- dr.maria montessori january 2014 · the mother’s guide to self-renewal: how to reclaim,...
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January 2014Happy Birthday to......our friends born in January:
Welcome New Students to Athena and Graduating TOTs Students to Primary!
Enrollment Time! Re-Enrollment Form & Fee - Due FEB. 1stIt’s already time to enroll for the next school year! The enrollment process occurs annually from January through March and placement decisions are based on the following sequence:
• Current students• Siblings• Waiting list families
Current families: We will be emailing your enrollment form to you the first week in January. Your re-enrollment form and fee ($275) are due by February 1st to secure your spot for next school year (August 2014-June 2015). You may include your fee with your February tuition check.
Waiting list families: We will call or email you as we get closer to your place on the waiting list to gauge your interest should a spot become available. !By way of reminder, we go in order of the date waiting list applications were submitted (siblings included) and also take into consideration the needs of each classroom to balance age, gender, temperament and diversity.!Please note that while we aim to complete enrollment by the end of March, the enrollment process can continue all the way to August. !Thank you for keeping us updated with any changes in contact information to assist us in this process.
Education should no longer be mostly imparting knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentials.
- Dr.Maria Montessori
Eleanor (1/1)Carlisle (1/2)Vivian (1/2)Hascall (1/6)Nash (1/8)
Devlin (1/9)Ms. Brittany (1/10)Ariana (1/13)Sam (1/14)
Olivia F. (1/19)Luke (1/20)Isaac (1/22)Maeve (1/23)
Ms. Nichole (1/23) Grace (1/27)Quinn (1/28)Quinten (1/31)
Update on Elementary at AthenaAfter much deliberation, and several meetings with my colleagues, mentors and advisors, I have decided that next year is not the year to start an elementary program at Athena. There are more refinements that I want to make on our current program before expanding in a new direction. Our focus and core competency has always been on the Absorbent Mind period - zero to six years old, and venturing into new territory with older children will require extensive research, planning and preparation in order to execute it with the level of quality our families at Athena have come to expect.!I will continue to stay open to the possibility of building an elementary program in the future, when the time is right. Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my survey questions. Your feedback is very helpful and much appreciated.
As always, it will be very hard to say goodbye to our families who have to graduate and leave our program. We will continue to do our best to offer guidance to you as to where to go next, based on what we feel is in the best interest of your children. Thank you for your continued understanding and support. ~ Lisl
TOTs 1 Warblers-----Reed (started in Nov.)TOTs 2 Sandpipers--Elizabeth (started in Dec.)JensonMarvelRenzoSophia
Primary 1 Thunderbirds---------LoweMilo (from TOTs 2)Primary 2 Phoenixes-Elijah (from TOTs 2)Ellis C.
Primary 3 Sparrows--Alexa (from TOTs 2)Dylan (from TOTs 2)Claire B. (returning)Primary 4 Quetzals---Koruna (returning)
Thanks to all of our parents for your generous
and thoughtful holiday staff gifts and cards.
Recommended Reads for the New Year!Slow Family Living - by Carrie Contey
Parenting for a Peaceful World - by Robin Grille
The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate, and Rebalance your Life - by Renee Trudeau
To read more about the difference between goals and intentions, follow these links.
http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/926
http://healing.about.com/od/marciawieder/a/powerintention.htm
A Message from Ms. LauraDear Families,As we welcome a new year, I imagine many of you are reflecting on the past year, considering the year ahead and
focusing (or at least attempting to focus!) on what you hope to manifest for both yourself and your family this year. If you’re anything like me, you may have given up on the notion of setting New Year’s resolutions, a routine which typically consisted of writing a list of at-first, seemingly attainable goals, followed by an attempt to meet those goals and a period
of realization and acceptance that maybe that list was a little too long or the goals a little too unrealistic?
I realize now that it wasn’t so much that my goals were unrealistic; all I needed was a more refined way of thinking about what really matters to me and a new approach to manifesting those things in my life by setting intentions rather than goals. Perhaps not surprisingly, I’ve come to this realization through my work with the children who consistently force me
to be present and, by staying present, I allow myself to gain clarity about what’s really important in my life.
This year I encourage you to do the same, although I acknowledge that, unlike the children, it’s not always easy to stay present. We live in a fast-paced, media-infiltrated culture and demands for our attention are everywhere. This realization provides us, however, with more reason to be conscious about our intentions, so that we can be proactive in creating the
life we really want for both ourselves and our children.
Need help getting started?
Make self-care a priority. If you’re feeling like you don’t have time to consider what’s most important to you, find
a way to prioritize self-care! By taking time to nurture your whole-being, you’ll feel better equipped to focus on what you
want out of life and manifest the life you really want.
Go back to Gratitude. I can’t emphasize enough how much a simple practice of gratitude will transform your life!
Acknowledging those things you are grateful for on a regular basis will give you clarity about what’s most important in your
life.
Just say NO. Remember that it’s ok to say “no!” We often feel pulled by things we feel we should be doing. Focus
instead on your intentions and say no to those demands which aren’t aligned with what you really want out of life. (Reminding yourself of your intentions will also help you let go of any ensuing guilt which isn’t serving you!)
Ask for support. Sharing your intentions with those in your support system and leaning on them for support and
motivation will help you feel more successful on your path.
Go with the flow. Remember, that just like our children, we will go through periods of disequilibrium which may feel
like regression. Be patient with yourself, remind yourself that this is where real growth occurs, and keep going!
Here’s hoping that 2014 is a magical year for you and your family . . .
have a wonderful and Happy New Year!
"There is no passion to be found in playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela
Vision & Hearing Form Due Jan. 17thThe Vision & Hearing Form (at the end of this newsletter) is due by January 17th to our office for all children who were at least four years old by September 1st, 2013. On the form, you will have the option of signing up for the screening offered at Athena on February 19th at 9 AM, or you can elect to have your child screened at your doctor’s office. All screening results are due to the Athena office by February 19th and required annually by the health department.
Credit CardsBeginning January 15th, we will no longer be able to accept credit card payments. We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.
Athena Canned Food DriveThanks to all of you who donated canned food for our food drive supporting the Capital Area Food Bank! As a community, we were able to provide a significant contribution of non-perishable food to families in need this past holiday season. The staff enjoyed delivering the food and volunteering at the food bank on the December 20th Staff Development Day.
Signature Bricks Leave Your Imprint On The Athena Pathway on the Performance Porch!Have your name engraved for your child, for your family, or to honor someone special on your personalized, signature brick. Proceeds go towards Athena’s professional development and teacher training. Deadline to turn in your order to the office is February 28th! Click here to view the order form on our website.
Thanks to the parents of the
TOTs 2 Sandpipers class for providing an
amazing spread in
December for Staff
Appreciation!
Athena staff at the food bank
Fundraising UpdateCasino RoyOWL Spring Dinner & Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, APRIL 12th, 2014
DONATE TO THE AUCTION: Donate a service or item for our auction! Contact Ellen for details at [email protected].
VOLUNTEER: If you are interested in volunteering, join our Parent
Committee Yahoo Group to keep informed about committees and meetings. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/athenavolunteers!and click “Join This Group!”.
Check out our fundraising thermometer on the Get Involved page of our website to track our progress and read the
fundraising letter from Lisl!
Looking for Carpenters and Handymen!Are you or someone you know a talented handyman or carpenter? We are looking to add to our list of contractors that we call on for regular campus maintenance tasks and special projects. Please email Keyla at [email protected] for more information!
Primary 2 Phoenixes
class working on art books
Parent Workshop Series by Bethany PrescottMark your calendars for the last workshop in this series!
Parenting the Sensitive ChildSunday, April 13th, 3 - 5 PMWe’ll discuss the challenges and delights in parenting a sensitive child. Together we’ll look at how to help your sensitive child navigate their big feelings and break through worry, overwhelm, and fear.
Athena offers parenting workshops for our Athena community (including waiting list families) taught by Bethany Prescott throughout the school year. Bethany is a trained therapist, wife, and!mother of three, and was previously a Montessori toddler teacher for eight years. She supports parents, couples,!and teachers to lovingly guide and deeply connect with the!children they share their lives with.
We’re excited to open the parent workshop series to include your “village.” Please feel free to invite family members, babysitters, friends, neighbors, or other special people in your life.
Remember, there will be no childcare available on campus, so please make other arrangements as these workshops are intended for adults only. Babies in arms are welcome.
Important Dates
Jan. 6 Staff Development Day SCHOOL CLOSED
Jan. 7 First Day of Spring Semester for Returning Students
Jan. 8 First Day of Spring Semester for New Students
Jan. 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day SCHOOL CLOSED
FEB. 17 Staff Development Day SCHOOL CLOSED
Mar. 10 - 14 Spring Break SCHOOL CLOSED
Mar. 28 AMS Conference SCHOOL CLOSED
Spanish Class NewsHola Familias! Feliz año nuevo!!I hope you enjoyed the holiday break! For January, we'll be focusing on "opposites" -Week 1: !largo/corto (long/short), grande/pequeño (big/small)Week 2: !seco/mojado (dry/wet), rápido/despacio (fast/slow)Week 3: !callado/ruidoso (quiet/loud), sucio/limpio (dirty/clean)Week 4: !Review
We'll be reading the following books in Spanish this month: !*Perro Grande, Perro Pequeño - P.D. Eastman*The Foot Book - Dr. Seuss*What's Up Duck? - Tad Hills*Olivia's Opposites - Ian Falconer
Saludos, Steph
News from our Community---------------------Sign-up for Extracurricular ClassesTo see more information and sign-up for the extracurricular classes offered at Athena for the spring semester, you can visit the websites listed below:
Jump! Gymnastics - JumpGymnastics.comWee Warriors - TraditionalMartialArtsAcademy.comSoccer Shots - SoccerShots.org (Starts Tuesday!)Creative Dance Adventures - CreativeDanceAdventures.comLittle Wing School of Rock - Austin.LittleWing.com (new times!)
Camp Options for Spring Break Creative Dance Adventures will be offering a camp at Athena during
Spring Break, March 10-14, (and on March 28th for the AMS conference). For details, please contact Joan Wolfe at [email protected] or visit www.CreativeDanceAdventures.com.
Jump! Gymnastics will be offering a camp at their facility during Spring Break, March 10-14. For details, visit their website jumpgymnastics.com.
Kathleen Tacquard, R.N., C.P.N.P. & Associates
Child Health Consultants 11400 Murcia Austin, Texas 78759 346-2692
__________________ Parent or Guardian Signature Date
Texas Dept. of Health Requirement -‐ VISION & HEARING
Athena Montessori
The Special Senses and Communications Disorders Act Ch. 36 -‐ requires all schools to show proof that Vision and Hearing screening has been done on all 4, 5, and 6 yr. olds > must be done three years in a row. Strongly encouraged are children ages 3½ to 4yrs. As you know, early identification can change a life. Because of this law and in keeping with the quality your school provides, they have again chosen the above group of professionals to perform the screening on Wednesday Feb. 19, 2014 -‐ 9 a.m. Vision is screened by letter identification unnecessary. Hearing is screened by
The school will receive a copy for their records and one to send home to the parent.
If your child is 4, 5 or 6 yrs. old and you prefer to have this done elsewhere: please give the school a copy of screening done during/after May 2013 by the screening date . IMPORTANT: The Texas Dept. of Health requires the school to have vision results that are recorded for both right and left eye individually and hearing must be an audiometric test done on the 2000, 4000 Hz. NOTE: The TDOH will NOT accept an Otoacoustic Emissions Test for a hearing screening. Your compliance allows the school to complete and submit the required yearly Vision and Hearing report to the Texas Dept. of Health. PLEASE RETURN TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE EVEN IF DECLINING BY FRIDAY JAN. 17th
-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐
___________________________ ______ ______________ ________ ___________________ (please print) Age Grade/Teacher Room # Date of Birth Check, cash or money order should be made out to K. Tacquard, R.N. If you have more than one child being screened PLEASE ATTACH A SEPARATE PAYMENT FOR EACH STUDENT. **Checks are cashed AFTER screening.** Two tests -‐ $45 One test -‐ $30
Please check which screenings are needed:
_____Vision Required: all 4, 5, & 6 yr. olds > 3 years in a row. Strongly encouraged: all 3 ½ -‐ 4 yr. olds. _____Hearing Required: all 4, 5, & 6 yr. olds > 3 years in a row. Strongly encouraged: all 3 ½ -‐ 4 yr. olds. _____I am choosing not to participate. If my child is 4, 5, or 6 yrs. old, I will give the school results of screening done during/after May 2013 by the screening date. OR vision and hearing screening. An appointment is scheduled for ____________________________and results will be turned in by the screening date.
The following information is helpful if your child is participating in the screening: vision or hearing problems?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: STUDENTS WHO WEAR GLASSES/ CONTACTS SHOULD WEAR THEM FOR SCREENING!
IMPORTANT: Return to school office -‐ even if declining -‐ by Friday Jan. 17th
January 2014 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
To get involved, stay connected, participate in event planning or learn about volunteer opportunities,
join our Parent Committee Yahoo Group by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/athenavolunteers
and clicking “Join This Group!”
Tuition Due 1 Carlisle’s Birthday! 2 3 Tuition Late After 5TH 4 Eleanor’s Birthday!
Winter Break
SCHOOL CLOSED
Vivian’s Birthday! Winter Break
SCHOOL CLOSED
Winter Break
SCHOOL CLOSED
Hascall’s Birthday! 6 7 Nash’s Birthday! 8 Devlin’s Birthday! 9 10 11 Staff Development Day
SCHOOL CLOSED
FIRST DAY BACK FOR RETURNING STUDENTS
2:00 – 2:35 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:20 Soccer Shots
FIRST DAY FOR NEW STUDENTS
Ms. Brittany’s Birthday!
Ariana’s Birthday! 13 Sam’s Birthday! 14 15 16 17 18
2:45 – 3:15 Jump! Gymnastics 3:30 – 4:00 Jump! Gymnastics
2:00 – 2:35 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:20 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:15 Wee Warriors
2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance
2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance 3:45 – 4:30 Creative Dance
Vision & Hearing Form Due
3:00 – 3:45 Little Wing 4:00 – 4:45 Little Wing
Olivia F.’s Birthday! (1/19)
Luke’s Birthday! 20 21 Isaac’s Birthday! 22 Maeve’s Birthday! 23 24 25
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
SCHOOL CLOSED
2:00 – 2:35 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:20 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:15 Wee Warriors
2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance
Ms. Nichole’s Birthday! 2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance 3:45 – 4:30 Creative Dance
3:00 – 3:45 Little Wing 4:00 – 4:45 Little Wing
Grace’s Birthday! 27 Quinn’s Birthday! 28 29 30 Quinten’s Birthday! 31 FEBRUARY 1
2:45 – 3:15 Jump! Gymnastics 3:30 – 4:00 Jump! Gymnastics
2:00 – 2:35 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:20 Soccer Shots 2:45 – 3:15 Wee Warriors
2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance
2:45 – 3:30 Creative Dance 3:45 – 4:30 Creative Dance
3:00 – 3:45 Little Wing 4:00 – 4:45 Little Wing
Re-Enrollment Form & Fee Due
Drop-off and Pick-up Schedule: T1, T2, Drop-off (8:30-9:00) Pick-up (2:45-3:00) P2 & P4 Drop-off (8:15-8:30) Pick-up (2:30-2:45) P1 & P3 Drop-off (8:30-8:45) Pick-up (2:45-3:00) Half Day Pick-up TOTs (12:15) Primary (12:30)
SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATE: School will be closed on March 28th for our staff to attend the AMS conference!