Dear Woodland Hill Community,
The education of a child is best done with a meaningful partnership between parents and teachers. At Woodland Hill, we deeply value the relationships we build with families and are honored to be your partners in this most important work of raising a human being.
The month of November brings us several opportunities to foster these home-school connections. The upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences are a chance not only for parents to hear how their child is doing in the classroom, but also for teachers to gain insight into each child.
We are also pleased to announce the next two events in our ongoing parent education series: Montessori in the Home with Jen Graham, and Being and Becoming – the Road from Childhood to Adolescence with Jocelyn Swanson. When my own children started in a Montessori school, I remember being in awe of not only the depth of knowledge they were sharing at the dinner table but also their confidence in their abilities and their kind and compassionate world view. I wanted to learn more about how I could support this growth at home. As my children grew toward adolescence, I learned that the Montessori philosophy was just as carefully designed to meet the developmental needs at this stage in a child’s life. The insights I gained from my children’s Upper Elementary and Middle School teachers helped me navigate life with teens with compassion and understanding.
It is my hope that our parent education offerings will provide tools for your parenting toolbox, deepen your understanding of both Montessori philosophy and child development, and strengthen the home-school partnership that is a special part of the Woodland Hill experience.
In partnership,
Michelle
Michelle Edwards, Head of School
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Join us for an upcoming presentation, Montessori in the Home, with Jennifer Graham. The event is on Wednesday, November 18 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.
A Montessori teacher prepares their classroom with utmost attention to detail, taking into account the ages and personalities of their students and creates an environment that values the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the children in their care.
At home there are many things that parents can do to prepare the home environment to further promote the Montessori education that they have chosen for their children. In this presentation, Jennifer Graham will give advice on how this can be done.
Jennifer is a credentialed Montessori teacher at the Primary level and mother of two Montessori children. She will talk about each room in the home to give practical suggestions and she will talk about building family connections through activities and projects for all ages.
Jennifer started working for the Montessori School of Albany, as WHMS was then known in 1997, leaving to open and operate her own school, Our World Montessori, before returning to WHMS in 2012.
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Being and Becoming –
The Road from Childhood to Adolescence
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As your child grows into an adolescent, you may wonder, where did my kid go? Who is this kid?
Join us for this live Zoom presentation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 19 with Jocelyn Bell Swanson, M.Ed., as she explains the stages of development according to Dr. Maria Montessori and what happens during each “Re-Birth."
Jocelyn Bell Swanson is the director of the Secondary Program at the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Her Montessori experience began as a parent, then becoming Montessori certified to teach adolescents at the growing school.
The presentation is geared toward parents in Lower El, Upper El, and Middle School, but all families are welcome.
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WHMS student wins national contest |
WHMS 7th grader Isla Besha was named a winner in an illustration competition sponsored by Scholastic. Isla's artwork will be included in J.K. Rowling's new book, The Ickabog, due out November 10.
According to the website, the competition ran alongside the free online serialisation of J.K. Rowling’s fairy tale. This summer, the author shared the personal family favorite, which she wrote over ten years ago as a bedtime story for her younger children, to help entertain children, parents and caregivers confined at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over 42,000 entries were submitted from children across the United States and Canada, and 34 winners were chosen.
As a winner, Isla will receive a copy of the published book containing her artwork, signed by J.K. Rowling and Woodland Hill Montessori School will receive $650 worth of Scholastic children’s books for our library.
Isla's parents, Jim Besha and Susan Thomas, say that they are very proud and excited for her.
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School pictures took place this week over three days, looking somewhat different that our previous picture days due to masks, distancing, and taking place outside.
Two things remained: our school photographer, Dan McNamee has been with us for about 15 years, and for the past nine years, WHMS parent volunteer Nicole Drizos Russell has been at school for each and every picture day. Both Dan and Nicole smiled all week, despite being outside for eight hours for three damp and rainy days.
Since her daughter is graduating in 2021, we want to thank Nicole for her tremendous efforts. Nicole schedules the class photos which is no small task, makes sure that the pictures run on time, that children are well-coiffed, and that the siblings get their picture taken.
Kris Gernert-Dott (aka KGD) asked Nicole why she decided to take on this volunteer position back in 2012, and this is what she told us:
I volunteered to coordinate school picture days in 2012 for three reasons, mostly: 1) I still hadn't fully re-entered the workforce after being home with my daughter and wanted to put my toe back in the water; 2) it seemed like a good opportunity to connect with the new school community we had just joined the previous year; and 3) as many of you know, it's hard to say "no" to KGD!
I've kept at it for the past nine years because it's the only volunteer position I can think of that interacts with the entire school (students, teachers, faculty, staff, and even some parents) on a regular basis, and that connection has been important to me (and my daughter) throughout the years. It's a joyful annual tradition, and I've really enjoyed seeing the students' smiling faces, watching them grow, and hearing their exuberant giggles as they work with our gifted photographer (and miracle-worker), Dan McNamee. Moreover, it's great to know that in addition to capturing these memories for families, proceeds from our work help offset the cost of yearbooks, another fun year-end WHMS tradition. In recent years I've had the added pleasure of watching the fruits of our labor be put into the hands of my daughter and her cohorts on the yearbook staff, so the circle seems complete...and very Montessori.
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After the crew finished pictures on Wednesday, Kris presented Nicole Drizos Russell with a bouquet of flowers. Nicole is shown with photographer Dan McNamee and his assistant Courtney. |
It's not too late to order a picture of your child! Today, Friday, October 30, is the final day to order portrait packages to be delivered to WHMS. Up until midnight, you can order a package and it will be shipped to WHMS in mid-November.
For those who did not order pictures, you will receive a proof sheet in mid-November. You will still be able to order, but shipping will be an additional cost.
School code: WHMS20
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WHMS Welcomes New Board Member |
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Andrew McClain joins the WHMS Board of Trustees as a teacher trustee for a one-year term. Andrew retired from Woodland Hill Montessori School in June, following a 48-year teaching career.
For the past 28 years, Andrew has taught Upper Elementary students (4th–6th grade) at WHMS. Andrew began his teaching career in Africa in 1972 while studying for his bachelor’s degree in sociology and English at the University of Zambia. He received his teaching license from Indiana University and his 6-12 Montessori certification from the Center for Montessori Education in New Rochelle.
Andrew is married to Lower El teacher Sandy Blakeman, and is the parent of three WHMS alumni, David Blakeman-McClain (WHMS Class of 2003); Elyssa Blakeman-McClain ('09); and Carrie Blakeman-McClain ('13).
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As part of a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) assignment, Upper El students built haunted houses. The houses were placed in their hallway and students from the school were invited to visit the 'haunted hall' this morning. |
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For the first time ever, Middle School students were allowed to wear costumes to school today as long as they weren't scary. |
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Upper El students decorated pumpkins with characters from their favorite books! |
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Patrick and Vinita's Upper El class created an altar to Maria Montessori to commemorate the Day of the Dead. Students made all of the sculls and flowers decorations for the display. The Mexican holiday is a day to remember friends and family who have died. |
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Monday, November 2 is the last day for orders for Ed Schwarzschild's book, In Security. Proceeds benefit WHMS. The cost is $24.95 and checks should be made payable to WHMS. |
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WHMS Ski Club is on!
To join, simply login to the Jiminy Peak site below to purchase Passes using the username and password provided below.
You can also purchase Lift & Lesson Packages then select your level.
Rentals and Food Cards are also available through the link below:
Username: 00SG-WHM
Password: Woodlandhill!
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Parent-teacher conferences for Toddler-Upper El parents take place on Friday, November 6 on Zoom. The Middle School conferences are taking place on November 5 and November 13.
There is no school and no Enrichment on November 6.
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Montessori and Suzuki event |
Almost 75 families attended the virtual presentation by Winifred Crock on October 29. The event was spearheaded by WHMS Suzuki violin teacher Andrew Snow and co-sponsored by the Suzuki Association of the Capital District.
One parent praised the event saying that it was 'delightful to hear Winifred Crock share about Dr. Suzuki and the connection (kinship) to Dr. Montessori' and that they 'loved hearing her stories and the creativity and kindness and "enchantment!" she practices with students. Thank you for bringing such a neat and uplifting program to our community.'
We thank Andrew Snow and the SACD for their support.
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Middle School Coffee House Drive-Thru |
The first WHMS Middle School Coffee House takes place on Monday, November 2 with a twist. For the foreseeable future, the Coffee Houses will take place outside the rear door as a drive-thru. They plan on rotating days through the next few months. Right now, they are selling to parents only; students will not be allowed to purchase from Coffee House at this time. Parents are asked to pre-order for the Coffee House, and pay upon arrival with a credit card.
Their limited menu includes coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate and regular croissants from The Placid Baker, and plain, sesame, and everything bagels from Bruegger's.
Pickup will be between 7:45 am and 8:45 am on Monday. Payment by credit card only will be accepted at the Drive-Thru.
Coffee and Hot Chocolate are $1.75
Bagels are $2.25
Croissants are $4.00
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Jessa and Jeanne’s Primary class learned about the didgeridoo on October 19. Jeanne’s brother, James, plays the wind instrument and offered to give the class a demonstration in the amphitheater. Jessa says the lesson lined up perfectly with their continent study of Australasia. |
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On Saturday, October 24, 15 members of the WHMS community came to campus to harvest tomatoes and kale, clean up the garden beds, and plant garlic. We thank all of them, along with the Farm-to-School committee chair, Nicholle Gregor. |
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Art Room News from Megan Stasi |
The Lower El students recently worked on an art project inspired by a book they read, The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. This picture shows the paper weaving done by students in Sandy and Jodi's class.
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The next Diversity Committee Book Discussion Group will focus on Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race, by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D. More information will be forthcoming. The Diversity Committee recommends reading the 2017 revised copy of the book, shown above.
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News from the Diversity Committee |
The Diversity Committee would like to spotlight terms used in discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion so we can share a common understanding of the vocabulary. This working definition comes from the OpenSource Leadership Strategies, “The Dynamic System of Power, Privilege and Oppressions.”
Ally
1. Someone who makes the commitment and effort to recognize their privilege (based on gender, class, race, sexual identity, etc.) and work in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice. Allies understand that it is in their own interest to end all forms of oppression, even those from which they may benefit in concrete ways.
2. Allies commit to reducing their own complicity or collusion in oppression of those groups and invest in strengthening their own knowledge and awareness of oppression.
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Matthew Pantano (WHMS Class of 2016) recently became a volunteer firefighter. Matthew is currently a student at the University of Albany studying Digital Forensics. While Matthew graduated from WHMS just four years ago, he's already a junior in college, with an associate's degree in cybersecurity from HVCC.
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Patrick Evans (WHMS Class of 2011) recently took a job as a Client Systems Engineer with Epic, a healthcare software company. Patrick graduated from Fairfield University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He moved to Madison, Wisconsin, for the job this past summer. |
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, October 31
Halloween
Sunday, November 1
Daylight Saving Time ends. Turn your clocks back an hour!
Thursday, November 5
Middle School parent-teacher conferences. Middle School students will work remotely.
Friday, November 6
Parent-teacher conferences for Toddler-Upper El
No School
No Enrichment
Wednesday, November 11
Veterans Day
No School
No Enrichment
Friday, November 13
Middle School parent-teacher conferences. Middle School students will work remotely.
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Have a safe and enjoyable Halloween! |
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