Welcome to The Pinwheel
In addition to all the ways our faculty are staying connected with our students, we are hearing all the ways you're staying in touch with each other. Some families are using Messenger Kids to connect their children through Facebook's child-friendly chat app. Others are hosting Zoom dance parties, while some are playing Music BINGO over Google Hangouts . We love all the creativity and connectivity.

Action Required : To further support our families' connectivity, we're creating division specific email directories to share early next week. Please complete this short survey to let us know which email address you'd like us to share for your family.

For currently enrolled families, stay tuned for another brief survey hitting your inboxes tomorrow. We want to hear your thoughts on remote learning thus far and what we can do over the next several weeks to enhance and expand the program. Faculty are already refining their offerings, and after spring break we, will roll out another set of improvements and additions to remote learning.
Summer Camp Update
At this point, we continue to plan for our Summer Camp experiences. Keep reading for updates on programming.
All-Inclusive Summer Camp
Registration for our All-Inclusive Summer Camp closed on Sunday, March 15, and our Primary and Elementary programs are full. As a result, we are unable to offer any additional enrollment for the Two-Week Sessions for these age groups. For families participating in All-Inclusive Summer Camp, we will stay in touch if there are any changes to our schedule, and if there are, we will adjust fees accordingly.
Upper School Weeklies
We have two Upper School Weekly Camps this summer. While we are not accepting registrations just yet, please save these dates if your student would like to join us:

  • Week at The Land, July 6-10 | For rising fifth to ninth graders, with the option to bring a friend.
  • Trailblazers, July 27-31 | For rising fourth to ninth graders, with the option to bring a friend.
Remote Learning Spotlights
Toddler
In this lesson from Michelle Morgan, Toddler division head and All-Day Toddler faculty, we learn about the life cycle of the frog. Michelle begins the lesson reminding us how to use our rug: "This is my space. Friends will know it is my work if it stays in my space." She completes the lesson by putting her work away, preparing it for the next friend. Watch the lesson.
Primary
Every Friday, all four Primary classes gather for a division-wide singalong led by Gail Keefe from Primary 4 and Ashby Pettigrew from Primary 3. The singalongs have continued from home with this video featuring the Primary faculty (and some special friends) singing "Inch by Inch," "Come on Everybody," and "The More we Get Together." Watch the singalong.
Lower Elementary
Tanner from Lower Elementary 2 is working on dynamic subtraction from home with the Stamp Game. Every Lower Elementary student received their own Stamp Games with their learning materials, and the Lower Elementary faculty have recorded multiple lessons covering all four operations using this Montessori work. Watch Kaki Keyser's lesson on dynamic subtraction.
Upper Elementary
Cathy Moses has taken all of her math lessons online. She meets with students three times a week via Google Hangouts for scheduled group lessons and is also available one-on-one. Cathy told us "The kids have been so helpful and supportive of each other ... It's very gratifying when they are sad to see the lesson end and ask for the time to be extended."
Junior High
Land coordinator, Jenny Kimmel, asked students to make a video for micro-economy. Rather than run a business on campus, students are fulfilling their micro-economy work at home. When at school, Lucien is a chef at Maria's Cafe every Friday. During remote learning, he shows off his hospitality skills by preparing a meal for his family.
Resources for Students and Parents
Every week we'll share several resources for students and families that might be of help to you during your time at home. Have you seen a great idea online? Do you own or are you connected to a business that has some complimentary, mission-aligned, and virtual activities you think other families would enjoy? If so, please  email them to us, so we can include them in our recommendations.

  • CASA Enrichment Partners: With our move to remote learning, we wanted to share information about the after-school enrichment partners we had lined up for spring. We've had to temporarily suspend our contracts with them, but they are all offering virtual classes that any of our families can sign up and pay for on their own.
  • Bella Ballerina
  • Soccer Shots
  • The Knight School
  • Montessori Parent Coronavirus Survival Guide: Our friends at Trillium Montessori have created this free eBook for families with tips and ideas for making the best of your time at home, from a Montessori perspective.
  • Scholastic Learn at Home: Click here to enjoy "day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing."
  • 10 Strategies to Stay Brave in a Crisis: Reshma Saujani, author of "Brave, Not Perfect," shares her tips to "to stay brave during hard times." She also opened up about her first week of working from home in her weekly Bravery Bulletin, entitled "The Mess Behind the Scenes."
Community Corner
This week's Community Corner is all about appreciation.

First up, we want to thank our families fighting COVID-19 on the front lines. Over 70 parents in our community work in health care and are personally working to stop the spread. When we stay at home and practice social distancing, we support them and help save lives.

Second, our faculty and staff send their heartfelt and humble thanks for the teacher appreciation notes they received in the mail last week. The GMSCA, through their teacher appreciation efforts, mailed each faculty and staff member a Target gift card.
Communication Archive
Upcoming Events
Parent Seminar Canceled
Date:
Monday, March 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location:
RED Cinemas

As previously announced, our parent seminar – Building Strong Relationships with your Preteen ... in the Digital Age – has been canceled.
Spring Break
Date:
Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 10
Location:
Remote Learning

For families who wish to continue their remote learning, we will provide an optional, age-appropriate research project for all students. Teachers will email details by Thursday, April 2.
Photos of the Week
Enjoy these family-submitted Photos of the Week of remote learning in action!
Help us build our Photos of the Week! Did you know you can also upload photos to Vidigami! We've created albums for "Remote Learning Photos" for each of our classrooms. Please start uploading photos from your in-home learning experiences to share with your friends and teachers. We'll curate photos from each week to share with our community through The Pinwheel. We've included video tutorials on how to upload photos from Vidigami's mobile and web applications.
Greensboro Montessori School
2856 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
336-668-0119 | gms.org