January
2015
Newsletter
Dates to Remember:
st
nd
Jan. 1 & 2 –
(School closed)
Jan. 5th – First day
of school
Jan. 19th – Martin
Luther King Jr.
Day (School Closed)
Happy New Year
A big thank you to all our parents and families for
your participation in our Holiday Celebrations and for helping us make it an enjoyable time for
everyone. It is a great encouragement for your children to see you and your smiles at all school
events. Children are born artists, dancers and storytellers! They are naturally creative and enjoy
all kinds of artistic expressions. It is our joyful responsibility to offer artistic opportunities to
nurture their love for the performing arts.
We appreciate your continued support; working together ensures the success of our children. We
wish you a happy, healthy and a prosperous New Year!
Flower of the Month - Carnation; scientifically known as
Flower Power - Carnation
Dianthus Caryophyllus, is considered “flower of love” or “flower of the gods”. The Carnation, one of the
world's oldest cultivated flowers, is appreciated for its ruffled appearance, clove-like scent, and extended
blooming period. Different colors of Carnation express various meanings. While dark red represents love
and affection, white is associated with purity and luck, and, pink is often given as a sign of gratitude .
Jan 19th
Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that we are all the same, and he had a dream that all
human beings could live together in harmony without racial discrimination. He believed that we
should all love one another and be kind. On this day, our students will learn about him and the
importance of love, kindness and non discrimination towards one another. We will read age
appropriate books on his biography and they will also be making a dove to symbolize peace.
Jan 26th
Australia Day!
We will dedicate this month to learn about the world's smallest continent,
which is also the largest island in the world. Students will learn various facts
about Australia, including its geographical location, its flag, its capital,
Canberra, its iconic Opera House in Sydney, and about its indigenous people:
the Aborigines. Students will also spend a significant amount of time learning
about Marsupials, the mammals that carry the young in a pouch, living
primarily in Australia.
Jan 27th
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Day!
Mozart was the most sensational wonder-child or child prodigy in the history of music. He was born
in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. He started playing the keyboard at the age of three, composed his first
piece of music at age of five, and was an excellent pianist and violinist by the time he was six. He had
his first piece published when he was seven; and he wrote his first opera when he was twelve.
During his short life of 35 years, he composed all different musical forms; including operas,
symphonies, concertos, masses and chamber music. To commemorate his contribution to music, our
students will dedicate the last week of January to appreciate classical music and learn about piano
and violin.
Jan 29th
National Puzzle Day
Our students will spend a significant amount of time engaging in a variety of
puzzles. Along with many other benefits, these puzzles will improve their
hand-eye coordination, motor skills, memory, problem solving skills, and help them to set goals and
practice patience.
Weekly Enrichment Program
Evidence bears out that Physical activity, Art and Academic achievement are
significantly co-related. With the hopes of enhancing physical flexibility;
refining balance and coordination; and developing focus & concentration,
our students will be introduced to basic children's yoga on every Tuesday &
Thursday mornings. We will also unlock our students' potential with the
power of "Art & Painting" on Wednesday afternoons, and introduce them to
"Ballet" on Thursday afternoons to improve their posture, poise, and
confidence with a touch of grace. And on Friday afternoons, our students
will learn how to creatively express emotions through our "Contemporary
Dance" class.
Montessori Philosophy
The Role of the Teacher in a Montessori Classroom:
There are stark differences between a traditional preschool classroom and a Montessori
environment. One focal distinction is the role of the "Teacher". In a Montessori
classroom, it is the child who takes the active role in the learning process, unlike in the
case of a traditional preschool. Thus, the role of a "Teacher" in a Montessori classroom is
very different from that of a teacher in a preschool classroom. In a preschool system, the
teacher takes the active steps to teach, and the child is a passive recipient.
Further, in a preschool setting, the classroom is designed around the teacher, and not the child. In contrast, the Montessori
environment is designed to facilitate the child's lead role and the teacher's role as a guide. Thus, in a Montessori setting, the
child is able to move freely, exploring the prepared environment, while the teacher steps in only when necessary. As a
result, the child becomes independent, interdependent and resourceful. In a preschool classroom, the child loses this
dimension as the child gets used to being controlled by the teacher.
In a traditional preschool system, children are fitted into classes strictly according to age. This is one more barrier that the
Montessori system has done away with. In a Montessori classroom, children with greater range in age are deliberately
brought together. This encourages individually brilliant children to reach out beyond their age, to learning materials that
are available to older children. It also prevents the stunting of a child's superior abilities, on the excuse that he is not old
enough.
In the Montessori philosophy, the teacher is a keen observer of sensitive periods of each individual child, documenting
every single milestone and progress he makes, providing encouragement and guidance early to the deserving child while
intervening when the child requests. "Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed." - Dr. Maria Montessori
New Infant Facility
We will soon be opening a state-of-the-art infant facility for those as young as six weeks old.
Our Montessori trained, infant care qualified teachers will provide a nurturing, safe &
comfortable environment, with a developmental focus on cognitive, motor, sensory, language,
social and practical life activities for young minds.
"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think"
- Margaret Mead
$100 Tuition Credit - Refer Friends & Family to earn $100 for each enrolling child!