Copy
Springtime adventures, learning from nature, and more...
View this email in your browser

Montessori Country Day
APRIL 2017 NEWSLETTER

In This Newsletter
  • Hunt for spring fun
  • Find out about playground plans
  • Learn how your referral can earn a discount
  • Remember sunscreen and summer clothes
  • Splash in April showers
  • Sing about seeds and flowers 
(If your email clips this newsletter, click the link above to see it online.)
“We seek to sow life in the child rather than theories, to help the child grow mentally, socially, emotionally and physically."
Maria Montessori
Summer Camp
Plans are underway for an exciting summer at MCD. We will be offering camps to children ages 1 to 7. Siblings and friends welcome!

Registration packets for the 2017-2018 school year and summer camps will be available on our website, on Facebook, and in your child's cubbies upon return from Spring Break.
DANGER: Little Feet
on the Loose!
We need your help! Children are getting overly anxious and independent on exiting our school building. We have had to stop children from running into our parking lot.

Traffic in our parking lot and road could lead to a devastating accident for an un-escorted child. Cars whip onto the lot, and in a moment, tragedy could result. Please make sure that you have COMPLETE CONTROL of your child when you pick up. Licensing law requires children to be with a parent or teacher at all times on school property. 

Once you pick up your child from a teacher, please keep your child with you at all times. No child should be in the lobby unattended at any time--this includes older siblings. Please hold hands when exiting the building into the parking lot.
 
Help Keep Our School Safe
Our staff MUST open the door to anyone who does not have a key card.

In this case, do not be polite! Every morning, we see parents keeping the door open for another parent or visitor. There are no exceptions--you should never hold the door for someone else.

Each parent is required to scan their card for our records (If you forget your key card, be sure to sign-in on the clipboard after a staff person lets you in!)  

At her previous center, Laurie actually had a kind parent hold the door for someone who was being chased by the police. Everything turned out okay, but what if it hadn't?

We need to be aware of everyone entering our school at all times. Key-card-less parents and visitors should ring the doorbell. Please allow our staff to open the door.
Referral Incentive Program
We know the single most effective way of attracting new students to Montessori Country Day is a referral from satisfied families. As a thank you for sharing your recommendation, we offer an referral incentive program. 

For each student you refer to MCD, you can receive an incentive payment. To be eligible, all of the following must occur:
  • The student must enroll beginning with our summer program or the upcoming school year.
  • The referring person's name must be listed on the application. (You may want to remind the family you’re referring!)
  • The student must be new to MCD and attend for at least two months. (The incentive payment will be issued after the new student has paid two months of tuition.)
A one-time incentive payment will be awarded to the referring person as follows:
  • To current parents: $100 tuition discount per student referred
  • To MCD teachers: $100 bonus per student referred
If more than one referring person is noted on the Child’s Application, the incentive payment will be divided equally among each person named.

Thank you for trusting us with your children and spreading the word about MCD to others!
MCD logo
Important Dates
April 14-21
Closed for Spring Break
We hope everyone enjoys a wonderful break and has opportunities to spend special time with each other.

May 3
Outdoor Photo Day (Details TBA)

May 29
Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

June 2nd
Last Day of School - Graduation and Picnic at the Park

 
Playground Plans
The playground will be undergoing a spring transformation during our break. Look for pictures on Facebook of our progress or be surprised when we return on April 24th!
Sunscreen & Summer Clothes
Please put sunscreen on your child in the morning before school. We will reapply as needed and after rest time.

Please dress your child in layers as the temperatures are still chilly at morning recess time and warm for the afternoon recess time.

It is also time to change out your child's extra clothes in their cubby for lighter-weight pants and shirts. All children need an extra pair of underwear, socks, shirt, and pants in case of accidents or spells.
Key Cards
Please be aware your key card is programmed to open the door at your arrival time. If you have signed up for early morning care, the door will open at 7:15. If you have signed up for a full day, the door will open at 8:30.
Classroom Updates

Toddlers with Ms. Jennifer and Ms. Amy


The toddlers in Miss Amy’s and Miss Jennifer's class are seeing spring everywhere! After a rainy evening, we ask, “Where did all of this water come from?” Why, the rain of course!

Spider webs are spun on the outside corners of our log cabin. The children watch closely as a spider prepares his meal. But we don't eat bugs! Yuck!

Worms are hidden in the dirt. The children get so excited when they start to wriggle.

We will be bringing a bit of spring inside as we plant seeds and anxiously wait to see what happens! We will water them together and put them in the sunlight.

We are looking forward to a peaceful, happy month together. 
 

Twos with Ms. Erin and Ms. Madelyn

April is a big month in the Twos Classroom. We are practicing sorting, color matching, and counting with our new button math work. Our science area has been vamped up with a new pet snail and magnifying tools.

Spring celebration is everywhere. Our new Egg Hunt Sensory Table is a hit with our curious minds. It encourages problem-solving skills and fine motor manipulation. We have also added egg tonging work and egg snapping work. 

You may hear a new song around your home
this month. Everyone loves “I'm a Little Flower Seed” sung to the tune of “I'm a Little Teapot.”
 
I'm a little flower seed, in the ground.
Pour the water all around.
When the sun hits me, I will grow.
Up to the sky is where I go.

Primary with Ms. Kara


I can't believe it's almost time for spring break! We have been having a lot of fun observing all the signs of spring. 

Our bird study has been awesome. I love hearing the children name all the birds that come to our bird feeder, and it’s fun to see them flock to the window when a new species arrives. 

We have begun studying amphibians and the life cycle of a frog. I will be looking for tadpoles over spring break, so we can see metamorphosis in action.

Thanks to everyone for coming in for conferences. It was a great talking with you about your amazing children! 

I hope you all have a wonderful spring break. 

Primary with Ms. Melanie


It was wonderful to talk with everyone during conference time. It is always a joy to share the growth and progress of your children with you.

This month we will focus on amphibians and reptiles. We will be learning about metamorphosis and have live tadpoles to watch grow and change. We will be learning about the anatomical parts of frogs and turtles. We’ll be making books about this study. We always include various art within each unit. Check out or frog prints hanging in the window.

We will kick off our plant unit at the end of the month and continue into May. The children will learn about the plant life cycle, starting with the seed. The children will plant pea seeds to bring home. 

We will review all of the names of the continents we have learned with songs and games at circle time.

Enjoy spring break time! 

Primary with Ms. Maggie & Ms. Michelle


The children have been diving into our spring activities in the classroom. Decorating trees with spring ornaments, making eggs from oval and ellipse metal insets, dyeing eggs, and of course, our annual spring egg hunt.

We will study spring (and the life cycles it implies) this month. We'll explore new activities and materials in the science area, including various life cycles of plants, butterflies, and frogs.

We have been working on the parts of flower and will be making flower arrangements after spring break. We are also excited to experience the magic of nature in our classroom by watching caterpillars transform into painted lady butterflies.

The children in our class are all showing their independence in choosing challenging activities each day. Although the practical life and sensorial areas of the classroom are favorites (even more popular then blocks and dramatic play), math, language, science, and social studies are busy every day as well.

The children are eager to learn, and it is obvious in the more advanced work that is being accomplished each day. Learning sounds of letters, starting to read and write, and doing math activities are exciting for your children. 
Copyright © 2017 Montessori Country Day, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp