keep them like that".
Primary C
A group of students receives a beautiful lesson on the water cycle. One friend excitedly says, “It all gets recycled!” Now the children gather in a group and practice ‘making silence'. They seem to remember that silence is a way to find peace and calm our bodies. The friends have been challenging themselves to have a peaceful body for 30 seconds (the amount of time on the sand timer). They decide to challenge themselves to sit silently and calmly for one whole minute, and they did it! They exchanged excited smiles as the bell rings, signaling the end of the Making Silence Game.
Upper Elementary
After each student created their own rendition of the first Great Lesson: The Coming of the Universe, a child asked if they can create a their own timeline of their own life. Paper is laid out and the child measures out 3 inches for each year of their life. Soon many observers follow suit and by the afternoon, children are writing and using mixed media to illustrate their creation stories, interests, and the monumental moments on their life on their personal timelines. They begin to prepare for sharing their timeline stories this Friday.
Infant and Toddler
An infant lays curled up on their nap mat cuddled in a blanket, bottom in the air. Quiet classical music fills the darkened room as the child, and their friends, rest. The child begins to stir, turning over to lay on their back instead of their tummy. After a moment, the child fully awakens and sits up. Looking around, a huge smile spreads across their face. A guide approaches and the child lifts their arms to be held. The guide obliges, and the two have a good snuggle before the child is ready to be put down. Heading over towards the fridge, the child uses one hand to touch the fridge and the other to sign for “eat”. Time for lunch!
UE/MS Cultural Enrichment
The gardens are beginning to produce a small harvest of peas while some flowers start to go to seed. Students are excited to eat the peas (yum!) while others decide to save the peas/seeds for our next plantings. Other students are surprised to learn that we eat so many different kinds of seeds as spices, grains, and more with one student exclaiming, “Rice is a seed?!” Students consider the reasons for seed-saving, the importance of leaving seeds for wildlife, how terms like annual/perennial and native/invasive are antonyms, and what information to include for their seed-saving packet.
Maria Montessori
Dr. Montessori felt that one of the most significant contributions and actions an individual can make toward a better humanity is to serve children as they move through their developmental phases with respect for their humanity so that they, may in turn, do the same when our generation is gone.
Central and our parents support the child's ongoing work in further developing autonomy, agency, and contributions to social progress in adulthood. These skills are cultivated through service learning, opportunities to work in a mixed-age setting, self-regulation, critical inquiry, and respect for others to benefit the individual and, hopefully, humanity well beyond their years at Central. This is our essential work and action.
One of our alumnus parents, Angela Patton, is the founder of Camp Diva Leadership Academy, CEO of Girls for a Change, and co-director of the documentary Daughters, which is currently showing on Netflix. We invite Central parents to watch Daughters. It is very powerful. The film contains some sensitive and complex content and has a maturity rating of PG-13. It is best suited for adult viewers. There are ways to get involved in supporting the ongoing work featured in the documentary. Anyone can register to host a watch party and invite a group of attendees. The watch party tool kit provides excellent information about starting a discussion, developing action plans, and including people who can offer valuable perspectives on policy, legislation, lived experiences, research, and nonprofit initiatives. Central is also in the early stages of planning and information gathering to host a community impact screening for the larger community. We hope to make this happen. Please reach out if you’d be interested in helping with this project. Thanks.
-Kelly
Calendar of Events
September 2024: SCHOOL SPIRIT MONTH: GO BUZZ BEES! GOOD!
Conferences: Infant &Toddler, Preprimary
PIN: Primary, Lower El, Upper El & Middle School
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Middle School’s Month to Donate
13 Lower El PIN (Parent Information Night) = Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic Discussion
with Questions & Answers: Watch for V Link
15 National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins: Bien!
17-18 School Portraits by Stephanie Garr: Watch for Info
19-20 Infant & Toddler: Parent/Teacher Conferences:
20 International Day of Peace Sing a Long & Recitation of Quotes for Peace
20 Little Kicks Fall Soccer Session Begins!
20 Primary PIN (Parent Information Night) 6:30 to 8:00 Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic
Discussion with Questions & Answers, Watch for V Link
24 School Portraits by Stephanie Garr: Watch for Info
24 Preprimary: Parent/Teacher Conferences
25 Upper El & Middle School: First Day of Tennis (6 week session)
26 CVS & Central’s Annual Flu Shot Clinic 4:00-6:00 main campus Register here
27 Last Friday 4:00 Closing (all campuses: carpool 3:00-4:00)
28 Outdoor Work Day: Autumn Prep of Gardens and Campuses: V hour opportunities!
30 Fall Market Day: Upper El & Middle School Students 5 years & older can buy.
October 2024: PAC: Chili Cook-Off!
Conferences: Primary A, Primary B, Primary C, Lower El
PIN: Infant & Toddler, PrePrimary
Month of Giving to Free Little Library and Food Pantry: Middle School
4 Infant & Toddler and PrePrimary PIN (Parent Information Night) 6:30 to 8:00
Meet & Greet + Open House + Topic Discussion with Questions & Answers
Watch for V Link
5 Pop Up Central Yard Sale! Watch for Info.
10 The Big Apple Crunch: Watch for Info
14 Indigenous Peoples Day
14-15 Upper El & Middle School: Pocahontas State Park:Camp Out: Watch for Info
15-16 Primary A: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
17 Primary B: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
22 Primary B: Parent/Teacher Conferences (cont): Watch for Link
23-24 Primary C: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
25 Last Friday: 4:00 Closing: 3:00-4:00 Carpool
26 PAC: Chili Cook-Off: Watch for Info! 🌶️
28 Tentative: Upper El & Middle School Science Fair: Watch for Link
29-30 Lower El: Parent/Teacher Conferences: Watch for Link
31 Lower El: Scary Animal Day: Watch for Info
What’s Happening?
Primary B
An older child stands at a handwashing station next to a new three year old child. The older child first shows the younger one how to go to the sink to fill a pitcher of water, then return to the table and pour the water carefully into the bowl. The younger child smiles as their friend picks up the soap to wash their hands and begins to sing a little song. The two children finish the lesson by pouring the water back into the sink and drying the table with a towel for the next person.
Lower Elementary
The students gather at the group time rug and hear a story called Grandfather Rock, about the creation of storytelling. Later in the day, a student reads a book titled The Girl Who Helped Thunder, which contains many Native American stories. The student is surprised to find a story similar to the story of Grandfather Rock! Excited by the news, the student creates a Venn diagram, reads the story to the class, and invites the children to list the similarities and differences they found in both stories.
Pre-Primary
Two friends are sitting outside together on a warm, sunny morning. One is using both hands to hold a large bucket steady as the other scoops mulch and dirt to dump into the bucket. The child holding the bucket politely says, “Thank you.” for each load of dirt, even after many repetitions. “Thanks for helping!”
Middle School
The students gather for a group lesson about science lab safety. They look at a cartoon image of students in a science lab to determine what safe practices are being followed and which are not. The students laugh as they identify all of the silly unsafe practices they see in the image. A student observes that many of the problems in the image are not present at Central because “We always work together to keep a safe and clean classroom environment!”
Primary A
During group time, an older student noticed that the baskets that contain the rugs are disorganized. "Let's fix them!" they say as they take the initiative. Students take turns, and they start rolling them. They proudly show their friends how the rugs and mats are perfectly rolled and placed in the basket. Once they are done, the students take a quick look and comment, “The rugs are organized, and the classroom looks pretty now. It looks great! We need to keep them like that".
Primary C
A group of students receives a beautiful lesson on the water cycle. One friend excitedly says, “It all gets recycled!” Now the children gather in a group and practice ‘making silence'. They seem to remember that silence is a way to find peace and calm our bodies. The friends have been challenging themselves to have a peaceful body for 30 seconds (the amount of time on the sand timer). They decide to challenge themselves to sit silently and calmly for one whole minute, and they did it! They exchanged excited smiles as the bell rings, signaling the end of the Making Silence Game.
Upper Elementary
After each student created their own rendition of the first Great Lesson: The Coming of the Universe, a child asked if they can create a their own timeline of their own life. Paper is laid out and the child measures out 3 inches for each year of their life. Soon many observers follow suit and by the afternoon, children are writing and using mixed media to illustrate their creation stories, interests, and the monumental moments on their life on their personal timelines. They begin to prepare for sharing their timeline stories this Friday.
Infant and Toddler
An infant lays curled up on their nap mat cuddled in a blanket, bottom in the air. Quiet classical music fills the darkened room as the child, and their friends, rest. The child begins to stir, turning over to lay on their back instead of their tummy. After a moment, the child fully awakens and sits up. Looking around, a huge smile spreads across their face. A guide approaches and the child lifts their arms to be held. The guide obliges, and the two have a good snuggle before the child is ready to be put down. Heading over towards the fridge, the child uses one hand to touch the fridge and the other to sign for “eat”. Time for lunch!
UE/MS Cultural Enrichment
The gardens are beginning to produce a small harvest of peas while some flowers start to go to seed. Students are excited to eat the peas (yum!) while others decide to save the peas/seeds for our next plantings. Other students are surprised to learn that we eat so many different kinds of seeds as spices, grains, and more with one student exclaiming, “Rice is a seed?!” Students consider the reasons for seed-saving, the importance of leaving seeds for wildlife, how terms like annual/perennial and native/invasive are antonyms, and what information to include for their seed-saving packet.
