Archive for the ‘School News’ Category

Thanks to Miriam Baker for her Parent Night on Sexual Health

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Last night’s Parent Night presentation (sponsored by Friends of Montessori Foundation) on Sexual Health was just fascinating.  Miriam Baker, parent of two Montessori house alumni and a noted expert on sexual health, led the discussion and addressed issues of great interest to anyone who is a parent or a spouse.  THANKS Miriam!

For more information about Miriam Baker and her practice in NYC and Englewood, NJ, or to contact her, you may visit the website of her professional practice: http://mbaker-ngrigorian.com/about/about.htm.

CLOSED: School and office closed Wednesday, February 2

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Classes at The Montessori House school are canceled for Wednesday, February 2, 2011. 

The office will be closed, all classes and tours are canceled.  We expect to return to our normal schedule and hours tomorrow.

Wow!  That ice is really something!

CLOSED: Thursday, January 27 (due to snow)

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Classes at The Montessori House school are canceled for Thursday, January 27, 2011. 

The office will be closed, all classes and tours are canceled.  We expect to return to our normal schedule and hours on Friday, January 28.

Enjoy the winter weather!

School Closed Monday, January 17 to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Friday, January 14th, 2011
The Montessori House will be closed Monday January 17, a national holiday to commemorate the birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King.  Please remember to make other care arrangements for your children, and enjoy the 3-day weekend! Classes resume on our normal schedule Tuesday January 18.
For those not familiar with the Dr. King, he was an was an important civil rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s.  A leader in the movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, his most famous address was the “I Have A Dream” speechmartin-luther-king-pictures (” …I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…”).  An African-American, and a Baptist minister, he was an advocate of non-violent protest, civil rights, peace and social justice.  He became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39.

Come for the Unveiling of Our Latest Playground Addition

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

The Tenafly weather forecast for the rest of the week is excellent — we expect a dry, crisp day for our Fall Festival this Saturday.

During the two hours of the Festival  you and your children will find plenty to do.   We have a range of activities for parents and children to to together, including: Obstacle Course, Pumpkin Bowling, Hay Ride, Name the Ant, Adventure Tunnel, Leaf Pile , Farmers’ Market, and much more.

Finally, you won’t want to miss the unveiling of a new piece of playground equipment.  It looks like  a lot of fun for the children!

Read for the Record — Today!

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Today, October 7, children across the globe are reading Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day to break a world record for the largest shared reading experience.  Our Montessori House children participate in this event , called Read for the Record, and add over 70 to the worldwide count!

After hearing the story in class today, every child at school received his or her very own copy of The Snowy Day.  This lovely gift was arranged by Tracy — mother of Montessori House pupil Gabriela (and 2009 alumnae Liliana) — who works with Pearson, one of the supporters of Read for the Record through the Pearson Foundation.  So, send your thanks to Tracy, Pearson, and the Pearson Foundation.

We won’t know until the end of the day if we broke the world record.  If you’d like to participate by reading The Snowy Day to your child tonight, you may be counted at the Read for the Record website: http://www.readfortherecord.org

Year-end Events

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Remember to put the following events on your calendar and to RSVP:

  • June 11, Friday: for all our students a concert by Justin Hines .
  • June 11, Friday: Last of Stepping Stones Classes .
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  • June 14, Monday: Last of Classes for Pre-K, Kindergarten, Enrichment and After Care.
  • June 14, Monday: Stepping Stones Parents Picnic 11 a.m.  (RSVP)
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  • June 15, Tuesday: Kindergarten Graduation 10 a.m. (RSVP)
  • June 15, Tuesday: All-school Reception 11 a.m. (RSVP)

International Fesitval, Saturday, May 22, 2 pm — Traffic, Drop-off, Parking

Friday, May 21st, 2010

We’re expecting over 250 people at Saturday afternoon’s Montessori House International Festival.  The Festival starts at 2 p.m. and will continue until 5:30 p.m.

Thanks to our International Festival Committee and all the volunteers who have already spent much time preparing for this weekend’s festivities.  And thanks for all the really hard work (and great results!) that are yet to come.

The Festival will take place as follows:

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • Check-in at the Check-In Counter with Ms. Maria.
  • Montessori House students receive a Festival Passport.
  • Tour the world, taste the food, try the crafts at our 12 country booths.
3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
  • Everyone gathers at the World Stage to hear and see music and dance performances from around the world.
  • Note, the country booths will close during the performances.
4:15 p.m to 5:30 p.m.
  • As our one dozen country booths reopen, resume your round-the-world tour, tastings and crafts.

The Montessori House International Festival is a family event.  Parents must accompany and supervise their children at all times. At many of our country booths, children will need parent assistance to participate in the activities.  And, if you have any food concerns (allergies, etc.), only parents can supervise what their children eat.

As an all-volunteer effort, we must limit the International Festival only to the immediate family of Montessori House students enrolled for 2009-10  or  2010-11, and only to those families who provided an RSVP by last week.  Please do not bring friends or extended family, for we may not have space to admit them.

Parking at the school will be limited, so please read on for instructions on traffic, drop-off and parking.

Traffic, Drop-off and Parking

The Festival will take place in and around The Montessori House playground.  We have limited parking available at the school, and much of this will be occupied by Festival presenters and performers.  Here are some rules and suggestions for drop-off and parking:

  • All traffic through the parking lot will be one-way: enter only on River Edge and exit only on Knickerbocker.  Only exit to the right (north) on Knickerbocker, no left turn exit permitted. We will post a Stop sign at the walkway to the school entrance; please proceed slowly and with utmost caution through the parking lot (we  expect to have over 100 young children in the area, and sometimes they escape!)

  • Once you enter from River Edge, we will have a designated area where you may drop off members of your family with their food contribution.  Please, young children must be dropped off with an adult companion, never alone and unaccompanied.

    • Deliver your food contribution to tables just east of the playground (by the Stepping Stones play area); volunteers will be ready with labels and instructions.

    • After drop-off, the driver should continue through the parking lot to the Knickerbocker exit.

  • Exit to the right (north) on Knickerbocker.  No parking is permitted on Knickerbocker. Your best bet for street parking is to proceed to the light and turn right on River Edge:

    • You may park on River Edge after you’ve driven past the school parking lot entrance.  Please be mindful of bus stops, driveways, etc. and be attentive to posted parking rules.

    • You may park on the side streets off River Edge.  Again, be mindful of driveways, fire hydrants, posted parking rules, etc.

  • When you leave the Festival, we recommend that your entire party walk to your car.  If you cross River Edge, please do so carefully, at the traffic light.  If you choose to pick-up your party in the parking lot, be warned: many people will be cleaning and packing and traffic through the lot will be very slow.

The weather forecast for Saturday is great.  We look forward to a wonderful time with you, your family and all your Montessori House friends!

Parent-Teacher Conferences May 20 – 21

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

We’re making appointments for Parent-Teacher conferences  on Thursday and Friday, May 20th and 21st.   We schedule 20-minute conferences between 8:00 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.   If you would like to schedule a discussion with your child’s teacher(s) please stop by the office during the school day or call 201-816-8343.

Reminder: No classes on the conference days  — Thursday May 20, and Friday May 21.

Don’t Forget … Parent Visitation May 10 through May 14

Also, for Pre-Primary and Kindergarten students, we still have spots open for Parent Visitation next week Monday, May 10 through Friday, May 14.  If  you would like to spend 30 minutes in the classroom participating in school with your child,  we have two 30-minute slots each morning and two 30-minute slots each afternoon each day.  However, we do limit the number of parents visiting to three at a time in each classroom.  If you’re interested in scheduling a classroom visit please stop by the office or call 201-816-8343.  (Note:  Stepping Stones does not participate in Parent Visitation.)

REMINDER: School is Closed for Spring Break March 29 – April 9

Saturday, March 20th, 2010
We just wanted to remind you that the school is closed for two weeks for Spring Break starting Monday, March 29.
School reopens and classes resume on the normal schedule on Monday, April 12.

Have a great holiday!

No classes are scheduled Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 9.

The Montessori House will not provide child care during Spring Break.

Please make other arrangements for your child’s care starting Monday, March 29.