In a Nutshell
Newsletter # 312
May 25, 2007
Chick-fil-A & Double Daves
It’s Been a Great 26 Years
Our 26th school year has come to a close. It
is amazing what has happened in those 26
years. Our school began with students whose
ages were 2 ½ through kindergarten. Now
students 18 months through elementary are
able to attend OFMS. Wow how we’ve
grown! Thank you for 26 wonderful years!
Dinosaurs!
Pack your paleontologist backpack as we
go back in time to the Age of Reptiles.
Perhaps the most captivating and
perplexing creatures to inhabit the Earth,
dinosaurs will be on our list of new
discoveries. Awaiting us will be a summer
of fun-filled adventures as we roam
through the Triassic, Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods of the dinosaurs. On
our journey, we will go on a fossil hunt, set
up camp for a dinosaur dig, make exciting
discoveries, compare dinosaurs and their
tracks, as well as learn songs and finger
plays. The Oak Forest Montessori School
will be our summer laboratory beginning
June 4th and ending on August 29th.
Dates to Remember
June 4
Summer term begins
June 4
Session I Swim class begins
June 18
Session II Swim class begins
July
School closed
4
The next order form will be sent
home on June 4th. There will be
no lunches during the first week
of summer school. Lunch orders
will be due June 7th for the
following week.
Fall Enrollment
Enrollment is going extremely well.
Most all classes are closed. Thank you
for your support and encouragement.
The balance of the 2007-2008
registration and supply fee is due June
15th.
Swim Classes
Swim classes begin on Monday June
4th. If you are interested in your child
attending the 2nd session that begins
June 18th, please contact the office
ASAP. Swimming with friends is so
much fun. They must be 5 years old to
attend.
Elementary Quilt Raffle
Thanks to everyone who participated by
buying one of the quilt raffle tickets. We
appreciate the dedication of Mrs. Marie
Busker, Katy and Maggie’s mother as
she helped the elementary students
design and make the quilt. Mrs. Busker’s
mother, Mrs. Elen Christopher, who is a
professional quilter and has a business
called “The Crazy Quilter,” did the quilting.
Please remember to clean
out your child’s bin on
Newsletter 1
Information Corner
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26 Wonderful Years.
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Our 26 year is
coming to a close and there are many
memories for each of us as we go into the
summer semester. We hope that your
memories are as wonderful as ours are.
The Spring Program was a great
success and our kindergarten students
enjoyed their graduation. “The Little Red
Hen,” presented by the kindergarten students
was very enjoyable. It was exciting and fun
to watch and listen to the cute songs sung by
the 3,4 &5 year olds, and the elementary
students did a great job with their classical
music pieces.
High Tea. The elementary students had
“high tea” and invited their mothers,
grandmothers and family members on
Friday, May 11th before Mother’s Day. It
was an exciting time to see linen tablecloths,
linen napkins, china, silver and fresh flowers
on the tables. Students and family members
prepared the food. The day of the tea,
students dresses in their “Sunday best” and
used perfect table manners as they served
tea. It was wonderful.
June 15th. The balance of the 2006-2007
registration and supply fee is due June 15th.
• A Special thank you:
For every letter, gift, yummy treat
and the wonderful lunches
provided for the staff on teacher
appreciation day. We are all so
fortunate to teach your wonderful
children every day!
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Clothing Information
Don’t forget, students are allowed to wear their
OFMS T-shirts every day in the summer.
Elementary students must wear an OFMS shirt or
T-shirt on field trips.
Beginning September 4th, we will go back to our
regular school uniforms.
Please make sure that your child has a change of
clothing in the bin appropriate for the summer.
This is to include socks, and all things should be
labeled.
Shoes that light up are not allowed at school.
Students play with their shoes when they should
be working in the academic environment. This is
also a distraction for other students. Please keep
this in mind when you are buying shoes for
school. We know you want your child as well as
other children to concentrate in the classroom.
PRACTICAL LIFE IN THE HOME
In the Montessori environment, Practical Life
work is the foundation for the future. At school, your
child might learn how to use a sponge or scrub a table. At
home, he can wipe the sink area after washing, set the
table for dinner or prepare his own lunch. Adults carry out
these daily tasks and children want to participate in them.
Children however, perform these activities for a different
purpose. Dr. Montessori said, “An adult works to
perfect the environment but a child works to perfect
himself.”
Why is Practical Life so important? By deeply
concentrating on a task, a child’s mind and body
movements become focused and refined. This intense
concentration aids her intellectual development. The
purpose of doing Practical Life is not to master the tasks for
their own sake, but rather to develop discipline,
organization, independence and self-esteem by completing
a cycle of activities.
When working with your child at home, begin with
the basics at an early age. Give him ample time. Move
from simple to complex and shorter to longer tasks. You
cannot expect a child to set the table if he doesn’t know
how to carry a dish carefully.
Demonstrate activities to your child. Younger
children need fewer words when given instruction. You
should use key words such as shoes, feet. Slow your
movements so that he can absorb each one. After you
have finished, give him a turn. Watch quietly.
Unnecessary adult help is a hindrance. Remember,
adults typically do a job for a result…a child does a job
for the joy of just doing it. For more information, read
the book, Montessori At Home.
Newsletter 2
Newsletter 3