January 20:
No School - MLK Day
January 24:
Chicago Children's Theatre (EC)
January 24:
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
(MS)
January 24
: Chinese New Year Parade
January 24:
Taste of Suder, 4:30pm-7:00pm
January 30:
End of Quarter 2
January 30:
Hat Day
January 31:
No School - School Improvement Day
|
|
|
Attendance at Suder Montessori
|
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
|
|
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.
–
Martin Luther King, Jr.
At Suder Montessori, we strive to develop both intelligence and character in every student every day. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and his focus on character development in this quote, I would like to take a moment to highlight how Suder Montessori supports in developing students' character through social and emotional learning. At Suder Montessori, we implement Grade and Courtesy along with Restorative Practices to do so.
Grace and courtesy is an integral part of the Montessori curriculum beginning in the early childhood classroom and continuing through the elementary levels. Lessons, which help children learn these social strategies, are taught so they can navigate friendships and collaborations with others that can benefit them throughout their life.
In Early Childhood, Grace and courtesy lessons are given as a group as a role-play. Each lesson isolates the positive behavior the teacher wishes to model. During the lesson, there are five steps. First, the specific behavior is identified and defined. Then, there is a preview of what the children will happen. Next, children observe a role play of the lesson. There is then a debriefing about what the children saw and observed. Finally, guided role play allows the children to repeat the lesson. The following are examples of lessons given.
- Accepting or declining an invitation
- Accepting help
- Asking permission
- Excusing oneself
- Greeting or saying goodbye to another person
- Helping a classmate
- Inviting a classmate
- Observing lessons
- Refusing help
- Requesting privacy
- Speaking in a low voice
- Waiting for help
- Serving snack
Grace and Courtesy in E1 is centered around guided role-plays to group problem-solving and community meetings. Small meetings between classmates or larger community meetings help students navigate social situations. During these groups, students learn the role of civil discourse, allowing one person to speak at a time. Students discuss situations, and they offer solutions. Students continually evaluate these solutions until there is one that works for everyone.
In addition, we are fortunate to have a school counselor (Ms. Hogan), school dean (Ms. Padowitz), and school social worker (Ms. Parker). All three of these ladies and the Culture and Climate Team at Suder support students socially and emotionally by leading our school in implementing Restorative Practices along with other proven techniques and strategies.
Restorative Practices are ways of pro-actively developing relationships and community, as well as repairing community when harm is done. After conflict or harm, Restorative Practices provide a way of thinking about, talking about, and responding to issues and problems by involving all participants to discuss their feelings and opinions, identify what happened, describe how it affected everyone, and find solutions to make things better. Rather than a separate program, Restorative Practices at Suder are underlying mindsets, practices, and simply “how we do business” in schools. When successfully integrated throughout the school culture and climate, Restorative Practices create safe and productive learning spaces where students develop social and emotional skills and strong relationships with peers and adults.
To learn more about Restorative Practices, review the CPS Restorative Practices Guide and Toolkit below.
|
|
Taste of Suder This FRIDAY!!!
|
|
Taste of Suder is an annual event where we celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Suder Montessori! We enjoy good food, soulful music, lots of dancing, and live entertainment. The Taste of Suder will take place on January 24, 2020, from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm at Suder Montessori. If you are interested in donating a dish or volunteering for the event, please see the information below.
|
|
The librarians updated the library and it now includes an exclusive Middle School Section and Graphic Novel Section! Our middle school students stated that they feel so special to have space in the library dedicated to them! The graphic novel room is also an added bonus. A huge thank you to Ms. Morales, Ms. Almer, Ms. Julie, and Ms. Lopez for their dedication to the success of our library and our students!!!
|
|
Middle School Section of the Suder Library
|
|
Graphic Novel Section of the Suder Library
|
|
Teen Opportunity Fair 2020
|
|
The Teen Opportunity Fair 2020 provides three opportunities for Chicago Teens, ages 13 to 19, to learn about programs and get information in the following fields:
- Recreation
- Educational/Vocational Opportunities
- Job Readiness
Find out more information about the fair below.
|
|
Parent Education Night Resources
|
|
Thank you to the Suder Montessori Committee for hosting the second Parent Education Night! We appreciate all the parents that joined us for this event. Please see the resources below.
The next Parent Education Night is on March 16, 2020, and the topic is Montessori Math - Geometry. We hope to see you there.
|
|
Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)
|
|
We currently need a PAC Chairperson. If you are interested in serving as the Chairperson for the PAC, be sure to attend the next meeting on
February 4, 2020, at 6:00 pm
. Please join us in Room 110 for this meeting.
As a reminder, the PAC, or Parent Advisory Council, exists to build and promote the capacity of parents of students participating in Title I programs to partner with their children’s schools in the education of their children. PAC’s main responsibilities are to advise the principal on the use of Title I parent & family engagement funds as well as to serve as a bridge between all school parents and the school administration. We received $848.40 in PAC funds for the 2019-2020 school year.
PAC Chairperson Responsibilities
- Attend and preside at all meetings and be a spokesperson for the PAC when requested to do so
- Attend the monthly PAC/PLN collaborative meetings to receive Title I district updates
- Create all regular meeting notices and agendas in consultation with the principal, the other PAC officers, and other PAC members
- Call special meetings of the PAC as needed
- Sign all recommendations for expenditures of Title I School-wide or Targeted Assistance Program funds and Parent & Family Engagement funds
- Ensure that all council members are fulfilling their tasks
|
|
Attendance in the Cold Winter Months
|
|
I hope you and your family are settled in after the holidays. This is the time of year when winter takes a toll on school attendance. Snow and slushy weather can keep students from getting to school. So can colds, fevers, and earaches that often come with the winter months.
These absences, even if they are excused, can lead to academic challenges. If it is a snowy or rainy day but school is still open, students miss out on learning if they aren’t in class. These absences can result in lower academic achievement, test scores, and grades.
There’s not much we can do about the weather, but there are two key steps every family can take to help minimize absences this year.
- Develop back up plans for getting your children to school in winter weather. That could mean checking with other families who have a car that can manage in the snow or forming a “walking school bus” to walk your children to school with other parents. If you’re stuck, call the school. We can try connect you with families or find support that may be able to help.
- Keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly, and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer and/or tissue. If your children do get sick, talk to a doctor or reach out to the school nurse about whether they should come to school and when it is okay for them to return. This handout offers some tips about when children are too sick for school.
Above all, communicate with the Suder Main Office and the classroom teacher as we will always find a way to help and support. We want your children and all our students to succeed!
|
|
Suder Recess Weather Guidelines
|
|
Ideally, recess should take place outdoors on school grounds as weather, space, and safety permit. Outdoor recess allows children to get fresh air, provides an opportunity for children to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity and gives students more activity options than most indoor spaces. As a result,
outdoor recess will take place outdoors when the temperature is 25 degrees F with or without the wind chill
. Please be sure to dress children appropriately to go outside and have fun during recess.
|
|
Parents can always have access to students grades, attendance, and other information that the school has on file through Aspen's Parent Portal. If you do not have Parent Portal set up or want to know how to navigate the system, reach out to the Suder Main Office.
|
|
Suder Main Office Information
|
|
The Suder Main Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:15 pm. The number to the Suder Main Office is (773) 534-7685.
|
|
J @ School at Suder Montessori
|
J at School provides a safe, welcoming environment where students can relax and enjoy time with their school friends. Children can keep learning with games, arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor play, homework time, and more.
Hours:
- Before Care: 7:00-9:00am
- After Care: 4:00-6:00pm
To find out more information, visit their website on the right.
|
|
|
Music House at Suder Montessori
|
Start your Child on the Path to musical success right at Suder Montessori! Classes start Tuesday, September 3rd 2019! Class offerings are listed below.
- Pre-Twinkle, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Violin
- Ukulele
- Rock Band
- Pre Ballet and Ballet
- Beginning and Intermediate Hip Hop
- Musical Theater
- Pre-Twinkle Piano, Beginning Piano, and Intermediate/Advanced Piano
- Latin Partner Dance
To find out more information, visit their website on the right.
|
|
|
Visit the Friends of Suder Parent Room
|
Feel free to stop by the FOS Room at any time! Please abide by the Parent Room Rules below!
|
|
Interested in providing a little Staff Sunshine?
|
On Mondays, we have surprises for our staff in the teacher’s lounge. It can be anything from popcorn, a candy “bar,” croissants, donuts, tea, soup, or anything in a crockpot. Don’t have time to set it up in the morning? Don’t worry about it- FOS will set it up. All you have to do is drop it off in the office at drop-off.
|
|
Parents like to party. So, FOS has created “Parent Parties” on every first Thursday of each month. We will alternate from a morning party to after school party and the parties will take place in the new FOS room after it is renovated. We hope to continue to build our community through these parties. Expect food, surprises, and community. Stay tuned for more info.
|
|
Want to be more involved?
|
Fill out our survey to let us know!
|
|
Do you have a thing for Flower Arranging?
|
Sign up for Flower Power- where we arrange and deliver beautiful flowers each week.
|
|
Are Socials (aka Dances) your thing?
|
We are going to have Fall Fest Socials where kids can wear their Halloween Costumes! If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please sign up below!
|
|
|
|
Listed below are items that we need at Suder Montessori. If you or someone you know can donate any of these items, please contact the Main Office.
- Guitar(s) and/or Guitar Parts
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Washing Machine
- Dryer
- Suder Library Amazon Wish List
- We are expanding our school library, and we are looking for furniture donations. (Bean bags, modern couch, a rug) any ideas where can we get these donated? Does anyone have a contact with a company who might be remodeling their space and would be willing to donate fun modern furniture? If you do, let the Parent Librarians know!
|
|
If you have not already done so, be sure to visit the Suder website and sign up to receive the Suder Newsletter!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
