Villa Voice 12.2.15 · 2015-12-02 · Villa Montessori, Villa Voice Pg. 1 Letter from Head of...

Villa Montessori, Villa Voice Pg. 1

Letter from

Head of School,

Margo O’Neill

Dear Parents,

As you are aware, Friday and Monday are early dis-

missal days due to Parent Teacher Conferences. Re-

search clearly shows that all children do better in

school when parents are involved in their academic

lives. Attending parent-teacher conferences is a way to

be involved and help your child succeed.

A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to

start or continue ongoing conversations with your

child's teacher, learn how to help your child do their

best in school, and let your child know that what goes

on in school will be shared at home.

You and your child’s teacher share something in com-

mon: both want your child to learn and do well. When

parents and teachers talk to each other, each person

can share important information about your child’s

talents and needs. Each person can also learn some-

thing new about how to help your child.

Whether it's your first conversation with the teacher or

one of many, it can help if you go to the parent-teacher

conference with a sense of how your child is doing and

what you want to discuss. Even if you know all is well,

attending parent-teacher conferences shows your chil-

dren that you want to stay involved in their academic

life, which can even help boost progress at school.

So, if you haven’t already signed up for one, please

make it a point to do so!

Margo S. O’Neill

Head of School

Villa Voice December 2, 2015

TAX C R E D I T

C A M PA I G N

• 2 O15-2O16 • Tax Credit Packets have been distributed

and now our campaign is in full force!

You should be receiving weekly emails from

your classroom coordinator with helpful

hints to guide you through this process. (If

not, you may need to update the office with

your email address.)

Every dollar counts! Please participate by

encouraging family and friends to redirect

their state tax to Villa. Married couples filing

jointly can give up to $400 toward the pub-

lic/charter school credit and taxpayers filing

a single return may give up to $200. Please

help us spread the word about this wonder-

ful opportunity for taxpayers to fund educa-

tion.

Our website is set up for contributions year

round at www.villamontessori.com. It’s an

easy and secure way to pay. The deadline

for public/charter schools has been ex-

tended to April 15, 2016. This is a dollar-for-

dollar tax credit — which means every dollar

you contribute counts as a dollar paid to-

ward your state taxes in Arizona. If your con-

tribution causes you to overpay, you will

receive a refund. It is that simple!

We encourage every family to secure three

tax credits. That would result in a total of

$300,000 for our school!

FROM THE DESK OF SUE WATSON


Understanding the Montessori Classroom

The Montessori classroom is built upon a collaborative commu-

nity of individuals all working toward a common goal. Each

child finds a place in the group and begins to understand the

ways in which they can contribute to the community.

When you enter a Montessori classroom, it may appear disor-

ganized and chaotic at first. If you observe without interrup-

tion, the inner organization begins to appear. Each task has a

very specific procedure attached to it. Every object and routine

has a purpose. All members of the community know the proce-

dures and purposes and rely on them. The prepared environ-

ment exists to ensure that chaos doesn’t ensue while up to

thirty children are working individually and the teachers are

busy giving as many small group and individual lessons as time

will allow.

Students in a Montessori classroom are driven to work out of

their own sense of curiosity. They are encouraged to follow

their interests and set their own schedule. Everyone should be

able to get what they need and work at their own level.

When a classroom is running smoothly, we call it “normalized.”

When a classroom is normalized, amazing things are possible!

Students are able to choose and follow a student leader each

week as the teachers take a step back. Students take over

many tasks in the room, such as ordering and serving food,

organizing and replenishing work and supplies, mentoring each

other, planning and voting on activities and outings, and keep-

ing track of time, schedules and communication, to name a

few.

This cartoon

perfectly de-

scribes a Mon-

tessori class-

room. It de-

picts a school

of small fish

swimming in

all different

directions, but

they are mov-

ing forward

together as a group at the same time. Two older fish are

watching them, and one comments to the other,

“I believe that’s a Montessori School.”

So next time you enter a classroom, take a moment to ob-

serve the environment. Collaboration and cooperation are the

name of the game for us. It is all about the process!

Middle School Students

Prepare for Internships

As the hustle and bustle of the holidays

quickly approaches, the Middle School is

busy preparing for our second Land Lab of

the year, wrapping up semester grades and

finalizing winter internship plans. Intern-

ships are a unique key component of the

Middle School program. Students serve two

internships (job shadowing) by the end of

their middle school experience.

Seventh grade internships consists of a

school service position as an assistant in

the younger grades at our school or an-

other school that has an established rela-

tionship with Villa. Eighth graders in-

tern at any business or service setting that

interests them. Students learn how to pre-

pare a business letter of introduction stat-

ing their goals and verifying arrangements,

write a resume, fill out a job application

and request a letter of recommendation for

their application process. Students spend

four days in each internship position and

follow up this practical life experience with

some guided college and career explora-

tions back on campus.

If you have children in the younger grades,

you are sure to see our seventh grade stu-

dents assisting teachers and working with

the students in the next few weeks. Our

eighth graders will be serving out their in-

ternships in the community at various

places of business: law offices, salons, art

museums, retail stores, libraries and medi-

cal offices are just a few examples of the

eighth grade placements this semester.

We are always looking for great job shad-

owing opportunities for our students, so if

you are willing and interested in hosting a

middle school student next year, be sure to

contact one of our middle school offices.

Happy Holidays!

Diane George

Director of the Middle School

Dates to Remember

December 4 & 7

Parent Conferences Early Dismissal at 11:30 AM

Infants and All Day Contracts ONLY, after 11:30 AM

December 5

Play-Well Lego Day, 1 - 4 PM

December 7-11

Cub Scout Food Drive

December 8 -11

Weldon Middle School Land Lab Trip - #2

December 15 -18 Oak Middle School Land Lab Trip - #2

December 15

Cookie Dough Orders Arrive Pick up at ECC Campus

December 21-23

Winter Break School Closed—Except for Infants & All Day Contracts

December 24-25

ALL School Closed

December 28-29

Winter Break School Closed— Except for Infants & All Day Contracts

December 30

Infants-Toddlers CLOSED Primary—E2 All Day Contracts ONLY

December 31

ALL School Closed


CUB SCOUT FOOD DRIVE STARTS DEC. 7TH!

Please join the Cub Scout Pack 324 this year for their annual

food drive. Informational flyers will be sent home on December

3rd with a grocery bag for filling with food items— the Cub

Scouts will be back on campus to collect the bags in morning

carline on Monday, December 7th and Tuesday, December 8th,

from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.

As in the past, the Food Drive will benefit the St. Mary’s Food

Bank Alliance. This food bank is a non-sectarian, non-profit or-

ganization that alleviates hunger by gathering and distributing

food to agencies that serve the hungry. You can find additional

information at www.firstfoodbank.org.

Participating in a food drive is a great way to teach your child

about giving back to the community. We are hoping to reach

our goal of 1,000 lbs and can use all your help!

You may give unopened canned, boxed, or bagged foods

(please no glass containers or refrigerated items). If you need

an extra bag, or replacement, please visit the Admin Office.

LOST AND FOUND

Please help with our Elementary Lost and Found pile (which can

be found outside of the Circle Room at the Davis Campus).

There are many wonderful items looking for their owners

there.

Please check it out in the next two

weeks to see if your child is missing

any of their belongings.

ALL items will be donated on Friday,

December 18th before we leave for

Winter Break.

Please help! The pile is taking over the

building!

Thank you!!

As the holiday season approaches, Villa PTO Program Committee invites you to join us in serving the

homeless and the working-poor community of Phoenix. The Hearts and Hands program through The

Society St. Vincent De Paul gathers families once a month to participate in activities such as filling hy-

giene bottles with soap and shampoo, decorating dining rooms, creat-

ing thank-you cards for our volunteers, and making table centerpieces

which are often taken home by guests who treasure their beauty.

When: Saturday, December 12th

Time: 9:00am

Where: St. Vincent de Paul, 420 W. Watkins Road, Phoenix, AZ

Who: All ages (even babies!) are welcome at this event!

RSVP: http://tinyurl.com/villavolunteer2015

Please park in the large parking lot north of the main building off of 3rd Drive. We will meet by the en-

trance at 8:45 for the event that begins at 9:00 am. Please wear your Villa gear if you have it!

Follow this link for more information about this not-for-profit organization, dedicated to improving the

lives of the poor in Arizona since 1946: http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/about/our-mission

Please feel free to contact Villa Mom Lisa Moore at [email protected] if you have any questions.

NEW T-Shirt designs are available! Orders

placed by this Friday, December 4th, will be de-

livered to your child's classroom the week of

December 15th.

All funds raised will to toward funding future

PTO events. They have shirts for children,

women, and the men! There is truly something

for EVERYONE!

You can shop on the online store and we will

deliver it to the school for you! Visit our web-

site: tinyurl.com/villaspirit to look at all of the

styles and to place your order.

PTO Update


The top of every parents wish list..... Cooperation? Respect? Listening? Yes … Please!!

Respect from children is at the top of most every parents list. Having worked in many school settings,

from private to pioneering schools, and from at risk to entitled youth; it is clear to me, children are

demonstrating a lot less respect these days. Long gone are the days of children blindly respecting their

parents or teachers, simply being seen and not heard.

Respect is earned. Respect is demonstrated through the integrity, assertiveness and boundaries that

you, as an individual, teach another to treat you. How many countless times have you allowed your

boundaries or limits to slide because of another persons wants or needs? ..... and how often this pat-

tern is repeated with your children?

Assertiveness is the power that teaches the essential life skill of respect. Setting limits and following

through. By telling children clearly what to do, in an assertive manner, with the positive intention

knowing that they are capable, sets them up for success. Success in all their future relationships for

them to be able to teach others how they want to be treated .

Adults who offer a passive approach often are try to please the child and then when the child have

pushed too long, the adult reacts very quickly with an aggressive approach. Then some adults have a

very aggressive approach right from the start, where there is an “or else” attached to every statement,

both of these approaches teaches children to either be passive and to be a people pleaser or to be ag-

gressive and to bully others.

Passive communication gives your power away, and puts others in charge of you, and once others are

in charge of you, it is very difficult to get your power back.

Aggressive communication aims not to clarify, but to overpower the other by getting the other person

to do what you want. This leaves the other person feeling powerless.

Assertive communication allows you to clearly name what you want, (where is your attention) offers

your child the respect they deserve, (through your composure), sets the limit for them to achieve,

(their personal mastery), your positive intention knowing they are capable, and a model for how they

can teach others to treat them. A win, win, win all around.

Micheline Green

School Counselor

Integral Master Coach™

The Conscious Parenting Course Registration is now open for January.

Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Conscious Parenting—By: Micheline Green


Who? Our flag football program will be comprised of an E1 students “league” and an E2 league. All

children in E1 and E2 may participate.

What? Our goal at this age is to introduce children to the basics of the sport with a focus on learning

and enjoyment through participation in a noncompetitive environment.

When? The first practice will be on Saturday January 9th

with all E1 teams practicing from 9 AM-10:30

AM and E2 from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM at Camelback High School on the field at the NE corner of Camp-

bell and 26th

.

Each team will practice once a week for an hour 3:00-4:00 PM on the Villa field. Days of practice will be

determined by our volunteer coaches, and we will send out communication to everyone who is signed

up.

Team practices will start the week of January 11 – with the exact dates being determined at a later

date by the coach.

Games will be played on Saturday mornings January 16th

to February 13th

at Camelback High School

any time from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM (depending on team).

Where? Practices take place on Villa’s Elementary field. Games will be played at Camelback High

School on the field at the NE corner of Campbell and 26th

.

How Much? The cost is $40 for non-circle students and $35 for circle students.

Coaches: We will need volunteer coaches for each group! This is a minor time commitment, and it

does count for your volunteer hours. Best part: Coaches children play for free!

Coaching requires that you complete a Volunteer Packet and includes a background check. Although no

longer required, a current Finger Print Clearance card will meet the background check requirement.

Volunteer Packets can be found at the main office.

Parking: For games, you can park in the South Camelback parking lot. Please DO NOT park in the

street.

Please turn in registration form with check payable to Villa Montessori no later than December 11th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call or email me.

Brian Whitacre

Phone: 602-955-1435

E-mail: [email protected]

Coming Soon… E1-E2 Co-ed Flag Football Please look for registration email tomorrow!


Support our Villa Community

In keeping with the community spirit of the “Villa Family,” we would like to help support those Villa

families that own or operate businesses. If you own or operate a business and would like your business

listed, AND have a child at Villa, please contact Barbi Smith at [email protected].

We will list the name of the business, phone number, Web site, and your name.


ADVERTISEMENTS:

Advertising in the Villa Voice is available to Villa parents as a way to support our community and celebrate each

other’s successes. If you are interested in placing an Ad, the cost is $25 per newsletter, or $50 a month for a half-

page spread, with two newsletters being published each month. We email this newsletter to all parents and also

post it to our Web site www.villamontessori.com. To begin the process, please contact Barbi Smith at

[email protected].

Disclaimer:

All information contained in any classified Ad is the sole responsibility of the individual advertiser. Villa Mon-

tessori is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of said information. Villa reserves the right to review

each Ad submitted, and to reject or discontinue, revise, and/or reclassify any Ad at any time for any reason.

Individual advertiser is responsible for all proofreading and verifying of all information of the Ad.

It takes a VILLAge!

Business Name Business Phone Business Web site Parent Name

Angie Sams, Personal Chef 602-430-2885 angiesams.com Angie Sams-Isham

Home Smart Elite—Residential Specialist 480-201-7466 uniquephoenixhomes.com Danielle O’Connell

Rodan and Fields Skincare, Consultant 602-549-0711 mscolville.myrandf.com Melanie S. Colville

Bartholomew Graphics 602-434-5341 Bartholomewgraphics.com Lisa Bartholomew

On The Spot Waxing 602-525-3234 waxingaroundtown.com Cody Davenport

Bikram Yoga AZ 602-HOT-YOGA bikramyogaaz.com Todd Deacon

COST IS ONLY $25 PER AD! HALF-PAGE AD’S DUE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO PUBLISHIING!


My name is Mark V. Haley D.D.S. I am a Villa Montessori Dad and a general dentist at the 27th

Ave. and

Bethany Home Rd. branch of Desert Dentistry. Desert Dentistry is a family owned group of five

offices around the valley and in Payson. I have been in practice for over twenty five years. I am very

proud of our office and wonderful staff.

I would like to personally invite you and your family to tour our facility and meet the staff. My philosophy

in Dentistry has always been to offer treatment options that achieve the best outcomes for our patients’

individual circumstances. We also have incentive programs for referrals! We look forward to helping you

and your family with your continued Dental Health!

Mark V. Haley D.D.S.

6226 N. 27th Ave. #C

Phoenix, AZ 85017

Office: 602-242-0060

[email protected]


Because vision development occurs from birth to age 6, it is now extremely im-portant for children to have their initial eye exams at age six months or ½

years old by a qualified optometrist (www.infantsee.org).

Understanding that this is not common knowledge for most parents, Healthy Eye Care is proud to offer the first initial eye exams in our state of the art facility for any child under 1 years old as a complementary public service, and any child

ages 1-6 for $50 (dilation included, normally $150).

If you know that your child is overdue for this initial health evaluation by an optometrist please call us at 480-887-8778.

*Please Understand: if your child can see, this does not mean they are not

straining to do so. This can only be determined by a qualified Optometrist.

www.myfiteyes.com

First Time Customers Receive $10 off Initial Order!

Villa Voice 12.2.15 · 2015-12-02 · Villa Montessori, Villa Voice Pg. 1 Letter from Head of...

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