Week of February 14th – 18th Summary

February 18, 2011

Important Upcoming Dates:

• No School in Monday, February 21st in honor of President’s Day.

• On Saturday, February 26th there will be a Kitchen Garden work party from 10 am to 12 pm. Please come help the Environmental Committee prepare the garden space for the Spring planting!

• More calendar events here.

Board of Trustees Note:

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

School Notes:

• Your child’s Gullah artwork is now on Artsonia.com! When visiting the site, search for “Sea Pines Montessori Academy” in the “Find School” box. Parents should receive an email from Artsonia.com to activate the account associated with your child’s artwork. Students artwork is arranged by the highest grade in their classroom (eg: 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade will be filed under 3rd grade.) Fun product with your child’s artwork can be ordered through Artsonia.com and SPMA will receive 15% of your purchase. Please email Carla Golden with questions.

• We have a long list of Lost and Found items belonging to children and adults. Please check this list to see if any items are yours. Items not claimed will be donated to charity.

• The Art Department will turn to Environmental Sculpture on February 22nd 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. Collection bins will be located at the school entrance and on the porch of the Visual Sound studio. Thank you!

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

• 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 of the Light Purple’s inaugural field trip to the Petting Farm!

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

Opera Notes:

• Thank you everyone – staff, students, parents, Mr. & Mr.s Jones, and supporters - for another spectacular production! Persephone DVD order forms are available here.

• If you have Persephone photos to share on Shutterfly, please email Carla Golden.

Ask Maria:

Q: What does polishing a mirror and washing a table have to do with education?

A: The Practical Life area is very unique to a Montessori classroom. Through repetitive, hands-on and very purposeful activities, children learn to do things for themselves. At the same time, indirect learning beyond polishing a mirror, folding laundry, washing a table, or opening and closing a bottle is occurring. The children learn concentration, coordination, manual dexterity, order and independence. Far from being trivial, these skills form the necessary foundation for all future learning as they stir important areas in the brain. Not to mention, children are interested in learning “real” things which accounts for the tremendous popularity of these exercises.

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.