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September 23,   2016

Help us reach our goal of 100% participa tion! 
Montessori Works 

Because Montessori works, and those things on the shelf, they're works too..

Sandpaper and Colored Globes

 Source: 


 
Geography is a fun and exciting part of the Montessori classroom.
Work includes recognition of the features of our planet, such as land vs water, and advances all the way to study of individual countries and specific topographical language!

Preparation for all geography work typically begins with two globes: The Sandpaper Globe and the Colored Globe. Let's explore the features of each!

The Sandpaper Globe

"This is our world. Our world is made of land and water."

These are statements you might hear a guide makes as he or she presents the Sandpaper Globe to a child for the first time. Exploring the earth as a globe may be a difficult concept for a child to grasp at first, but this globe lays the foundation for exploration later on!

You will see the land areas in tan sandpaper, and the water as a smooth, painted blue surface. It's very easy to distinguish, both tactilely and visually, the land and water portions of the globe.

The guide will feel the land saying, "This is land." The child may take a turn feeling the land. The child and guide may continue feeling different 'land' portions of the globe. They will do the same thing with water.

A three period lesson can be used to help the child easily identify and name land and water. In this way, the child will also become comfortable with the bird's eye view of land and water distribution over the planet!

Stay tuned next week for an in depth look at the Colored Globe!
Eric's Earful: 
 Musings from the Head of School

I have always been attracted to globes and maps and I feel very strongly that Montessori had some of the same feelings about these two topics.  The second plane of development is where geography is really presented.  These 6-12 year-old students need to experience the WHOLE universe and everything it contains and get to do this through the great lessons.  Doing this will stimulate their imaginations and answer questions that their reasoning mind is developing.  The question of where man comes from and how he got here can only increase the student's wonder through this look at creation which has to begin with man understanding his surroundings and looking for shelter, food, and water.  Learning about the globe and how the first man had to orient himself to his surroundings is a study in the roots of what it means to be human.  Getting students to look at globes and maps to consider how these first ancestors traversed the globe and discovered where to settle increases the likelihood that our students will consider how we are ALL the same and realize that their own cosmic plan can be more fully realized with those around him.

Eric Royston
Head of School
roystone@leelanaumontessori.org 


Sun and Moon Autumnal Equinox Activities for Montessori Students

"The beginning of the school year for Montessori students also marks the passage of summer into fall. While we may miss the bright sunny days, autumn is a time of brilliant color, crisp air, and exciting happenings in nature. September 22 was the autumnal equinox- which is when we officially mark the changing of the seasons. The equinox marks the day that the sun shines directly over the equator, and day and night are almost exactly the same length, all over the planet!

Learning about the changing seasons and the movement of the earth are important parts of Montessori physical geography and science curriculum. Teaching students about the fascinating scientific causes of the equinoxes along with respect for these almost magical aspects of the natural world provides a full and balanced education. In many places around the world, autumn festivals are often centered around solar and lunar cycles; enjoy these sun and moon inspired fall activities that you can share with your Montessori students to celebrate the beginning of autumn!" 

For Autumnal Equinox activies view the North American Montessori Center  website!
Leelanau Montessori Strategic Plan

Did you know that Leelanau Montessori has a Strategic Plan? It does and the Leelanau Montessori Board updated it on May 16, 2016. The Board encourages Leelanau Montessori community members to review it and feel free to reach out to Board members to discuss the Strategic Plan. The Plan contains four strategic goals for this school year: 1. Ensure enrollment growth. 2. Ensure funding growth. 3. Ensure a Montessori inspired environment. 4. Cultivate the Montessori brand. For more details, please click on this link.
A Sugar Maple Welcoming!
 
Sugar Maple's would like to welcome  Taylor Fielding  to our classroom Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. She will serve as a classroom assistant.  We appreciate her peppy and positive ways with children and her willingness to be quick on her feet this time of year.  Please take a moment to welcome Taylor as you arrive or are present at school.

Rainy Day with the Sprouts
Annual Giving

There are many ways your family can contribute to our Annual Giving. One fun way to get your child involved is by collecting your spare change and depositing it in our Seeds of Change jar in the main office!  The two pennies that are in there are looking pretty lonesome.  This weekend make a game of searching for spare change and contribute it to the jar. This is a whole family way to join together in the work we are all doing to plant seeds of change and ensure a sustainable future for our school!

Make a contribution  here!
In Search of...

Subs Needed:  Leelanau Montessori is looking to fill out our sub list.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining our sub list please contact the office.  This is a great way to support our staff and children in their day to day activities.

The Leelanau Montessori is seeking an individual to join our Board of Directors. Our board meets the third  Monday of the month, and is in need of a new trustee. Skills in education, finance, fundraising, grant, and marketing are helpful.  Trustees are asked to partake in at least one committee. Our committees meet the week prior to board meetings.
Please visit our website for more information:  www.leelanaumontessori.org

The Board of Directors are in need of volunteers to join our Committees.
The following are meeting dates and times:

Fundraising:
2nd  Wednesday of the Month.  8:30-9:30 a.m.
 
Finance:  
2nd Wednesday of the Month at  5:30-6:30 p.m.
 
Facilities:  
2nd Wednesday of the Month  7:00-8:00  p.m.
 
Marketing:
2nd  Tuesday of the Month  4:00-5:00 p.m.
 
Governance:
2nd  Monday of the Month  3:30-4:30 p.m.
 
Grant Writing:  
2nd  Thursday of the Month  6:00-7:00 p.m.
 
Academic Excellence:
2nd  Thursday of the Month  4:00-5:00 p.m.  
 
If you feel you can contribute to a committee, please attend a meeting. All are welcomed!
Apple Room Updates

Hi Apple Families,

Just sending a note to share how things have been unfolding at school. Students are forming new friendships and working collaboratively. We are working on establishing routines and what it takes to be a contributing member in a community by demonstrating respect, cooperation, goodwill, mindfulness, and gratitude, which was the basis of our classroom guidelines that students created.

Returning students are jumping right back into work cycle! They choosing work that they have done in the past and helping new students find their work and offer guidance. Students have had the first great lesson, The Creation of the Universe, which is told as a story and has some exciting experiments that go along with it. One of the students favorite experiments was the exploding volcano! This story is told to help ignite the students imagination and entice them to explore and learn more about the world around them. Students have begun working with labeling nouns, compound words, alphabetical order, and are working in many different areas of math. We had our first LOC mobile experience  on Friday where we spent the afternoon outside building our outdoor classroom. We will be having LOC every  Friday  for the next several weeks and will be outside, rain or shine.

As you may know, children typically lose 2-3 months of academics over the summer. This means that students will spend the first 2-3 months relearning concepts that they have lost over the summer. Here's a link to an article about the summer learning loss. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your children with me! 

-Holly-

Classroom Wish List
-Planisphere puzzle map
-Animal parts puzzle (mammal, amphibian, reptile, fish, and bird)
-Books on biomes of the world (temperate forest, tundra, rain forest, desert, prairie, wetland, ocean, mountain region)
-Crayola Model Magic Modeling Clay  (5lb.)
- 11x18 white art paper
This family friendly event includes a 5K and a Fun Run!  Leelanau Montessori is able to offer a limited amount of scholarships for students that want to participate in the 5K thanks to a generous donation from Jayson Construction!  

Contact Sarah Bordeaux at bordeauxs@leelanaumontessori.org for scholarship details!
WHEN:  Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT) 
WHERE:  3672 North Stowe Road - Suttons Bay, MI 49682 

Fun Run is FREE to Leelanau Montessori students!  
Register using the code: LMS16



Deadline for Submissions for Fall Newsletter is Friday, September 30.
The Practice of Gratitude

- Th ank you to Hadley Vukosovich for the benches that are now found in our main entryway!
Community Updates

- We have a unique opportunity for Suttons Bay students, parents and FOFA enthusiasts to see a WONDERFUL Broadway show not all that far from home!  "WICKED" will be playing at the Wharton Center on the MSU campus in East Lansing this fall!  FOFA will be taking a charter bus to see this amazing production on Sunday, November 20th.  For more information view this link!
 
 
-This week's 25 cent State Theater kids movie is Kung Fu Panda 3!

Elementary Hot Lunch
Monday: Sweet & Sour Crispy Chicken with Broccoli & Brown Rice
Tuesday: Chicken Soft Taco with Refried Beans 
Wednesday: Baked BBQ Chicken with Corn-on-the-Cob & Dinner Roll
Thursday: Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup
Friday: Pepperoni Calzone with Tossed Salad Greens
Dates to Remember

This Week
September 27 & 28: Picture Days
September 30: LOC Mobile (Elementary)

Coming Up
October 15:  Orchards at Sunset
October 21:  11:15 dismissal

In Search of
- Soccer Balls

- Looking for a woodworker to help us construct a donor board for our entry.
Quick Links


 
 
-Photo  of the Week-

Birch  Celebrating the Autumnal Equinox!