01.08.2010

Friday Family Flyer

FFF

Calendar:

Jan. 14: Evening Tea with Jim, Jane and Allwyn 6:30-8:00pm

Jan. 18: MLK, Jr. Day, NO SCHOOL

Jan. 22: WILLI WONKA CAST PARTY

Jan. 29: Journey & Discovery 6:00-9:00pm

2010-2011 School Year Begins Now?

Tis the season…phone calls and tours and visits and queries, Oh My! 312 website clicks over the past 30 days. Which school? Why? Montessori? Wait…What?!?

SBMS families with children ‘stepping up’ in June 2010: Toddler to Primary; Primary to Lower Elementary; Lower El to Upper El; and Upper El to Erdkinder (junior high) will all receive gilded invitations by next week to observe the next level of SBMS experience. These special invitations will also remind ‘stepping up’ families they have special accommodation for Jan. 29’s Journey & Discovery.

Santa Barbara’s only authentic Montessori school, while hosting visitors and guests considering the school for next year, is also providing current SBMS families every opportunity to appreciate the fully developed classrooms, curricula, and programs for every level—your child’s future experiences can be witnessed each and every day. Need to observe? Call Trudy. Have questions? Call HOS Jim Fitzpatrick. RSVP for Journey & Discovery? Call Trudy.

Montessori Band Wagon

Why has Yale University’s Dr. Mark Brackett, University of Minnesota’s Dr. Steven Hughes, University of Virginia’s Dr. Angeline Lillard, and Yale Law School’s Daniel Pink all hooked on to the Montessori bandwagon? It's simple, their discoveries have lead them to find schools that compliment their work; an educational philosophy that matches their discoveries. What have they found? AMI Montessori schools, not AMS, not whatever Montessori, but authentic Montessori schools, like SBMS, help children develop in healthy developmental ways.

The AMI Montessori community didn't look for these researchers, the researchers looked for something, anything, which provided healthy developmental brain-based educational experiences for children over the span of childhood. They found AMI Montessori schools on their terms, not ours. Not AMI’s.

Bottom line, some of the most current, up-to-date and relevant studies of developmental education taking place today, not 100 years ago, are finding that authentic Montessori schools are the model for what children need today, and especially for tomorrow. Regardless of their particular learning style, the best opportunity for children isn't being suggested by Montessori schools or Montessori teachers, it's being suggested by developmental specialists—neurological psychologists--the people and doctors who study brain development. "Montessori" is “it,” they say. We say it too, but they're the "experts."

The verdict is in, and it's simple: If a child is 'normal' what's the best program for them? Montessori. If a child has learning issues? Montessori. If a child has major brain trauma? Montessori. Listed below are several links to videos and articles providing information related to the benefit of an authentic Montessori experience.

Please, enjoy these references, and bring your perspective and questions to next week’s evening Coffee with Jim, Thursday, Jan. 14, 6:30pm. (Please RSVP; we’re looking for a minimum of 10 attendees).

Parent Engagement at SBMS (Homework)

As SBMS’s faculty readies for February’s AMIUSA “refresher course” and conference in Jacksonville, FL, where Dr. Bob Pianta, Ph.D., will present the keynote address, “Improving Classroom Impact,” we can all be reminded of his and others’ ringing endorsements, backed up by empirical data, for lifetime learning skills developed in authentic Montessori classrooms. (Last year’s keynote was from Sir Ken Robinson.)

Dr. Bob Pianta, Ph.D.

MAA interview with Dr. Steven Hughes

National Public Radio with Daniel Pink

PBS This Emotional Life

Yale University’s Dr. Mark Brackett is included in the broadcast. Dr. Brackett will be again presenting to AMI administrators at the JAX conference in February.

MAA with Ginni Sackett, AMI trainer

MAA Parent testimonials

Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity

SBMS student project

SBMS in Italy 2008; student project

Books:

Understanding Montessori A Guide for Parents by Maren Schmidt M.Ed.

Montessori Madness A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education by Trevor Eissler

Drive by Daniel Pink

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

COFFEE WITH JIM

This morning’s discussion included more than a dozen families, and seemed to settle somewhere in the realm of the benefit of thoughtfulness. That parenting, and teaching, is an all-consuming responsibility, without time off, and that communication with other families and each other (parent to parent; family to family; family to school; school to family; child to child; child to sibling…) is an essential aspect of all of our relationships (community is communication).

Those of you not able to join with us this morning, please RSVP for Thursday evening’s discussion.

Yes, You Can Say ”No!” and Dealing with Problems

Thursday, January 14: 6:30pm-8:00pm

SBMS HOS Jim Fitzpatrick

Jane Angell (SBMS’s Oak Class)

Allwyn Fitzpatrick (SBMS’s Magnolia Class).

“Kids Talk” columnist Maren Schmidt provided reading material for this discussion. Click on the link to see pdf of Maren’s columns.

Coffee with Jim

“Willi Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” – Cast Party !!!!!!

Erdkinder (SBMS junior high) Fundraiser

$30/ea child$50/two ‘sibs’

Friday, Jan. 22, 3:00 – 5:00pm

Alumni Hall

SBMS Primary and Elementary children are welcome to wear their costumes and relive the Willi Wonka experience, complete with singing and dancing; first scene through the grand finale re-enactments! Yes, a once in a lifetime experience is now ready for a redux!

Snacks will be served. As you may know, SBMS’s Erdkinder is headed to Italy in March, and this special Cast Party is their fundraiser helping to offset the ever-sinking US Dollar’s value vs. the almighty Euro! Now, without Kid Kafe earnings the Erdkinder students are seeking other sources of funding for their travel expenses.

Primary and Elementary Children staying for the Cast Party can bring their costumes to school (brown bag) and then change before joining and “performing” in the Cast Party. Children will be able to hang out with Willi, Charlie, and and the Oompa Loompas; ride in the WWExpress, take a tour of the chocolate river on the SS Strawberry Shortcake, and sing and dance. RSVP to Trudy (685-7600)

Journey & Discovery (RSVP – PDQ)

Friday, Jan. 29 6:00pm-9:00pm

This is the one.

If there was one event or activity that captures the essence of your child’s Montessori experience, this is the one. Journey through SBMS’s incredible classrooms in a candlelit vigil, enjoy a candle lit buffet dining experience in Alumni Hall, and then return to the classrooms for lessons and activities.

Be your child. Experience their world at SBMS.

Those SBMS families with children ‘flying up’ in June are encouraged to RSVP immediately to secure their place for the one event that provides a total overview of the SBMS experience. The entire Montessori experience in one evening.

It’s incredible. Veteran families are welcome to repeat, but everyone needs to RSVP as seating is limited.

Annual Auction Extravaganza

Committee Meeting

January 20 6:30-8:00pm

Veteran’s and newbie’s are welcome.

Please, join with Auction Chair Lisa Schaefer for this organizational meeting addressing every aspect of SBMS’s “Rock the Casbah!” event, May 7 at Bacara. Site decorations. Online solicitations. Online processes. Live items. Entertainment. Menu. The whole caboodle is up for organization and refinement. There is no “I” in team! Team!

2009-2010 Giving Campaign Partnership

The success of SBMS’s Annual Giving continues in partnership, with current families recognizing and realizing the generosity of past families—that today’s school truly rides upon the shoulders of the giants who helped the school develop toward what it is today. Those giants, and their broad shoulders, were essential to the successes of the past, and now, this year the partnership between school and families continues. Donations over the vacation nearly doubled, and we now have 54% participation of current families, plus donations from alums and extended families.

Remembering, of course, 100% is the effort we expect from the children each day, and 100% participation from each and every family is the expectation for this year’s Annual Giving Campaign. We are all partners—Partners in Learning!

2009-2010 Partners in Learning

Supporters

($5,000-$14,999)

Dr. Mark and Catherine Montgomery, John and Louise Kamps, Brian and Chari Coryat, Veronica Sperling

Contributors

($1,000-$4,999)

Steve and Connie Hahn, Helgard Field-Lion, Lee Wardlaw Jaffurs, Jim and Frances Fitzpatrick, Jaffurs Wine Cellars, Scott and Monique Evers, Lehman-Dutton Family, James and Lisa Schaeffer, Christopher and Elizabeth Page, Don and Melissa Pritchett, Steve and Linda Besserman, Jeff Vintar and Michele McCain, Ric and Cindy Jackson, Jim and Debbie Arnesen, Frank and Marlene Bucy, Jason and Robin Yardi, Claudio and Anna Bonometti, Steven Earle, John J. Moller Family Foundation

Associates

($500-$999)

Rudi Lion, Peter and Mary Price, Roy E. Crummer Foundation, Keith and Heather Crummer, Margaret Wardlaw, Grant and Paige Swanson, Chris and Emily Reed, Francois & Elodie Macquet, Jessie W. Peterson, Robbyn Jackson and Mike Wadden, Sheila Argentine, Ernest and Ellen Borden, Andrew and Agnes Effron, Col. Robert Lahr USMC Ret., David and Jane Schwartz, Anonymous, Laura Corrigan, Brent and Noel Christensen, Buettner Family

Friends

(up to $499)

Stevador and Lucie Pendlay, Richard and Larie Smith, Jon Busch and Audrey Weiss, Maureen Clark, Kathy Morris, Tom and Alison Strelich, Mary Dwight Olson, David and Tandy Jarvis, Jerry and Barbara Holt, Cathie Ramus, Brian and Lesley Sperling, Kris Bertka-Pintard, Phyllis J. Clancy, Tony and Kim Davis, Glenn and Stephanie Herrell, Mr. & Mrs. Frederick S. Allen, Juniper Dwight & Charlie Coupal, Craig and Jane Angell, Roly and Anita Hunt, Carrie Kappel and Carl Palmer, Susan Baber, Helen C. Labrador, William and Solveig Bertka, Anonymous, Dennis Downing and Pearl Francis, Eileen Speer, Russell Price, Chris and Sancha Fowler, Jo Hodge, Robert and Kate Davis, June Dutton, David and Kris Nelson, Anonymous, Richard and Pam Magenheimer, Vernon and Lynne Schabert, Andy and Catherine Gill, Emmanuel & Isabelle Stapf, Wesley and Anne Hall, Jens and Kathleen Jensen, Chiyoko Suzuki, Jose and Leah Sahagun, King Family