Pumpkins!

We've had a great time meeting with each of you for our conferences and look forward to another fabulous, focused nine weeks working with you and your children. 

This week our students are writing "how to" paragraphs explaining how to carve jack-o-lanterns.  We'll be following their "how to" directions on real pumpkins later this week.  If possible, would you please donate a pumpkin to your child's classroom for their "how to" paragraph?

Visit a few links below:
Beyond homework...what can you do to help? http://www.amshq.org/Family%20Resources/Montessori%20at%20Home.aspx

American Montessori Society's Family page: http://www.amshq.org/Family%20Resources.aspx

Introduction to Montessori Mathematics - use the links on the left to see how the materials and lessons are presented:
http://www.infomontessori.com/mathematics/introduction.htm

Progress Reports and Conferences

     Please stop by the classroom and sign up for a conference if you haven't done so already.  There are still several times available for later this week or early next week.  Progress reports will be sent home by this Wednesday so please read them before your conference as this is a time set aside to discuss any questions you may have about it and your child's progress so far this year.  We're looking forward to seeing you!
     We have a field trip this Thursday and Friday so please ensure that all fees have been paid to the front office, permission slips have been returned, and plans have been made for your children for Thur. and Fri. as we dismiss at 1:00pm.


Reminders:

• 20 – Symphony for 1^st & 3^rd grades at 10:00am
• return permission slips as soon as possible
• 21 – Symphony for 2^nd grade at 10:00am
• return permission slips as soon as possible
• 20 & 21 – Parent/teacher conferences – 1^st-8^th grades DISMISS at 1:00
• DISMISS at 1:00 (Thur. & Fri.)
• 24 – Talent show auditions for grades 1^st-8^th
• 25 – Make-up and sibling pictures 8:30-10:30am
• 31 – Parade (at 9:00am) and Lower Elementary Halloween party

October fun

Parent conferences are coming up in a few weeks.  Please stop by the classroom to sign up for a 20 minute conference time which will be posted on the door.  You will receive your child’s progress report on the Wednesday before the conferences and we ask that you read it in its entirety before your conference.  The purpose of the conference is to discuss the progress report and address any questions or concerns you have regarding it.

October is a favorite month for the children. They love the changing color of the leaves, our annual fall festival, and the cool weather that makes recess even more enjoyable. October also brings our Lower Elementary Halloween traditions.  We invite children to dress up only as a character from a book, a historical figure, or in a costume from a different country.  We aim to keep Halloween light-hearted and fun for everyone, so we will not allow weapons, blood, or anything scary.  Our costume parade brings all ages together and we need to respect the needs of the younger children.  Your child will need to prepare a paragraph to read to the class about his/her character or costume. The lower elementary will meet in classroom III after the parade and pictures and parents are invited to come watch the parade at 9:00am and to listen to the paragraphs. In the afternoon we will have a class party with games and activities.

Please keep in mind the following events and dates in October:

· 10 – No school for students (Columbus Day)

· 12 – Lower Elementary Picture day

· 14 – End of 1^st quarter

· 14 – Alice in Wonderland play at 7:00pm

· 19 – Progress Reports sent home

· 20 – Symphony for 1^st & 3^rd grades at 10:00am

· 21 – Symphony for 2^nd grade at 10:00am

· 20 & 21 – Parent/teacher conferences – 1^st-8^th grades DISMISS at 1:00

· 24 – Talent show auditions for grades 1^st-8^th

· 25 – Make-up and sibling pictures 8:30-10:30am

· 31 – Parade (at 9:00am) and Lower Elementary Halloween party

Please continue to to bring in a new or "gently worn" pair of shoes to donate to

Soles 4 Souls.

Fall Festival Fun - 2011

Here are a few 'pics' from our Fall Festival!

Please continue to to bring in a new or "gently worn" pair of shoes to donate to Soles for Souls.

Fall Festival this Sunday!

We are super excited about our upcoming Fall Festival this Sunday (Oct.2nd) at 1:30.  It's free for all and there will be fabulous games and fun for all ages.  Please bring a new or "gently worn" pair of shoes to donate to Soles for Souls.  Hope to see you there!

Having a "blast"

We are having a “blast” in lower elementary studying volcanoes, the layers of the earth, our solar system’s eight planets including some dwarf planets, and so much more during our cultural lessons in the afternoons.  Ask your child to explain to you what they’re learning and researching during school and find out what they want to know more about.  It would be a great opportunity to take them to the public library to explore more.

Local Public Libraries:

Bessemer: http://bessemerlibrary.org/
Birmingham: http://bplonline.org/
Chelsea: http://www.ci.chelsea.ma.us/public_documents/ChelseaMA_LIbrary/index
Hoover: http://www.hooverlibrary.org/
Homewood: http://www.homewoodlibrary.org/
Pelham: http://www.pelhamlibrary.com/
Vestavia Hills: http://vestavialibrary.org/

Reminders for the year:

• Early care begins at 7:00am and continues through 8:00am.  Students dropped off any time before 8:00am will be signed in for early care.  Classes begin at 8:15am.
• Inside PE shoes are to be left at school daily and should have non-marking soles.
• Please review the school lunch calendar with your child/ren daily and determine together if your child will buy or bring their lunch for that day.
• Please keep an extra pair (or two) of socks in your child's backpack.
• Homework is sent home on both Fridays and Mondays and is due the next Friday.
• Reading logs are to be completed Monday through Thursday and at least one time over the weekend (Fri.-Sun.).

Welcome back!

We've had quite a few good weeks of school and we're looking forward to many, many more!  We are beginning our cultural lessons this week and the teachers and students are very excited.  We'll be exploring the beginning of our universe, chemical reactions, volcanoes, and much more this week.

Please be patient with us as we make the switch to our new blog.  We'd love to hear from you with any comments or suggestions.  E-mail amy@jsbacademy.org