WEEKLY WONDERS
Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, November 15, 2021
Important Dates
November 1-30- PTA Read-A-Thon
November 15-19- Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
November 19-Donation Dress Down Day
November 22-26- Thanksgiving Break- No School!
December 3-9- Scholastic Book Fair (More Info Coming Soon)
December 20-January 3- Winter Break
Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
Ms. Carlotta has been at Ellis for 12+ years and she plays a vital role in the safety of our community during arrival and dismissal on our busy city streets. Her dedication to our school should definitely be commended.
Thank you, Ms. Carlotta!
Donation Dress Down Day
This month, we are raising funds to help send some of our teachers to the American Montessori Society (AMS) conference that will be held St. Patrick's Day weekend.
If your student wishes to dress out of uniform on this day, you may either pay through School Cash Online when you receive the email to do so OR you may send cash (at least $1) to school with your student.
Students should follow the "Acceptable Dress for Non-Uniform Days" Guidelines on page 17 of the 21-22 Student Code of Conduct linked on the SCCPSS/Ellis websites.
November 22-26th- No School!
We will see everyone back to school on Monday, November 29th!
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).
Brighten the Holidays of Ellis Students
**Update: We reached our goal! Sixty-five Ellis children will have a brighter holiday because of the generosity of our community. Thank you, Bobcats!
PTA Read-A-Thon
**Update 11/12/2021: We have already raised $830...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).
From the Clinic
A letter regarding scoliosis screening was distributed to all 6th and 8th grade students for their parents. The screening is scheduled for Thursday, November 18, 2021. Absent students will be screened at a later date. If you do NOT want your 6th or 8th grade student screened by Nurse Chris, please return the completed refusal letter to your student's teacher or Nurse Chris by that morning.
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
Counselor's Corner
This week in School Counseling, all Erdkinder students had the opportunity to learn from one of our choice schools in SCCPSS- Johnson High School. Mr. Jason Buelterman of Johnson High's International Baccalaureate Program explained the advanced options at his school. For a recording of Mr. Buelterman's talk, click here. To see the slideshow presentation, click here. As information becomes available about choice high school's and next year's application process, we will inform by way of your teachers, classroom instruction, parent education, and our School Counseling Website. If you have specific questions about high schools in town, please check their websites for criteria as it becomes available.
Rebecca Burkhart, School Counselor & Wes Cooper, School Counseling Intern
912-395-5470 x2rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.com
School-Wide Grace & Courtesy Focus
The language for identifying/naming FORGIVENESS in "The Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff:
- When I make a mistake and say to myself, "It's OK to make a mistake. I will try to do better the next time, " I am Forgiving myself.
- When I make a mistake and say to someone who feels sad or angry at me for what I did, "I'm sorry. Is there something I can do to help make it right?" I am helping the other person to Forgive me.
- When someone hurts my feelings or does something that makes me feel sad or angry, I am practicing Forgiveness when I say to them, "I felt hurt and angry by what you said and did. Maybe what you did was an accident. If I did anything that caused you to hurt my feelings, I'm sorry and I will try to do better. I hope you feel better soon." Then I let me hurt and angry feelings go away.
Congratulations, Ms. Beth!
Ms. Beth is our school academic coach who recently finished her training to be a certified Montessori coach. A Montessori coach supports the implementation of the Montessori method in our school, supporting teachers in their teaching journey. Ms. Beth also works with staff to integrate district expectations with our Montessori philosophy of teaching.
You can read more about the SCCPSS Teacher of the Year process on the SCCPSS website.
Congratulations to Ms. Beth for well-deserved recognition at the district level!
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.