Teacher Appreciation Week

Dear parents,

We are going to be celebrating "Teacher Appreciation Week" the week of April 27 - May 1. In the past this week has fallen on the shoulders of a handful of parents. In order to make this a schoolwide celebration of our teachers we have assigned 2-3 classrooms per day to take on a “treat” for the teachers. All you need to do is find your child’s class below to see how we are counting on you to help. By each family doing something small we can make a grand gesture to the people who make AMS so special.

Monday: Morning Coffee for all teachers provided by:
Liz’s Morning Toddlers (Robin Dewar)
Full Day Toddler (Lisa Gray)

Tuesday: Lunch (Potluck provided by parents)
Micha’s morning preschool (Britta Manning) side dishes
Shirley’s morning preschool (Jo Reid) salad or dessert
Angie’s morning preschool (Sarah Hanson & Jane Pavia) main course
Jennifer’s morning preschool (Holly Roth) main course

Wednesday: Flowers - buy a flower for a $1.00 at the entrance of school and let your child bring it to his/her teacher – ALL STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED ON THIS DAY
Liz’s PM Toddlers ( )

Thursday: Breakfast for teachers
Greta (Michelle Lauffer)
Amy's Full Day (Shannon Earl)

Friday: Happy Hour after school – appetizers, beer, and wine
Micha’s PM (Cathy Almand & Kristin Sholton)
Shirley’s PM (Betty Smith)
Jennifer’s PM (Simone McMahan)

Thanks,

Karin Goodman & Jessica Badgley
250-9893 644-4656

101 Things Parents Can Do... Things 11 - 20

101 Things Parents Can Do to Help Children by Barbara Hacker(Montessori teacher and Ed. M)

Next 11-20

11. Read together daily. With younger children stick to books with realistic themes.
    
12. See that your child gets to school on time.
    
13. Allow sufficient time for your child to dress himself/herself.
    
14. Allow your child to collaborate with food preparation.
    
15. If possible, allow your child a plot of land or a flower pot in which to experience growing things.
    
16. Take walks together at the child's pace, pausing to notice things and talk about them.
    
17. Help your child be in a calm mood to experience school rather than over stimulated and carrying toys or food.
    
18. Eliminate or strictly limit TV watching and replace with activity oriented things that involve the child rather than his/her being a passive observer. When the child does watch TV, watch it with him/her and discuss what is being seen.
    
19. From the earliest age, give your child the responsibility to pick up after himself/herself. i.e. return toys to place, put dirty clothes in laundry basket, clear dishes to appropriate place, clean off sink after use, etc. This necessitates preparing the environment so children know where things go.
    
20. Hug regularly but don't impose affection. Recognize the difference.
    

21….more next week!

101 Things Parents Can Do to Help Children by Barbara Hacker(Montessori teacher and Ed. M)

[This list does not contain the entire "101" things - it only contains 10. We will send out more items through-out the year. Enjoy!!]

1. Read about Montessori education and philosophy and how it applies to your child. Try Montessori Life from the American Montessori Society and the book Montessori Today by Paula Lillard.
2. Subscribe to the Michael Olaf Catalog or peruse the Montessori Services For Small Hands catalog. This is a wonderful introduction to Montessori for parents as well as a source for ideal toys, materials, books, etc. for the home.
3. Take the time to stand back and observe your child carefully and note the characteristics he/she is displaying.
4. Analyze your child's wardrobe and build a wardrobe aimed at freedom of movement, independence, and freedom from distraction.
5. Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
6. Make both going to bed and getting up a calm and pleasant ritual.
7. Teach grace and courtesy in the home. Model it. Use courtesy with your child and help your child to demonstrate it.
8. Refrain from physical punishment and learn ways of positive discipline.
9. Have a special shelf where your child's books are kept and replaced after careful use.
10. Make regular trips to the public library, and become familiar with the librarians and how the library works and enjoy books together. Borrow books and help your children learn the responsibility for caring and returning them.

...more next week!

Online Auction Donations

Have you secured your donation for the online auction? Great!

The Online Auction team will be available next Wednesday, April 15th, to help collect auction donations before school.

Bring your donation item during the morning drop-off period and our team will happily fill out the online form for you. If you are an afternoon Montessori family, please call 240-6363 and we can make similar accommodations.

See you Wednesday!!

Sioux-z Humphrey Marshall
Online Auction Chair
shmarshall@gmail.com

2009 AMS Online Auction - Now Accepting Donations

Attention AMS Families,

Our teachers are the real deal – they make our kids’ classroom experience extra special. Part of the magic is their Montessori training, and we want to ensure their continuing education is supported by AMS families.

Yes. Student tuition provides a good portion of the school’s annual funding. But the teachers themselves must travel Outside on their own dime to receive certification from the American Montessori Society. Let’s give them a hand. Let’s help carry the load. Let’s get involved in the AMS Online Auction.

Auction items collected, posted and sold online go to support continuing education opportunities for AMS teachers. This translates directly into a superior education for your child.

Your participation helps make your child’s classroom experience first rate!

Fun ideas:
Camps & Classes (Summer Camps, Art Classes, Exercise Classes)
Dining (Special Event Dinner, Wine/Dinner Parings, House Parties)
Entertainment/Theatre (Bowling, Annual Passes, Event Tickets)
Get-A-Ways (trips, hotels, B&B, cabins, air travel)
Kid Services (kid parties, child care, face painting, sponsor a parent’s night out)
Health, Beauty & Sports (hair, nails, pedicure, message, game tickets)
Gift Certificates (art gallery, jewelry, sports-specialty, auto-specialty)

It is AMS parents like you who shake down their friends, family, and business contacts to provide attractive auction items. It is AMS parents like you who talk up the auction and encourage friends, family, and business contacts to make bids.

Submit your donation directly to the online auction web site.
Click here to submit a donation

Or contact me directly via email (shmarshall@gmail.com) or phone (240-6363)

And please consider making bids of your own. The annual auction is held from noon on May 1st to midnight May 11th.

Deadline to submit donations = April 27th

All donations are tax-deductible.

Auction fund-raising goal = $15,000.

Thank You!

Sioux-z Humphrey MarshallVolunteer, Online Auction Chair
Anchorage Montessori School –
Contact: 907-276-2240, fax 907-258-3552
Sioux-z direct line 907 240 6363shmarshall@gmail.com

GIFTS Grant - Grant Inspiring Faculty To Serve

From the Grandparent of an Anchorage Montessori Student,

You are a privileged person! I am too. As a grandparent of a Montessori student, I feel proud, privileged and thankful. The grand children’s futures, opportunities, creativity, self reliance, character and substance are developing soundly as they live and experience the Montessori philosophy and educational environment. You and I both know the surroundings, formative influences, security and development of the child’s self-esteem are greatly dependent on the teachers’ and assistants’ abilities, interests and heartfelt Montessori philosophy and methods.

I asked AMS to include this note to you to let you know about a special GIFTS grant (Grant Inspiring Faculty To Serve). The grant is established to provide partial funding for qualified teachers and assistants to attend accredited Montessori educational programs and workshops leading to certification for their next level of Montessori service.

Currently, there is a $2500 challenge offered in fund raising for this GIFTS grant for Anchorage Montessori School. As you and I make contributions to Anchorage Montessori School for the GIFTS grant, each dollar will be matched by the benefactor; dollar for dollar, resulting in five thousand dollars for further training and education of the teachers of our grand children.

I ask you to join me in acquiring these match dollars to give well deserved educational support to those wonderful Montessori teachers and assistants who create the environment and opportunity for our children and grand children (the future of the world) to develop their own uniqueness.

By the way, the next time you’re on the internet, just type into “Google”:
[Montessori google] or [Montessori ebay]. You may be proud and inspired.

Sincerely,

An AMS Grandpa
Actually a Grandpa of three Montessori students (one at AMS) and a parent of two Montessori Moms.

Silent Auction Closes Friday - April 3rd 5:30 PM

The silent auction closes Friday, April 3rd at 5:30 p.m.
These items are on display at the AMS Front Desk

Regards,
AMS Staff