News&NotesNOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2013

Metal inset work by Soren Nienus, 4

Our school is your school

The days may be getting shorter, but theyare all filled with activity at Livonia

Montessori School! So many wonderfulthings are happening in the classrooms. Weoffer many opportunities for families to visitthe school and observe or participate in theirchildren’s LMS experience.

Get-togethers designed for youSome of you joined us in October for our“Three Effective Parenting Tips” meeting.Some of you are attending the six-week skill-based Parent Talk System workshop at ourDearborn Heights or Plymouth-Cantonlocations. If so, you are already familiar withSue Fitzpatrick. Sue comes to LMS on thesecond Wednesday of every month (Sep tem -ber through May) to lead a discussion groupcalled Parent Perks. She provides topics andcoffee or tea, and parents join her with ques-

tions and answers to everyday parentingissues. We hope to see you there.

The calendar says it will soon officially be winter, but we are planning to explore allfour seasons at our interactive parent meet-ing on Thursday, December 5. Together,parents and enrolled children will enjoyMontessori classroom activities inspired bythe seasons, such as tree sorting by seasonand mitten matching. Parents will be ableto experience the Montessori philosophy of learning by doing, without losing the precious time you spend together with your children in the evening. This interactiveformat also helps promote a sense ofcommu nity. Please join us.

Other interactive get-togethers are com-ing up in the New Year. The children willinvite their moms to spend the evening with

LIVONIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Accredited by the National Association

for the Education of Young Children

continued on page 3

Payton Woodruff masters the climber on our playground.

2 NEWS & NOTES

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Getting to know the ground rulesMontessori people do lots of

talking about ground rules,and children new to our programhave to learn about them. Ithought you might like to knowsome of the specifics too.

When children begin in a newschool or even with a new teacherin the same school, their first taskis to master the culture of theplace—to find out what is expect-ed of them in and out of the class-room, and to become comfortablewith the routines. This is whatground rules are all about.

Classroom ground rules arethe guidelines for behavior thatserve as the foundation for thechildren’s activities in school.Their purpose is to provide thechildren with a secure world—one in which all children (usually)adhere to the same “code of con-duct” and in which the consis -tency makes them feel safe.Ground rules also protect the children from doing things thatare harmful to themselves, to theirfriends and teachers, or to theclassroom materials.

Ground rules are conveyed tothe children in a variety of ways.They are sometimes discussed (for example, how we treat ourfriends); sometimes demonstratedto the group (showing how a com - pleted activity is returned to theshelf ); and sometimes rehearsed(practicing walking around rugsspread on the floor). Reinforce -ment is especially consistent atthe beginning of the year whenchildren are still forming class-room habits. There is a lot tolearn, and parents should respectthe effort involved. It is notunusual for chil dren to experi-ence some stress during the acclimation period, but theyquickly become comfortable,with a real sense of mastery.

The mini-society of the class-room is much like the larger onein the adult world. These “rules”

are really guidelines for life.Logistical fundamentals are

often learned first—getting intothe building; managing coats andother possessions; using the toilet;and practicing such classroombasics as rolling and unrollingrugs and carrying trays. Childrenalso learn to move through thebuilding in a safe fashion, and(gradually!) to take turns and lis-ten when others are speaking.

Other typical ground rules forMontessori classrooms follow:n Sound and speed levelsshould fit the location. “Insidevoices” and “slow feet” are rightfor the indoor environment;shouting and running are reservedfor the playground.n Children select materialsfrom the display shelves, but donot work on the shelves; thiswould obstruct other children’saccess to things on the shelf.Activities may be done on a rug(on the floor) or on a table—whichever is most suitable to theparticular item. n Children are free to choosematerials from the shelves, and touse them respectfully. Materialsmay not be used in ways that aredisturbing to other children, orthat damage the materials.

n When a child is finishedusing an activity, he or she returnsit to the shelf, ready for the nextuser. This process might involvewiping up spills (with a spongethat is provided with the activity)or replenishing supplies on thetray. The children also put awaytheir rugs or mats, and push intheir chairs so others don’t trip.n Children may not touch orinterfere with another child’swork. This rule provides everychild with the security that willallow him or her to continue anactivity to completion, to repeatthe activity (thus lengtheningattention span), or to leave thearea temporarily with the confi-dence that he or she can returnand resume working.n Sharing is never forced.Rather, a child’s knowledge thatthe activity can be used indefi -nitely often leads to a more natu-ral sharing, and children who askto be included usually are. (Theappeal of working with friends isoften greater than the pull of theactivity when concerns about pos-session are eliminated.) However,the child’s right to work uninter-rupted is protected, and he or shemay choose to continue workingindependently. Generosity devel-

The mini-society

of the classroom

is much like the

larger one in the

adult world. These

“rules” are really

guidelines for life.Paper weaving by Gabriel Pena, 4

NEWS & NOTES 3

them here at school on Thursday, January 16. Theylove to show their parents all the wonderful thingsthey do, and they especially enjoy serving snack.(Don’t worry, Dads—your special night will followin February.)

Read all about itWe are looking forward to the Scholastic Book Fairthe week of December 2. Through your support weare able to replenish the classroom and day carelibraries. We also use this time to kick off our RedWagon Book Program. We collect new or gentlyused books for the program. During the summermonths Red Wagon volunteers walk through lessaffluent neighborhoods, lending books to childrenwho may not have the opportunity to purchasebooks or visit a library. We will continue to collectbooks throughout the schoolyear for this important cause.

Special guests delight us allIn October we had the Orga -nization for Bat Con ser vationvisit with a program called“Basically Bats.” They broughtseveral animals to LMS andtalked to the children aboutthe classification of animals.

As this newsletter goes topress, we are looking forwardto Friday, November 22, whenBen Spitzer & Sons will cometo LMS to present “Aroundthe World with Magic andJuggling.” On Friday, Decem -

ber 13, we will have a visit from Beverly Meyer, theMusic Lady. The children will have a great time withlively singing and movement.

Families are welcome to join us for all of our in-house presentations. Watch the informationboard in the hallway or the monthly calendar fordates and times.

Winter remindersBefore the snow flies, here’s a reminder of ourweather-related school closing policy. If LivoniaPublic Schools are closed due to snow, our classeswill be canceled. However, our staff is prepared tomake every effort to keep day care open. We willsend an email to everyone, and you may call theschool for a message on the availability of day care.

The winter holidays are fast approaching, andthe last day of school isFriday, December 20. Classesresume on Monday, January6. As we close one calendarand open another, take timeto reflect on the importantthings in your life. Slowdown and enjoy what youhave. Keep in mind thatmany of the little things arethe big things. Have a cup of hot chocolate with yourchildren and read a booktogether. All of the LMS staffare grateful to you for sharingyour children with us, and wewish all our families safe andhappy holidays!

—Patty Porta

Our school is your school continued from page 1

Thanks to an in-house presenta-tion, the children were able to seebats like this one and learn howthey help the environment.

ops naturally as children matureand become more self-confident.n Children are encouraged tojoin in group activities, but arenot coerced into participation.They may observe the activitywithout actively participating, but they are not allowed to dis-rupt the other children.n A child has the right towatch, so long as he or she is notdisturbing the activities of others.Much learning takes place while

observing others working—this isone of the special advantages of amixed-age-group class.n Children are expected totreat each other and their teacherswith respect, both verbally andphysically. Abusive words oractions are not acceptable. (Staffare role models for appropriatebehavior.)

Visitors to Montessori class-rooms often remark on the com-

fortable atmosphere, the absenceof conflict, and the industrious-ness of the children. Typically, visiting children are welcomedand assisted by the class. All ofthis comes about naturally whenground rules are followed consis-tently. Come see for yourself!

Families

are welcome

to join us for all

of our in-house

presentations.

4 NEWS & NOTES

CLAIRE & SEJAL

Advancing through the curriculumWe are very lucky to have a

great group of children inour class. They are always co-operative when we learn theground rules and when we showthem lessons on how to do theirwork. The children are all verykind to one another—and to theteachers! That is due to the lovelyfamilies that they come from.

Making great stridesWe began the year with simpleworks in the Practical Life,Sensorial, math, and languageareas. The shelves included activ-ities such as puzzles, opposites,and rhyming. Recently we addedmetal insets and, for our newchildren, phonics. The childrenare quick learners, and we cansee great advancements sinceSeptember.

In Practical Life, we haveintroduced an eyedropper totransfer water. Later in the year,we can use the eyedropper in anart activity. The children are

enthralled by works with water.We can hardly wait to see howthey add water or paint to artprojects.

Speaking of art, the childrenlove the art area. We have donepaper weaving, and we havepainted a still life of a pumpkin.

In math, the children are allhelping one another to countcorrect amounts and identifynumbers. Our returning childrenare making huge strides in math(and language). They have revis-ited the 45 layout to see placevalues of thousands, hundreds,tens, and units. They have alsoreviewed addition and subtrac-tion. Next we will work withmore complex numbers and willmake “big numbers.”

In language, some of thechildren are reviewing sounds,and others are working on read-ing and comprehension.

In geography, we haveworked on the map of the worldand basic principles of what

makes up our world: land, air,and water.

Montessori for parentsOur parent meetings are designedas parent education opportuni-ties. The “Meet the Materials”meeting in September gave youan overview of the Mon tessorimaterials your children are or willbe using, as well as the sequenceof the curriculum.

In October, the “ThreeEffective Parenting Tips” meet-ing, presented by our Parent Talkfacilitators Sue Fitzpatrick andHeidi Gauger, provided parentswith parenting techniques thatwill help you at home. We arehappy to have Sue and Heidi aspart of our Montessori family.

On Thursday, December 5,our interactive parent meetingwill let you learn by doing rightalongside your children. Thisyear, we will be focusing on season-related activities in thevarious areas of the classroom.

Family mattersWe would like to thank theKoenig family for bringing eachchild in our room a shark’s toothfrom their recent visit to Florida.Abby and her family walked onthe beach and collected the teethto share with each child. What atreasure!

Happy holidays to all of youwho are celebrating special daysin November and December. Itis nice to have time to reunitewith family members who livenear or far.

—Claire Lubaway and Sejal Doshi

Happy Birthday!November Abby KoenigKrish Nadarajah

December Quinn Stewart

The children are

quick learners, and

we can see great

advancements since

September.

Olivia Thomson works on the parts of a tree.

NEWS & NOTES 5

MRS. VIJAYANTHI

Well prepared for learningMontessori classrooms are

organized with young chil-dren in mind. Maria Montessoricalled it the “prepared environ-ment.” It is indeed prepared toallow for maximum learningexperiences. As the children movearound and work at their ownpace, they learn to care for theenvironment and for themselveswhile respecting the needs of oth-ers. In our classroom communitywe try to foster an atmosphere ofrespect, friendship, and peace. Toachieve these goals, it is essentialto have ground rules, which thechildren are doing a great job ofpracticing (read more aboutground rules on page 2).

Lots of activities to masterThe areas of learning in a Mon -tessori classroom are Prac ticalLife, Sensorial, math, language,science, cultural studies (geogra-phy/history), and art. The chil-dren are introduced to activitiesin each of these areas progres-sively. For example, the youngerstudents may learn to stringbeads, spoon beans, pour water,or sequence pictures in order tomaster concentration, coordina-tion, order, and independence.The older ones work on lettersounds, building words, hand-writing skills, and reading. Theyalso learn math concepts usingconcrete materials such as thegolden beads. The Sensorialexercises, which focus on shape,size, color, texture, sound, andweight, help children to under-stand and appreciate their worldmore fully. The children engagein large-group, small-group, andindependent activities.

They also look forward tohaving individual snack, becausethey get to serve themselves andeat with friends. This includeshow to set a place at the table,carry food on trays, and even

clean up all by themselves. Thehighlight is when they master theart of pouring a cup of juice ormilk on their own. We encourageparents to allow time at home sochildren can carry out these littletasks that are so important fortheir growth and independence.

Inspired by fallThe beautiful fall season hasinspired some interesting studies.As the children observed the vari-ous shapes and colors of leaves, webegan lessons in botany. Welearned the parts of a tree, includ-ing the roots, trunk, branches,and leaves (edge types and leafparts). We talk about the changesthat take place in fall—the birdsthat fly south for the winter, ani-mals that hibernate, and why theleaves fall from the trees. Theturning of the leaves also inspiredus as we experimented with mix-ing, grading, and shading of color.

Exploring the world We have introduced andreviewed the concept of Earth.We looked at the world map and introduced the seven conti-nents. We have been exploringNorth America—reading books,match ing famous landmarks,and learning about the animalson our continent.

We also have been discussingthe different groups of animals:mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,and amphibians.

Arts and cultureOctober brought the addition of French and music classes toour weekly curriculum. MadameMary is our French teacher, andMrs. Patsy is our music teacher.The children attend these classeson Tuesdays and Thursdays.Read more about these classes onpages 6 and 7.

Our class art presentation

Max Herron pounds golf tees into a pumpkin. This fun exercise enhances a child’s hand-eye coordination—and prepares him for future woodworking projects!

The children

are introduced

to activities in

each area of

the classroom

progressively.

6 NEWS & NOTES

began with the discovery that apicture has a special look thatcomes from the art materialsused to create it. Our art materi-als include pencils, markers,watercolors, and tempera paint.We took a closer look at the pastand what cave dwellers used fortheir pictures. The childrenenjoyed using charcoal crayonsto make their own cave drawings.Throughout the year we will beintroducing different artists tothe children.

November has been anothermonth of learning and insights.It is always so wonderful at con-ference time to get to know ournew parents and catch up withour returning families.

December promises to beexciting. We have many holidaycelebrations planned: Hanuk kah,St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucia, LasPosadas, Winter Solstice, Christ -mas, and Kwanzaa. It bringsmuch joy to our classroom toexplore different cultures throughholiday celebrations.

We thank all the parents whohave taken time to come to ourparent meetings, and to thosewho have volunteered their timeto do things for the classroom.Thank you also to those familiesthat contributed to our Hallo -ween celebration.

Have a joyful and restful hol-iday season.

—Vijayanthi Perera and Amy Yoho

Happy Birthday!November

Alex BarbatNiko Dawson

Helen Townley

DecemberLydia CardasisOwen Flatley

Connor NickelMorgan Webster

Alex Barbat (left) and Quinn Stewart take a turn on the swing on our playground.

FRENCH

Holiday highlights en françaisWe are learning numbers and counting en français (in French)

by using pumpkins, turkeys, stars, and other objects. Eachchild has a chance to count. By the end of the school year, we willhave counted up to 50!

We are in the holiday mood and are talking about the assort-ment of foods we share with our families. We look at pictures offood and ask each child which food he or she will be eating. It isfun to see the choices that everyone makes.

We are saying bonjour (hello) to our new puppet friend, LeDindon (the turkey), and we will learn to sing “Alouette,” a tradi-tional French children’s song about a lark.

In December, with everyone enjoying all the beautiful holidaylights on display everywhere, it will be a perfect time to talk aboutcolors in French: bleu (blue), blanc (white), rouge (red), jaune (yel-low), vert (green), violet (purple), orange (orange), marron (brown),and noir (black).

Happy holidays to your and your family.—Mary Zirles (aka Madame Mary)

It brings

much joy to

our classroom

to explore

different cultures

through holiday

celebrations.

NEWS & NOTES 7

EXTENDED DAY

A busy autumn for Extended Day The Extended Day program

enables the children to delvedeeper into many areas of thecurriculum. It affords more timeto practice writing, math, read-ing, and cultural study skills.

Trees and applesWe have begun botany studies,first learning the parts of a treeand then the function of eachpart. Students created and labeledpictures and books of the parts ofa tree, and they wrote sentencesabout the function of each part.

Apples have played a big rolein Extended Day recently. Thechildren made books andlabeled the parts of an apple. Wealso used this popular fruit tolearn about fractions. We cutapples into halves, thirds, andquarters. We of course had theopportunity to taste differentkinds of apples. The childrenalso made apple crisp for thewhole classroom. And for thegrand finale we took a field tripto an apple orchard.

Nutrition know-howThe Extended Day students areenjoying eating lunch together

and are learning about propernutrition. Lessons have empha-sized the food groups, food as a source of energy and goodhealth, and the identification of various foods. The childrenmade place mats that showcasethe food groups to further makeconnections between what theyconsume and what we consider

to be healthy and nutritionallybeneficial.

Good readsWe have been reading the bookCharlotte’s Web, and it was a per-fect segue into October’s topic ofspiders. Just like the character ofCharlotte in the book, studentscreated their own spider webs andused them to express their ideasabout Wilbur the pig. We dis-cussed how this charming charac-ter is a “humble pig” and hisother positive attributes.

In geography we have beenconcentrating on the continent ofNorth America and the way dif -fer ent people influence our livestoday. We are reading and discuss -ing many facts about NativeAmericans and Pilgrims.

Fall has been a busy time forour Extended Day students. Weare looking forward to continu-ing with a great year!

—Vijayanthi Perera

World map colored (with watercolors) and labeled by Connor Nickel, 5

MUSIC

Starting with a song We had a great time getting acquainted in music class during

October. Throughout the school year we’ll be learning somesign language and will often use sign movements with our songs.We have begun to learn colors and ABCs.

This fall, we are exploring our national history through music. InOctober we took an imaginative journey with ChristopherColumbus. In November and December, we will learn about thekind of music the pilgrims and other early colonists enjoyed.

I am excited about sharing this year’s music adventures with thechildren!

—Patsy Girnys

8 NEWS & NOTES

DAY CARE

A harvest of lessonsIt has been a great fall season. The children have been

exploring corn kernels at our water table, learning thenames of trees, and matching leaves by shape. We havealso practiced raking leaves in the lower loft area.

We recently had lessons on birds and bats. This tied in well with the job of a scarecrow and with thein-house presentation by the Organization for BatConservation in October. We read many books, sangsongs, and did finger plays, all related to birds andbats. Our outdoor activities included bird watchingwith our homemade binoculars, flying like birds, andplaying “Bluebird, bluebird, in and out my window”(remember that?).

Day care staff would like to wish you a wonderfulharvest season. Please stop by and visit our grocerystore. We will be learning about food groups andwhere food comes from.

—Alice Boguslaw, Patty Favazza, Claire Lubaway,

Marie Sulewski, and Amy YohoPumpkin by Aniela Kwiatkowski, 3

As we move into the wintermonths, we enter that time

of year when it can be a challengeto keep our children healthy. Afew proactive steps can help ourLMS staff and parents worktogether to achieve a healthyschool environment.

Keeping germs at bayWe disinfect tables and play sur-faces here at school several timesdaily. We always have the childrenwash their hands before eatingand after toileting.

Experts cite two useful tips tohelp children avoid spreadinggerms: n Wash your hands for theright amount of time—and in theright way—to help get rid of

germs. Have your child rub his orher hands together vigorouslywith soap and warm water for 20 seconds (about the time ittakes to sing “Happy Birthday”).n Cover coughs. Because fewpeople wash their hands afterthey cough into them, manynurses suggest that childrencough into their inner elbowinstead of their hands.

If your child is sickWhen your child goes home sick,you will be asked to sign our SickChild Policy. As a reminder, thispolicy states the following:n Each week, we must report allcases of contagious diseases tothe county.n Children sent home with afever, vomiting, and/or diarrheamay not return the next day.

They must be fever free and freefrom these symptoms for at least24 hours.n We cannot accept a child forcare if he or she has recently vom-ited, or has a fever or profuse nasaldischarge. n We will not administer Tylenolor aspirin to treat a fever. Thisonly masks the symptoms of ill-ness and contagion.

We require staff members tostay at home when they are ill.Please do the same for your child,not only to avoid the spread ofcontagious illness, but also toensure a speedier recovery foryour young patient.

We appreciate your coopera-tion during cold and flu season!

Let’s stay healthy all winter long

NEWS & NOTES 9

Montessori momentsClockwise from above: Winsome Hendricks (left) and Madison Markowicz discuss Tinkerbell, the class parakeet in Mrs. Vijayanthi’s room. n During the Extended Day field trip to Plymouth Orchards in October, Connor Nickel (left), OwenFlatley, Aaron Pachla, and Nicholas Kostecke go apple picking.n It’s fun to work with a friend! Aniela Kwiatkowski (left)and Olivia Mooradian share a table and some conversation.

10 NEWS & NOTES

Christopher Columbus work by Owen Flatley, 5

Metal inset work by Niko Dawson, 5

Map to the cubbies with two ways to get there, by Aaron Pachla, 5

Apple mosaic by Brady Kao, 4

Artwork by Payton Woodruff, 3

NEWS & NOTES 11

Every day in our Mon tes soriclassrooms, students engage

in activities in the Prac tical Lifearea of the curriculum. At the preschool-kindergarten level(ages 3 to 6), Practical Life worksare the foundation of the class-room. The activ ities help thechildren develop coordination/refinement of move ment, con-centration, a sense of order, andindepen dence—all of which areessential for mastery of moreadvanced learning.

Practical Life focuses on:n Care of self.n Care of the environment.n Grace and courtesy (lessons

in thoughtfulness and man-ners needed to be successfulin a community).

Fostering independence“Help me to do it by myself.”This tenet of the Montessoriphil osophy is a young child’smantra! To foster indepen dencein our young students, our teach-ers carefully prepare their class-rooms so that the children will besuccessful in mastering activities.The activities are developmen -tally appropriate, and the fixtures(shelves, tables, chairs) are sizedfor the children.

Self-care activities includetaking your coat on and off,

using the toilet, washing yourhands properly, and preparing asnack. Self-care tasks grow innumber and complexity as thechildren mature. They practicehow to cover their sneezes, use atissue, put on clothing, button ashirt, and so much more.

Food tasting and preparationare favorite activities for manychildren. And as the childrenwork to master the multiple stepsrequired to slice a pickle, spreadcream cheese on crackers, ormake fresh orange juice, they aredeveloping concentration, coor-dination, a sense of order, and,ultimately, independence.

Preparing for advancedlearningIncreasingly complex materialsand activities offer additionalopportunities for growth. Forinstance, chair scrubbing requiresa child to master 16 individualsteps in a specific sequence!Along the way, the childimproves his sense of order (nec-essary for math) and sense ofaccomplishment (necessary fortrying new tasks). Match ingsocks helps a child improve hisability to notice detail, which isessential for letter recognitionwhen learning to read. Sewinghelps improve fine motor skills,

which are necessary for writing. In addition, the consistent

left-to-right progression of eachactivity prepares the eye for reading. And each time a childrepeats a Practical Life sequence,he is building the all-importantneural pathways in the brain.

Developing characterBeautiful, well-made materialsattract the children to eachPractical Life work. The childrenlearn to care for the materials andfor the environment throughtasks such as wash ing the dishesthey used for snack, and return-ing a work to its place on a shelf.

Grace and courtesy lessons arepracticed daily. Examples includegreeting the teachers at the startof each class, saying good-bye atthe end of the day, and using“please” and “thank you.” Thechildren also learn how to inter-rupt nicely, how to walk arounda rug rather than across some-one’s work, and how to tellsomeone you’re sorry when youmake a mistake.

Maria Montessori said, “Theessence of independence is to beable to do something for one’sself.” At LMS, the Practical Lifecurriculum is helping your childto do just that.

CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT

Practical Life: Skills for lifelong learning

Maria Montessori recognized the relation-ship between movement and cognition in very young children (birth to age 6):The brain develops when the body movesin service to the mind to fulfill a meaning-ful goal.“Movement has great importance

in mental development itself, providedthat the action which occurs is connectedwith the mental activity going on,” Dr.Montessori wrote in The Absorbent Mind.“Watching a child makes it obvious that

the development of his mind comes aboutthrough his movement.”Current research in neuroscience

validates this. “The Mon tessori method is like education designed by a pediatricdevelopmental neuro psychologist,” saysDr. Stephen Hughes, Ph.D., L.P., professorof pediatrics and neurology at the Uni -versity of Min nesota Medical School.Interest leads to activity. Over many

decades Dr. Montessori observed that preschool children are most interested inattempting to do real “work” that adults

do. Young children like to take care ofthemselves and the world around themand to imitate adults as they interact withothers. Dr. Montessori also saw that ifgiven the chance, children will do workthoroughly—carrying it out step by step,enjoying the sense of independence andpride of accomplishment, and taking satis-faction in the results of their efforts. Suchsuccesses help children build a positiveself-image and give them the confidenceto try other things.

The neuroscience behind Practical Life

Each time a

child repeats

a Practical Life

sequence, he is

building the

all-important

neural pathways

in the brain.

DATES TO REMEMBERNovemberSign up Parent-Teacher Conferences. School remains in session.

22 Friday In-house Presentation. Ben Spitzer & Sons presents “Around the World withMagic and Juggling.”

27 Wednesday Staff Professional Development Day. NO CLASSES. Day care available—please sign up in advance.

28 –29 Thursday–Friday Thanksgiving Holiday. NO CLASSES. NO DAY CARE.

December2–6 Monday–Friday Scholastic Book Fair. A great time to replenish your bookshelves—andours: Proceeds will help purchase books for the classroom and day care libraries.

5 Thursday Parent Meeting No. 3. 6:30 p.m. Enrolled children and their parents explorethe four seasons during this interactive evening in the classroom.

11 Wednesday Parent Perks Meeting. 8:45 a.m. Complimentary child care provided.

13 Friday In-house Presentation. Beverly Meyer, the Music Lady, shares an interactive musicpresentation with the children.

20 Fridayn Holiday Celebration! (regular class hours)

n Last Day of School. Day care available—please sign up in advance.

23 Monday through Friday, January 3 Holiday Vacation. NO CLASSES. NO DAY CARE.

January6 Monday Return to School. Welcome back!

15 Wednesday Parent Perks Meeting. 8:45 a.m. Complimentary child care provided.

16 Thursday Moms’ Night. 5–7 p.m. (open house format—drop in anytime). Moms (or a substitute) and enrolled children come to school together for an evening of work and fun in the classroom.

LIVONIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL

31840 W. Seven Mile RoadLivonia, MI 48152248-474-4764

www.livoniamontessori.org

“All other factors sink

into insignificance beside

the importance of feeding

the hungry intelligence

and opening vast fields

of knowledge to eager

exploration.”

—Dr. Maria Montessori

Artwork by Lorelei LaFramboise, 4