Johnson County Montessori Preschool
Parent Publication
July & August 2014
www.jocomontessori.org
Reminders
We’re in the Swing of Summer
We’re having fun in the sun, in the community and right here at school. We’ve
walked to the farmers’ market in downtown Overland Park to buy fruits and
vegetables for the classrooms and for Ms. Angie, and enjoy live performances by
Rockin Robin and Eco Elvis. At school, we’ve exercised our bodies and had a great
time with Stretch-N-Grow and Dancin’ with Deja, and we’ve been entertained by
Lulu Bell the Clown, a petting zoo, and more.
Highlights for this month include another walking trip to the farmers’ market.
We’ll have fun here at school with the Stretch-N-Grow parachute; a water slide;
yoga, art, creative movement, and soccer classes; a magician; and our end-of-summer
pizza party (with dessert provided by the Frosty Treats ice cream truck). Parents,
you are always welcome to join us, and we certainly appreciate the extra assistance
you provide when you come along on our walking field trips.
We are also active outside on our playground just about every day. The children
love playing in the sand or burying their arms in the pea gravel, eating lunch outside
at the picnic tables, and jumping in straw in our little barn, not to mention kicking up
pea gravel dust just running around the playground. Getting dirty is so much fun!

Our summer program runs
through August 1. We will
be closed the week of
August 4-8 to prepare for
our 2014-2015 school year,
which begins August 11.

Morning is the busiest time
of our day and we generally
start it outside on the playground. We usually don’t
have time to apply sunscreen
and bug repellant until later
in the day, so please do this
before you leave your house.

Make sure your child wears
sturdy, athletic-style shoes
with closed toes, sides and
heels. The pea gravel from
our playground works its way
under little feet clad in
sandals or clogs (ouch!), so
save the sandals, flip-flops,
clogs, Crocs™, etc. for home.

For safety’s sake, only adults
should open the gates to our
playground area. ALWAYS
sign in and sign out on the
clipboard for your child’s
classroom, and make sure
the teacher on duty sees
you. Also for safety’s sake,
when you come inside to pick
up your child, never leave
your car’s engine running in
our parking area.

Our center closes promptly
at 6 p.m. The late pick-up
fee is $1.00 per minute,
payable that same evening to
the teacher who has to stay
past closing time.
Thank You Notes
Every day, a teacher or Ms. Angie, our chef, will comment that a parent or grandparent has donated this or volunteered to do that... the thoughtfulness and consideration
that you show us is amazing and we appreciate it so much! From donating recyclable
paper and envelopes to volunteering to accompany us on our field trips, our students’
families are so generous! If you ever need a donation acknowledgement letter or receipt
for tax purposes, just let Barbara know.
Ms. Deja deserves a shout-out for stepping in to teach creative movement when Bike
Day was rained out. We have not given up on swim/water play days and will continue them
through July if it does not get too terribly hot.
Rain may have put a damper on some of our activities, but it has certainly helped our
gardens grow. Many thanks to Ms. Emilie, Ms. Angie and Ms. Lala in particular, who have
worked hard to beatify our flower and vegetable gardens. Please feel free to stop by
and pull a weed or two or water over the weekend if it gets dry enough. Ms. Angie could
use some more help in our raised garden beds – talk with her to learn more.
Kudos to Papa Keno’s
In June, we had our first field trip to Papa Keno's with Room #2 - we are going room
by room so as not to overwhelm – and it was a HUGE success. The pizzeria staff gave
each child a tray with some flour and pizza dough and then demonstrated how to pull and
toss the dough. The children's hands stayed very busy while they waited for a giant pizza
to come out of the oven, which we then ate for a snack. The pizza was fabulous!
If you go into Papa Keno's with your child, be sure to let the staff there know how
much we appreciate them allowing us to invade their space before regular business hours.
Help Us Stay Safe at School
During the warm summer months, we spend lots of time on our large playground, especially at the beginning and end of our
day. Help us keep all our children safe by always signing your child in and out on the form on the clipboard for your child’s class.
We do our best to be aware of where each child in our care is at any given moment – a tall order in the best of circumstances
given the size of our playground. If a parent or other authorized adult picks up a child and does not alert a school staff
member (especially when we have a substitute teacher on duty), or does not fill in the sign-in/sign-out form, it makes our job
that much more difficult. Please help us avoid having to go through “missing child panic” by following this important policy. Our
staff members will be watching parents (and the children, of course), and issuing reminders.
Also for safety reasons, you and your child need to be especially punctual on off-campus field trip days. We cannot allow
parents to drop off or pick up their children at off-campus field trip sites! Please consult your activity calendar and plan ahead
so you can get your child to school in plenty of time.
Becoming a Love and Logic Parent
Tired of nagging and begging to get your kids to do as you've asked? Wish you had some tools to help you avoid losing your
cool when your children make poor choices? You can guide your children to become responsible for their lives and put the joy
back in parenting with “Love & Logic” principles, developed by the Cline/Fay Institute. We highly recommend this approach.
Shawnee Mission Medical Center / Shawnee Mission Health has Love & Logic classes scheduled for this coming fall (Saturday,
September 13 or Saturday, November 1, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Cost is $65 per couple. Visit www.shawneemission.org for more
information and sign up early.
August Tuition is Prorated
Since we will be closed August 4-8 to prepare for the 2014-2015 school year, tuition for August will be prorated based on
your child’s planned attendance (August 1 only or August 1 and 11-29). Barbara will get information about this to each of you
soon. We start the new school year on Monday, August 11, and new tuition rates for the new school year go into effect then.
REMINDER: If you are in the Shawnee Mission School District and your child is starting kindergarten in one of its schools,
kindergarten conferences are scheduled for August 12 & 13 and the first day for kindergarten classes is August 14. If you
need child care for August 11-13 (or any other days that we are open but the public schools are closed this year), contact
Barbara. If we have room, we’d be happy to have your child spend the day with us for $45 per day.
Registration for the New School Year
If you have not yet enrolled your child for the 2014-2015 school year, please do so now. We are still accepting new
enrollments. If fact, if you will help us spread the word about our fabulous little school, we’ll help you in the form of a tuition
discount. If a family you refer enrolls their child, once that new child has attended for three months, your reward is a $100
tuition discount if your child attends 4-5 days per week, or a $50 tuition discount if your child attends 2-3 days per week. In
addition, the family that you refer is eligible for a 50% discount on their first annual registration fee. Feel free to copy and
distribute the coupon below to your friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Classroom Happenings
From Deja and Anna in Classroom #2:
We have had a wonderful start to our summer camp. We are
enjoying being outside and exploring nature. We would like to
thank all of the dads, grandpas, and father fill-ins who came to
our “Doughnuts with Dad” event to celebrate Father’s Day.
In July, our camp theme will be art. We will learn about
lines, shapes, color, forms, and textures, as well as the role of
an artist and how to look at art.
Tegan Grissom and Ila Collins worked their pizza dough at Papa Keno’s during
their classroom’s visit in mid-June.
Please remember to bring your child’s water bottle every day,
apply sunscreen and insect repellant before you leave your
house for school, and on our water play days, please bring swim
shoes/water shoes.
From Tammy in Classroom #4:
Our summer program has had a terrific start (well, except for all of the rain that
kept us from enjoying water play earlier in June). We had a great turnout for
“Doughnuts with Dad” right before Father’s Day. Thanks for coming and having
breakfast with your children. Thanks, too, to all of the parents who have helped us out
on the field trips we’ve had so far. We could not do this without you!
A few quick reminders:



Continue to apply bug repellant and sunscreen in the morning before coming to
school; we’ll reapply later in the day
Send a labeled and filled water bottle with your child daily
Please let me know when your child will be gone on vacation as far in advance
as possible – this helps me with planning for the days & weeks ahead
From Emilie and Anna K in Classroom #5:
Anna Randel and Stella Forster loved the cherry
bomb pop effect on their tongues after the Frosty
Treats ice cream truck visit in June.
We are enjoying our summer activities as well as each other in classroom 5. We
have had fun with in-house guests, including Lulu Bell the Clown and Stretch-N-Grow,
and our Happy Feet soccer lessons, Dancin’ with Deja sessions, and art classes. Our annual doughnut and coffee event in honor
of Father’s Day was a success (thanks for coming, dads). We’ve also enjoyed our walking field trips to the Matt Ross Community
Center, Overland Park Farmers’ Market, and Papa Keno’s. We are learning about animals around the world during classroom time.
 Our class has water fun days on Thursdays (weather permitting). Have your child
wear a swimsuit under their clothes on water play days, and bring water shoes, a towel,
and underwear. The children will change into dry clothes and regular athletic shoes
after water play.
 The mosquitoes are out and biting, so please continue to apply insect repellent (and
sunscreen) before coming to school.
 Send a filled (and labeled) water bottle with your child each morning. The children
get thirsty when they’re playing outside, we are not able to accompany children in and
out of the classroom each time one wants a drink and still maintain proper supervision of
the playground. The water bottle needs to go home with your child daily to be cleaned.
 Please continue to check your child’s storage box and make sure it contains a
complete change of clothing appropriate for the current season. Please label each
clothing article.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our supply of summer items, and to our
volunteer helpers.
 Classroom 5 en route to the farmers’ market and live music in downtown Overland Park.
Farewell, Friends
Late July/early August is always a bittersweet time for us, as some of our friends head to kindergarten or first grade. We
know they’re going to do well in “big” school and make lots of new friends. The older children who returned this summer will be
missed, too. Although we’ll be sad for a while, we are so proud and happy to see them go off ready and eager to learn in
elementary school. We’ll be getting to know lots of new friends with the start of the new school year, and hope all our alumnae
come back to visit us.
Menu for July
(Note: Menu substitutions for fruits and vegetables may occur depending on availability, freshness and price.)
Monday
Tuesday
July 1
Wednesday
2
Pasta with Tomato/Veggie
Sauce
Peas
Pears
Milk
7
8
Chicken Patty Sandwich
Cherry Tomatoes & Jicama
Orange Slices
Milk
14
Pasta & Tomato/Veg Sauce
Spinach Garlic Bread
Peas
Mandarin Oranges &
Pineapple
Milk
21
White Chili (with chicken)
Tortilla Chips
Carrots & Corn
Apple Slices
Milk
28
Breakfast for Lunch:
Pumpkin Pancakes
Cereal
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Milk
3
Chef’s Salad (with turkey, eggs,
beans, cheese & croutons)
Fresh Melon
Milk
9
Chef’s Salad (with meat, eggs,
beans, cheese & croutons)
Fruit Cocktail
Milk
15
Quesadillas with Spinach &
Beans
Salsa
Carrots & Peppers
Bananas
Milk
22
Cheese Tortellini Salad with
Veggies
Garlic Bread
Applesauce
Milk
29
Hot Dog on a Wheat Bun
Fresh Veggies
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Milk
Thursday
4
16
Turkey, Cheese & Spinach
Sandwich on Wheat
Carrots & Cucumbers
Grapes
Milk
23
“Baked” Potatoes
Cheese & Sour Cream
Steamed Broccoli
Peaches
Milk
30
Toasted Cheese Sandwich
with Spinach
Broccoli & Carrots
Fresh Melon
Milk
No school today
Sloppy Joe with Veggies (on
wheat bun)
Fresh Veggies
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Milk
10
Asian Noodle Salad with
Vegetables
Carrots
Bananas & Mandarin Oranges
Milk
Friday
Breakfast for Lunch:
Scrambled Eggs with
Spinach & Cheese
Cereal
Fresh Melon
Milk
17
Bean Salad with Quinoa
Garlic Bread
Pears
Milk
24
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hummus
Fresh Veggies
Fresh Melon
Milk
31
Fish Sticks
Fresh Veggies
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Milk
11
Turkey & Cream Cheese
Roll-Ups
Fresh Veggies
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Milk
18
Pasta Salad with Veggies &
Greek Yogurt Dressing
Crackers
Corn
Orange Slices
Milk
25
Taco Salad (with ground turkey,
beans, cheese & veggies)
Corn
Mandarin Oranges &
Pineapple
Milk
Aug 1
Pizza
Carrots
Fresh Melon
Milk
Johnson County Montessori Preschool July Activity Calendar
Mon
Tue
1
2
Art with Alisha
Extra charge
enrichment activity:
Ms Deja’s Creative
Movement Class
3:00 pm
7
Yoga with Emilie
9:00 to 11:00 am
14
Stretch-N-Grow
comes to school
9:00 to 11:00 am
21
Dancin’ with Deja
9:30 am
28
Frosty Treats
Ice Cream Truck
comes to school
10:00 am
8
Wed
Art with Alisha
Extra charge
enrichment activity:
Ms Deja’s Creative
Movement Class
3:00 pm
15
Art with Alisha
Extra charge
enrichment activity:
Ms Deja’s Creative
Movement Class
3:00 pm
22
Bike Day
Bring your tricycle,
bicycle and/or other
riding toy, plus helmet)
29
Art with Alisha
Extra charge
enrichment activity:
Ms Deja’s Creative
Movement Class
3:00 pm
Thu
3
T-Shirt Day
4
School Closed
Happy 4th of July!
Frosty Treats
Ice Cream Truck
comes to school
10:00 am
9
Fri
10
The Rockin Rob Show
at Overland Park
Farmers’ Market
9:30 am
11
Happy Feet
Soccer Lessons
8:30 am
Classroom 4 to
Papa Keno’s
16
17
Water Slide
at school
All Day
23
Happy Feet
Soccer Lessons
8:30 am
24
Magic Bob
comes to school
10:00 a.m.
30
Water Slide
at school
All Day
18
25
Happy Feet
Soccer Lessons
8:30 am
31
Aug 1
Happy Feet
Soccer Lessons
8:30 am
Pizza Party for Lunch
Ice Cream Truck
Treats for Dessert
Alisha Vincent (Halley's mom) has been doing a great job preparing and executing art projects on Tuesdays. She is so creative and the children
have been wonderfully engaged and busy during her classes. We miss our music with Ms. Ann (who returns in the fall), but Alisha has helped us
have happy Tuesdays. Ms. Emilie stepped in to teach yoga classes when Mr. Michael resigned. Mr. Michael has been talking about retirement for a
while now and his goal is to move to Mexico for a much quieter and simpler life. We will miss his Kidz in Motion classes and wish him all the best.