Volume 12, Number 20

Montessori Super Bowling pre-game party at Larkfield lanes
Next Sunday we will be having our own pre-Super Bowl game party at Larkfield Lanes with bowling fun that works for all ages.  This fine family activity will get all the wiggles and squiggles out of the kids in time for adults so inclined to watch the game on TV uninterrupted when the football gets going.  Registration forms were sent home with last week’s Parent News.  If you didn’t get one or need another, call the office for details or the information and sign-up are located under the Parent News Attachments.

“Average is Over”
In an op ed piece in the New York Times this week, Thomas Friedman wrote an article about the importance of education.  To insure success in today’s economy just being “average” will not be enough.

In our implementation of the Montessori Method we are constantly working to develop in your children what Maria Montessori termed the “Normalized Child.”  Regardless of intelligence levels, they are learning to be the active, independent, self-starters they are meant to be.  The measure of ownership and respect they are given, coupled with a high degree of accountability, brings out a vigorous love of learning that is natural to each child.  When they move on to other academic settings – especially after some years in our elementary program, there is very little that is “average” about them. Whether to have your child continue with us next year is a question many of you are wrestling with - particularly in the coming week with the deadline for the early bird special rate running out on Friday.  We understand that there are many factors affecting this decision. In our conferences over the past 2 weeks much note has been taken of the high achieving attitudes that your children are developing.  Kids are so easily influenced by the values prevalent in the environment they find themselves – especially in the early elementary years.  The attitudes which will launch your children on the road to ABOVE “average” success in the 21st Century world are less likely to be eroded away the longer they can be with us…

To read Tom Friedman’s excellent article click here.

Operation Ziploc
Bags of love are sent to soldiers in the field this Valentine Day Season.  Being so far away, a little piece of home is always welcome. We will collect and ship gallon size zip top filled with toiletries (shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, lip balm, wipes, etc.) and maybe some snack items (single size drink mixes, beef jerky, mints, gum, etc.) and a note of thanks. The bags are for both men and women, so please keep that it mind when you make your selections.  We will be collecting the filled gallon bags from January 31st through February 10th.  Thank you for your generosity!

Gala Parent’s Night Out – here we come!
Save the Date!  Saturday, May 12^th is the date of our annual Family Gala and Art Auction.  As you probably know, this is our biggest fundraiser/event of the year, and A LOT goes into making it such a success.

It always takes months of time consuming effort and coordination.  WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.  We want this event to be as magical as it has been in the past.  We have always had a wonderful team of dedicated families to help…this year we are asking for everyone’s support.  A lot of our effort goes to solicitation of items and services that we use to create baskets for the raffles, silent auction and live auction part of the evening.  You can really make a difference here.

How Can You Help?

STRIVE FOR 5!
If each family can do just 5 things to support our Gala…it will really flow, and you can take pride in knowing that you were a big part of the Gala’s success!  Here’s how…

1.Perhaps you own a business (or have a family member and/or friend who does) and you can donate a physical item, gift certificate or service to be raffled off.
2. Do you have a hobby or are you particularly skilled at a certain thing that can be raffled off?  Maybe you (or your family member, friend, neighbor, business associate, etc. who would like to help you/us out) are an avid gardener, and could donate a planting of some sort at the winner’s home…or you are a master at faux-finishing, and you could donate a finish in the winner’s home, either on a wall or a piece of furniture (you put the limits on size, etc…) or perhaps you are the queen of organizing – and you could donate a few hours of clutter control in the winner’s home or office.  There are SO many things we can come up with here.
3. Don’t have a business that warrants a “donation?”  How about taking out an ad in the Gala/Art Auction journal?  Ads start at just $25, and it’s a great way to get the word out about your business or service while raising money for the event.  Could you ask your insurance agent, dentist, doctor, chiropractor, veterinarian, financial planner, car repair shop, etc. to take out an ad?
4. Real simple – can you purchase a gift card to be included in our themed baskets?  ANY GIFT CARD WILL DO…Target, CVS, Walgreen’s, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Movie theater, any local restaurant, Old Navy, Kohl’s…etc., etc.  Gift cards really help to make our baskets special.
5. Speaking of baskets…every year we ask that each family put together a “themed”  family basket.   Examples from the past….Movie Night, Gardener’s Delight,  Ice Cream “SUNDAE” Spectacular, Welcome Baby, Let’s Go Camping, Sunday Brunch, Picnic in the Park, Earth Day Everyday, Toy Tower…you get the idea.  These are fun to do and the kids really get involved!
6. Ask for a donation.  Don’t like to solicit?  How about asking just in your local circle…the nail salon you go to often…the pizza place you get take out from regularly…the dry cleaner you frequent….Anything helps!  We have solicitation letters ready to go…which make the asking much easier!
7. How about some spring cleaning in your own house?  Donate any new item that you know you will never use!  Just don’t need that extra candle, scarf, serving bowl, or set of glasses?   You know what we mean….we can give it a nice home!
8. Business Networking!  Can you think of a corporate sponsor we could make a request of?  We will tailor our letter specifically to them, if you do the legwork and get the contact person, address, etc., and send the letter out and follow up…
9. Food and beverage donations…All of the delicious food and refreshments served at the Gala are donated.  Could you think of a caterer, restaurant, bakery, or deli that you can ask for a donation?  Or do you have a special dish that you would like to prepare for the evening?
10. Donations of tickets are always a big hit!  Do you own season tickets to a sporting event, or have an in at a theater or performance venue?
11. Donate a bottle of wine for our huge wine basket.

So there you have it…lots of ways you can help us in our efforts to make this year’s gala even more spectacular than in the past!  We welcome any questions, comments or suggestions.

And Remember…

STRIVE FOR 5!!!!!!

Thank you so much in advance!!!!

Volume 12, Number 19

PTA Meeting Reminder…
Tomorrow night – Tuesday, we will be having our kick off meeting to plan for our Art Auction & Gala Parent’s Night Out on May 12th. We have set-up a Jooners list for solicitations of local businesses.  Click here to access the list and see what businesses we have solicited in the past.  See who has already agreed to approach a local business for a donation and sign-up to solicit your favorite establishment!  If you don’t see the business you would like to ask for a donation, just let us know.  We’ll add them to the list.  Last year we had to fight our way through the snow drifts to get to the meeting.  This year it should be a piece of cake…

And speaking of cake, knowing our PTA President, Keri Puglisi, there is apt to be some for those who attend.  It should be a fun gathering – hope you can make it.

Dress for being outside:
We had a nice little dump of snow this weekend.  From the sounds of the forecast it sounds like it will be gone by the time the kids go out for recess.  In the weeks to come there may be better opportunities for being outside in the snow.  If that happens please be advised regarding our policy for children to go out:

When there is snow on the ground we still go outside at recess, after lunch.  To do this, kids must be dressed appropriately:  warm coat, snow pants, boots, hat and gloves. Changing in and out of so much outer clothing takes time.  It is preferred for them to bring their snow pants in a bag with their name on it, in the morning, rather than wearing them to and from school.  There will be time for them to put on the extra clothing at lunch time.

Family Fun Super Bowling Party:
It’s time to register for our annul Bowling party on Sunday of Super Bowl weekend.  Your kids will be coming home with a hard copy today and the form is also located under the parent News Attachments.  Please fill out and return as soon as possible.

Jump Rope for Heart
This Wednesday, the Harborside Campus is holding its Jump Rope for Heart event.  Wear your school sweatshirt or cap to school that day.  Dix Hills Jump Rope for Heart is February 8th – another school apparel day!  School Apparel is always available through the main office, but we will have apparel available for sale at the PTA Meeting and next Tuesday, January 31st,  at 12 noon and 3pm at Dix Hills.

Printable January 23 Parent News

Volume 12, Number 18

Thoughts on enrollment at LOL for next year:
First some quotes from Thomas Friedman’s book: The World is Flat:

“What is really necessary is for everybody to wake up to the fact that there is a fundamental shift that is happening in the way people are going to do business.  And everyone is going to have to improve themselves to be able to compete…when I was growing up, my parents used to say to me, “Tom, finish your dinner – people in China and India are starving.”  My advice today is: “…finish your homework – people in China and India are starving for your jobs.”  And in a flat world, they can have them, because in a flat world there is no such thing as an American job.  There is just a job, and… it will go to the best, smartest, most productive… wherever he or she resides.”

A few pages further on in the book, Mr. Friedman quotes from a letter he received from a 5^th grade teacher commenting on parent teacher conferences he had just concluded at his school in the State of Washington.  He was struck by how much conferences could be such a cultural study. In his conferences with immigrant parents, they all complained their kids were not getting enough homework and that the course work was not challenging enough.  In contrast: “Sadly, many…American parents told me that the 5^th grade work was too hard on their kids.  They couldn’t possibly complete it and have time to “be a kid.”  Soccer, gymnastics, music lessons and dinner out squeezed their education time…  In an academic sense we lost our hunger…  We’re complacent and headed for trouble…”

Montessori education challenges and stretches your children to become the vital, thinking individuals with the creative mental stamina needed to complete in the world they will find themselves in.  These are challenging times for young families and there are no easy answers as to the best path you choose to follow for your child’s education.  We appreciate the fact that so many of you are choosing to re-enroll your children for the 2012-2013 school year so that they can continue having the daily mental exercise needed to become the successful, joyful, accomplished individuals they are meant to be.

Only 3 days of school this week – oh no!
To help make the prospect a little more palatable we will be having our usual Friday pizza day on Tuesday, tomorrow, for Harborside and pizza on Thursday for Dix Hills.

School Apparel Day
The upper elementary kids have requested that our Jump Rope for Heart Day be also designated as a School Apparel Day – wear your sweatshirts or caps with pride!  If you have yet to purchase one for your child they are on hand for purchase at the office or at the PTA meeting on the night of January 24th – the day before the Jump Rope for Heart activity at Harborside.

A tale well told…
To help you get through this long cold weekend with no snow to play in we thought you might enjoy the following YouTube clip.

Printable January 17 Parent News

Volume 12, Number 17

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Last week we sent home Parent Teacher Conference sign-up sheets and information.  Please complete and return your conference preference sheet as soon as possible, so that we may schedule your conference with your child’s teacher.  Sign-up sheets are available under the LOL Parent News Attachments. Thank you.

Read to Succeed 600 Minutes of Reading Program – January 13 – February 27, 2012
During the dead of Winter – such as it is this year – we are coming alive with our traditional Read to Succeed program, which encourages reading for fun on the part of all our children.  The program is sponsored by the Six Flags Corporation – every participant who reads for 600 minutes or more during the six week program period, will receive a free ticket to Great Adventure in New Jersey (you can negotiate with your child another treat closer to home if you don’t want to make the trek to New Jersey!).  This program is for Kindergarten and  Elementary aged kids. 

Starting Friday, January 13^th, all reading your child does, including your reading to them, counts and must be kept track of.  Tally sheets will be sent home on Friday with your children.  When the sheet is full, let us know and we’ll send home another (but in a pinch, ordinary loose leaf paper will work – the important thing is keep a record).  All sheets must be returned on Monday, February 27th in order to count for the contest.

In addition to the ticket to Great Adventure, there are book token prizes awarded to the top readers in the school.

How much technology access do our children need for a good education?
This has been debated in the media quite a bit recently.  It is something that bares careful consideration and a balanced approach.  This past week the Times had a front page story on the resistance of some educators in Idaho the requirement that students take some online courses to graduate high school.  In response, one of the letters to the editor is a good read:

To the Editor:

I teach in a college. Over the last 10 years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of technology among children and teenagers.

Despite the ready access to these information-rich tools, our students come to college with weak attention skills and too often an active dislike of sustained reading. Their knowledge base is far less than that of their parents and older siblings who lacked the ready access to technology.

While the Web may provide information, it does not equip the student with the critical-thinking skills to discern the good from the bad or ridiculous, despite what Gov. C. L. Otter of Idaho hopes.

Ann Rosenbaum, a tech-savvy young teacher, is right in cautioning against the substitution of technology for quality face-to-face inquiry.

Her students will succeed in college and in the business world because they will know how to talk with one another, work through differences of opinion, have and use information productively, and solve problems critically and cooperatively.

None of this is achieved through mouse clicks.

WENDY C. TURGEON
St. James, N.Y., Jan. 4, 2012

The writer teaches philosophy at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, N.Y.

Printable January 9 Parent News

Welcome to 2012
It’s been a nice break and we are certainly ready to be back with your children – as ready as we suspect you are to have them out of the house and in school.  While we haven’t had any snow yet it does look like it is going to be quite a bit colder than it has been.  Please be advised that even if it is cold we still go outside for recess during the lunch break.  Be sure your kids dress for it – warm coat, hat, gloves.  This applies particularly to the elementary kids who tend to arrive at school with very little to keep them warm. Also, be sure your kid’s garments are marked with their names.  This is especially true with all the new school logo apparel, which looks great but also all looks the same.

This week applications for next year for all those currently enrolled will be mailed home.  We know it seems like a long time till September but now is the time we are getting calls from prospective new families and we won’t know how many openings we will have until we have heard from you.  If you can get your application in by February 3^rd there is an Early Bird Special rate for returning children that gives $100 off the regular rate for new students at the pre-school level.  For kindergarten and elementary it is $200 less.

We will be starting our annual Read to Succeed program with kindergarten and elementary kids soon – information on that will be in next week’s Parent News.

The last two Fridays in January we are closed for  Parent/Teacher conferences.  Those are very important for everyone – parents, teachers and the kids; it takes quite a bit to get it organized and we have information and a sign-up sheet that will be sent home and is located under the Parent News Attachments.  Please fill it out and returned as soon as possible.

Recorder Lessons for First Grade
Beginning Tuesday afternoon, January 10th our music director, Penelope Grover will be teaching the recorder to all First graders (she will be teaching 2 half hour sessions with approximately 10 children in each class).  The cost will be $50 for lessons given over the next 10 weeks.  The $50 includes an instrument for each child and cost of instruction.  Please send in the money as soon as possible so the instruments can be ordered.  If sending a check, please write “recorder lessons” in the memo.  Checks should be made payable to LOL Montessori. Recorder instruction is a great way to give the kids an introduction to music theory – as well as the ability to make some music!

Last call for Ancillary sign-ups for the Winter
Some of the activities were about full, some had a few openings left.  We suspect some of you were waiting till after the break to commit.  Now is the time to get your registration in.  Some activities start this week, some next week.  our Robotics class needs one more student to sign-up for us to be able to have the class.  Check out the sign-up sheet posted on the right side of our website home page for details.

How you can  know “weather” we are open or not!:
Normally we follow Harborfields School District – if they close so will we.  If they have a delayed opening we will normally open at the usual time – for the 3 hrs pre-school program it isn’t worth opening at 11 only to send the kids home at 12.  However, for those taking buses to school, bus pick up is determined by time of your local school district’s opening, not the time we open.  If they are having a delayed opening the bus will pick up in time to get them to us by the later time, not by our usual 9AM drop off.  Notification of whether we are open or closed can be found on our website: www.loveoflearning.org, Cablevision News 12, or WALK (97.5FM).

Printable January 3 Parent News