Gator Report
Dater Montessori _May 2021 edition
We Made It !!
Dear Dater Montessori Families,
As we finish our last month of school, I want to take a moment and sincerely thank all of our wonderful Dater Gator families for hanging with us in this unpredictable school year that we will NEVER forget. As I always say:
We are strong alone but unstoppable together!!
We will not just go through this but we will GROW through this!
Well, we all DID this TOGETHER and I am SO proud of our families, our staff, and our students!! We are DATER STRONG!!
Do not forget !!!
WALK-A-THON Friday, May 21
Please mark your calendar to come out and WALK w/ your child. Keep the Fundraising coming and continue to get those donations. This is one of our LARGEST Fundraisers of the school year-we did not do it last year --in 2019-the Dater Montessori Community raised over $50,000. Let’s BEAT THAT THIS YEAR1!!!
Go Gators!
Mr. G!
Learning Through Art
Toward that end, Cincinnati Public Schools is creating Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in all schools. Since launching in 2002, our CLC model has drawn national attention for successfully engaging community partnerships in school buildings.CLCs offer health services, counseling, after-school programs, nutrition classes, parent and family engagement programs, career and college access services, youth development activities, mentoring, arts programming and more.
Cincinnati Public Schools has created campuses that strengthen the link between schools and communities. Its Community Learning Centers serve as hubs for community services and provide a system of integrated partnerships that promote academic excellence and offer recreational, educational, social, health, civic and cultural opportunities for students, families and the community.
As a result, of this plan we are now partnering with Learning Through Art. Inc. Learning Through Art was founded by Kathy Wade, her strong roots in music and Montessori creates a dynamic and exciting partnership to help our students strengthen their literacy skills.
We will be welcoming her team to our building next school year. You can learn more about their mission and offerings here.
Safety Tips From Nurse Kisha
We know we are in allergy season, we understand that runny nose and congestion are very common! Unfortunately, they are also common COVID symptoms amongst the younger children.
If your child has any of the symptoms below, please keep them at home and call the attendance line to report that your child will be absent due to illness. I will reach out to you once I am notified of your child's absence.
*Fever/Chills *Sore throat
*Cough *Loss of taste or smell
*Shortness of breath *Nausea/vomiting
*Headache *Diarrhea
*Runny nose/Congestion
Your child will be able to return to school based on ONE of the following:
If COVID results are negative and your child's symptoms appear to be resolving.
OR
After a 10 day isolation from the start of their symptoms if you opt NOT to test for COVID.
COVID testing is available here at the school Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm.
Consents are available and must be signed in order for your child to be tested.
(The sample will be sent to Cincinnati Children's Hospital for testing.
The turnaround time has been pretty fast, usually coming back the very next day.)
Covid Testing Information
Our aim is to stop the spread! COVID testing is available here at the school Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. The sample collected will be sent to Children's Hospital lab and the turnaround has been pretty fast, usually coming back the next day. COVID consents are available here at the school. Your child will only be tested with your approval and notification.
Please feel free to call my office 513-363-0921
Remember to follow safety procedures by being the best GATORS:
Get your mask on
Always wash your hands for 30 seconds
Take time to sanitize items
Observe 6 ft. by staying a Dater gator away
Reduce the spread of germs
Stay home when sick
Thank you. Nurse Kisha
Stay Conencted
We know that we are "socially distancing" but we can still get connected. We still have a wonderful Montessori Community that you can get involved in.
May
-3 Teacher/Staff Appreciation week
10- PTN meeting meet.google.com/hro-asre-wqj
-12 Transition Day
-14 Walk a Thon Prep Rally
-15 10:00 to noon Dater Gator Garden Work Help Day
-17 Field Day
-18 Dater Gator Brain Bowl Team vs Staff 2:30 Virtual
-21 Walk A Thon
-19 New Parent Orientation 6pm-7pm
-25 Walk a Thon Awards
-26 Last Day Preschool
-26 6th Grade Graduation
-27 Last Day for K-6th
Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
Teachers can still use your help! We are always looking for additional online support with working with small groups online, helping teachers prep work, virtual room parents, and more. If you are interested, please click here. We will be in contact soon.
Virtual Tutoring
Children are able to get free CPS Virtual Online Tutoring! This virtual platform offers, free, on- demand, online on one tutoring with qualified and approved helps. Please click HERE for more information.
Social Worker Corner
Attention 6th grade Parents!
Helping Your Child Transition to Junior/High School
As the school year is fast approaching the end, with that comes the realization that your 6th grader’s time at Dater Montessori is also coming to a close. This transition can be filled with some uneasiness as well as excitement for what is to come in the future as your student becomes a junior high school student.
Below is an article put together by one of Cincinnati Public School’s partners, Mindpeace, to help support this big life transition.
High school is all about increasing your student’s responsibility and independence. In middle school, they are taught social skills and time management, all while having a support system of teachers and various school faculty. High school is designed to transition students into becoming a young adult by giving them a little more responsibility. Below is a list of tips to help your child transition to High School.
Be Your Child’s Support System
➤ Change is difficult. Going from Middle School to High School is a learning curve for many students due to challenging academics, making new friends, and learning a new school’s environment. It is important that you talk with your child and let them know you are there for them if needed.
➤ Attend parent teacher conferences so you are informed about your child’s school academic procedures. This also lets your child know you support and care about their academic efforts.
Prepare Your Child for the Expectations of Their New School
➤ Visit the school with your child so they feel more comfortable with the layout of the school. This will decrease their anxiety for their first day and ease them into feeling more comfortable in their new environment.
➤Help your child understand the expectations of extracurriculars. High school has more extracurriculars than elementary or middle schools. This is a great time for students to explore their passions and interests, while also teaching time management skills. Be sure to leave some down time for your student because it’s important for them to relax as well.
➤Homework gets more intense and grades become critical for their future. A way to prepare your child for a more intense workload is to set up a space for your child to work that is quiet, well-lit, and distraction free. Also, sit down with your child regularly to discuss class loads and make sure their academics and extracurricular activities are balanced.
➤ Instill organizational skills within your child by teaching them to stay focused and turn in work on time. Have your child make prioritized daily to-do lists, and study in a quiet and clean workspace. Organizational skills will not only help your child in their daily school life, but also in their future life as a young adult.
Check in with Your Child
➤ Make an effort to talk with your child every day, so they know what goes on at school is important to you as well.
➤ When talking to your child, it’s important to listen, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking. Remember to talk with your child, not at him or her and be sure to ask open ended questions.
References
Nemours Kids Health. (n.d). 10 Ways to Help Your Teen Succeed in High School. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/school-help-teens.html
Nemours Kids Health. (n.d). Starting High School. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/starting-high-school.html
Scholastic. (n.d). Kids’ Biggest Middle School Fears. Retrieved from https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/school-life/back-to-school/kids-biggest-middle-school-fears.html
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s transition to middle school, please feel free to reach out to me and I can provide you with additional information and resources.
Christine Miller, MSW, LISW-S
School Social Worker
513-363-0982 office
513-407-1995 district cell
May Virtue
May Virtue – Integrity
Integrity means to be consistent in your values and your actions. People often associate honesty with integrity because to be honest one must have integrity – valuing honor and honesty. To have integrity you must know what you value. Do you value honesty? Do you value kindness? Do you value the virtues of the month? If you value virtues like respect, responsibility, kindness, gratitude and generosity, then your integrity rests on these values. You consistently behave in a manner that will demonstrate your integrity.
If you say you are a person of integrity, then you must DO what you say you value. Practice being who you say you are, and who you want others to say you are.
Parents can help children by continuously reinforcing the value of integrity. Look for "teachable moments." Use news stories, TV shows and movies to highlight, discuss and comment on situations revealing the presence or absence of integrity.
Talk to your children about the importance of building trust and credibility (explain to them what that means). Tell them it’s important to do well in school, but that you would be far more disappointed and upset if they ever cheated than if they did not do well on an exam.
“Real integrity is doing the right thing knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.”
-Oprah Winfrey
Tech Talk with Julie Faller: The Double-edged Sword (So Hard to Say Goodbye)
As a former English teacher, I’ve always been drawn to the powerful imagery of the “double-edged sword.” That metaphor sums up the bittersweet reality of something that has both positive and negative consequences all at the same time. Celebrities have been known to name their fame as a double-edged sword because it comes with not only terrific privileges and access to elite experiences, but it also comes with the downside of a loss of privacy. Technology is another example of a double-edged sword with pros and cons that are often at odds with each other:
Technology provides a variety of resources, but it’s difficult to determine which are reliable
Technology can provide engaging or entertaining experiences, but can also become an addictive obsession
Technology increases efficiency when it’s working properly, but can be so very frustrating when technical difficulties arise
As with many things in life, using technology is its own double-edged sword. It’s easy to both love and hate technology all at the same time! This has never been more evident than during this pandemic year. The many pivots we’ve endured from remote to blended learning, then back to remote again, then back to blended again, and finally to five days in person have tested our flexibility, resilience, and resourcefulness. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside you as we problem-solved, persevered, and prevailed. It has been such a privilege for me to help Dater Montessori families navigate their technology struggles in 2020-21. This year will never be forgotten!
As I consider how the double-edged sword metaphor plays out in my life, there isn’t a more “piercing” example than the mixed feelings I have as I write this May article. I’m both excited and teary to announce that I have accepted a position for 2021-22 as a District-Wide Elementary Mentor. It’s a great opportunity, but the downside is that I must leave the community I love. Dater Montessori has allowed me to cultivate creativity through a variety of positions over the past (almost) 20 years. I have been a language coach, a gifted teacher, a content innovation specialist, an integrated technology teacher, and a coffee shop facilitator along the way. Coworkers and parents have become friends and have helped me grow as a teacher. I have memories to cherish forever. My grateful heart will always consider Dater Montessori my home.
Nature Center
Summer in the Nature Center
Dater's Nature Center is a community space, and your family is ALWAYS welcome to visit. Have a picnic under the trees, come pick ripe strawberries and blueberries (ripening NOW!), and pick green beans for dinner in a few months. You never need to sign up to enjoy the space.
However, if you'd like to come at a time when you can work with our community, mark your calendar for Saturday, June 19 and Saturday, July 17, from 10 - 12. There's always plenty to do for any age level.
In addition, we always need routine watering, weeding, and garden care throughout the summer. If you would like to help with this, please sign up using the Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080948AEA82DA2F49-dater
Once you sign up, Ann Myers will be in touch with details about where to find supplies and how to use the water tank. Thanks in advance for your help!
Cicada Parade in Cheviot
Want to celebrate this once-in-17-years event? Join Dater in the Cicada Parade on June 2nd! We are meeting in the St. Martin's School lot between 4:30 and 5:30. The parade starts at 5:30, goes for about a quarter mile, and ends in the Municipal lot for a Pocket Party. Once in the lot, there will be best costume awards judged by Bob Herzog (Local 12) and Dr. Kritsky (bug expert from Mt St. Joseph) followed by live music from ETB Music, Madcap Puppets, a photo booth for all “insects”, food trucks and more. A second “Pocket “ at the lot by American Trading will host more live music by Ripple Effect. So, there’s room for critters of all ages!
If you are interested in joining the Dater Montessori group, contact Ann Myers at myersan@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Dater Montessori
Dater Montessori
Prek- 6th Grade, Elementary
Principal: Tony Greco
Assistant Interim Principal: Shelly Stein
Phone : 513-363-0900
Office Hours : 8:30am-4:00pm M-F
Dater Virtual Tour
We now have a virtual Dater Tour. If you know someone who is applying to Dater through our magnet application please direct them to this link below. They may also follow us on Facebook at Dater Montessori School and obtain the link here.
Location: 2840 Boudinot Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Phone: 513-363-0900