A New Year - Escuela del Sol Montessori School

VOL 11/NO 1
2.23.11
A New Year
by Friedje van Gils, Head of School
What will the New Year bring? My wish for all of you is a year of growth,
fulfillment and peace. Kind of reminds me of a dear friend who, when asked
what she’d like for her birthday (or any holiday involving presents), always says
she wants a clean house and world peace. That sums it up for many of us, I think!
There are many other details a New Year brings—enrolling your children for the
following school year is one of them. Isn’t great to begin the new year by looking
forward, by anticipating the growth and new adventures that lie ahead? You’ll
soon receive a packet of information for enrollment; this serves as a heads up
and an invitation to visit and observe our school’s classrooms.
For students moving from Primary to Elementary we ask that parents meet with
me for a pre-enrollment discussion and tour. Just call our office at 242-3033 or
email me: [email protected] to schedule your appointment.
I look forward to seeing many of you soon...and all the best for a Grrrreat 2011!
Our students are
ready for
anything.
What’s Inside?
· Art Department News
· Garden News
· Weather Closure Update
· Shahida Mirza Poetry Contest
· Meditation for Kids
· Harwood E vents
· Thoughts on Tiger Moms
· Escuela’s Best-Kept Secret?
· Brithdays
· Calendar
· Photos and Student Work
Annual Appeal
We’ve all seen the wonderful
changes to the toddler outdoor
space. More incredible things are
planned and we’re just waiting
on generous donors­—like you—
to help!
We’re going to transform our
outdoor spaces into living, learning
classrooms and now is the time
to contribute. Thanks to a generous contribution from the Romero
family, your donation will be
matched—up to $50,000!
I hope you’ll join me and my
family in this great endeavor. If
you didn’t receive an annual
appeal packet please call the
office at 242-3033.
­ Lissa Blaschke
—
(Nil’s and Sophia’s Mom)
Art Department
News
by Vashti Gamble
Intersections: An Escuela Elementary Art Exhibit in the Harwood Main Gallery
Opening reception: Friday, March 4, 5-6pm
Please join us for an exhibition of artwork created by
the elementary children of Escuela del Sol Montessori.
The work explores the interplay between their
imaginations, math, science, language and their unique
childhood experiences. This collection includes a wide
variety of media including painting, modular origami,
and fiber arts. Interested in volunteering to coordinate
the reception? Please contact Vashti,
[email protected].
Robin’s Kitchen Student Gallery
Sr. El. students Mya, Liam and Grace are curators for the second student art
show in the Robin’s Kitchen Escuela Art Gallery. The theme is Nature and the
work was created by students from the Jr. and Sr. Elementary. Stop by the cafe
and check it out!
Paver Art Project
Sr. El. students worked with our landscape design team (I’m not sure what to
call them, does this work?) to create collaborative art works that will become
part of our increasing beautiful campus!
“It’s cool because every time we walk on these, we’ll remember that we helped
make them!” ­­—Sebastian Shuyler
Garden News
School Security
by Julie Kois
With the onset of winter, the gardening projects largely moved inside. In all
three classes we have been experimenting with sprouting beans and oats
and observing different growth styles in roots and shoots. We will continue to
explore the parts of plants and their “jobs”.
Some other projects developed spontaneously. Students in Ms. Jitka’s class
discovered 10 cabbage worm caterpillars and we brought them in—they built
chrysalises and 8 emerged as butterflies. When they died, the children met at
circle to decide what to do with them—compost or bury?—and they agreed to
name them before burial. Students in Ms. Cristina’s class discovered the seed
pods from the narcissus bulbs we forced and have planted them to see if they
can get them to grow.
A few outside projects were completed during those warm winter days.
Children in all the elementary classes planted bulbs in the butterfly habitat.
Two girls in Ms. Jennifer’s class were so inspired that they made up a song they
sang for (at least!) twenty minutes: “we love dirt (x3), and we want to play in it.”
Wheelbarrow loads of leaves have been placed in old beds as mulch—and it
couldn’t have happened a day too soon, given the more recent drastic change in
temperature!
Soon it will be time to replant the garden boxes, which (may?) still have fallplanted carrots, lettuce, kale, and radishes ready to bust out when spring really
comes. We have been blessed to receive a donation of seeds, so we will have
lots of choices about what to plant.
Please remember that
Escuela’s investment in an
electronically locked gate
is for the safety of all our
children. While it may seem
unfriendly, please do not
open the gate for people who
do not know the code. You
can remind them to push
the intercom button so that
someone in the office can
speak to them and open the
gate remotely if needed.
Your support in keeping our
children safe is very much
appreciated!
New Babies!
Congratulations to new
parents Inga Tomlinson
(one of our own elementary
teachers!), hubby Jonathan
Guiney, and big brother
Connor on the birth of Helene
Beatrice Tomlinson Guiney
on January 1, 2011 at 1:18 a.m..
She weighed in at 7 lb., 7 oz
and was 20˝ long. What a
smashing way to ring in the
new year!
Congrats also to Briana
Zamora and Kyle Nayback.
They welcomed Amara
Isabella Zamora Nayback
on December 14, 2010. She
weighed in at 6.5 lbs. and was
19.5˝ long. Big sister Addie
is excited and proud! What a
great gift for the holidays!
Shahida Mirza Poetry
Contest
Escuela del Sol Montessori and the Mirza family invite everyone to participate in
the First Annual Shahida Mirza Poetry Contest.
In memory of our mother, our teacher...
Our mother, Ms. Shadida Mirza, gave her utmost to teaching. Ms. Shad was a
committed Montessorian, educator, mother, friend, and poet. Teaching was her
passion and was not limited to the classroom.
As a teacher and poet, she was very capable of walking her students through
complex literary concepts. She encouraged her students to let their minds wander
and create ideas that they couldn’t believe. She was a great teacher and an even
greater mother to both her children and her students.
In reflecting on the first anniversary of her passing, we decided to sponsor a
poetry contest. This is something similar to what Ms. Shad would have assigned.
The theme of this contest is: “If I Were a River.” There is no requirement regarding
the length of the poem. Please include an illustration along with your poem. Let
your mind wander, and let the pen/pencil do the talking.
The contest begins on January 25 (the date of her passing) and closes on March 1
(her birthday). Prizes will be distributed on March 11.
Prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
Toddler (18 months–3 years)
Primary (3–6 years)
Junior elementary (6–9 years)
Senior elementary (9–12 years)
Middle school (12–15 years)
High school (15–18 years)
College (18–21 years)
Please mail your poem by March 1 to Monty Mirza, [email protected].
Education
is just the
beginning.
Kids’ Meditation
Drop-In
Every day there seems to be another medical study, scholarly article or news
report about the benefits of meditation and other mindfulness practices —
including benefits for children. Research shows a strong connection between
meditation and greater focus, happiness and overall mental health. Children
can start by practicing basics like sitting still, setting intentions, breathing and
calming the mind, even if just for a few minutes.
We are gauging interest in offering a Kids Meditation Drop-In prior to the
school day in the Harwood gym. Parents and their children could come for a
few minutes or more of meditation to start off the day. An experienced teacher
would be present to provide guidance. The plan would be to offer the sessions
a few times a week from 8am to 8:30am; there would not be fees but teachers
could accept donations at their discretion. If there is interest, the Drop-In may
start in late March or early April.
Would you and your children be interested in a Meditation Drop-In? If so please
send an email to Peri Pakroo (Jila’s Mom), at [email protected] or call her at
453-3155. We’ll put out another announcement with details about the Drop-In
if and when we get it started.
If you’re interested in more information about kids and meditation, a Google
search will turn up a lot of results. There’s also a great kids’ picture book available
at the Albuquerque Public Library, Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee
Maclean, which describes and illustrates a simple practice for kids.
Birthdays
December
12/8
12/9
12/8
12/4
12/5
12/15
12/1
12/1
12/21
12/5
12/19
12/15
12/18
12/27
12/30
12/11
12/8
12/26
12/10
12/24
Zia Budagher, 4
James Connor, 4
Spencer DeLara, 4
Thomas Dickson, 5
Christie Djidjev, 9
Nicholas Duran, 9
Isabelle Estrada, 6
Alexandria Estrada, 6
Brennan Jennings, 7
Grant Lapsys, 5
Allison Lium, 8
Alexis Monge, 3
Elizabeth Moore, 9
Jacob Schmidt, 9
Sofia Sterba, 5
Jackson Taylor, 10
Callia Ward, 4
Natalie Wilson, 10
Scott Wilson, 6
Iris Witt, 5
January
1/21
1/3
1/5
1/6
1/16
1/15
1/26
1/2
1/3
1/17
1/14
1/17
Sophia Blaschke, 6
Riley Collins, 5
Brigid Contreras
Ridlington, 8
Winder Dillenback, 4
Valerie Duran, 11
Aidan Irving, 3
Lilli Marjon, 3
Sarah Miller, 8
Aaron Pak, 4
Hayden Prescott, 6
Quinn Romero, 7
Diego Sanchez, 2
February
“Watercolor Fractal”
by Myles Heavilin , age 8
“An ode to ice cream”
by Ryan Hughes, age 8
2/6
2/7
2/8
2/20
2/6
2/28
2/8
2/20
2/20
2/15
Grace Freed, 10
Abigail Friggens, 4
Kendra Heck, 5
Ryan Hughes, 8
Bereket McCulloch, 2
Anna Ochoa, 3
Grace Rawlings, 7
Maya Rezoni, 4
Rumi Rezoni, 4
Julia Werner, 8
Calendar
February
24
Parent Workshop:
Intrinsic Motivation: Moving Away from Punishments & Rewards, 6:00 p.m.
March
4 First Fridays Coffee with
Head of School, 8:30-
9:30 a.m.
9 Elementary Science Expo, 5-7:30 p.m.
14-18 Spring Break
24 & 25 Spring Tea
April
8
11
16
21
22
First Fridays Coffee
with Head of School, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Teacher In-Service, School Closed
Parent-Teacher Work Day & Potluck,
7 a.m.–2 p.m.
Escuela Earth Day
Celebration, No
Classes, School Closes
at 1 p.m.
Vernal Holiday,
School Closed
May
6
13
16-18
16-19
20
25
25
First Fridays Coffee
with Head of School, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Senior Elementary/Staff Variety Show & Spaghetti Dinner, 6 p.m.
Jr. El. Camping trip
Sr. El. Camping trip
20/30 Anniversary Celebration
Elementary Egg Drop
Last Day of Classes & Year-End Celebration, 6 p.m.
Harwood Open
Studio Night
Free anad Fun for the Whole Family!
Come out for a night of art at the Harwood
Studios!
For twenty years, local artists have been basing
their creative enterprises out of The Harwood
studios. What makes The Harwood such a
special place for creativity? Visit with the current
Harwood artists and find out!
It’s an exciting and inspiring event, and is coupled
with our March Gallery Receptions, live musical performances, and film
projections by Basement Films.
Friday, March 4th, 6-8 pm
Community Classes
at Harwood
Community Yoga
Gain muscle tone, flexibility and mental clarity through yoga practice. Classes
are ongoing and beginners are welcome! Classes are Wednesdays 5:15-6.30
p.m. (Judy 681-1940) and Fridays 5:30-6:45 p.m. (Corri 307-6476) in the
Harwood Basement Dance Studio. $10 walk-in per class
Argentine Tango
No partner is necessary. Clases meet in the Harwood Basement Theater; for the
class calender to go www.tangodowntown.net. For more info: call 453-1786
Qi Gong
This 5,000 year old healing and stress relief practice uses breathing techniques
and graceful movements. Classes are held the first Saturday of every month at
8:30–9:30 a.m. in the Harwood Basement Dance Studio. For info: contact Juan
Carlos Zavala, 453-0749. Se habla Español.
What Tiger Moms
Need to Know
by Friedje van Gils, Head of School
You’ve heard the buzz...if not, you know the topic: How much should we demand
of our children? Should we push them to perform, to practice the piano four
hours per day, take every AP class available, drill them in math regardless of
what the school says or does? Is the “tiger mom,” the drill sergeant who makes
sure her children achieve all that is possible to achieve, the mom we should all
emulate? Is the tiger mom the conductor of the premier orchestra of cognitive
development?
In an interesting editorial in the New York Times, David Brooks writes: “Practicing
a piece of music for four hours requires focused attention, but it is nowhere near
as cognitively demanding as a sleepover with 14-year-old girls. Managing status
rivalries, negotiating group dynamics, understanding social norms, navigating
the distinction between self and group—these and other social tests impose
cognitive demands that blow away any intense tutoring session or a class at
Yale.” (“Amuy Chua Is a Wimp,” January 17, 2011)
A well-functioning group may be the very definition of a successful
business—or school. As we see here, with groups of young people, the social
and emotional intelligence of the group certainly seems to contribute to
the successful functioning of the classroom—and to the creation of a good
learning environment for the individual. As Brooks points out, most people in
the workplace work in groups. Collective problem solving is generally more
successful and efficient than problems addressed in solitude.
Brooks’ article caught my attention, not so much because of the tiger mom
debate, but because I know that parents and educators often tend to lose sight
of the cognitive and social skills our students really need to be well prepared
for their futures. How important is it to function well in a group, learn to trust,
read peoples’ moods, get a bead on various personalities, understand open and
masked intentions, realize others’ needs?
As our children enter a work place or a school that involves collaboration and
perhaps managing other people, they will certainly need these skills. And
they need these skills now, in their early years of school and as they enter
adolescence. Just think back to your last slumber party!
“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire
to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning
within him that light which is called intelligence.” ­
—Maria Montessori
Weather Closures
Some of the families in our Escuela community had questions
or concerns about the recent
weather related school closures.
We will put out a detailed letter
to each family very soon and
update our Family Handbook
for the new school year. Escuela
del Sol has plenty of time built
into the school schedule—more
than the APS schools and con­
siderably more than is required
by the state. We would like to
assure the parent community
that all academic requirements
and goals will be met in the days
we have left this year. However,
some changes to our calendar may be made so please be
on the lookout for a letter with
details.
The chances of more inclement weather are slim to none
(knock on wood!). However,
please be aware that Escuela del
Sol will continue to follow APS
for weather-related closures or
delays. In addition to the KOAT
and KOB television stations,
Escuela’s web site (Home Page
/ Bulletin Board) and phone
voice mail messages will give
you current status on closures
or delays.
We thank you for your under­
standing and continued support.
Burque Bop
Burque Bop is Back with live
music for grown-ups­­—in a
setting welcoming to families.
Join us on the 3rd Friday of
every month, at 6 pm, in
conjunction with our evening
gallery hours.
On deck Friday, March 18 is
Leiahdorus, voted #1 Indie
Band and #3 Electronic Act
in the Weekly Alibi’s 2010
Best of Burque Readers’ Poll!
Beginning this Spring, you
will be able to reserve a spot
online through our new
partner AMP Concerts.
Please visit
www.ampconcerts.org and
follow links to the Burque Bop
music series.
One of Escuela’s
Best-Kept Secrets
Help Spill the Beans! Do you know about the Escuela del Sol Library? It’s
that cozy little nook across the hall from the Jr. Elementary East classroom. If
you’ve never been in, take a few minutes to check it out.
The metal shelves in the center of the room are overflowing with fiction. The
wall facing you as you walk in holds Primary picture books. The rest of the
shelves house non-fiction organized by the Dewey Decimal System and
mapped out on the walls above the shelves. New donations are being made
constantly. Checkout of library materials is on an honor system.
Spend 15 minutes familiarizing yourself with our collection of books, and if
you’re lucky, you’ll see a few kids come in to do research. Montessori learners
in their natural habitat are always a joy to observe. And what better place than
in the library? Library research is the synthesis of so many classroom inquiries;
it shows in the confidence and focus of our students.
Our library’s vast potential is waiting to be fulfilled by book-loving parents like
you! Elementary students, guided by Ms. Jitka, work on shelving books after
the students are done with them; parent volunteers also help. Thank you!
Please contact Karen Mazur, [email protected], if you want to work with the
library crew and/or share your vision for our library.
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