Bristow Montessori School
"BMS Buzz" - October 2017
Montessori Lense
Welcome back to all our wonderful students and families! We are already well on our way to another exciting school year! If your child is joining us for the first time this year, we would like to give you a warm welcome to our small community! As I look around the classrooms and take in all the energy and excitement the students bring to the environment each day, I am always mindful of how lucky we are to be a part of every child's journey in life.
This month in the Montessori Lens, I would like to share a few excerpts from an article that reaffirmed my appreciation of Dr. Montessori's observations regarding Interactive learning.
The Montessori Method is an interactive teaching method to assist children to explore their surroundings using open-ended questions to tap into their ability to wonder, so as to manipulate, innovate and create.
Learning emerges from interactions. Since the basic principle of the Montessori Method centers on "following the child," the main concern of the Montessori teacher is how to prepare nurturing, motivating environments, based upon interactions.
Working in groups, children interact socially and culturally, thus acquiring advanced social skills, while absorbing and creating knowledge. In such stimulating environments, children discover their human potential.
The teacher is to prepare "hands-on" materials and activities that are relevant to the real world. Dr. Montessori believed that, "children are to have freedom of choice all day long. Life is based on choice, so they learn to make decisions on their own and express themselves creatively. They cannot learn through obedience to the commands of another." (The Child, Society and the World: Unpublished speeches and writings,1989).
"Education should not limit itself to the transmission of knowledge." As Dr. Montessori noted. "It's aim (education) must be to give the necessary aid to human development. Follow the child because within the child lies the future of humanity."
Excerpt is taken from Montessori Leadership: Follow the Child, by Magda Madkour, Ph.D
In service,
Anita Ercole
What's happening in October
BMS Fall Festival
Blue Dog BBQ (our BMS Poctatsky Family) will be serving a catered lunch including: a BBQ Pulled Pork or chicken, beans, slaw, rolls, and water. The cost is $8.00 per adult. For the kids we have hot dog, chips and water for $3. Please consider buying your meal tickets ahead of time at the front office! Cash or check is accepted; checks may be made payable to "BMS Foundation."
Saturday, Oct 14, 2017, 12:00 PM
12560 Aden Rd, Nokesville, VA 20181, United States
PTO Meeting - October 18th - 6:30pm
PTO - Please Join Us for our PTO Meeting this Wednesday, October 18th, 6:30 pm. Childcare (and Pizza) provided for children ages 3 and up. Meet other BMS Parents, chat about upcoming school news/events, & brainstorm ways to positively impact the BMS Community!
We are so grateful to the members of our Parent Teacher Organization for all their help in planning events and providing vital feedback to the school about topics parents are interested in. These parents contribute in many ways with their time, resources and expertise.
Trunk or Treat - Friday, October 27 5:30pm
Looking ahead....
Parent Observation Week - Oct 30 - Nov 4
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
In most Montessori Schools Parent/Teacher conferences typically start in the Primary environment. Of course, Infant, Toddler and Pre-primary families are always welcome to schedule an appointment to talk about their child’s experience in the classroom and ask the teachers for feedback and to discuss any concerns during the course of the year.
Sign-up sheets will be posted outside the classrooms two weeks prior. We want to make sure you have the best possible experience and have all of your questions answered.
Let's CAN Hunger!- November 1- 22
Coat Drive - Nov 1 - 22
Our first month in School....
Field Trip to Stribling Orchard
The children had a wonderful time apple picking at Stribling Orchard! The children brought home Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Macintosh, and Granny Smith and also learned about the importance of apple growing, and how the staff in the orchard work year-round to grow and maintain the trees.
Thank you to all of our parent chaperones who helped with the children.
We can't wait until our next field trip this winter!
Visiting Author: Belinda Miller
Fire Safety Week Oct 8 - 14
Infant, Toddler, & Pre-Primary
Pumpkin Washing!
Parent Reminders
BOOK DONATION BOX
We need your new and gently used children’s books to help grow our BMS Lending Library. Can you take a few minutes to clear your shelves of books the kids have outgrown, so they can be used for our students?
What to donate? Books for all ages: board books, picture books for the youngest readers, Chinese/Spanish/Bilingual books, fiction & non-fiction, young reader chapter books, early learning science and reference books, etc. Place your donated books throughout the year in the “Book Donation” collection bin located in the BMS front Lobby.
Want to join the Library Team of Volunteers? Talk to Niki at the BMS front desk.
BMS Parents - We are on Facebook!
Box Tops for Education
BMS Tuition Payment Options
If you provide a payment via written check. Please be advised check processing my take 2-3 weeks, should you decide to provide this form of payment.
Credit Card Payments can be processed but incurs a fee of 3%.
Late tuition payments have a significant negative impact on school operations. Thank you for your understanding. A late fee of $50 will be assessed for tuition payments received after the 5th of each month.
Contact Us
Email: info@bristowmontessori.com
Website: www.bristowmontessori.com
Location: 9050 Devlin Road, Bristow, VA, United States
Phone: 703-468-1191
Facebook: FaceBook.com/BristowMontessoriSchool