The Weekly Star
Montessori Academy at Onesimo Hernandez #12
Principal's Corner
Hello Montessori Family,
We are in week #12 of school and our children are starting the 3rd Six Weeks. As we enter the month of November, it is so important for our families to know that you are appreciated for your partnership between school and home. Together, we play a significant role by encouraging our children to reach their highest potential, and by motivating them do anything they set their minds to. And, most importantly, to model and show our children to embrace the process of trying, failing and trying again. Through this process, we will continue to stand by our children every day as they build resiliency and grit.
Your Proud-Dedicated Principal,
Lisa Vega
The Casa
Extra Extra Read All About It...Asking parents for support with drop off at the classroom door or entrance to school door.
We are in the 12th week of school and we appreciate our parents who walk children directly to the classroom environments. Teachers are happy to welcome children directly from the classroom door. Children can enter classroom environments independently and begin to choose their work.
Montessori classrooms are to protect the right of the child. Everything that each person does in the classroom environment affects the others around him/her. So that each person has the right to concentrate without interruption.In order to maintain an atmosphere that is most conducive to learning and to respect each child’s right to work free from interruption, teachers thank you for respecting The Casa by eliminating these interruptions.
Dual Language 2 Way: Interest Form
Save the Date: November 14, 2018
We will have a Dual Language 2 Way booth for you to submit your interest for 2019-2010 school year! More details to come.
What is Dual Language?
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Dual Language is the Board-approved bilingual program for Dallas ISD. It is the most powerful school reform model for high academic achievement that supports the development of bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism for all participating students. Dual Language is a biliteracy program that provides instruction in English and Spanish.
The primary goals of a Dual Language program are bilingualism and biliteracy, high academic achievement and socio-cultural competence.
Dallas ISD boasts the largest Dual Language Program in the nation.
Dallas ISD offers:
- One-Way Dual Language (PK-5th)
- Two-Way Dual Language (PK-5th)
- Secondary Dual Language (6th-12th)
The Dual Language progam serves students identified as English learners in grades PK-5 and a program of choice for all students across the District.
Dual Language program offers students the opportunity to learn to read, write and speak in both English and Spanish. Beginning as early as pre-kindergarten, students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with students of various cultures and backgrounds as they learn English and Spanish across a range of content areas.
Dual Language program allows students to develop the ability to think, write, and speak in both English and Spanish. Advanced academic achievements, higher career earning potential, and cultural engagement are clear benefits for student participating in the Dual Language program.
The Dual Language experience provides students the opportunity to become not only global citizens, but global leaders as well, positioning them for future advancement, opportunities and achievement.
Practical Life
Reasons for Practical Life:
During the child’s sensitive period between birth and 6, the child is constructing the inner building blocks of his person. It is therefore important for the child to participate in activities to prepare him for his environment, that allow him to grow independently and use his motor skills, as well as allow the child to analyze difficulties he may have in the exercise and problem solve successfully.
Montessori also saw the child’s need for order, repetition, and succession in movements. Practical Life Exercises also helps to aid the child to develop his coordination in movement, his balance and his gracefulness in his environment as well as his need to develop the power of being silent.
Purpose
Direct: To help the child become more independent in the caring for his environment.
Indirect: Building up voluntary movements.
Points of Interests
Seeing the dirt come off of the cloth after scrubbing it together.
Age
3 years plus
(Montessori Primary Guide)
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Thank you for the awesome pumpkin entries! We hope you enjoyed the family bonding time that this experience was able to provide as you came up with ideas for your pumpkins. While everyone is a winner, we can only have one pumpkin selected. The winning pumpkin was our Dias de los Muertos Pumpkin!!! The winning pumpkin was selected by our afterschool support staff! Thank you parents for everything that you do!
Counselor Conley
Clubs Start Nov. 13th
We are so excited about the club offerings at MOAH! Here are a few reminders.
Clubs will be conducted 2 Tuesdays a month starting January. Due to holidays- In November, December and May, clubs will be conducted only once a month.
Parents will be given a permission slip with all the clubs and the dates.
Club hours are 3-4.30 pm.
Hot supper provided for our children 3pm-330pm before clubs.
Campus Coordinator: Ms. Ratnam
Attendace Matters
It is a fact that good attendance contributes to successful students. This year we have some very important new attendance procedures:
- Good Attendance is missing 9 or fewer days per year (an average of one absence per month).
- After a student has accumulated 7 absences, third party documentation, such as a doctor or dentist note, is required to excuse the absence. Please be in the habit of getting a note for any appointment, even before you hit that threshold of 7 absences. NOTE: Please provide a note if your child is absent for any reason to your child's teacher or the front office.
- We will contact you for a conference if your child has 3 unexcused absences or 5 absences in a month (excused or unexcused).
- Chronic absenteeism is more than 18 absences in a school year.
Thank you for ensuring that your child is present, on time and ready to learn EVERYDAY!
Absences Defined
Absences are defined as the following:
E – Excused Absence
Exemption: Medical-based excused absences with valid documentation
U – Unexcused Absence
Truancy, non school activities and vacations
O – Out-of-School Suspension
Uniform Policy
Gentle Reminder- Thank you for helping the children with uniforms!
Please help Parents to bring children in uniform. We honor the Dallas ISD uniform policy. Our recommendation is for our boys wear school uniform ties and our girls wear cross tie/or tie.
Black bottoms and white top, black shoes or tennis shoes. If you have any questions please reach out to Principal Vega. If you need uniform assistance please reach out to Counselor Conley.
Uniform Assistance at MAOH
The district offers uniform assistance to eligible families. You may contact your child's teacher or Mrs. Conley, the school counselor for an order form. Families with multiple children must complete one order form per child. Please return all forms as soon as you can to ensure uniforms are received in a timely manner.
Dallas ISD Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
Parents, please refer to following reference materials that are now available on-line and are no longer mass produced.
Student Handbook: https://www.dallasisd.org/Page/127
Student Code of Conduct: https://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/11/code_of_conduct.pdf
Social Emotional Learning: Mindfulness
You may wonder… “What exactly is mindfulness? Mindfulness is noticing what’s happening in the body/mind in the present moment, without labeling it “good” or “bad” or wishing it were different. It involves intentional focus on breathing and thoughtful physical movements that teach the brain to focus in a non-judgemental manner.
Slowing our breath dials down stress hormones, blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety while increasing relaxation, awareness and mental clarity. It calms the nervous system and gives us the ability to make clear decisions. Other benefits include:
- Increases self-awareness and self-esteem
- Reduces stress and depression
- Improves attention span
- Increases performance on tests and exams
Mindful breathing is a strategy that regulates complex emotions and helps students handle the daily stresses of life. The ability to notice thoughts and habits is a critical step in changing them. Mindfulness allows time to reflect between an emotion and a response in hopes of adjusting their behavior rather than reacting negatively to stress.
When kids feel anxious, mindfulness is a tool that they can pull out of their social emotional learning toolbox to help them take control of their immediate circumstances on their own and to help them be less impulsive. This skill demonstrated by our students positively affects the school culture.
Mindfulness is being used in many schools using SEL in an effort to create safer, peaceful learning environments in which children strive. The skill of being present with ones emotions and thoughts may be the critical key for success in the classroom.
Thank you for your efforts. It really does take a village to raise our children.
Please fill free to reach out to me, Ms. Carla Conley, regarding any concerns at
972-925-2711. I can also be reach by email: caconley@dallasisd.org
GT Program: Ms. Sanders
Excited about GT this week as we are working on autobiographies ,timeline and exploring famous people we know.
Music: Mr. Root
Lower Elementary: Our Thanksgiving program is coming up on November 29th. Ms. Gamez's class will be performing. One of the songs we are performing and studying for Thanksgiving is in Spanish. The lyrics are below.
Al pavo, pavito, pavo,
al pavo, pavito, sí.
El pavero se ha marchado
y el pavito ya está aquí.
Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day?
One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away.
Volunteer in Week 12
Why volunteer?
Family engagement in schools improves students achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents' confidence in their children's education. Children with involved parents or other caregivers earn high grades , have better social skills, and show improved behavior.
When can I volunteer?
Week 12:
- Create take home reading books
- Flyers to make and distribute
- Perfect Attendance Certificates for 2nd Six Weeks
- Read Alouds & Storytelling- email Ms. Conley, we have one parent already signed up!
How can I receive training to volunteer?
Who do I contact to volunteer at school?
Ms. Cano 972-925-2700 or email HernandezMontessori @dallasisd.org
PTO Fundraiser: Scholastic Boof Fair
'Tis the Season to be Reading!
Monday, November 26-30, 2018
More details to come on a flyer from PTO!
Thanksgiving Lunch
We will host our holiday feast in cafeteria on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. A printed flyer will be distributed this week. Families are invited to attend during the lunch time of their child.
Ms. Haywood- Food Services Manager
PTO & Open House
Thursday, November 29, 2018
PTO @ 5:00 p.m.
Open House Preview Night @ 6:00 p.m.
Elections will be forthcoming for officers!