Hi Families!                                                                            News & Notes                                

         We are rolling into the holiday season busier than usual it seems.  Tonight is a most wonderful Parent Night with wine, cheese and socializing before we delve into this evening’s topic: Math!  Specifically we’ll address just how your child and the mathematic approach of the Montessori method meld into one harmonious experience that has get into your children in a deep and meaningful way. Montessori said the nature of man was to a mathematical mind and just how she reconciled that for children is a delight to behold. We hope to see many of you enjoy this evening.

     The Elementary students went to the library yesterday to research Ancient Egypt as they will be writing reports for presentation in December. This is the first of our cultural studies this year. We met Ms Jenny who has not seen any other school groups yet. We “think” we may have spoiled her; CVMS elementary was interested, attentive and appreciative of her sharing a story with us and having a discussion with us as well as being helpful finding books with the children.

     Tomorrow, Elementary treks to Concord, to the Planetarium. This trip always precedes our Dec. 21^st Winter Solstice/Pajama Day and Big Bang classroom display and discussion. Our core curriculum in science, history, and biology always begins at the beginning of time – whenever that was – and it never fails to excite the imagination and sew the seeds of wonder for your child.

     Lastly, on the elementary front – we are asking for pictures of your child they may use in a story about themselves they will be writing. We need a picture for every year of their life. You can include pictures before their birth and include siblings too. We complete this story every year and mark the progress of time as well as their personal growth and development in many ways. Remember, the photos you share will be glued on paper (so you might want to send computer copies, if possible).

Children’s House News

     Most important event this season for the Kindergarteners is the annual Thanksgiving Play Extravaganza!  The Kindergarteners present each year, a short play, and provide a little food, for their parents and families. Younger children are not included in this event as it is a yearly rite of passage for the classroom elders. This year it will take place on Mon, Nov. 23^rd at 5:30pm. Ms Carla sent info to the Ks families.

     We are pleased to announce our yearly Fire Fighter’s visit to the school will take place this Thursday, November 19^th at 9:30am. You are welcome to come for the presentation. We wish you could have had more notice, but we were only notified of the visit yesterday ourselves. The Folks are having a busy season. We are nonetheless happy they WILL be here at last! 

     Many many thank yous:

• Marlene Santiago : Paper Towels and Soap are appreciated
• Monica J.:   Indian Corn donation appreciated
• Jen B.:          Ditto
• Cristina:        Soap is appreciated
• Megan:        Hannaford Fund raising appreciated
• Becki:           Clorox wipes appreciated

Thanks to everyone for the Box Tops and Campbell Labels. We have submitted for a $36.00 rebate from Box Tops and will submit Campbell’s labels shortly. Keep those coupons coming. Ask family and friends to clip, snip, and rip, for you!

Basket of Hope

     Each year at Thanksgiving we kick off a yearly drive to help stock the food pantries of our area with canned and dry goods for those less fortunate than ourselves. The effort is called “The Basket of Hope” because we literally fill a basket. Actually, we fill several baskets over the course of the school year. You’ll see a large basket outside our front door filling with goods on a weekly basis.  If you care to participate we thank you in advance. We talk to the children about the “first” Thanksgiving and what it meant to the Pilgrim people and in turn what it means to be thankful today. We all have so much to be thankful for. It is one small way of giving back.

Upcoming Event

     Be sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, DECEMBER 23^rd for the CVMS Holiday Celebration. This is an all school event that takes place on the last day of school before vacation. We will have cookies, crafts, songs, and fun for the entire family. Remember it is a ½ day of school for all. Come with your child stay and till noon or leave early after our songfest – it is our way of saying, “Happy Holidays”.

Be on the lookout for……an evening out!  The staff at CVMS is cookin’ up a Friday in Dec. for you to have an evening out or shop till you drop (without the kids).  It’ll be a pizza, games and movie night for them right here at CVMS in their jammies and a night out for you!  More to come…….

Hi Families!                     November Highlights                    

      Thanks to all who participated, we, once again, brought smiles to the faces of the residents of The Isle at Ledgewood this Halloween. Kudos to all the elementary students for presenting their peacemakers & everyday heroes reports to the residents as well. I went back to Ledgewood for my standing Friday afternoon book club, where I read to the residents for ½ hour. To much my surprise several residents I know and some I don’t stopped to tell me what a delight our children were! So once again, a heartfelt THANK YOU to all!

     October ended the Elementary Soccer Program. We owe another round of thanks and appreciation to Mike Salzman and Jim Doody for keeping the children moving! We also owe a special appreciation to Ben Brewster for the generous donation of his fields for our skill practice.

     As a reminder, YOGA starts this Thursday, the 5^th so be sure and dress your children comfortable. Michelle from Moving Spirit in Merrimack does a beautiful job with this class so we look forward to your participation as well and you can witness it firsthand.

     The following weeks in the month bring Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving Holidays, as well as our last parent meeting of the year. We don’t try and squeeze one in the busy month of December. Note that it is on Tuesday the 17^th, at 6pm where we will cover math curriculum from 3 – 9. It is a great presentation so please RSVP – we are considering wine and cheese!

     Children’s House (3-6) Kindergarten students have always presented a Thanksgiving Play and had a mini-feast for their families before the holiday. This has traditionally, for the last 8 years, occurred on the evening before the Thanksgiving break. Please let Ms. Carla know if any of the Kindergarteners and their families will not be in town and available on the early evening of the 24^th, as it would significantly affect the outcome of the plans. Thank you.

     We Wish the Baker family well as Davida and Yami embark on a trip to China to escort their newest family member home. Isaiah, Emet, and Micah will be the older brothers of a 3 year old Chinese girl soon! Our love and support to you all!

     Finally, a not-forgotten “thank you” to Ms Sue for the beautiful yellow mums that grace the front door of our school.

Hi Parents,                                                         

      We are getting into the swing of things!!  Homework is mostly getting done; Spanish assignments are mostly being sent in….we are inching toward a cohesive functioning class. Thanks to those that have had conferences – you have the picture of where we’d like to be going. By next conference, I’d love to say: WE HAVE ARRIVED. Elementary is a big adjustment and they are under the microscope for the first time.

     Soccer is rapidly coming to a close. We will be following with our next unit of study: YOGA! Please see the accompanying Field Trip Permission slips and remember we LOVE parent participation and chaperoning.

     Our Peacemaker reports are “in process”. You may be asked to help your child with their report if they are having difficulty. There is so much work to be accomplished at school; you may need to provide them and us a little help. They are to dress as their peacemaker for Halloween at Ledgewood, and, depending on their comfort level, be asked to present their report for the interested Grandmas and Grandpas. If your child has finished their report, they have been sent home with their cards for them to provide visual clues and artifacts to help tell the story. For a clear idea, if you do not have one, of what is expected, please see me. Permission slips for Ledgewood will be issued with this newsletter also.

     Please correct Toby Stevens phone number on your school list to: 886 – 0808.

     Just to give you a head’s up – for physical education: we will follow up our yoga unit with Ice Skating and then in the spring –the ever popular Dance.

     We have a last a request. For your children to make their personal timelines they need to come to school with a list of everyone in their family ages. They can include pets, aunts, uncles, grandparents if they like. Make sure to provide them with this information by next Monday. Thank you.

     For those of you that need a conference, I will conduct them next week before school at 8:30 am or after school at 2:30 or 3:00pm except Wednesday.

Thanks for all your help!

Hi Parents,                                         FABULOUS FALL                      

      Isn’t it beautiful? My favorite time of the year!  As the days get shorter and the air a bit nippier stay alert to dress your children appropriately for the weather. Remember they can always put on an extra sweater or sweatshirt so check at conferences if your child’s clothing they keep here at school is sufficient.

     Speaking of conferences, we are looking very forward to get the discussion rolling about your child’s adjustment to school this year. Please sign up with your child’s teacher.

      We had a great time at the Toadstool Bookstore with their expert on children’s books, Sue, presenting a vast array of book types and levels for all kinds of readers. I’ll be writing a summary of her talk with some of my own thoughts about this topic soon. She showed us nearly 70 books in her rapid-fire presentation. It was awesome. To thank our parents for coming, the Toadstool offered a door prize which was won by Monika Marwaha (Pranav). Her gift was the book, J is for Jack O’Lantern. CVMS offered a $25.00 gift certificate to the Toadstool which was won by Monica Bhattacharya and Gaylen Lanphier(Aidan). Congrats all!

     Speaking of Monica B., she had sent the school an article to alert parent to the possibilities of flame retardant in children’s items other than just their pjs. Speak to her if you’d like a copy of the article.

     Many thank yous:

• To Susan Lee (Debbie) for sharing with us information about the Chinese Moon Festival which is similar to our Thanksgiving and is celebrated to appreciate families and the harvest in this time of a full moon. She also brought in “moon cakes” for us to try. Yum Yum.
• To Becki Stevens (Toby) for discount coupons from Michael’s for the teachers.
• To Tracey Garret (Ryan) for a generous supply of paper goods for the school including paper towels, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, and Kleenex. You can’t imagine how much we go through in a year!
• From Jen Bartolomucci (Andrew and Tyler) for those that contributed to her efforts for the American Heart Association.

     And finally, birthdays I may have neglected to honor, in September: Isaiah -9, Glo -3, Natalie -3, and October: Jack -6, Micah -4. Happy Birthday to all!

On the back of this newsletter please read about “Peace Education” and Halloween