by various contributors
This is our first SMS News Bulletin of the 2012-2013 school year for our Montessori families, teachers and members. The purpose is to inform you about important meeting dates, Montessori-related events and other SMS actitivies you might be interested in. Bulletins will be sent once or twice a month, or you can visit the "What's Up " section of the SMS website for the latest news.
Important Dates
Tomorrow Wed Oct 3rd - 7 pm | SMS Annual General Meeting
Please come to our AGM this Wednesday evening in the Sunnyside library. We are looking for a parent with strong administration skills to fill the role of Secretary on the executive this year. The Agenda is here and Call for Nominations form here, which includes a list of other committee roles open. Please note all parents from Mountainview and Sunnyside are welcome to attend.
**Re childcare: Please email delanne@shaw.ca if you would like to attend but require childcare. We hope to have some grade 6 and 7 students available. Please let us know ahead of time.
This Friday Oct 5th - 9 am | Material Making & Parent Education
This Friday morning in the Sunnyside library, Laura Rodriguez will be leading a worker bee team doing Montessori material making for the teachers. We will also be showing video presentations of math and language materials. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the materials for home use or classroom support. We plan to make this a regular Friday morning gathering. Mountainview parents are welcome as well! We hope to see you there.
Monthly PAC & Forum Meetings
Mountainview (single track) | PAC Meeting - 9 am - Friday Oct 12th
Sunnyside (dual track) | PAC Meeting - 9 am / Forum Meeting - 10 am - Thurs Oct 18th
While the SMS meetings, held every two months, focus on decision-making, educational workshops and fundraising activities that are applicable to families and teachers at both Mountainview and Sunnyside, the monthly school meetings are where parents and Principals meet to discuss the individual programs at each school specifically. This is where you can ask questions about our unique program and learn how to become involved. The next meeting dates are listed above.
Virtue of the Month
The Virtue we are honouring this month of October is Thankfulness. Thankfulness is being grateful for what we have. It is an attitude of gratitude for learning, loving and being. Appreciate the little things that happen around you and within you every day. Think positively. Thankfulness brings contentment. (source www.VirtuesProject.com)
Events of Interest
We have dedicated pages for local events that we feel might be of interest to our school community and membership. Please visit our "Local News & Events" page. There are also fantastic webinars offered on a regular basis, which you can find under "Webinars & Presentations." SMS plans to present a series of workshops for parents and teachers this year. Please send us your suggestions!
The Annual BC Montessori Conference is coming up Thursday October 18 - Friday October 19 at the Hilton Metrotown in Burnaby. More info is at www.bcmontessori.com. Dr. Paul Epstein, co-author of "The Montessori Way," will speak on the Thursday evening. Tickets are only $10 (see link above). SMS will purchase tickets for any teachers interested in seeing Dr. Epstein. There is a group of parents from Mountainview and Sunnyside going so if you would like to car pool, please email us at surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com.
Featured Montessori Materials
This is our first SMS News Bulletin of the 2012-2013 school year for our Montessori families, teachers and members. The purpose is to inform you about important meeting dates, Montessori-related events and other SMS actitivies you might be interested in. Bulletins will be sent once or twice a month, or you can visit the "What's Up " section of the SMS website for the latest news.
Important Dates
Tomorrow Wed Oct 3rd - 7 pm | SMS Annual General Meeting
Please come to our AGM this Wednesday evening in the Sunnyside library. We are looking for a parent with strong administration skills to fill the role of Secretary on the executive this year. The Agenda is here and Call for Nominations form here, which includes a list of other committee roles open. Please note all parents from Mountainview and Sunnyside are welcome to attend.
**Re childcare: Please email delanne@shaw.ca if you would like to attend but require childcare. We hope to have some grade 6 and 7 students available. Please let us know ahead of time.
This Friday Oct 5th - 9 am | Material Making & Parent Education
This Friday morning in the Sunnyside library, Laura Rodriguez will be leading a worker bee team doing Montessori material making for the teachers. We will also be showing video presentations of math and language materials. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the materials for home use or classroom support. We plan to make this a regular Friday morning gathering. Mountainview parents are welcome as well! We hope to see you there.
Monthly PAC & Forum Meetings
Mountainview (single track) | PAC Meeting - 9 am - Friday Oct 12th
Sunnyside (dual track) | PAC Meeting - 9 am / Forum Meeting - 10 am - Thurs Oct 18th
While the SMS meetings, held every two months, focus on decision-making, educational workshops and fundraising activities that are applicable to families and teachers at both Mountainview and Sunnyside, the monthly school meetings are where parents and Principals meet to discuss the individual programs at each school specifically. This is where you can ask questions about our unique program and learn how to become involved. The next meeting dates are listed above.
Virtue of the Month
The Virtue we are honouring this month of October is Thankfulness. Thankfulness is being grateful for what we have. It is an attitude of gratitude for learning, loving and being. Appreciate the little things that happen around you and within you every day. Think positively. Thankfulness brings contentment. (source www.VirtuesProject.com)
Events of Interest
We have dedicated pages for local events that we feel might be of interest to our school community and membership. Please visit our "Local News & Events" page. There are also fantastic webinars offered on a regular basis, which you can find under "Webinars & Presentations." SMS plans to present a series of workshops for parents and teachers this year. Please send us your suggestions!
The Annual BC Montessori Conference is coming up Thursday October 18 - Friday October 19 at the Hilton Metrotown in Burnaby. More info is at www.bcmontessori.com. Dr. Paul Epstein, co-author of "The Montessori Way," will speak on the Thursday evening. Tickets are only $10 (see link above). SMS will purchase tickets for any teachers interested in seeing Dr. Epstein. There is a group of parents from Mountainview and Sunnyside going so if you would like to car pool, please email us at surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com.
Featured Montessori Materials
Seguin Boards:
These are also known as Seguin Boards (ten and teen boards). The children initially work with support of the golden beads, which helps them learn the patterns of counting from ten through 99. For instance, they learn that teen numbers are made up of a ten and a number of units. The exercises also help them learn to visualize numbers and to understand the base ten system.
These are also known as Seguin Boards (ten and teen boards). The children initially work with support of the golden beads, which helps them learn the patterns of counting from ten through 99. For instance, they learn that teen numbers are made up of a ten and a number of units. The exercises also help them learn to visualize numbers and to understand the base ten system.
Multiplication Checker Board:
This popular material is for mastering multiplication. The colourful materials build upon the student's prior knowledge. The colors green, blue, and red representing the ones, tens, and hundreds place values are repeated from previous materials to give the child a sense of mastery. The multiplicand is placed on the bottom and the multiplier is placed along the side. For instance, the child sets out three bead-bars, four times. The child sees that 3 x 4 = 12 and exchanges by putting a two bead-bar in the ones place and carrying a one bead to the tens place. More examples here.
This popular material is for mastering multiplication. The colourful materials build upon the student's prior knowledge. The colors green, blue, and red representing the ones, tens, and hundreds place values are repeated from previous materials to give the child a sense of mastery. The multiplicand is placed on the bottom and the multiplier is placed along the side. For instance, the child sets out three bead-bars, four times. The child sees that 3 x 4 = 12 and exchanges by putting a two bead-bar in the ones place and carrying a one bead to the tens place. More examples here.
We're Placing an Order
Are you interested in placing an order of materials for home use? We will be placing a group order soon to save on shipping costs. SMS members also receive a discount. Please visit www.ca.montessorioutlet.com and email us your orders. Please include product numbers. We will be in touch with an invoice. surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com
Current Drives
We have exciting fundraising plans for the year. The focus will be items that we either use in our daily lives or that support a global purpose in line with the Montessori philosophy. We also are planning a Montessori line of merchandise. What would you like to see included? Organic t-shirts? Coffee mugs? Do you have a favourite Maria Montessori quote? Send us your ideas.
We are currently in the midst of our SMS membership drive. If you renew your membership or become a new member before October 31st, you will receive a free CD recording of the Dalai Lama at GM Place. Otherwise, we hope you will consider supporting the Society by purchasing or renewing your membership before the end of the 2012. The fee is $50.00 per family for a voting membership (with various benefits). Both post-dated cheques and credit cards are accepted. Please print your form here or request one from your SMS Liaison. All of the funds raised from SMS membership dues and fundraising directly support your school program. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions in relation to this bulletin, please email us or comment below. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too. If you would prefer not to receive this bulletin by email, please type "remove" in the subject line and email us at surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com.
Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. Blessings to you and your family.
Are you interested in placing an order of materials for home use? We will be placing a group order soon to save on shipping costs. SMS members also receive a discount. Please visit www.ca.montessorioutlet.com and email us your orders. Please include product numbers. We will be in touch with an invoice. surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com
Current Drives
We have exciting fundraising plans for the year. The focus will be items that we either use in our daily lives or that support a global purpose in line with the Montessori philosophy. We also are planning a Montessori line of merchandise. What would you like to see included? Organic t-shirts? Coffee mugs? Do you have a favourite Maria Montessori quote? Send us your ideas.
We are currently in the midst of our SMS membership drive. If you renew your membership or become a new member before October 31st, you will receive a free CD recording of the Dalai Lama at GM Place. Otherwise, we hope you will consider supporting the Society by purchasing or renewing your membership before the end of the 2012. The fee is $50.00 per family for a voting membership (with various benefits). Both post-dated cheques and credit cards are accepted. Please print your form here or request one from your SMS Liaison. All of the funds raised from SMS membership dues and fundraising directly support your school program. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions in relation to this bulletin, please email us or comment below. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter too. If you would prefer not to receive this bulletin by email, please type "remove" in the subject line and email us at surreymontessorisociety@gmail.com.
Have an enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend. Blessings to you and your family.
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