February Newsletter
"Now, what really makes a teacher is love for the human child; for it is love that transforms the social duty of the educator into the higher consciousness of a mission.."
-- Dr. Maria Montessori
In the early weeks of January, our Primary classrooms celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout campus there were conversations about him and how he was a "Leader for Peace and Fairness". There was lots of love and inspiration when talking about what our vision of peace looks like and what our dreams are. We also had the opportunity to share about Lunar New Year and what some families do to celebrate! In our After School program they made beautiful lanterns to light up the sky and make wishes for the new year.
Black History Month
In February, at Athena, we educate our learners on the powerful contributions of various Black leaders throughout history. We do this by sharing childrens’ books, listening to Black musical artists, learning about foods that came to America from Africa, and having conversations during our circle time gatherings. We also have photos in all our classrooms centering Black lives and celebrating Black joy. Each classroom has a slightly different approach, books that are special to them, and ways of celebrating. Stay tuned to your child’s class newsletter and to Transparent Classroom to see how Black history is honored and celebrated at Athena.
While it is imperative that we continue to educate on historical figures throughout Black History Month, and all year long, we also feel that it is equally as imperative to feature and highlight current and lesser known contemporary Black leaders, some of them quite young! This provides an opportunity for the children to learn about relatable people and ultimately, this instills an understanding that black history is an integral part not only of our history but also our future.
Children in some classrooms might learn about Sidney Keys, and his organization, Books and Bros. Other classrooms might feature Mikaila Ulmer, founder and CEO of Me and the Bees Lemonade. Fun fact about Mikaila: she is an Athena Montessori alum! She published her first book at age 15, “Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid”. A few years ago, a 12-year old Black girl became a composer for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Her name is Grace Moore and she composed a piece entitled Summer, which some classes may choose to play for the children.
Athena Montessori Academy acknowledges that we still have a long way to go in our city, in our state, in our country, and in the world, to eradicate the systems of oppression and intentional marginalization that plague our Black communities. We can’t solve racism and the structure that upholds it, but we can be an intentional and evolving Antiracist and Antibias early childhood school. If you are enrolled here, you are part of that journey and that intention. Thank you, it takes all of us.
Lastly, do you have individuals you think we should highlight? Send them our way! Or maybe you feel a little stuck. Do you need help in how to celebrate Black people and Black culture at home? We learn from and support the work of The Conscious Kid and Britt Hawthorne. Explore their websites and become a sustaining supporter. In return you will receive much more than you are paying for. The book lists alone are worth the price of admission. Happy Black History Month from all of us at Athena Montessori Academy!
LEAVE YOUR MARK AT ATHENA!
Purchase a custom brick for the Athena pathway in front of the breezeway!
Bricks are custom-made and may include a special tribute to your child's guides, your child's name and/or signature, or your family's name! Need inspiration? Visit our brick path today.
If you are interested, please stop by the office to fill out the order form OR click to download it HERE.
Bricks are $100 each
Deadline to Purchase: March 22, 2023
RSVP for CASINO NIGHT
Saturday, April 8
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
We are bringing back our annual gala this spring at Athena!
Click the invitation below to RSVP to Athena Montessori Academy's Annual Fundraiser!
Want to help make the event a success?
Use the link below to access the Donation Form to donate an item or service to the
SILENT AUCTION!
We are still looking for a caterer for the event. Please reach out to us if you have any connections!
Stay tuned for a Signup Genius to volunteer to help at the event.
We are so excited to bring this event back to our community! We hope to see you there in your best DISCO COWBOY!
ADMISSIONS AND ENROLLMENT
Current Athena Families:
Re-enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is complete. Families with an extension on their child's re-enrollment have until March 31, 2023 to let Joy know their plans for next school year.Tots enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is complete, and Primary enrollment is well underway! If you know any families with a child that will be between the ages of three and five in August and that are looking for a school, please encourage them to check out Athena, or connect them directly with Joy.
Waiting Pool Families:
Spring Enrollment: Spring enrollment is complete. Should we have any unexpected openings, we will be reaching out to individual families as we learn of them. As a reminder, siblings of current students are given priority for enrollment, followed by the general waiting pool.
2023-2024 Enrollment: Tots enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is complete, and Primary enrollment is well underway! If you have a child that will be between the ages of three and five in August and you are interested in enrollment at Athena, please reach out to our Admissions Director at Admissions@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com. Otherwise, if you have an eligible child and are in our waiting pool, you can expect to hear from our Admissions Director by the end of March if we are able to offer you a spot.
Our continued goal in the admissions process is to be as transparent as possible, and we strive to give you the most accurate information we can during each step of the deliberate process of enrollment. We respect that decisions related to your child's education are important and timely ones, and we will continue to send you general enrollment updates via this monthly newsletter. Thank you for your continued interest, and we encourage you to reach out with specific questions related to your child's enrollment at any time.
Please direct admissions & enrollment questions to our Admissions Director, Joy Jacobson. You can email her directly at Admissions@AthenaMontessoriAcademy.com.
LUNCH AND LEARN
Join us for a parent workshop with Katie Malinski! Our school Directior, Mandy Waid, raves "Katie is very skilled at explaining age appropriate sex education for children as young as two through adolescence. If you only attend one workshop this year, let it be this one!" Don't miss out and RSVP now!
Beyond Birds and Bees with Katie Malinski
Thu, Feb 16, 2023, 12:30 PM
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, February 1st
-First Day of Black History Month
-100th day of School
Monday, February 14th
-Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women National Day of Action and Awareness
-Valentine's Day
Wednesday, February 15th
-Vision and Hearing Screening
Thursday, February 16th
-Beyond Birds and Bees with Katie Malinski.
Monday, February 20th
-President's Day ( Student Holiday/ Staff Development Day)
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS!
STUDENTS:
Hadley P. 2/2
Poppy B. 2/3
Lucy P. 2/3
William B. 2/4
Landon T. 2/5
Isabel K. 2/6
Balboa E. 2/7
Axel L. 2/10
Charles S. 2/11
Houston T. 2/13
Ada C. 2/15
Jack M. 2/15
Kira B. 2/20
Boden B. 2/20
Ella C. 2/21
STAFF:
Becca H. 2/4
Asma F. 2/13
Alicia R. 2/19
CODE 165595