Pictured above: Greensboro Montessori School's Class of 2020 on January 26, 2020, just before attending the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce's State of the Community Luncheon.
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One of many time-honored traditions at our School is our springtime study of the butterfly’s life cycle. If it were a typical month of May, classrooms all over campus would now be cultivating a caterpillar tent or two and discovering firsthand the wondrous journey that takes place between the hatching of a tiny egg and the unfolding of an adult's wings. Students would be rushing in each morning to check for the miracle of opening cocoons, then feeling that profound mix of joy, pride, and melancholy when their vibrant charges took to the sky.
We are feeling the same blend of emotions as we prepare to celebrate the metamorphosis every student has undergone this school year - especially the eleven beloved members of our graduating class of 2020. Many of our graduates first came to Greensboro Montessori School as tiny toddlers, and every one of them has won our hearts, our admiration, and our full confidence in their success as they prepare to fly away. We know their years of Montessori education have equipped them with skills and courage they need to soar.
As we wrap up remote learning for the year, we’ll be sharing lots of important information with families. Last week, we provided
this update
to families who have registered for Summer Camp, and in the coming days and weeks, we'll share more about our format for third trimester progress reports; our plans to celebrate students’ end-of-year and Capstone projects; our acknowledgements for students moving up to new divisions; and our graduation festivities.
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New Virtual Community Events
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We're rolling out three new events to help families connect with their children and each other. Our virtual Scholastic Book Fair will keep families reading all summer long. Plus, Joyce Ann Starks is back with one more parenting class this Tuesday, and Lentz Ison, director at Dram & Draught, is treating our families to a private, albeit virtual, Cocktail Theory class on Thursday. Keep reading for details on each of these events.
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Summer Scholastic Book Fair
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We've teamed up with Scholastic for a Summer Read-a-Palooza. Visit our virtual Book Fair anytime between now and September 4 to refresh and restock your home library. Purchases of $25 or more will receive free shipping. Plus, all purchases support the GMSCA through the gift of Scholastic Dollars. Scholastic Dollars never expire, allowing the GMSCA to bolster classroom libraries and the School’s main library whenever we need to purchase new books. Check out the catalog for some riveting new reads!
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There’s one final chance to take part in our series of online family education opportunities from certified parent educator, Joyce Ann Starks. Next Tuesday at 8:30 p.m., Joyce Ann will discuss
Positive Communication: Narrate, Relate, and Educate
. Fortify your relationship with your child through conversations that are respectful, supportive, and effective.
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Learn how to make a great craft cocktail at home just in time for the Memorial Day three-day weekend. Lentz Ison, director at Dram & Draught and father to Avery in Primary 3, will be hosting a Cocktail Theory class for our families on Thursday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. Lentz will share the four components of making a great drink – alcohol, acidity, sugar, and bitterness – and how to create a harmonious balance between them all. He'll explore technique, while also explaining the importance of classic cocktails and how they've evolved over time. The class will end with everyone making a cocktail at home.
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Teacher Appreciation Reminder
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One of our Community Association’s (GMSCA) primary functions includes celebrating our faculty by coordinating snacks for Parent-Teacher Conference Days, classroom gifts for the holidays, and Teacher Appreciation Week.
Greensboro Montessori School's official Teacher Appreciation Week begins this Monday, May 18. For families who’d like to participate, the GMSCA has planned two fun, coordinated efforts for students and families to express their thanks to our faculty. The GMSCA emailed all parents last Thursday with details, and families will also hear from Room Parents in the coming days. If you have any questions, please
email the GMSCA
.
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Remote Learning Highlights
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Ahoy Mateys! Primary students are studying the North Carolina coast this week, courtesy of the Primary 3 faculty. Carmen Romero shared
this lesson on North Carolina lighthouses, followed by a multi-media
lighthouse craft. Ashby Pettigrew arrrr-ffered
this lesson on pirates, who have a large role the history of our 12,331-mile shoreline.
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It's invertebrates week in Lower Elementary! Mary Jacobson kicked off the week with
this introductory lesson, which tied their studies back to The Great Lessons and the beginning of life. Students will finish the week by attending their community meetings dressed like their favorite invertebrate. Stay tuned for photos in a future edition of The Pinwheel.
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In Upper Elementary, Cathy Moses meets with small groups of students, often five or fewer, to deliver math lessons using Montessori materials. When lacking the materials, Cathy creates her own. Cathy recently demonstrated the process and concept of finding the area of triangles and parallelograms. Even virtually, students experienced hands-on learning with joy.
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Doug Williams keeps Junior High students' mathematical minds engaged daily with integrated lessons using iXL and hand-drawn demonstrations. Seeking meaning in his work, one student recently asked, "Doug, when are sine and cosine curves applicable?" Doug was ready with several real-world applications, citing the studies of sound, light, and oceanography.
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Resources for Students and Parents
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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.
- 12 Bursts: Isn’t it funny how, even with all this extra time at home, maintaining an exercise routine seems more challenging than ever? Don’t worry. The YMCA has your back with this series of quick, kid-friendly movement ideas that you and your child can sprinkle throughout the day for regular doses of fitness and fun.
- Art for Kids Hub: This virtual art studio offers lessons in drawing, painting, origami, seasonal crafts, and so much more - all tailored for kids and other aspiring artists. Check the site every Saturday for a weekly art challenge, and your child will have a chance to showcase their creations on Facebook or Instagram.
- Netflix Party: Missing all your movie-loving friends? Get a virtual watch party going with this new service from Netflix, which allows video synchronization and a chance to chat live with the cinephiles in your life. A trove of family TV series are available too. Get that popcorn popping and share your favorite flicks!
- Perfectly Imperfect Parents: Feeling a little less-than-stellar about those piles of laundry, unfinished remote learning assignments, and dishes that just won’t do themselves? We feel you, and so does Triad Moms on Main, who offered this online pep talk extolling the virtues of being a less than perfect Mom. At the end of the day, it’s all about the love we give – and our ability to embrace ourselves, flaws and all.
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Follow the links below to review previous schoolwide communications:
- Summer Camp Update, May 9, 2020
- The Pinwheel: Remote Learning Edition, May 6, 2020
- The Pinwheel: Remote Learning Edition, April 30, 2020
- Finishing the School Year with Remote Learning, April 29, 2020
- The Pinwheel: We're Here to Help, April 22, 2020
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Date:
Friday, May 15
Location:
Email
We will let families know by Friday, May 15 if we will open All-Inclusive Summer Camp as scheduled. If we have to make any adjustments to the Summer Camp schedule, we will make corresponding financial adjustments to families' fees.
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Date:
Tuesday, May 19, 8:30 to 9:15 p.m.
Location:
Zoom
Learn three ways to build the child and your relationship at the same time in this 45-minute coaching session with certified parent educator, Joyce Ann Starks.
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Date:
Thursday, May 21, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Location:
Zoom
Learn how to make a great craft cocktail at home just in time for the Memorial Day three-day weekend.
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Date:
Monday, May 25
Location:
At Home
Greensboro Montessori School will be closed, including all remote learning activities, in observance of Memorial Day.
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Enjoy these family-submitted Photos of the Week of remote learning in action!
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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.
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Greensboro Montessori School
2856 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro, NC 27410
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