Monday Memo
Lake Air Montessori Magnet PDS
Week of April 2, 2018
Celebrate Your Uniqueness...Be Unique!
Our theme this year is "Celebrate your Uniqueness". We believe in cultivating children's intellectual abilities alongside their confidence and happiness. We seek to educate the "whole child", one that is beautifully, wonderfully, and uniquely made. We strive to create an environment that nurtures their young minds and inspires a spirit of personal excellence.
Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone else's life. - Kobi Yamada
Weekly Montessori Moment
Grow the Core...
"Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and strength, use it to create." - Maria Montessori
We are taking time to refocus our attention and deepen our core in Montessori philosophy as a staff in our weekly professional development. We will spotlight a different component of our core each week. This week's focus is relaxation when faced with test anxiety.
What Is Test Anxiety?
Test anxiety is the uneasiness and tension that a child feels before, during or after a test due to uncertainty or fear of failure. Most children experience some level of anxiety during an exam. A little nervousness can actually motivate a child to study and perform well. However, when anxiety interferes with test taking, causing students to “blank out,” have trouble paying attention, and/or limit their ability to think clearly, absorb, retain or recall information, it has become an issue that requires attention.
Physical Signs of Test Anxiety:
• butterflies in the stomach pain or upset stomach
• cold, clammy hands.
• sweaty palms
• feeling hot or cold
• headaches
• nausea
• feeling faint
• sleepless nights
Emotional Signs of Test Anxiety:
• frequent tears or excessive crying
• feelings of anger and/or helplessness
• irritability
• becoming easily frustrated
Suggestions to Help Students Overcome Test Anxiety:
• Make sure your child attends school regularly so that they are exposed to all the schoolwork that will be covered in the exam, and be part of the regular study review sessions provided by the teacher.
• Doing well on an exam is easier if a student has been consistently completing school assignments, homework, and assigned readings along with participating in regular studying sessions.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle – help your children get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, have some personal “down time” and a reasonable amount of social interaction.
• Create and maintain a routine at home that will help children to be well rested during regular school days as well as during the week of testing.
• Talk with your children and encourage them to do their best.
• Be well prepared for a test - avoid cramming - help your children develop good study habits and good test taking skills.
• Help your child develop a positive attitude towards test taking – help them develop a “can do” attitude.
• Build mental habits that help your child reduce anxiety – by teaching them to take deep breaths to calm themselves when anxiety levels are high.
• Encourage your child to engage in “thought stopping” techniques if you find that they are worrying excessively or comparing themselves to their peers.
What Parents Can Do On Exam Day To Help Reduce Anxiety:
• Help your child to prepare everything that they will need for the exam the night before— pen, pencil, ruler, eraser, calculator, etc.
• Do something fun on the night before the exam to distract them like playing a board game, watching a movie, or participating in a sporting activity.
• Set the alarm so your child can relax and get a good night sleep before the exam.
• Make sure they eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the exam, as the brain needs lots of energy to maintain focus. Foods such as eggs, cereal, fresh fruits and whole wheat toast help to energize the brain. Avoid foods that contain lots of sugar and caffeine like soda pop, cookies, as well as fatty junk foods.
What Students Can Do On Exam Day To Help Reduce Anxiety:
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Arrive at the exam early, prepared and focus on doing well.
• Be cautious about talking to other students about the exam material before going into the exam – especially those that have the tendency to generate more anxiety.
• Think positive thoughts – “I can do this” “ I have prepared well.”
• Sit in a location in the exam room where you will be least distracted.
• As the papers are being distributed calm yourself by taking some slow, deep, calming breaths.
• Make sure you carefully read any instructions on the exam.
• Focus on only the exam.
• If you feel anxious at any time during the exam, take a few minutes to calm yourself by deep breathing or stretching.
• If the exam is difficult, don’t panic, just focus on completing what you know, putting in your best effort, and not giving up.
• When the exam is over – reward yourself with something special.
Would you be interested in attending a parent session on the social-emotional health of your gifted and talented child?
If so, respond to this quick survey and we will schedule a parent training session soon at school.
As a Montessori school…
We follow the teachings of Dr. Maria Montessori, a medical doctor, teacher, philosopher and anthropologist. Her progressive view of children was way beyond her time.
We understand that children of different ages have different needs and abilities. We study child development theory and make sure our classrooms are developmentally appropriate.
We observe our children. By watching closely, we can modify our lessons and materials to best suit the child’s interests and growth.
We believe that the environment is the best teacher. We design the classroom to fit the needs of the child, rich experiences balanced with beauty and order. Each work contains a purposeful work that is designed to teach a specific concept.
We model grace and courtesy (good manners), treating each other as we wish ourselves to be treated. We use calm voices when teaching and speak with respect to children’s feelings. We carry ourselves with poise and handle objects with care.
We recognize that children are unique individuals who are not likely to master exact same concepts or have the same interests at the same time.
We do not use rewards and punishments to force children to comply with rules or to combat ill behavior. We believe that each child is on the way to developing self discipline and that rewards should be intrinsic.
We believe that children learn best when they are free to move their bodies throughout the day. We want to teach our children to respect their bodies and control their movements which helps the growing brain learn more effectively.
We believe that the materials a child works with should be carefully chosen to support the current developmental stage. Concrete experiences are always offered first and abstract thinking presented later. We call this work, not play.
STAAR Testing coming soon!
April 10 - 4th Writing, 5th Math, 7th Writing, 8th Math
April 11 - 5th Reading, 8th Reading
We will also test the following on those days for District Benchmark Assessments (mock STAAR tests). All students need to be present!
April 10 - 3rd Math, 6th Math
April 11 - 3rd Reading, 4th Reading, 6th Reading, 7th Math
April 16 - 4th Math, 5th Science, 6th Science, 7th Reading, 8th Science
April 17 - 7th Science, 8th Social Studies
Public Montessori Educators of Texas Conference April 20-21st
Book Fair April 23-27th
The Scholastic Book Fair will be here on April 23--27th. Our library will be full of wonderful new books for you to purchase!
Ms. Whatley needs volunteers. If you want to help at the book fair, please fill out the volunteer form online and await approval. If you have already been approved this school year, you are good to go! Please contact mary.whatley@wacoisd.org if you would like to volunteer.
Waco ISD Jazz Festival
PTA Leaders Needed for the 2018-19 School Year
Hello Lake Air Montessori PTA Members!
The PTA nominating committee will be meeting soon to identify leadership for the 2018-19 school year. Please respond to lakeairpta@gmail.com to let us know if you are interested in serving as an elected board member in one of the following positions:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Job descriptions
President. The president coordinates the work of the officers and committees of the PTA in order that the purposes may be promoted; presides at all meetings of the PTA; appoints the chair of each standing committee and special committee, subject to the approval of the executive board; is authorized to sign on bank accounts, tax documents, and contracts; serves as an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating and financial reconciliation committees.
Vice President. The vice president serves as aide to the president and presides in the absence of the president.
Secretary. The secretary records and maintains the minutes of all meetings of the members and the executive board; sends notice of membership and executive board meetings; is responsible for correspondence; collects and preserves documents relating to the history of the association; and maintains the required documents of the association.
Treasurer. The treasurer has custody of all the funds of the association; serves as the chair of the budget and finance committee; presents a written and verbal financial report at executive board and association meetings and as requested by the executive board or association; maintains books of account and records including bank statements, receipts, budgets, invoices, paid receipts and canceled checks in accordance with the records retention policy; makes disbursements in accordance with the budget adopted by the association; is authorized to sign on bank accounts; presents a preliminary annual report, i.e. budget to actual, at the last association meeting; completes and files all necessary tax documents; and presents books of account and records to the financial reconciliation committee.
Other leadership positions are appointed by the new president at a later date.
Thanks for your support of Lake Air Montessori PTA!
Felicia Goodman
Nominating Committee Chair
Every child needs their own earbuds or Headphones!!!!
We just began a new reading computer program and every Primary student MUST have their own headphones in order to use the program!!
We are AVID!!
Please sign up for Parent Portal!!
We encourage all parents to sign up for Parent Portal. It is your one stop shop to know how your child is doing in school! Get notifications when your child has a grade below a certain score or when he has a missing assignment.
Parent Portal is an exciting opportunity for parents to become more involved in their child’s education through the convenience of the Internet. You will have access to your child’s:
- Grades (current progress report and 6-week report cards)
- Schedule
- Attendance
- Health Log
- Discipline Log
- Student Personal Information: address, phone, e-mail
- Plus, send an email to any of your child's teachers
Click below for our LAMM Campus calendar!
Mark your Calendars!!!
April 10 - 11 STAAR Tests 4th Writing, 5th Math, 5th Reading, 7th Writing, 8th Math, 8th Reading
April 10 - 11 Mock STAAR tests 3rd Math, 3rd Reading, 4th Math, 6th Math, 6th Reading, 7th Math
April 16-17 Mock STAAR tests 4th Reading, 6th Science, 7th Reading, 7th Science, 8th Science, 8th Social Studies
April 20th - 21st - Public Montessori Educators of Texas conference (PMET)
April 20th - Career Day
April 27th - WISD Jazz Fest
May 8 - Algebra I EOC
May 14-17 STAAR Tests 3rd Math, 4th Math, 5th Retest Math/Reading, 6th Math, 6th Reading, 7th Math, 7th Reading, 8th Retest Math/Reading, 8th Science, 8th Social Studies
May 25 - 8th grade Crossing Over
May 31 - Kindergarten Crossing Over
May 29-31 Middle School Adventure Trip
May 29 - 30 Field day
Let us know what we can do better! Leave us a suggestion!
NEXT WEEK..April 9th-13th
Lesson Study during conference period
Tuesday April 10th
STAAR Test 4th Writing, 5th Math, 7th Writing, 8th Math
DBA 3rd Math, 6th Math
Wednesday April 11th
STAAR Test 5th Reading, 8th Reading
DBA 3rd Reading, 4th Math, 6th Reading, 7th Math
No faculty meeting
Thursday April 12th
7:15am-7:45am- Jazz Rhythm Section Rehearsal
STAAR makeups
PLCs during conference
Friday April 13th
end of the 6 weeks
1:00 - 3:00 Makerspace (Sauer and D. Davis)
3:30 - 4:45 Jazz Band Rehearsal
College Fridays: University of California - Los Angeles (blue and gold)
Next WEEK...April 16-10
Monday April 16th
2nd grade field trip to Cameron Park Zoo
7th and 8th grade Science DBA
5th grade Science Curriculum Support
Tuesday April 17th
DBA testing: 4th Reading, 5th Science, 6th Science, 7th Social Studies, 8th Social Studies
2:00 - 3:00 Baylor KAST for 5th grade Science
3:30pm-4:45pm Varsity Band Rehearsal
Wednesday April 18th
PK3 field trip to Cameron Park Zoo
Middle School Band UIL and Sight Reading Contests
Faculty meeting to prepare for PMET
Thursday April 19th
PLCs during conference period - Data Analysis of DBAs
7:15 - 7:50 Jazz Band
Friday April 20th
STAAR Alt testing ends
Career Day
PMET Classroom Observation Day
1:00 - 3:00 Makerspace (Lopez, Moore)
2:00 - 3:00 Baylor KAST for 7/8th grade Science
3:30pm-4:45pm - Jazz Band
College Fridays: Iowa State (cardinal and gold)
Saturday April 21st
8:30 -5:00 PMET conference
11:45 - 12:30 Jazz band performance at PMET
BOLETÍN DE NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL
Lake Air Montessori PDS
Principal: Stephanie Tankersley
Assistant Principal: Rachel Hannah
Assistant Principal: Dr. Mary Phillips
Email: stephanie.tankersley@wacoisd.org
Website: http://lakeair.wacoisd.org/home/
Location: 4601 Cobbs Drive, Waco, TX, United States
Phone: 254-772-1910
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeAirMontessori/
Twitter: @WISDmontessori