WEEKLY WONDERS
Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, November 22, 2021
"The highest honor and the deepest gratitude you can pay me is to turn your attention from me in the direction of which I am pointing - The child." Maria Montessori
LET US BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. THEY ARE OUR GREATEST TEACHERS.
Important Dates
November 1-30- PTA Read-A-Thon
November 22-26- Thanksgiving Break- No School!
December 3-9- Scholastic Book Fair
December 9- Festival of Lights (Primary and Lower Elementary)- More info to come
December 14- High School Info Session for Erdkinder
December 20-30- Winter Break
January 3- Staff Planning Day
January 4- Start of 3rd Nine Weeks
January 4- Students Return to School
November 22-26th- No School!
We will see everyone back to school on Monday, November 29th!
School-Wide Grace & Courtesy Focus
When we return to school on November 29th, our new Grace & Courtesy Focus will be TRUST and HONESTY.
The language for identifying/naming TRUST/HONESTY in "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff:
- When I say to myself, "I know I can learn to do this" -- even if it's something that is very hard for me to do-- I am Trusting myself.
- When someone promises me something and I feel sure they will keep their promise, I am Trusting them.
- When I do what I promise I will do, I am acting with Trust.
- When I tell myself the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.
- When I tell someone the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.
Walker Dismissal
- If it is a rainy day (without thunder/lightning) dismissal, students will still be dismissed to walk home/Circle Park. They must leave the school grounds once they leave the building.
- If it is a severe weather (with thunder/lightning) dismissal, students must wait in the MPR for an approved adult to pick them up from the MPR door on Battey St.
- Students are NOT allowed to hang out/wait outside of the school doors once they leave the school building. This is a liability as there is no adult supervision outside of the school.
- There is NO adult supervision by school staff at Circle Park since it is off school grounds. It is up to the parent/guardian to ensure that their student is behaving in a safe and appropriate manner.
Book Fair
Book Fairs are a fundraiser used by our Media Center to raise funds to purchase more books. This is especially needed this school year as we "lost" approx. 300 books due to the pandemic with students leaving school so abruptly in March 2020 and we haven't been able to raise money since then.
Unfortunately, volunteers/parents are still not allowed in the school buildings, but students will be allowed to shop during the school day.
You can find out more information about the upcoming fair including how to add money to your students (and classroom teachers) eWallet on the Ellis Media Center website.
If you have any questions, contact Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).
Thank you for your support!
Make-Up Fall Picture Packets
The deadline to purchase and/or return the picture packets is Friday, December 3rd.
Counselor's Corner
This week in School Counseling, Upper Elementary and Erdkinder students received a lesson on Inclusiveness and Understanding the Difference Between Rude, Mean, and Bullying Behaviors. When we return from Thanksgiving break, Primary and Lower Elementary students will learn about diversity with the book Finding Your Spot in the World.
Erdkinder parents, please add to your calendar our upcoming High School Info Session for Families on Tuesday, December 14 at 5:30pm via Zoom. More information will be coming soon.
We wish you all an enjoyable Thanksgiving!
Rebecca Burkhart, School Counselor & Wes Cooper, School Counseling Intern
912-395-5470 x2
rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.comPTA Read-A-Thon
**Update 11/16/2021: We have already raised $1,315...thank you, Bobcats! Keep up the hard work and happy reading! It is not too late to sign your student up to participate at the link below. Once you sign up, you will be provided with a link to share with your family/friends so that they can pledge their support to your student(s).
The Charles Ellis Montessori Academy PTA is thrilled to announce that we will be sponsoring our 10th Annual Read-A-Thon for our students during the month of November.
All proceeds from the Read-A-Thon will directly support our school.This year, we will be raising funds to purchase updated Montessori Materials that will be circulated through the media center for classroom use.
Not only will the funds benefit our school, but students will also enjoy time reading (and it is something that can be done as a family). We hope the time your family spends participating in this Read-A-Thon will encourage a love of reading and time spent together supporting a good cause.
Students have received a reading log (also attached below) to track their reading and also to request pledges. Pledges/donations should be submitted to the PTA Read-A-Thon Memberhub website (http://app.memberhub.gives/4ae9be).
Prizes!
Any student, who raises $100 or more, will receive a $10.00 gift certificate to the Scholastic Book Fair in the media center, which will take place December 6-10, 2021.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).
Directory Opt-Outs
**Update: Last week, Ms. Lisa sent an email to families who have opted out to confirm that you do NOT wish your student to be in the yearbook. If you did not receive an email, but this applies to you, please check your SPAM folder or email Ms. Lisa directly. You have until November 30th to respond.
If you have any questions, you may email Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).
From the Clinic
You can find important information on the Nurse's page of the Ellis website.
Please note:
Nurse Chris' email address has changed to christine.oboyle@sccpss.com
If your child is (or will be) absent for any reason, please email your child's teacher AND copy Nurse Chris on the email.
If your student is classified as a "Close Contact" with someone who has COVID-19 at school, you will receive a phone call from someone on the Ellis Contact Tracing team to pick them up immediately. When you pick up your student, you will be provided with a letter from Nurse Chris outlining further instructions including when your student will be allowed to return to the building. You can view that letter template on the Nurse's page of the Ellis school website for your future reference. It is also listed in the updated Ellis Family Handbook.
Contact Information:
912-395-5474
Devices Brought to School Daily
Students must also have their own set of earbuds/headphones. We cannot share these items among students for hygiene reasons.
If you would like your student to keep their device at school, please contact your student's teacher to arrange that.
Thank you for your help with teaching our students to be responsible for their school materials.
Publix Partners
Here's how you can enroll and participate in just a few steps:
- Visit publix.com/partners and select our school: Charles Ellis Montessori- Savannah, GA
- Provide your phone number every time you check out at Publix.
- Publix will donate a portion of qualifying purchases to our school!
Ellis PTA
The PTA is calling all local business owners to consider investing in our school by being a PTA Business Sponsor. See attached form below. We appreciate your consideration and help spreading the word out to our community about this great opportunity
If you haven't joined the PTA yet, please do!
Joining the PTA is a small but significant way to get involved in our school and to make a difference in the lives of our Ellis community.
WE NEED YOU!
There is still PTA Committee Chairs open:
Arts Enrichment
Fundraising
If interested in joining a PTA committee, contact Emily Salzer (emilycsalzer@gmail.com) or Kellie Groover (kellie.groover@focuslabllc.com), PTA Co-Presidents.
If you are a parent/guardian of a new Ellis student, request to join the Ellis PTA Facebook Group to connect with us.
Contact Us!
Principal
Ms. Tanya Melville
Ms. Ja'Dayia Coleman-Kennedy
jadayia.coleman-kennedy@sccpss.com
Information Specialist Clerk
Ms. Lucy Holloway
School Secretary
Ms. Patricia Solomon-Brown
patricia.solomon-brown@sccpss.com
Library Media Technology Specialist
PTA Teacher Liaison
Ms. Lisa O'Donnell
Email: Tanya.Melville@sccpss.com
Website: https://spwww.sccpss.com/schools/ellis/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 220 East 49th Street, Savannah, GA, USA
Phone: (912) 395-5470
Ellis Montessori Academy Website
Click here to view the new Charles Ellis Montessori Academy website.
SCCPSS Website
Please visit the SCCPSS website regularly for the most up-to-date district information.