07.23.2010

Friday Family Flyer

FFF

Calendar: (Yowzers!)

Aug. 21 – Dog Walk/Surfing at Goleta/Campus Beach 7:30am

Aug. 23 – In-Service week for teachers and staff; teachers on campus

Aug. 26 – New Parent Orientation at SBMS 6:30-8:00pm

Aug. 30 – Back to School Night—ALL PARENTS—6:30pm – 8:17pm

Sept. 1 – First day of school: TODDLERS & PRIMARY 8:30 – 10:00am

Sept. 1 – Regular schedule for ELEMENTARY & ERDKINDER

Sept. 2 – Coffee with Jim 8:45am-10:00am

Sept. 2 – PHASE-IN for TODDLERS & PRIMARY 8:30 – 10:30am

Sept. 3 – PHASE-IN for TODDLERS & PRIMARY 8:30 – 11:00am

Sept. 3 – PRIMARY and TODDLERS “TEA” with Parents; 11:00 - Noon

Sept. 6 – Labor Day Holiday—No School

Sept. 6 – Erdkinder departs for Olympic Park Institute

Sept. 7 – Upper Elementary departs for Headlands Institute

Sept. 7-10 - PHASE-IN for TODDLERS & PRIMARY 8:30-11:30am

Sept. 10 – Upper Elementary and Erdkinder return

Sept. 13 – Regular schedule: 8:30 – 2:45 ALL CHILDREN

Sept. 13 - ADM (All Day Montessori) and After School Classes begin

Sept. 19 – 37TH Annual Picnic—ALL FAMILIES--Tuckers Grove 11am

Office Schedule

July 26-July 30 (occasionally; please call)

Aug 2 – Aug 6 (also, occasionally; please call)

Aug 9 – Aug 13 (also, occasionally; please call)

Questions? Need information? Forms to fill out?

685-7600—messages checked daily

jim@sbmontessori.com

trudy@sbmontessori.com

SBMS’s office will be open intermittently over the next three weeks. Telephone and email communications will continue uninterrupted. Maintenance and repair and construction work will be taking place around the campus, but the office may or may not be occupied on any given day. Any questions can be left as a voice mail or sent as an email. See you on the dog walk, if not before.

SBMS 2010-2011 Family Directory

Photos & Updates by Friday, July 30.

Please update your contact information, emails, etc., and email any changes AND your photographs of your family to: trudy@sbmontessori.com

SBMS Program Changes

sbindependentschools.com

Changes have been taking place within the Santa Barbara Independent School (SBIS) community, with some changes directly and indirectly affecting SBMS. First and foremost has been a series of meetings and discussions amongst the SBIS heads of school regarding the alarming rate of drops in enrollments at the SBIS member schools. Every independent school in Santa Barbara is being affected, and SBMS is adjusting its programs accordingly. Temporarily, we’d like to think, SBMS’s Primary level program will re-structure for 2010-2011 with two 3-6 year-old classes instead of three. Part of any authentic Montessori program’s structure is a robust number of children in each class, providing the group the energy and diversity for a dynamic learning experience.

Last year’s plan to start a new Primary class with Alejandra Carta as the lead guide was well conceived, but didn’t include the ongoing economic ‘slowdown’ as part of the plan. The plan had been for that group to expand this year with the addition of more children. Fortunately, Alejandra has agreed to become the lead guide for SBMS’s All Day Montessori (ADM) program. SBMS’s current plans include Alejandra’s return as the lead guide of the third Primary class when enrollments return to the level necessitating the third class.

Thus, Juniper Dwight’s and Aran Klingensmith’s classes (Sycamore and Willow) will absorb Alejandra’s “Maple” children, and for now the Maple class will become a resource room until it’s again required when enrollments increase. At this point, SBMS is blessed with wonderful classrooms and incredible indoor and outdoor environments, and as much as ever, the school remains poised for growth and development—SBMS will begin immediately with a freshly revised campaign to raise the community’s level of awareness of the school’s excellence.

Primary and elementary class lists are currently being finalized, your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as the final class assignments are weighed and determined…the class lists will be sent to each family prior to the beginning of school.

Other changes taking place include Head of School Nelda Nutter’s departure from the Montessori Center School (MCS). A few SBIS HOSs (Joel Weiss, Gordon and Suzie Sichi, yours truly) were able to host a send-off dinner with Nelda before she moved back east after her 15 years at MCS. We all wished her well in her new position as Director of Admissions at a traditional prep school in Virginia. Interestingly, Eric Swain was named MCS’s interim HOS, and, yes, Eric’s wife, Jane, has been a specialist teacher at SBMS for the past few years.

Additionally, all SBIS member schools have agreed to a collaborative advertising campaign that will be featured in a variety of media during the fall and winter months. Of course, SBMS will also continue its own onslaught of ongoing messaging and promotion to the community to popularize one of Santa Barbara’s “best kept secrets.” SBMS can no longer be a secret; it’s the best Independent School in the community, two years in a row! Ha!

Phase-In Schedule

Primary and Toddler children.

Remember, ALL Primary and Toddler children begin the new school year with a special phase-in schedule. The first day of school is Wednesday, September 1, however, for the Toddlers and Primary aged children it’s a morning experience, and then the children go home. The first day of school begins at 8:30, and concludes at 10:00am. The second day lasts 30 minutes longer…the third day is 30 minutes longer. Phase-in is an essential element of structuring the Toddler and Primary groups for the entire school year. Please, if you have questions or concerns contact HOS, Jim Fitzpatrick (jim@sbmontessori.com).

Primary and Toddler Phase-In schedule:

Wed. Sept. 1 – 8:30 – 10:00

Thur. Sept. 2 – 8:30 – 10:30

Fri. Sept. 3 – 8:30 – 11:00 –Toddler and Primary Tea!

Tues. – Fri.; Sept. 7 – 10: 8:30 – 11:30

Elementary and Erdkinder Schedule (No Phase-In)

Regular Schedule

Wed. Sept. 1 – Fri. Sept. 3 – 8:30 – 2:45

Upper Elementary and Erdkinder Treks:

Upper Elementary to Headlands Institute 9/7 – 9/10

Erdkinder to Olympic Park Inst. 9/6 – 9/10

Events Schedule:

Dog Walk & Surfing

Surfing Dog Walk

Morning at the beach!

Saturday, August 21 7:30am – 10:00am

Fritz, Hearts, Buddy and Luke invite you!

The tide will be coming in. Park either at Goleta Beach at the far west end of the parking lot, for free, and clamber down the cliff and walk toward Campus Point. Or, park at UCSB’s lot above the stairs close to the Marine Science Institute, and obtain a permit for a fee from the digital terminal and tumble down the stairs. Dogs can be off-leash, as can surfboards. No dog? That’s OK, we’ll have plenty! No surfboard? That’s OK, we’ll have plenty!

Come for the sand and tidepools. Let’s see what we all look like in flip-flops. Bring your longboard, your standup, your boogie board, your skimboard, whatever! SBMS’s Surf Team exists. SBMS’s Official Dog Walker patch will be available. Fun in the sun while the tide rises. Arrive as early as you like. Depart as late as you’d like. Activities are NOT formally scheduled, but the dogs will have fun and you can ride waves if you want to; several SBMS surfboards will be available, and Jim will give spontaneous surf lessons to any who feel the need. Surf wax will be available. Doggy bags? Bring ‘em.

New Parent Orientation

Thursday, Aug. 26 6:30 – 8:00pm

Toddlers, Primary and Elementary parents

Two separate presentation discussions for parents new to SBMS’s Toddler or Primary classes, and also those new to the SBMS elementary classes. Thus, families new to the school, new to the Primary, and those new to the Lower or Upper Elementary classes are expected to attend this all important orientation meeting. Yes, SBMS parents new to the Lower or Upper Elementary, this is for you, too, it’s different than our previous meeting. In addition to our previous meeting.

Back to School Night

Monday, Aug. 30 6:30pm – 8:17pm

All Parents (all-important)

This is the most important meeting of the entire school year.

The re-gathering of the SBMS community. Touch Point number one. Orientation for everyone. Details. New programs. Changes. Developments. Everyone gathers to sit in the new chairs, and then will be dismissed to the children’s classrooms. Hostess gifts accepted. Check the SBMS Facebook page for further details. Meet SBMS’s new Community Outreach Coordinator, Lee Jaffurs!

First Day of School

Yes, there will be Bus Service

Wednesday, Sept. 1 8:30am

Schedules vary.

Drop-off areas will be discussed at Back to School Night.

Campus maps at Back to School Night.

Phase-In Schedule for Toddlers and Primary

No Bus Service departing from school for Toddlers and Primary children during the Phase-In schedule.

Coffee with HOS, Jim Fitzpatrick

Thursday, Sept. 2, 8:45am

The World of Independence.

Join with SBMS HOS, SBMS veteran parents, and other ‘experts’ in a candid discussion of the hows and whatnots of SBMS, its programs, its people, all while enjoying great coffee (and or tea) and chocolate croissants. Drop off your child, park your car, and come in and sit for a while. Check SBMS’s Facebook page for reading material.

Primary and Toddler Garden Tea

Friday, Sept. 3, 11:00am

Instead of just picking your child up during the Phase-In schedule, ALL Toddler and Primary parents are invited to join their child in the Primary garden for refreshments—tea, treats and perhaps even a brief visit into your child’s classroom. The Garden Tea is an opportunity for your child to share with you their ‘new’ classroom, their ‘new’ classmates, and their ‘new’ experiences at school. Refreshingly wonderful.

First Day of Bus Service

Wednesday, Sept. 1

Skater’s Point Drop off—Bus departs: 7:45am (to school)

Earl Warren Drop off—Bus departs: 8:10am (to school)

Skater’s Point Pick Up—Bus arrives: 3:00pm (from school)

Earl Warren Pick Up—Bus arrives 3:25pm (from school)

Primary and Toddler children scheduled for Bus service can ride the bus during the Phase-In schedule to school, but NOT from school. However, they will visit the bus during the Phase-In cycle, be assigned their seat, and be introduced to their Bus-Buddy, in order to further prepare them for the regular bus service.

Regular bus service for elementary and Erdkinder students begins Wednesday, Sept. 1 and continues through, Friday, Sept. 10, even though the Upper and Erdkinder children will be traveling.

Monday, Sept. 13

Regular School Schedule

All children: 8:30am – 2:45pm

ADM (All Day Montessori) begins

After School Classes begin

37th Annual School Picnic

Sunday, Sept. 19 11am – 3pm

Tucker’s Grove Park

Turnpike Rd. at Cathedral Oaks

This is not the park where we’ve hosted the picnic over the past several years. This is a different park. It’s not the park where last year’s Capture the Flag game ended with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It’s a different park, and we’re in Section One, not Kiwanis’ meadow where we’ve been recently. Look for the balloons and the fire truck. Fire truck? Look for Section One as you enter. Don’t plan on playing Capture the Flag, we’ll have a marshmallow toss, instead.

Photo Contest

What We Saw This Summer!

SBMS T-Shirt Travels

Win a table! Stickers!

Two separate contests. The first is a photograph of something you saw during the vacation, and the second is a photo of you or your child in your SBMS shirt; the photo with an image the furthest away from SBMS will be deemed the winner! Enter as often as you’d like. Submit your entries to trudy@sbmontessori.com, or post them to SBMS’s Facebook page. Winners receive recognition and a table. Seriously. Your own official Montessori-endorsed SBMS child’s table. Seriously. Stickers to all who participate. Think of it!

TEDx

tedxamericanriviera.com

Summer Reading

Nurture Shock

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

nurtureshock.com

Has everyone read the Newsweek article about creativity? Have you read Nurture Shock? Now is the time. Giddy up!

New Maria Montessori website

www.mariamontessori.com

2010-2011 SBMS Party Book is “OPEN!”

Sign-up! Or miss out!

www.sbmontessori.com/auction

AMI Summer Bulletin

AMI Summer Bulletin

Important Dates for next year:

Wednesday, Sept. 1: 1st day of school, 2010-2011

Phase-In Schedule for Toddlers and Primary

Monday, Sept. 6: Erdkinder departs for OPI

Tuesday, Sept: 7: Upper Elementary departs for Headlands Institute

Friday, Sept 10: Erdkinder and UE return!

Sunday, Sept 19: SBMS 37th Annual School Picnic

Tuesday, Sept 21: International Day of Peace

Sunday, Oct. 17: Book Faire at Chaucer’s

Friday & Sat., Nov. 19-20: Holiday Boutique @ SBMS

Wednesday, Nov. 24-28: Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday, Dec. 16: Holiday Performance

Friday, Dec. 17: Half Day, all children dismissed at 11:45am.

Monday, January 3: Back to School

Friday, Jan. 28: Journey to Discovery—Half Day 8:30am – 11:30am

March 28-April 8: Spring Break

April 12-21: Erdkinder to NYC for United Nations & Washington, DC