“Cosmic clarity is universal. It requires the life-long dedication of each to all mankind . . . It lifts the hearts of all men and helps civilization rise to a higher level as it ensures the existence of all. The depths of this goodness and dedication are thus boundless . . . If we educate children to see this, they will be ready themselves to feel gratitude toward all mankind. This is an effective aspect of our cosmic education . . . The aim of such an education indicates the desire to contribute to the good of all, to share in this cosmic goodness and to offer God the obedient service that unites us with Him in this work of creation.”

- Maria Montessori, 1946

Junior Abby Keenan captured this example of cosmic clarity this past weekend during the super blood wolf moon lunar eclipse:

January 27 - Community Open House 1-4 PM

January 29 - Observation Day for parents

January 29 - Parent information meeting -- see times below

January 30 - Winter shirt orders due

February 1 - 2019/2020 Enrollment opens for MSA families

February 11-15 - Middle School Play Week

February 15 - 2019/2020 Enrollment opens to new families

February 18 - Presidents Day - All Programs Closed, Extended Day Available

Parent Information Night times (see below for additional information):

• 5:30 - Primary, Upper Elementary
  
• 6:00 - Lower Elementary
  
• 6:30 - Middle School, High School
  

Once again Montessori School of Anderson's street sign will be featured in the live auction. Get your ticket and be in the bid to get your child's name on the sign!

The High School juniors have created this incredible mural that is now hanging in the front office. Be sure to stop by to see it!

These students in Infant 2 are helping put out nap mats for afternoon naps and developing hand-eye coordination using a tapping work.

These toddlers are practicing making cookies and building friendships outside on the playground.

On Tuesday, our high school math team traveled to Sumter, SC for the SCISA Math Competition. The students worked very hard and did well! They had exposure to some higher level problems and ways of thinking that will be beneficial to the rest of their education.

The Mock Trial club is hard at work preparing for their competition coming up on February 23. Students will each play one of several roles during the competition, including lawyers, witnesses, and journalists covering the trial. According to the South Carolina Bar High School Mock Trial website, the goal of Mock Trial is to educate students about the basis of our American judicial system and the mechanics of litigation.

Students in Mr. Saunier's high school chemistry class played Isn't it Ionic, a card game based around learning how poly-atomic ions form compounds. In the game, students try to form the largest compounds they can from the available ions, identify parts of them, and name them properly.

Ms. Coffey presented to our High School students at the end of J Term and reminded them about the concept of the Peace Table found in classrooms throughout the lower school at MSA, which are tables in each classroom to which a student may bring another student in order to resolve conflicts together peacefully. They may also be used by a student to calm themselves when feeling stressed or anxious. Ms. Coffey and the high school teachers challenged the high school students to come up with their idea of a Peace Table: an activity or restful location that high school students can use to relieve stress and anxiety when they are feeling overwhelmed.

In Technology class this week, Middle School students began using CoSpaces, an online application for designing and creating 3D virtual environments. Students arranged 3D models to create virtual cities, relaxing landscapes, underwater adventures, zoos for gigantic animals, and houses of horror, among other environments. Students began animating and programming their models to be interactive. Students will have access to even more advanced programming tools next week! Students will be able to view the environments they create in person in augmented and virtual reality.

A high school student develops her wide-ranging artistic abilities -- this time using water colors.

Over the past couple weeks, students in Dr. Mahajan's biology classes in the Middle and High Schools have been working with former student Katie Homer-Drummond to integrate science topics into creative writing samples. Middle School students worked in groups to write original play scripts that contain information about one of the human body systems -- the nervous, muscular, digestive, skeletal, and lymphatic systems. The students produced wonderful scripts that convey useful information in an engaging format, and they had a read-through of each script this Friday so that each group had the chance to learn about each of the body systems.

The High School biology students wrote creative short stories that included facts about a topic related to climate change. They read their stories aloud to their teachers and peers this week.

Sixth grade Upper Elementary students continue to get acclimated to their upcoming classroom for next year as they joined the Middle School for their Personal World lesson this week.

The Middle School lunch students got creative with their fruit display for community lunch this Wednesday.

Please take a couple minutes to review the following winter weather health and safety concerns from the University of Tennessee Medical Center from this link:

Winter weather can lead to health and safety challenges both outdoors and indoors.

Outdoor cold weather related health and safety problems include frostbite, hypothermia, and icy walkways and roads.

Indoor health and safety issues include fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces.

But you can take actions to protect yourself during winter weather. Being prepared can help reduce fear, stress, and losses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are things you can do to help protect your health and safety both outdoors and indoors. Above all, the CDC advises staying indoors during extremely cold weather and to keep outside trips as brief as possible.

CDC tips for protecting your health and safety outdoors and indoors include the following.

Outdoors

Dress warmly and stay dry. Adults and children should wear a several layers of loose clothing, a hat, a water-resistant coat and boots, and mittens (they are warmer than gloves).

If you have to do heavy outdoor chores, work slowly. Cold weather puts an extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold.

Avoid walking on ice. Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways, and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Sand can also be used on walkways to reduce the risk of slipping.

Indoors

Be careful when using wood stoves, fireplaces, or space heaters to heat your home. Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into the indoor air space. Do not burn paper in a fireplace. Do not place a space heater within 3 feet of anything that may catch on fire, such as drapes, furniture, or bedding. Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector.

Monitor body temperature for infants and older adults. Infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults. Dress infants in warmer clothing such as footed pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets, or sleep sacks.Older adults often make less body heat because of a slower metabolism and less physical activity. Check on elderly friends and neighbors often to make sure their homes are warm enough.

Eat well-balanced meals to stay warm. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Eating well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer. Do not drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages because they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages or broth to help maintain your body temperature.

Stay warm, healthy, and safe. If you have any winter related health concerns, especially heart disease or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor.