Week of January 31st – February 4th Summary

February 4, 2011

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, February 7th the Lower Elementary students will begin an eleven week “Hooked on Golf” curriculum at Harbour Town Golf Links. Please have students ready by reading the pertinent documents here.

• Upcoming SPMA Campus Open Houses: Friday, February 11th at 10 am and Tuesday, February 15th at 6:30 pm. Tell your friends! Bring a friend! Call 785-2534 for more information.

• On Saturday, February 12th the Sixth Graders and Middle School students will be hosting a babysitting fundraiser from 10 am to 1 pm. Potty trained Primary students up to third year Lower Elementary students are welcome. The fee is $25 per child. Please email the Middle School to reserve your child/ren’s spot! The Middle School students are raising funds for their field trip to Williamsburg, VA and the Sixth Years are raising funds for their trip to the Montessori Model United Nations in New York City. Donations are welcome!

• Save the Date! SPMA students will be performing the opera “Persephone” on Friday, February 18th. Ticket sales will be announced soon!

• More calendar events here.

Board of Trustees Note:

• The Development Committee invites you to Dine Out & Raise Funds for SPMA!

School Notes:

• The Art Department will turn to Environmental Sculpture on February 21st and needs your help collecting materials! Please save your non-perishable, light weight, clean items (pre-destined for the garbage or recycling can) that can be used and attached using paper-mâché, duct tape, wire, or hot glue. Donations of duct tape, all-purpose flour, easily bendable chicken wire and bolts would also be appreciated. A collection bin will be located on the porch of the Visual Sound studio. Thank you!

• For Pennies for Peace, SPMA collected 15,885 pennies, 176 dimes, 86 nickles, 60 quarters and 17 dollars for a grand total of $193.57! Thank you Ella Patrick and Grace Vanderslice for starting this great project!

• SPMA is currently collecting milk bones (not raw hide) for the dogs at the Hilton Head Humane Association Animal Shelter for our monthly outreach. Please bring in a box or bag and place them in the baskets in the school foyer. Thank you!

• Get your new SPMA logo car sticker from Head of School, Darcie Patrick!

• The next delivery of organic produce boxes are coming to SPMA February 15th! Read more and sign up here.

• Watch WHHI/Lowcountry Child SPMA videos here. The new February 2011 episode features Darcie Patrick dispelling Montessori Myths!

• Bess is now offering a hot lunch for our students – grilled cheese sandwiches! Order forms for Bess’ lunch are due each Friday by 10 am for the following week. Lunches can be ordered for 1 to 5 days per week. Call Bess at 785-2377 with questions and for full menu options.

• SPMA Shutterfly photos!

• Every Friday is Spirit Day! Go to ShopSPMA to click into Land’s End school uniform shop.

Opera Notes:

• Please contact Teresa Kunich,Opera Coordinator, if you are able to lend a helping hand as we head into the busiest and most exciting weeks before the opera!

Ask Maria:

Q: Why is my child in a classroom with other children who are older and younger? When I was in school everyone in my class was about the same age.

A: Montessori classes are organized to encompass a three-year age span which allows younger students the stimulation of older children who in turn benefit from serving as role models. Each child learns at her own pace and will be ready for any given lesson in her own time. In a mixed-age class, children can always find peers who are working at their current level. Children normally stay in the same class for three years. With two-thirds of the class normally returning each year, the classroom culture tends to remain quite stable. Working in one class for three years allows students to develop a strong sense of community with their classmates and teachers. The age range also allows especially gifted children the stimulation of intellectual peers, without requiring that they skip a grade or feel emotionally out of place. With three years of observation, Montessori teachers are able to keenly know, track and guide each student so that they may reach their fullest potential.

Do you have a Montessori Method question? Please email it to “Dr. Maria Montessori” and we’ll get it answered. Your question will be posted anonymously.

SPMA Booster Club Notes:

• Planning has begin for the inaugural SPMA Fishing Tournament to benefit the 2011-12 Scholarship Fund. Anyone interested in helping, please email the Booster Club.

• Box Tops, Harris Teeter (relink card with SPMA 2563-VIC PIN) Publix Partner Cards (if you need one email the Booster Club and we will send one home with student). Details here.

Class Notes: