WEEKLY WONDERS

Important Dates

September 30- Deadline to Return/Purchase School Photos

September 30- Donation Dress Down Day

October 4- PTA Spirit Night at Chipotle on Victory Dr.

October 7- Staff Planning Day

October 10- No School!

October 12- PTA Teacher Appreciation Lunch

October 14- PTA Reflections Submissions Due

October 18- Make-Up School Photos

October 21- PTA Fall Festival and Reflections Showcase

October 24-28- Media Center Book Character Pumpkin Patch

October 28- Donation Dress Down Day

View the SCCPSS Academic calendar at this link.

View the SCCPSS Assessment calendar at this link.

Ms. Beth's SCCPSS Teacher of the Year Flag Ceremony Speech- September 21, 2022

"Today, people around the world are celebrating the International Day of Peace, a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through non-violence and creating a world in which all people are treated equally.

Dr. Maria Montessori wrote:

"Peace is what every human being is craving for, and it can be brought about by humanity through the child."

We take peace education and the betterment of humankind seriously here at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy. We do this by empowering our students to think critically about the world around them, by showing them compassion so that they may care for their fellow human beings, and allowing them freedom to pursue their own interests in a way that encourages a lifelong love of learning. We model respect for our environment so that they may become stewards of our planet.

Our teachers and support staff work tirelessly to create a joyful place where our children feel safe to make mistakes and are encouraged to grow from them.

I am so incredibly proud to represent this school as the District Teacher of the Year.

Leading the Superintendent’s Professional Senate meetings has already provided me great insight into the inner workings of other schools in Chatham County and it is such a privilege to speak for the wonderful teachers of our district at the Board of Education meetings each month.

Thank you, Denise Grabowski, for sitting by me, for whispering instructions, and for sharing your notes.

Thank you to Dr. Levett and her staff for supporting and guiding me over the last several months as I navigate this moment.

Thank you to my administration, Ms. Tanya and Ms. Patrice, for your wisdom and leadership.

Thank you to my work family here at Charles Ellis for your love and encouragement.

Most importantly, I’d like to thank my students, past and present, who have taught me more than I could ever teach you. Thank you for providing me so many opportunities to practice my patience, for reminding me to be gentle with myself and to laugh at myself. Thank you for allowing me to flourish as a teacher and as a human being.

We are thrilled to raise the Flag of Liberty and Learning above our beautiful little school today. We will wave it proudly and be loyal to what it symbolizes each and every day.

After we leave here this morning, I encourage you to join millions of our fellow humans around the world by taking a moment of silence at noon today (https://internationaldayofpeace.org/get-involved/) to remember those heroes who gave their lives to secure peace, those who are still fighting for it, and those who suffer in wait for it.

Thank you again for coming today. Have a peace-filled day."

-Ms. Beth Whalen

Montessori Coach/Academic Coach

Charles Ellis Montessori Academy

International Peace Day

As is Ellis tradition, we observed International Peace Day on September 21 with a school-wide singing of "Light a Candle for Peace." Click here to view the video...it may put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye!

DDDD

Our next school-wide donation dress down day is Friday, September 30th.

This month, we will be supporting Oatland Island Wildlife Center.

For more information, visit the DDDD page on the Ellis website.

School Pictures

***The deadline to purchase and/or return photo packets is September 30th.***

Please take note of the following:

Photo sales are a fundraiser for our school...we receive a portion of your purchase!
All the information that families need is in the photo packet.
Families should pay for the pictures that they want to keep and/or RETURN the rest of the packet, if anything is left.
Families may purchase the photos online at strawbridge.net using the code found on the price flyer in their student's photo packet OR they may send cash or check (made payable to "Strawbridge") to school with their student in the envelope provided.
Make-Up picture day is scheduled for October 18th.

If you have any questions about school pictures, email Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).

BOOK IT! Reading Program

The 2022-2023 BOOK IT! reading program will begin October 1st for all interested Pre-K through 6th grade students. Visit the BOOK IT! page of the Ellis website for more information including how to sign your student(s) up to participate.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Happy reading!

Ms. Lisa

Library Media Technology Specialist

Charles Ellis Montessori Academy

lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com

Counselors' Corner

This week in School Counseling, Erkinder students have received a lesson on the power of words, diversity, and inclusion. Upper Elementary will be learning about motivation and organization. Lower Elementary has been reading Hello, Anger and practicing the skills to regulate emotions and cope with big feelings. Next week, Primary students will hear about following directions through the book, Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen.

We thank you for your support of our comprehensive school counseling program!

If your child or someone you know could benefit from school counseling support, Backpack Buddies, or any school supplies, please let us know.

Ms. Rebecca, School Counselor, Primary & Lower Elementary

912-395-5470 x71202

tinyurl.com/BookMsRebecca

rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.com

Mr. Wes, School Counselor, Upper Elementary & Erdkinder

912-395-5470 x71243

tinyurl.com/BookMrWesC

wesley.cooper@sccpss.com

Ms. Lauren, School Counseling Intern from Georgia Southern University

Grace & Courtesy Emphasis

Throughout the school year, Ellis has a school-wide focus on specific positive character traits. Each teacher may choose to highlight these "Grace & Courtesy" emphases differently, but as a school we follow a general common curriculum.

From September 19th-October 7th, our school-wide Grace & Courtesy emphasis is CREATIVITY.

The language for identifying/naming creativity in "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff

When I do something in my own special way, I am being creative.
When I make something new that no one has ever made before, I am being creative.
When I find a way to help myself or someone else fix a problem, I am being creative.

STEM Donations Needed

Ms. Olivia is in need of common household items for her students to use for engineering projects in her class. If you have any of the following items that you are willing to donate, please send them to school with your student:

Empty 2-liter bottles
Toilet paper/paper towel rolls (and rolls of paper towels)
Old cotton t-shirts
Plastic bottle caps
Dowel rods
Hard, plastic take-out containers with lids
Old, 5-gallon buckets with lids
Shoe boxes

Publix Partners

Publix Partners is donating to our school, and you can help! Ellis has received over $13,000 since our partnership with Publix began many, many years ago. Once you add our school to your account, you never have to think about it again...win-win!

Here's how you can enroll and participate in just a few steps: