International Montessori Council
I am writing to you from Tampa, FL where I have been attending the International Montessori Council’s (IMC) annual Peace Conference. I presented on Public Schools as a Social Justice imperative and met with Lorna McGrath, head of the school accreditation team. While our goal was to have a visit here in the Spring to review our school for accreditation, we may need to wait until next fall due to construction. One benefit to this plan would be the possibility of sharing the cost with Pines Montessori in the fall for our initial visit as they are also seeking accreditation through IMC. I will keep you posted as we proceed.
BULLYING and Montessori
In a Montessori school, we might think that our Peace curriculum and Grace and Courtesy lessons that start at age 3 would be enough to ensure that our children are peaceful and kind. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case and our children present behaviors that are classic bullying behaviors. It is important to recognize these behaviors and work together to guide our children to safety. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may haveserious, lasting problems.In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
An Imbalance of Power:Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
Repetition:Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
Bullying is not tolerated at Garden Oaks. If you are concerned that your child is a victim or is exhibiting bullying behaviors, please contact your child’s teacher or our school counselor, Ms. Self or any of the administrative team. Together we will work to help your child!
Weekly Montessori Moment
The development of language is part of the development of the personality, for words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people. – Dr. Maria Montessori
READ! READ! READ!
Interested in learning more about how to support your child’s reading skills? This year, we are basing much of our work around reading and writing on the book, Every Child A Super Reader, by Pam Allyn and Ernest Morrell. Copies are still available in the front office. I have also posted the foreward, introduction and chapter 1 to Living Tree so you can also listen to the book. I read the chapters and offer additional suggestions.
MAGNET APPLICATIONS for 2018-19!
Remember - 5th graders must reapply for 6th grade! Application deadline is Dec 8th. Zoned spaces begin in Kinder and end at 5th grade. Apply at https://hisdchoice.com/apply/login.php
Important November Reminders!
Strength 3 Friendship:
“Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.” Khalil Gibran
Practice your Spelling Bee list for December
6 & 7 Class photos and individual retakes
7 SDMC Meeting 8:15am
7 Students vote for their favorite book
7 ELECTION DAY! Wear red, white, blue
7 – 18 High Frequency Word Evaluation for ALL first and second graders. First administration
9 HISD Board Meeting 5pm
9 Montessori Curriculum Night! MATH
CH – 3 – 4pm; Middle School 3:30 – 4:30;
Lower/Upper Elementary 4 – 6pm
10 REGULAR SCHOOL DAY!
17 PK Report Cards go home!
17 Geography Bee 8:30
20 – 24HAPPY THANKSGIVING! No school!
28 – 29 Children’s House Zoo Field Trip
See you in the morning!
From the desk of Dr. Lindsey Pollock, Principal
November 6, 2017 Volume 10, Issue 8