NEWSNOTES SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL

SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Articulate • Accomplished • Confident • Focused • Guided • Prepared
__________________________________________________________________________
NEWSNOTES
March 9, 2015
__________________________
March 12, 13
Conference Days
No School
March 14
SMSPTO Pi Day
1:00-3:00pm
v 17
March
Nature’s Classroom
Parent Meeting
3:00pm
Dear Parents,
Following a series of academic events (Elementary Projects Fair, Children’s House Parent Child Days,
and Parent Conferences) we have an amazing array of social events for you and your families!
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The SMSPTO is celebrating the Pi Day of the Century Saturday, March 14 from 1:00-3:00pm at
the Shrewsbury Campus.
The following weekend, the PTO is hosting their first-ever family Book Club event on Sunday,
March 22 from 1:00-3:00pm at the Shrewsbury Campus. Grandparent Rafaela Morales-Rosa
will lead the discussion and follow-up kite-making activity.
The Upper Elementary Musical “We Like It Here!” will be performed Thursday, March 26 and
Friday, March 27 at First Baptist Church in Worcester.
The following morning, SMS families and staff are invited to meet and greet your new Head
of School Kari Cafeo, Saturday, March 28 from 9:00-11:00am in the Shrewsbury Campus AP
Room.
Guest author and speaker, Ellen Braaten’s presentation for parents has been re-scheduled
for April 14, 6:00-7:00pm. Child care is provided for your ease in attending.
March 20
UE Gym and Swim
All events are open to both our Auburn and Shrewsbury campus families!
March 21
Sixth Year MUN
Clark University
Attached to this week’s NewsNotes you will find a very basic 2015-2016 SMS Calendar showing the
start date, end date, Thanksgiving, December, February, and April holidays to assist you in planning
your schedule for the next school year. The full calendar will be released in the July 1 mailing.
March 22
Book Club/Kite Making
1:00-3:00pm
Shrewsbury Campus
All my best to you in the coming week,
Margie Smetana
Head of School
March 26, 27
UE Musical
First Baptist Church
Worcester, MA
7:00pm
March 27
LE Gym and Swim
March 28
Meet and Greet
New Head of School
9:00-11:00am
April 13-16
UE TerraNova Assessment
April 14
Ellen Braaten
Presentation for Parents
6:00-7:00pm
April 17
Third Year
Time Line Presentation
2:00pm
April 20-24
April Vacation
No School
April 30
Sixth Year Latin Banquet
Evening Event
May 7
LE Musical Revue
First Baptist Church
6:30pm
May 11-15
Fifth and Sixth Year
Nature’s Classroom
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THE SNOW RATIO
The students of Mrs. Regan and Mrs. McGillicuddy’s Upper Elementary class were assigned a
problem to solve: What was the snow to water ratio of the snow in our playground on February 24,
2015? The snow to water ratio measures how much water snow contains once melted. On average,
10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of water. The temperature of the air when the snow is falling
determines the ratio. A higher air temperature leads to more water content; a lower temperature
leads to less. When it is very cold, the snow is dry and fluffy. Although snow was not falling on
February 24, we decided to investigate the ratio for the snow already on the ground.
In four groups we brainstormed to come up with a procedure for collecting the snow and
calculating the ratio. We went outside with various sized, straight-sided containers. Many containers
used were beakers with milliliter markings. We collected snow from areas that had not been walked
on. The snow was carefully scooped up and not compacted in the containers, then brought into the
classroom for melting. The water left in the containers was carefully measured and the ratios were
calculated. Each group completed a poster with the procedure, diagrams, and the conclusion.
Interestingly, our ratios were similar. Bella’s group found a ratio of 4:1. Arnav’s group was 3.75:1.
Aniya’s was 4:1.3, and Maddie’s group calculated a 4:1 ratio. We determined that the air
temperature, the sunlight, the icy top crust, and the weight of the accumulated snow from many
storms affected our ratios. Anabelle said, “This was a fun problem to work out. We all pitched in to do
the experiment, the math, and the poster.” Nathan added, “At first our group thought that we had
to figure out how much snow was in the whole playground.” “It was a fun way to start learning about
ratios,” shared Arnav. Ramya replied, “It was fun and interesting, but difficult because I did not know
about ratios yet.” Lauren summed it up, “Fun, but wet!”
SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Articulate • Accomplished • Confident • Focused • Guided • Prepared
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ANNUAL FUND UPDATE
UE LEADERSHIP
Thank you to the Upper Elementary families for leading the way! The UE has over 50% participation in the 2014-2015 Annual Fund.
The Development Committee offers our sincerest appreciation and special thanks to Dana O’Connor for spearheading this
initiative. This year the Development Committee has prioritized 100% participation in Annual Fund as our top goal. Last year we had
100% Board, Faculty, and Administration participation and 55% family participation. Together, these donations with our fall and
spring socials, raised over $60,000 to support our school. This year, the Board of Trustees has focused our efforts on the HOS search
and the events to support that process. As a result, fundraising-focused events are on hold until next school year. We will rely on
direct donations as our only fundraising strategy for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. We need your support more than ever!
As of today, we have 33% total family participation and just under $18,000. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to support
SMS. We are able to accept cash, checks, PayPal, credit cards, and stocks and securities. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Thank you again to those who have contributed so far and to those who have pledged
their support this year!
Maria Mihopoulos and Suzie Nebelung
Development Committee Co-Chairs
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE SIGN-UPS
Scheduling for conferences is now available through an online site. To select your conference time, please go to the
link: http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Shrewsbury_Montessori_School. If you have any difficulties scheduling your child’s
conference, please call the office. There will be NO SCHOOL on the SMS Conference Days March 12 and 13. Child care will be
provided in the library during conference times at no charge. The duration of conferences for each child is 20 minutes for
Children’s House and 30 minutes for Elementary. Upper Elementary students attend and participate in the conference with their
parents. A SCRATCH program is being offered on the SMS Conference Days for Elementary students. Please see the attached flyer.
CONGRATULATIONS KATIE WHITE
The Shrewsbury Montessori School is always thrilled to hear about our former students and their accomplishments after they leave
SMS. Katherine White, a former SMS student and current middle school student in Marlborough, MA, was the first place winner, out
of over 100 contestants, in the city’s sixth grade writing contest. Katie was acknowledged at the February 23 City Council meeting
and presented with her award certificate and prize money. Follow the link below to read her winning essay:
http://msjnews.com/ifiwereelectedp7340161.htm
ELLEN BRAATEN PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015
6:00-7:00PM
Speaker and author Ellen Braaten is finally dug out of the snowbanks in Boston and will make the trip to SMS on Tuesday, April 14,
2015, to discuss her newly published book: Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up: Help Your Child Overcome Slow Processing Speed and
Succeed in a Fast-Paced World. All parents, guardians, grandparents, and friends are invited to join our school community for this
event. The Parent Presentation begins at 6:00pm with free child care available 5:55-7:00pm. See attached flyer for further details
and RSVP.
STEM CONFERENCE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS
I am an active member of the Northborough Junior Women’s Club and we are holding a conference for Women in STEM fields
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) on Saturday, March 28 at Algonquin Regional High School. Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and
Eighth grade girls are invited free of charge. The Juniors have been hosting these conferences for over a decade and they have
been well attended. Last year, over 100 girls participated in workshops designed to introduce them to a variety of careers in math
and science. The girls seemed to really enjoy themselves and learned a lot. I am also sharing links to two articles describing our
conference in past years:
http://www.communityadvocate.com/2014/02/07/conference-aims-to-introduce-girls-to-math-and-science-careers/
http://northborough.patch.com/groups/schools/p/middle-school-girls-get-a-glimpse-of-where-math-and-s3114057303
I encourage interested girls to email their completed application immediately! Space is limited! We hope many SMS Fifth and Sixth
Years as well as our Seventh and Eighth Grade graduates will attend!
Sarah L. Cutrona, MD, MPH
SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Articulate • Accomplished • Confident • Focused • Guided • Prepared
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SMSPTO NEWS
Tea’s School Days This Week
Think Spring!
Today the SMS Tea’s School Days fundraiser kicks off and continues through the end of the weekend, concluding on Sunday,
March 15, 2015. This is an opportunity to add new pieces to your child’s spring/summer wardrobe while helping out SMS. This
week only, if you make a purchase at www.teaschooldays.com, Tea will ship your items for free and donate 20% of your
purchase value back to Shrewsbury Montessori School. Use our school code SDS15SHREWSBURY at checkout. This season’s
collection of colors and prints is inspired by India.
3.1415…
CELEBRATE PI DAY AT SMS ON 03/14/15
Join the SMSPTO this Saturday, March 14, from 1:00-3:00pm in the Shrewsbury Campus All Purpose Room for our Pi Day
celebration! Pi Day shirts or circle-printed clothing are not necessary but are definitely encouraged. Spend an afternoon of
irrationally good fun as we celebrate circles, pi, and pie! Kids will have the opportunity to play games, make crafts, have fun
with math, and enjoy circle-shaped treats. Students who would like to try their brains at memorizing digits of pi can try for the
honor of being the student chosen to recite pi as far as he or she can at Pi Minute. If you would like to contribute some pi e (or
other round treat) to our event, please sign up at www.mysignup.com/smspiday. It is the Pi Day of the Century… you do not
want to be square and miss it!
SMSPTO BOOK CLUB THIS MONTH
FLYING THE DRAGON
The first ever PTO family Book Club event will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2015 from 1:00-3:00pm, hosted by PTO
grandparent Rafaela Morales-Rosa. Families are encouraged to read together a book called Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias
Lorenzi. It is the story of a multicultural family of three generations living together in Virginia. A pair of cousins, American-born
Skye and Japanese-born Hiroshi, find common ground learning the traditional art of rokkaku fighting kites as they prepare for a
kite building and kite flying contest at the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival. Join Rafaela and the PTO on March 22 for
Book Club discussion at 1:00pm and kite building fun at 2:00pm! Please contact Rafaela Moreales-Rosa at [email protected]
if your family is interested in participating. Rafaela will need an estimate of the number of children attending who will be building
kites.
IT IS SQUARE 1 ART TIME AT SMS!
All Auburn campus and Shrewsbury parents of Three Year and Four Year Olds please look for the Square 1 Art forms and
instructions in your child's school bag. All artwork must be returned to the school by Monday, March 16. Please note this is an
optional program, but artwork submitted will receive a FREE gift from Square 1 Art. If you are new to the school or want more
information about this program, check out their web-site www.Square1Art.com. The Shrewsbury Kindergarten to Sixth Year
students will complete their artwork with Mrs. Donaldson on campus. Please contact Melinda Nies with any questions, 310-7202774 or [email protected].
Il neige ! Il neige ! Et il fait froid !
Hiver 2015
LE JOURNAL
Children’s House
Students in Children’s house are
learning the names of objects
they use in the classroom—le
crayon, le papier, le livre., la
chaise, la porte. They are singing
about the weather. Ask them for
a report ! "
Upper elementary
Fourth year students are still in French school, learning
geography, history, math and grammar all in French. Their
successful eﬀort to communicate entirely in French is amazing to
see. Bravo !"
Lower elementary"
Students in first year have
finished labeling all the
parts of the body, and have
been singing songs on the
same topic. They will
move on to learning words
and phrases about food—a
favorite subject ! Second
year continue with the
theme of animals. They
are hearing about
Chabichou, the magical
purple cat who walks on
ceilings… Third year have
started a unit on food in
Zoom.
!
FIFTH YEAR PLAY !! Mais oui, the fifth year
students are going to put on another play in the
spring. It’s a mystery, a comedy, about one of
France’s greatest treasures—le Fromage ! Stay
tuned for more details…..!
!
SIXTH YEAR are about to start reading
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (a junior edition).
Beware the Ides of March !
1
SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR
March 9 Distribution through NewsNotes for Parents
Shrewsbury Campus Basic Calendar
M
3
10
17
24
31
T
W
August
4
5
11
12
18
19
25
26
TH
F
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
M
7
14
21
28
1
T
W
TH
September
1
2
3
8
9
10
15
16
17
22
23
24
29
30
F
4
11
18
25
First Day of School
1,2,3,4 Phase In Week
M
2
9
16
23
30
T
W
TH
November
3
4
5
10
11
12
17
18
19
24
25
26
F
6
13
20
27
10
Conference Day-No School 8:00-5:00pm
11
Veterans Day-No School
M
7
14
21
28
T
W
TH
December
1
2
3
8
9
10
15
16
17
22
23
24
29
30
31
F
4
11
18
25
21-Jan 1 December Holiday-No School
M
5
12
19
26
W
TH
October
1
6
7
8
13
14
15
20
21
22
27
28
29
12
Columbus Day-No School
13
Possible Professional Day
M
4
11
18
25
T
T
5
12
19
26
W
TH
January
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
4
School Opens
18
Martin Luther King-No School
F
2
9
16
23
30
F
1
8
15
22
29
1:00-5:00pm Conferences
26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday-No School
M
T
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
W
February
3
10
17
24
TH
F
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
15-19 February Vacation-No School
M
T
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
30
W
May
4
11
18
25
T
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
W
March
2
9
16
23
30
TH
F
3
10
17
24
31
4
11
18
25
10-11 Conference Day-No School
TH
F
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Memorial Day-No School
M
M
6
13
20
27
3
T
7
14
21
28
W
June
1
8
15
22
29
Last day of school
M
4
11
18
25
T
5
12
19
26
W
April
6
13
20
27
TH
F
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
18-22 April Vacation-No School
TH
F
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
SHREWSBURY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
2015-2016 SCHOOL CALENDAR
March 9 Distribution through NewsNotes for Parents
Auburn Campus Basic Calendar
M
3
10
17
24
31
T
W
August
4
5
11
12
18
19
25
26
TH
F
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
M
7
14
21
28
1
T
W
TH
September
1
2
3
8
9
10
15
16
17
22
23
24
29
30
F
4
11
18
25
First Day of School
1,2,3,4 Phase In Week
M
2
9
16
23
30
T
W
TH
November
3
4
5
10
11
12
17
18
19
24
25
26
F
6
13
20
27
10
Conference Day-No School 8:00-5:00pm
11
M
7
14
21
28
T
W
TH
December
1
2
3
8
9
10
15
16
17
22
23
24
29
30
31
F
4
11
18
25
21-Jan 1 December Holiday-No School
M
5
12
19
26
W
TH
October
1
6
7
8
13
14
15
20
21
22
27
28
29
12
Columbus Day-No School
13
Possible Professional Day
M
4
11
18
25
T
T
5
12
19
26
W
TH
January
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
4
School Opens
Veterans Day-No School
18
Martin Luther King-No School
1:00-5:00pm Conferences
19
Conference Day - No School
F
2
9
16
23
30
F
1
8
15
22
29
26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday-No School
M
T
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
W
February
3
10
17
24
TH
F
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
15-19 February Vacation-No School
M
T
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
31
30
W
May
4
11
18
25
T
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
11
TH
F
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
Memorial Day-No School
M
M
6
13
20
27
3
W
March
2
9
16
23
30
TH
F
3
10
17
24
31
4
11
18
25
Conference Day-No School
T
7
14
21
28
W
June
1
8
15
22
29
Last day of school
M
4
11
18
25
T
5
12
19
26
W
April
6
13
20
27
TH
F
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
18-22 April Vacation-No School
TH
F
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
Shrewsbury Montessori School
presents nationally recognized author
ELLEN BRAATEN
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
6:00 - 7:00pm
Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up:
Help Your Child Overcome Slow Processing Speed
and Succeed in a Fast-Paced World
Do you find yourself constantly asking your child to “pick up the pace”? Does he or
she seem to take longer than others to get stuff done--whether completing homework,
responding when spoken to, or getting dressed and ready in the morning? Dr. Ellen
Braaten has worked with thousands of kids and teens who struggle with an area of
cognitive functioning called “processing speed,” and who are often mislabeled as lazy
or unmotivated. Hear how schools provide structure and support, what to expect from
a professional evaluation, and how you can make daily routines more efficient--while
promoting your child’s social and emotional well-being.
Join us for t hi s informative evening!
5:55-7:05pm
6:00-7:00pm
7:00pm
Child Care i n the Library (No charge)
Dr. Ellen Braaten Presentation for Parents
Book Signing
Please return to the office by April 13, 2015 or RSVP 508-842-2116. Thank you!
Name: ___________________________________________
I plan to attend the Ellen Braaten Presentation.
I will require child care for my preschool and school age child/ren.
Please reserve one copy of Ellen Braaten’s book.
Please make $12.50 check payable to SMS and memo: Ellen Bratten’s book.
Snow cancellation will be posted through SchoolReach if necessary!
March 12-13, 2015
8:30am-2:30pm
Design your own digital games!
at Shrewsbury Montessori School
Imagination Unbound will offer Scratch Programming classes
What is Scratch?
Scratch is a programming language that
enables children to create interactive media,
like games, stories and even animations.
Cost
$150 per student
Our Scratch programming classes will be focused on working with students to create their own
interactive games using Scratch.
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_
SCRATCH Elementary Enrichment Program
(Thursday and Friday, March 12 -13, 2015 from 8:30am-2:30pm)
Student Name: _______________________________ Classroom Teacher_________________________________________
Best Number to Call: _________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________
Allergies: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
ACH/Direct Payment Option:
Office Use Only:
Check:________
Cash: _____
ACH/Direct Payment: _____ Date Received: _________
__________________________________________
Signature Required
All members of the Shrewsbury Montessori School
community are invited to join us for breakfast and meet
our new Head of School Kari Cafeo
!
on Saturday, March 28th
!
from 9:00-11:00am
!
in the All Purpose Room
!
Please come with your entire family, meet Mrs. Cafeo, and enjoy the
company of our school families!
!
Complete the RSVP form below and return to school by March
!
25th.
If you have any questions, please contact Maria Mihopoulos at
[email protected].
!
!
Coffee, juice, bagels, yogurt, donuts, and fruit will be served.
__________________________________________________________
!
Family Name: __________________________________
!
Please list all members of your family who will be attending.
!
_________________________
______________________
!
_________________________
______________________
!
_________________________
______________________
!
_________________________
______________________
!

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