DOBSON MONTESSORI SCHOOL NEWS

January 26-30

 WHAT IS MONTESSORI?

         Montessori education helps students develop personal responsibility through natural consequences, not rewards or punishments. If a child spills their drink, they are shown how to clean up the spill. If a coat is left outside on the playground, the child will need to retrace their steps to find the lost item. A child who forgets their lunch may go into the kitchen and make peanut butter crackers. When an adult solves a problem for the child by perhaps wiping up the spill, finding the jacket for him or her, or leaving work to bring the forgotten lunch, we rob the child of small opportunities to develop personal responsibility and learn through natural consequences. These daily lessons help the child develop important skills as they make the journey from childhood to becoming a responsible adult.

KINDERGARTEN

         Our “Body Works” unit focuses on the brain and nervous system this week. We will make a brain hemisphere hat to wear! Students will create a whole body poster using multi-media showing bones, muscles, heart, lungs, stomach and brain. On Tuesday, January 27, we will go on a field trip to the AZ Science Center where we will focus on the human body exhibits titles “All About Me”. We will depart at 9:00 and return for lunch. Everyone has learned so much during this science unit about how our bodies work! 

PRIMARY

 “Cooking Up Literature” concludes this week as students finalize writing and illustrating their original stories. We will then compile all the stories into a book that will be available for parents to purchase next week. This week on Tuesday, Jan. 27, we will read books about Hispanic foods and then go on a field trip to Los Altos Ranch Market. We will purchase ingredients to make our own tortillas back in class and visit the panderia for some sweet treats. We need chaperones to help. Please contact Ms. Casynda if you can help. We will return for lunch.

INTERMEDIATE

         “Kids and Cash” wraps up with our fun sale day on Tuesday, January 27. Our entrepreneurs will be selling their products before school at 8:30, at lunch, and after school until 3:30 on the amphitheater. Parents are welcome to come and shop. Later in the week, students will do their business bookkeeping, pay back their start up loans, and divide the profits. On Thursday, January 29 we will go on a field trip to Bookman’s where students will be able to shop using the profits from their student-run businesses. If parents would like to chaperone, please see Ms. Heather. We will leave at 1:15 and return by 3:00. 

UPPER DIVISION

         Our Upper Division “Vikings” had a great time on their overnight trip last week. They will enter photos and writing about the experience into their scrapbooks this week. In class, we will enjoy drinking some apple ale out of pottery mugs we made earlier in the month and make a stool with a woven rush seat that you can actually sit on! Vikings had to make everything by hand…would you have been successful at making your own furniture? At the end of the week, students will weigh their dried apples and be paid in silver pieces for the biggest harvest. On Thursday, students will present their research papers and illustrations about a specific aspect of Viking culture and take a quiz over what they have learned. 

HIGH SCHOOL

         Students will submit final essays to the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals contest this week. The topic is “the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. We will also continue work in the new college level Astronomy course and begin a new book in English, The Hail Mary Project. This fiction book ties in with our astronomy topic of space exploration.

SILENT AUCTION

         Stop by the office this week and bid on some amazing items! There are lots of gift cards to retail stores and restaurants plus home décor, technology, books, toys, and other items you didn’t know you needed! Up your bid throughout the week as you compete with other bidders. The highest bid at close of school on Friday wins the item! Students must have a parent with them to bid and all bids are final.  The auction opens at 3 PM on Monday. All proceeds go to the UD and HS students for their end of the year trips.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE FOUNDATION

         We are counting on you to donate to SEEF again this year. Without our families’ contributions, we could not continue to operate our programs. Remember, it costs you nothing as you get the money back, dollar for dollar, on your state income tax. Go to www.seefaz.org to make your contribution.