october newletter don`t delete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O c t o b e r 2 012
Pines Montessori School Community Newsletter
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Pines in the Pines!
Have you made your Pines in the Pines camping reservation yet? Last
Dr. Montessori suggests an advantage of teaching
cursive to the young child is that they will perfect
their wring during the sensive period.
In today’s world the role of cursive wring is
unclear. Some tradional schools have abandoned it altogether. Others teach
cursive penmanship in elementary school, only for it to be put aside once the
child develops computer key boarding skills and can type his work.
The art of fine penmanship seems to have been lost and most adults
write with a mixture of print and cursive, or write rarely preferring to communicate in type. Cursive was the way wri&en language was originally taught
in the Montessori environment. It was easier for the child, and therefore
allowed the child to experience more success.
While many public schools are abandoning cursive, we believe in its
benefits. Children are introduced to cursive as the way that people write and
then taught to match cursive with manuscript which is what machines produce. At this young age this is very easily done.
We are very grateful that at last year’s Spring Gala you, our families,
helped sponsor the purchase of new sandpaper cursive le&ers and cursive
moveable alphabets for both Primary and Lower Elementary communies.
These materials will introduce cursive to the young child and bridge the gap
for the older student.
Sit down and look at your own handwring this week. Think about how
much of the world’s history is wri&en in cursive. There are many children who
cannot read these important documents. There are many young people who
do not possess a legal signature.
year was a "sold out" event - so book now before all the sites are gone!
Pines in the Pines Event Details:
What: An annual event for Pines families to relax & enjoy the beauty of
nature together- camping, playing, fishing, hiking and exploring.
Dates: Friday Nov 2nd - Sun Nov 4th 2012
Place: Lake Livingston State Park (about one hour north of Kingwood)
Options:
• Planning on Camping? - "Hercules Club Loop" is the camping loop
you want to reserve in.
• No tent but interested in staying the night? Lake Livingston also has
screened shelters for rent (these are not in the Hercules Loop however).
•
Prefer to sleep in your own beds? Don't worry, at least mark your
calendar to join us for a fun day in a gorgeous setting- Nov 3rd 2012
we have the enclosed Recreation Hall reserved all day. Last year we
all brought picnics for lunch and shared a grill to cook food for dinner. This year we will plan on the same. More details as we get closer to the date - just make those campsite reservations if you want to
camp!!!!
Go to the following website to reserve:
http://texas.reserveworld.com/Searchpark.aspx
Have questions? Made a reservation already?
Let Yvonne know....
Yvonne Catala
(Pines parent - kids in room 18 & 13 and Trustee)
[email protected] 979-450-8327
School Pictures
Silent Discovery Journey
October 1st- 4th
Individual photos will be taken and
available for purchase from the photographer on-line. The
schedule of which day is for your child’s class will be sent
home soon. All pictures are taken very first thing in the
morning. Class photos will be taken in the spring.
Dear Families,
The weekend of Friday, October 5th and Saturday, October 6th is our presentation of
Montessori Silent Discovery Journey.
Martha Zimmerman returns to Pines to offer an evening discussing
language and writing in the Montessori curriculum. Martha is a
Montessori teacher trainer as well as a certified Montessori teacher
in the Early Childhood, Lower and Upper Elementary and has
taught Middle School as well.
She will take us to a developmental and historical look at
handwriting and the acquisition of these skills. We will discuss the
need for penmanship in this modern age of texting and e-mailing.
What is it? : The Silent Discovery Journey is a part of our Parent Education program that will give participants an unique opportunity to experience the full Montessori Curriculum firsthand.
The Journey begins on Friday night with a silent walk through the classroom communities. This Journey helps set aside time-without interruptions–to really experience the classrooms and the materials
as your children experience them. You will journey from Toddlers through Middle School.
During the Discovery on Saturday morning, you step into your children’s shoes as you choose to work
with materials. Ask for a lesson. Choose your work. Follow the thread through related materials from
the Toddlers’ environment to the Middle School environment. There will be teachers from every level
available to answer your questions and explain materials.
Childcare will be provided. Check the PCO website to sign up.
As always, please free to invite a friend or family member too!
This seminar quiets the mind so you can truly discover your children’s Montessori world from the inside out.
http://www.pines.my-pta.org/
Because of the intensity of this experience, a limited number of spaces are available. Please sign up
on the parent page at http://www.pines.my-pta.org/ as soon as possible.
Tuesday, October 23rd
6 pm
Thank you for considering joining us in this journey.
Friday, October 5th 6-8 pm and
Saturday, October 6th 8:30-12 pm
Fall Parade
Pines Marketplace
October 26th at 9:30 a.m.
Catherine Waters, mother of Jack Seuss, will be hosting a fundraising
Arrive about 15 minutes early!
event at her home that will benefit Pines!
Bring your cameras!
There will be several vendors there selling many amazing things from
some great companies such as Scentsy, Stella and Dot, Pampered Chef,
Usborne Books, and Grace Adele Handbags.
Toddlers– Upper El will parade around
the school wearing their costumes. The
parade is very quick so find your spot
outside the classrooms and the
students will walk around the building.
All hostesses will make a donation to Pines!
Join us on October 27th, 5-8 p.m.
2403 Twin Grove Drive, 77339
Coffee will be served in the Gazebo in
the back of the school. Please enjoy
the morning.
Pines Picnic
Join us for a wonderful picnic time in
Infinity Park!
Our annual Fall Family
Picnic is a lazy time in the back yard.
Pack a lunch and bring a blanket.
Simple backyard games will be set up for your family to
play as well as beautiful places to take fall family photos.
Saturday, October 27th,
11 a.m.—3 p.m.
Come and go all throughout this time.
October
1-4 School Photos
5 Silent Discovery Journey– Part I 6 pm
6 Silent Discovery Journey– Part II 8:30 am
8 No School Professional Development
Day– Extended Care Open
12 Play in the Park 3-4:30 pm
18 Middle School Round Table 6-8 pm
23 Writing the Montessori Way 6-8 pm
25-26 Middle School Conferences
26 Fall Parade 9:30 am
27 Fall Family Picnic– 11-3 pm
27 Pines Marketplace 5-8 pm
Winter Cultural Festival
Class 14
Class 11
Class 10
Class 4
November
Class 18
1 Come See Me Work Day
2-4 Pines in the Pines Camping at Lake Livingston Park
5-8 Parent Conferences
9 Play in the Park 3-4:30 pm
12-15 Parent Conferences/ Charity Food Drive
16 Thanksgiving Day Feast– Noon Dismissal– No Extended Care
19-23 School Closed Thanksgiving Break
October
Happy Birthdays to:
Class 8– Reese
Maxime
Class 6– Abram
Class 11– Jeremiah
Class 4– Gage
Ishaac
Class 10– Evan
Class 6
Class 12
Class 13
These are the cultures the Primary– Upper Elementary
students are studying to present at the Winter Cultural
Festival on Thursday December 20th. Can you name
them all?
If you have any information or cultural items to share
please let the teachers know.
The Hubbard Family invites you to join
News from our Pines Families
the Walk by Faith 5k November 11th
The Stavinoha family invites you to join them in the
benefitting
Addi’s
which
a
Circles of Hope Foundation Golf Tournament presented by
Carbide Specialists, Inc. benefitting the Turner Syndrome
is
Faith
Foundation,
non-profit
organization
dedicated to ending childhood cancer.
The main goals of this Foundation are to:
Society. The Circles of Hope Foundation’s goal is to
Fund pediatric brain tumor research
promote awareness and help raise money for research of
Provide financial / emotional assistance to families struggling
Turner Syndrome. There is so much that doctors, and we
to care for a child with cancer
as individuals, need to learn about Turner Syndrome. The
For more information please visit http://walkbyfaith5k.org
Stavinoha’s decided to create the Circles of Hope
Foundation after their precious daughter Kinsley, who is in
Primary, was born with Turner Syndrome. Please join them
The Bohner Family would like to make you aware of the Atascocita
High School Eagle Dash on Satur-
in their quest for creating awareness, promoting research
day, November 10th at 9:00
and providing love and support to the many lives touched
by TS.
The Eagle Dash is a 5K obstacle
course and fun run created to ben-
Saturday, October 20th, 2012 at Oakhurst Golf Club
1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
12:00 p.m. Putting Contest begins
efit the JROTC and Class of 2016.
The Eagle Dash helped raise over
$6000 last year and we are excited
about it being a tradition in our
For more information about the Circles of Hope Founda-
community. The course is set up on
the campus of Atascocita High
School and was designed with the
help of our future Marines.
http://www.ahseagledash.com/
Please let us know if there is an event that you would like our
Pines Families to know about. We will be happy to get the
word out for you!
Please e-mail [email protected]