The Week of October 6th

 The Weekly Newsletter

Dear Families,

We hope this newsletter finds you all safe. If the impact of Hurricane Helene has left your family in need of any assistance, please let us know and we will help you get the resources needed. We are glad to be returning to Ellis this Monday, October 7. Please return all student devices and headphones to school with your child on that day. We look forward to seeing everyone then!

Family Observations

We are sorry for any inconvenience the rescheduling of some of your observations has caused. If you have to reschedule or if you haven't scheduled your observation yet, please use this link to do so now. Our goal is to provide a loving, respectful, and supportive environment in which children will blossom. Family understanding of Montessori philosophy plays an important role in supporting our educational approach. We would like to invite families to sit in and observe our class during the morning work cycle. If you haven't yet scheduled, please use this link to schedule your observation of our community. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Observation Expectations

There are clipboards with observation checklists at the entrance of Room 29. Please take one and use it to help guide your observation. Upon entrance to the classroom, please quietly find the observation chair and have a seat. We ask that you stay seated in the observation chair and try not to engage the children in conversation. If a child asks who you are or what you’re doing in the class, a polite “Hello, I’m ____. I’m here to watch you and your friends work.” is appropriate. When you leave, please return the clipboard with the observation checklist and pencil to the basket by the door of Room 29.  We look forward to seeing you! 

                            BOOK IT! Reading Program

Ms. Lisa will once again be hosting the Book-It reading incentive program.  The program is simple...read to your student or encourage them to read at least 20 minutes per day (5 days a week) and you will receive a coupon for a FREE one-topping, personal size pizza from Pizza Hut every month. The program runs from October through March.  If your student would like to participate or if you have any questions, email Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com). By emailing Ms. Lisa, you agree to allow your email address to be submitted to BOOK IT! so that you can receive the free pizza coupons for your student. Your student will receive a reading log from Ms. Lisa every month to keep track of their reading.

Book Character Tissue Box Challenge!

                                Our Trip to Oatland Island

 Family Engagement has been rescheduled!

Cardinals and Blue Jays

At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we are dedicated to providing a personalized and differentiated learning experience for every student. Our educators diligently tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of all learners, including those identified as gifted. Through individualized learning plans, advanced and enriching activities, and a supportive classroom environment, we ensure that each student is challenged and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We are committed to fostering a love of learning and helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Dates to Remember

October 10- Donation Dress Down Day

October 11- Staff Planning Day

October 11- PTA Grant Deadline

October 14- No School!

October 15- Make-Up Photo Day

October 16- School Council Meeting

October 25- Donation Dress Down Day

October 25- PTA Fall Festival

October 26- Family Engagement Gathering

October 28- Book Character Tissue Box Challenge

The Week of September 22nd

The Weekly Newsletter

Universal Screener Packet

Beginning of the Year Universal Reading Screener Reports went home on Friday. The report contains your child's scores on individual "reading screenings" (Universal Screeners) and states actions to support your child if they fall in a particular range of scores. We are analyzing these screenings along with other classroom assessments to determine your child's needs. If your child qualified for Tier 2 RTI, as indicated on the report, you will have an additional notification attached.

ElP (Early Intervention Program) is a program for students in grades K-5th where students receive interventions in reading and/or math. If your child received a letter indicating that he/she qualifies for EIP services, he/she will receive evidence-based interventions in the classroom using iReady or with a teacher in small groups.

Family Observations

Our goal is to provide a loving, respectful, and supportive environment in which children will blossom. Family understanding of Montessori philosophy plays an important role in supporting our educational approach. We would like to invite families to sit in and observe our class during the morning work cycle. Classroom observations will begin soon. Please use this link to schedule your observation of our community. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Oatland Island Wild Life Center Field Trip

We should arrive at Oatland Island at about 10am Monday. Bug spray and sunscreen should be applied at home. Students should wear closed-toe, walking shoes with socks. Students can wear hats. They should bring a water bottle. They should not bring anything that needs to be microwaved. We will have a picnic lunch on the property after the field trip.

Below is a list of items that can be donated by our community to Oatland. You can send in smaller items with your child if your family would like to donate. Please deliver any large items directly to Oatland Island Wildlife Center at your convenience.

 Family Engagement this Saturday!

Cardinals and Blue Jays

International Day of Peace

At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we are dedicated to providing a personalized and differentiated learning experience for every student. Our educators diligently tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of all learners, including those identified as gifted. Through individualized learning plans, advanced and enriching activities, and a supportive classroom environment, we ensure that each student is challenged and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We are committed to fostering a love of learning and helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Dates to Remember

September 23- Field Trip Oatland

September 25- Spirit Night at Chipotle 4PM

September 27- Donation Dress Down $1

Sept. 30 - Oct. 9- Classroom Observations

October 15- Make-up Picture Day

The Week of September 15th

Family Engagement

Cardinals and Blue Jays are reading!

Our Community at Work

Oatland Island Field Trip

Ooops! We did not get a chance to send home field trip forms last week! This week, we really will send home field trip permission slips for our trip to Oatland Island on September 23. Please sign and return as soon as possible. There is no cost for our students to attend this field trip. Parents are welcome to attend. We believe the cost of admission is $5 per person, which can be payed to Oatland Island staff upon entry. We are expected to have a picnic lunch on the property afterwards. 

Learning Logs/ Work Plans

They go home every Friday. Please sign and return every Monday.

Tuesday Library

We are scheduled to go to the library every Tuesday to borrow and return books. Last week, the Media Center was closed so our class did not get a chance to return books. The Media Center should be open this Tuesday. If it's not, we believe students will be able to return books sometime later in the week.

At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we are dedicated to providing a personalized and differentiated learning experience for every student. Our educators diligently tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of all learners, including those identified as gifted. Through individualized learning plans, advanced and enriching activities, and a supportive classroom environment, we ensure that each student is challenged and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We are committed to fostering a love of learning and helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Dates to Remember

September 20- International Day of Peace

September 23- Field Trip Oatland

September 25- Spirit Night at Chipotle 4PM

September 27- Donation Dress Down $1

October 15- Make-up Picture Day

The Week of September 8th

 Cardinals and Blue Jays are reading to their pets!

Our Community at Work

Oatland Island Field Trip

This week, we will send home field trip permission slips for our trip to Oatland Island on September 23. Please sign and return as soon as possible. There is no cost for our students to attend this field trip. Parents are welcome to attend. We believe the cost of admission is $5 per person, which can be payed to Oatland Island staff upon entry. We are expected to have a picnic lunch on the property afterwards. 

 In the Classroom

On Friday, we sent home student learning logs/work plans. This is a log of the work your child completed during the week. Students are expected to have conversations with their grownups about the work they've chosen and completed. Please sign and return the log every Monday. 

Morning Recess

Morning recess started last Wednesday. Many students are meeting the morning work period expectations and going to second recess immediately. Some students are figuring out how to manage their time during the morning work period and going out to second recess when their work is complete. Others have been unable to meet the work completion expectation for the morning work period of journal writing and two additional works complete. If your child has been unable to go out for second recess, have a conversation with them. Talk to them about how their time is spent during the work periods. Ask them what they can do differently to meet the work expectations.

Tuesday Library

All students go to the library every Tuesday to borrow and return books.

At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we are dedicated to providing a personalized and differentiated learning experience for every student. Our educators diligently tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of all learners, including those identified as gifted. Through individualized learning plans, advanced and enriching activities, and a supportive classroom environment, we ensure that each student is challenged and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We are committed to fostering a love of learning and helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Dates to Remember

September 20- International Day of Peace

September 23- Field Trip

September 25- Spirit Night at Chipotle 4PM

September 27- Donation Dress Down $1

October 15- Make-up Picture Day

The Week of September 1st

  Cardinals and Blue Jays are reading!

 In the Classroom

We have continued having conversations and reading about the beginning of the Universe. Students shared their questions and observations. Some students have decided to research Greek Mythology. Students will be working on Laws of the Universe experiments in the upcoming weeks. They continue to have math and reading lessons and complete follow up work, as well.

Science and Social Studies Weekly Readers

Your child will be bringing home two large packets of Social Studies and Science Weekly Readers that will last the entire school year. The district has provided these resources for all schools, but it is difficult to integrate regular usage of this resource into the Montessori environment. These offer a wonderful opportunity for you to sit with your child and do nonfiction reading and activities with them. We do encourage that you work with your child on these regularly, but we are not collecting them or checking for completion. 

Student Work Logs

This week, we will send home student work logs on Friday. This is a log of the work students completed during the week. Students are expected to have conversations with their grownups about the work they've chosen and completed. Please sign and return the log every Monday. 

Morning Recess

We will also start morning recess this Wednesday. All students are expected to complete journaling and 2 more works during the morning work period. If they do not meet the expectation, they will complete what needs to be done before going out for second recess. 

Tuesday Library

Students had their library orientation with Ms. Lisa in the Media Center. They will go to the library every Tuesday to borrow and return books.

Classroom Visit

Thank you to Sayari's father, Kwame Nyong'o, for sharing his book, The Yummiest Githeri, with our class! Students were interested in making the recipe at home. Below is a picture of the Yummiest Githeri recipe from the book.

Our Community at Work

At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we are dedicated to providing a personalized and differentiated learning experience for every student. Our educators diligently tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of all learners, including those identified as gifted. Through individualized learning plans, advanced and enriching activities, and a supportive classroom environment, we ensure that each student is challenged and inspired to reach their fullest potential. We are committed to fostering a love of learning and helping every child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Dates to Remember

September 2- No School Labor Day

September 20- International Day of Peace

September 23- Field Trip

September 25- Spirit Night at Chipotle 4PM

September 27- Donation Dress Down $1

October 15- Make-up Picture Day