carroll creek communicator - frederick county public … filethat they can succeed. we need to walk...

When I became an administrator I signed on for a lifetime of meetings Each

month I have MMCI meetings CCM GC meetings at least two FCPS meetings

weekly staff meetings teacher cluster meetings

meetings with individual teachers meetings with

students meetings with parents AMS meetings

(sometimes by Skype)hellip The list goes on and on I

love that these ldquomeeting of mindsrdquo result in great

things for children most of the time anyway

Collaborating with others who help us stretch our

understanding strengthens us in many ways and is al-

ways beneficial

Some upper elementary students have started

ldquomeetingrdquo over tea to discuss concepts introduced in

class The teacher provides groups of students a topic

that may include a reading or the topic may be an ob-

servation or shared experience The students then de-

cide when they will meet They are not given a direc-

tionmdashjust meet and talk over a pot of hot tea about the

topic that was provided The teacher does not provide any additional information

but often the studentsrsquo interest will be piqued and they will research further before

their meeting They refer to the text in their discussions and make connections to

their personal lives I have been fortunate enough to observe several of these ldquoteasrdquo

and again am reminded what a wonderful gift Montessori education is for our stu-

dents Our students will have the confidence and independence that experiences like

this give them to be leaders when they have meetings as adults

CCMPCSs mission is to build a community in which students parents and staff work

together to educate the whole child the sum of the physical emotional social and

intellectual parts We will implement a Montessori based curriculum to give students the

hands-on tools they need to be active learners both in and outside the classroom By offering

English with Spanish enrichment or dual-language Spanish instruction to all students we will

provide a unique opportunity for students to learn a second language at an early age and

develop multicultural awareness

10-30-15 Volume 2 Issue 3

Carroll Creek Communicator

10-30 No Schoolmdash

Teacher work day

11-7 800-500 Greater

Washington

Montessori Conf

11-9 700 GC Town

Hall Meeting

11-10 Snapology Starts

11-12 400 Spanish Task

Force Meeting

11-14 700am 5K

Baker Park

11-18 100 Charter

Renewal BOE Mtg

11-18 700 MMCI

Annual Meeting

MVM

11-19 1130 Community

Coffee Panara

on Urbana Pike

11-20 1145 Early

Dismissal

PT Conf

11-23 1230 Late Arrival

No PK and No

Lunch PT Conf

11-24 1245 Early

Dismissal

PT Conf

1125

ndash

1127

No School

Thanksgiving

Break

Important Dates

for Families

Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School Mission

ldquoMeeting of the Mindsrdquo

Hello CCM families

This month I had the privilege to be a part of a student-run conference Although the childs mother

contacted the school requesting the conference she stated that she was doing it on behalf of her child I

watched a nervous yet prepared student run a conference to discuss educational goals as well as academic

and social concerns This student although comfortable with all parties present prepared a list not only

remember everything but to stay focused despite being nervous What a powerful experience for the student

and an eye opener for me as an educator and as a parent

Think for a moment How often do we do things for our children that they CAN do themselves How often

do we do things for our children that they SHOULD do themselves It is a natural instinct to want to jump in

to protect and advocate for our children at school at home on the sports field or at the playground but we

have to consider the long-term impact our need to jump in is causing Are we stealing our childrens voices

and in essence telling them that we dont think they are capable of achieving the task without us We want our

children to grow up knowing who they are and being confident contributors to society It is our job as parents

and as a school to teach them the skills to do so That being said we need to give them opportunity to fail so

that they can succeed We need to walk along side our children and teach them how to face a problem and

how to solve it

Next time before you jump in to try to solve a social or academic or personal problem for your child I

encourage you to just sit back and consider if you are giving your child enough opportunity to rise to the

occasion to practice self-advocacy skills and self-sufficiency skills Try to talk less and listen more

Sometimes youll find that your child already knows what heshe needs to do your child may just be looking

for you to give permission and support to do it for him- or herself Did your child forget his or her lunch

What will shehe do to handle it Is your child struggling with a peer What skills can you demonstrate or

suggest so heshe can work through it Is your student struggling with a work Talk with your child about

who heshe can talk to and what heshe can say during the conversation Maybe you just need to sit in on the

conference but let your child use hisher voice Some of the most important and hardest lessons are ones that

we have learned from falling down and learning how to get back up again

Mandi Kearney

School Counselor

Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School

301-663-7710

Page 2


Counselorrsquos Corner

Never help a child with a task at

which he feels he can succeed

- Maria Montessori

Everyone is familiar with the phrase when opportunity knocks answer the door

Well an opportunity has knocked at my door

It saddens me to tell you that my last day at CCM will be November 6th As you

know CCM has been my life and second family for the past 4 years I have built

wonderful memories and special relationships with students families and staff I

will miss my every day encounters with all of you

I will still be popping in from time to time so it isnt a final good bye just a

see you all soon

We will all miss Mrs Biser Please take a minute to either send her an email or stop

in and chat with her She has truly helped make CCM what it is today

Rosina Biser

Kindergarten music classes have worked on maraca patterns using the maracas they made

in their classrooms during Hispanic Heritage month They have also begun using solfegg

hand signs for the sol-mi interval in our hello song Our big focus has been on small

percussion instruments to provide a soundscape for the book ldquoFletcher and the Falling

Leavesrdquo Students explored using bongos tone bars bells xylophone drums and

tambourines for various sound effects and characters in the story

Lower Elementary classes have worked on

becoming familiar with lines and spaces of the staff

names of notes in treble clef and rhythm values of quarter eighth and

rests They have learned the Spanish song ldquoAlegre Canta el Burrordquo

about a happy braying donkey and practiced a bongo pattern to ac-

company it Our study of Europe has included the compositions of

Bach the harpsichord and the ldquoChimes of Dunkirkrdquo dance

Upper Elementary classes have plunged deep into the study of

Bach focusing especially on his toccatas and fugues how they are

constructed and instruments he commonly wrote for Students learned the intricate

workings of the harpsichord and significance of the pipe organ in European music

history and will soon delve into the invention of the piano Classes have also enjoyed

learning ldquoAlegre Canta El Burrordquo and are practicing complicated rhythm accompaniments on percussion

Page 3

Volume 2 Issue 3

From the Art Room

Music Notes

In art class Lower and Upper Elementary students have been enjoying

our last warm days outside as they create observational drawings of trees

Inspired by the Impressionists our young artists are

completing their trees with vibrant layered color as

they marry observation with expressive

interpretation

This landscape exercise invites Lower

Elementary children to reinforce their knowledge of color theory as they are

introduced to Impressionism and oil pastels The project encourages Upper

Elementary children to reinforce their knowledge of color

theory and their understanding of foreground middle ground

and background as they are introduced to Impressionism oil

pastels and the concept of themes in art Upper Elementary

students are also enjoying the opportunity to work on the map

of the world mural in the art room

The five year old Primary students are continuing their

introduction to the elements of art with a Taking a Line for a

Walk exercise For this project students practice finding and

defining the element of shape by using the elements of line color and texture and the

principle of pattern

Mrs Reynolds

Mrs Reed

Johann Sebastian Bach

1685-1750

Germany

Hello Parents

Here in Physical

Education we have

moved into our floor

hockey unit Students

spent the first day

learning how to properly

grip a hockey stick using

the handshake method

as well as proper safety

procedures to ensure the

safest classroom

environment as possible

Students were also

introduced to the two

types of hockey shots

passes which are the

sweep pass and the push

pass Each grade has

worked on a variety of

target games that require

them to use these shots

Primary grades have

been working on

shooting and dribbling

skills through station

work and small group

activities Lower and

upper elementary have

been working on full

court target games as

they begin to explore

offensive and defensive

strategies needed to be

successful in a real

hockey game which they

will transition to here in

the next few weeks

Students have also

been introduced to

Newtownrsquos Laws of

Motion and how it

applies to hockey by

using a variety of

different hockey balls as

they all produce a

different outcome in

terms of friction

Primary students are learning new vocabulary including the days of the week months of the year fruits

and farm animals

Kindergarten students have been using materials from la cartilla foneacutetica Consonants are placed with

vowels to help them to read

Lower Elementary students are creating menus First graders menus include

desserts Second graders are creating menus using drinks and breakfast foods Third

graders menus include meats and vegetables Second graders are able to say which

food item they like or dislike by using me gusta no me gusta Third graders are

using ldquoyo bebordquo or ldquoyo comordquo to tell what they drink and eat

Upper Elementary students have been learning new vocabulary to describe how

they feel They are learning to say they have a fever a headache a cold a

toothache a backache and other expressions They are able to role play by asking

and answering each other how they are and what

ailment they have Fourth graders are focusing on the

ldquoyordquo form of the verb tener to describe how they feel

Fifth and sixth graders are using the ldquoeacutelellaustedrdquo

form of the verb tener to describe how others feel

As Hispanic cultural month came to an end student

made pintildeatas Mrs Michaelrsquos class will be placing bird seeds inside theirs and

they will be taking them outside to break This is a great idea since both

students and birds will benefit from this activity

Muchas Gracias

Senora Parsley Page 4

Volume 2 Issue 3

Physical Education

Spanish Spoken Here

acceleration and

action-reaction

I am very pleased with

how well our students have

demonstrated good

sportsmanship and words of

encouragement to other

students as hockey can be a

difficult sport since it is not

a sport a lot of students get

to practice or participate in

outside of school

Mr Dixon

CCMPCS GC News

Tidbits from our GC

I love the charter school aspect of

our community Charter to me

means that synergy I see on the

second Monday of every month

where staff parents and community

members (currently community

member) join together to make the

policy decisions of the school and

to forge forward with strategic plans

for our future I have felt at times

like I will die by committee but in

the end I have always valued the

myriad perspectives which have

blended together to offer the most

creative solution to bridge

whatever gap we have most

recently found before us I have

found the leadership of this

school to be indomitable in the

face of the wackiest challenges

and fiercely passionate I

consider myself lucky to have the

opportunity to work beside

them As the window to throw

your name into the ring is swiftly

closing I hope you will take a

moment to consider where you

might fit into this amazing

Page 5

Conferences

We are excited that the time is nearing for Parent

Teacher conferences Please be aware that school

hours on conference day are drastically different

than normal hours and that PK students do not

come on Monday 1123

1120 - 900 to 1115 Lunch will be served

Conferences are from 1150-330

1123 - 1230 to 345 Lunch will not be served




mosaic whether that be on

the Governing Council the

Board of Trustees for our

nonprofit MMCI (a board on

which CCM is woefully

under represented) or active

on a committee Wherever

you plug in I am glad you

are part of our community

Thank you

Michael Beth Edwards

Upper Elementary

Instructional Assistant and

AMS Intern

Each year our School Improvement Plan has a goal for attendance Last year the only area where we did not

meet all our goals was attendance Our goal for this year is 95 (Marylandrsquos rating for attendance is 96 for

excellent and 95 for satisfactorymdashlast yearrsquos ending attendance rate was 9405 at the end of the year

Last year our attendance rate was 951 at the end of October This year our current rate is 9608 so we are

off to a much better start Letters went home this week to families of students who have been absent five or

more times As always if your child is ill please do not send them to school We would also request that

family vacations be scheduled during school breaks It is very difficult for children to learn the concepts we

are teaching if they are not at school Letrsquos continue to work together to pass this benchmark for our school

this year

Attendance

Lost and Found

Our Lost and Found has enough coats and

jackets to keep a whole classroom of children

warm this winter There are also several water

bottles and lunch bags waiting for their owners

Please check it out

during parentteacher

conferences We will

be donating all items

which are left after

conferences to a local

charity

Ongoing Fundraisers There are many FREE and EASY WAYS in which everyone can help support students at Carroll Creek Montessori

You may support us through your shopping while earning all of your current bonuses such as gas rewards etc

Please see below for complete details on all the programs we are participating in at this time

- Target wwwtargetcomtcoe

Apply for andor enroll your Target Debit or Credit REDcard and save 5 every time you

shop at Target stores and online Our school earns 1 on your purchases

School ID 153609 Enroll at TargetcomTCOE or call 1-800-316-6142

- Giant httpwwwgiantfoodcomsavings-and-rewardsrewards-programaplus

Register your Giant Rewards bonus card number and earn cash for your school from your gro-

cery shopping (program runs from October through March) School Code 18176

- Amazon Follow This Link

Earn cash for Carroll Creek Montessori when you shop on Amazon Simply click on the link to

earn through eScrip

- Office Depot httpwwwofficedepotcomacontentback-to-school5percent

Gives 5 Back To Our School Give your school name or School Id 70228190 at checkout

- Box Tops for Education wwwbtfecom

Carroll Creek Montessori earns cash with Box Tops Look for the pink coupon Box Top

(worth 5cent each) Register at the link above to earn bonus Box Tops and to access many printa-

ble valuable coupons

- Coke Rewards httpsdonatemycokerewardscomcausesdetailscid=839292amptype=2

Purchase Coca-Cola beverages and enter the codes online to earn points Donate your points to

support CCM You can also send in your Coca-Cola product topscodes into school and a vol-

unteer will enter the codes for you Each cap is worth 5cent

- Giant Eaglersquos ldquoApples for the Studentsrdquo Rewards Program

wwwgianteaglecomschoolsapples-for-students or 800-474-4777

Register your Giant Eagle Advantage Cardreg number and earn cash for your school from your

grocery shopping (program runs from October through March) School Code 5792

- Tyson Project A+ httpprojectaplustysoncom

In your grocers freezer section look for Tyson Products that display the Tyson Project A+trade

logo Each label is worth 24cent cash

Hello CCM families

This month I had the privilege to be a part of a student-run conference Although the childs mother

contacted the school requesting the conference she stated that she was doing it on behalf of her child I

watched a nervous yet prepared student run a conference to discuss educational goals as well as academic

and social concerns This student although comfortable with all parties present prepared a list not only

remember everything but to stay focused despite being nervous What a powerful experience for the student

and an eye opener for me as an educator and as a parent

Think for a moment How often do we do things for our children that they CAN do themselves How often

do we do things for our children that they SHOULD do themselves It is a natural instinct to want to jump in

to protect and advocate for our children at school at home on the sports field or at the playground but we

have to consider the long-term impact our need to jump in is causing Are we stealing our childrens voices

and in essence telling them that we dont think they are capable of achieving the task without us We want our

children to grow up knowing who they are and being confident contributors to society It is our job as parents

and as a school to teach them the skills to do so That being said we need to give them opportunity to fail so

that they can succeed We need to walk along side our children and teach them how to face a problem and

how to solve it

Next time before you jump in to try to solve a social or academic or personal problem for your child I

encourage you to just sit back and consider if you are giving your child enough opportunity to rise to the

occasion to practice self-advocacy skills and self-sufficiency skills Try to talk less and listen more

Sometimes youll find that your child already knows what heshe needs to do your child may just be looking

for you to give permission and support to do it for him- or herself Did your child forget his or her lunch

What will shehe do to handle it Is your child struggling with a peer What skills can you demonstrate or

suggest so heshe can work through it Is your student struggling with a work Talk with your child about

who heshe can talk to and what heshe can say during the conversation Maybe you just need to sit in on the

conference but let your child use hisher voice Some of the most important and hardest lessons are ones that

we have learned from falling down and learning how to get back up again

Mandi Kearney

School Counselor

Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School

301-663-7710


Counselorrsquos Corner

Never help a child with a task at

which he feels he can succeed

- Maria Montessori

Everyone is familiar with the phrase when opportunity knocks answer the door

Well an opportunity has knocked at my door

It saddens me to tell you that my last day at CCM will be November 6th As you

know CCM has been my life and second family for the past 4 years I have built

wonderful memories and special relationships with students families and staff I

will miss my every day encounters with all of you

I will still be popping in from time to time so it isnt a final good bye just a

see you all soon

We will all miss Mrs Biser Please take a minute to either send her an email or stop

in and chat with her She has truly helped make CCM what it is today

Rosina Biser




















Page 3

Volume 2 Issue 3

From the Art Room

Music Notes






interpretation















Mrs Reynolds

Mrs Reed


1685-1750

Germany

Hello Parents

Here in Physical

Education we have



spent the first day






safest classroom


Students were also





pass Each grade has




Primary grades have

been working on














the next few weeks

Students have also

been introduced to


Motion and how it


using a variety of


they all produce a


terms of friction


and farm animals




















Muchas Gracias


Volume 2 Issue 3

Physical Education

Spanish Spoken Here

acceleration and

action-reaction



demonstrated good







outside of school

Mr Dixon

CCMPCS GC News

Tidbits from our GC





























Page 5

Conferences





come on Monday 1123
















Thank you


Upper Elementary


AMS Intern









this year

Attendance

Lost and Found





Please check it out


conferences We will




charity













earn through eScrip





































Volume 2 Issue 3

From the Art Room

Music Notes






interpretation















Mrs Reynolds

Mrs Reed


1685-1750

Germany

Hello Parents

Here in Physical

Education we have



spent the first day






safest classroom


Students were also





pass Each grade has




Primary grades have

been working on














the next few weeks

Students have also

been introduced to


Motion and how it


using a variety of


they all produce a


terms of friction


and farm animals




















Muchas Gracias


Volume 2 Issue 3

Physical Education

Spanish Spoken Here

acceleration and

action-reaction



demonstrated good







outside of school

Mr Dixon

CCMPCS GC News

Tidbits from our GC





























Page 5

Conferences





come on Monday 1123
















Thank you


Upper Elementary


AMS Intern









this year

Attendance

Lost and Found





Please check it out


conferences We will




charity













earn through eScrip


















Hello Parents

Here in Physical

Education we have



spent the first day






safest classroom


Students were also





pass Each grade has




Primary grades have

been working on














the next few weeks

Students have also

been introduced to


Motion and how it


using a variety of


they all produce a


terms of friction


and farm animals




















Muchas Gracias

Senora Parsley

Volume 2 Issue 3

Physical Education

Spanish Spoken Here

acceleration and

action-reaction



demonstrated good







outside of school

Mr Dixon

CCMPCS GC News

Tidbits from our GC





























Page 5

Conferences





come on Monday 1123
















Thank you


Upper Elementary


AMS Intern









this year

Attendance

Lost and Found





Please check it out


conferences We will




charity













earn through eScrip


















CCMPCS GC News

Tidbits from our GC





























Conferences





come on Monday 1123
















Thank you


Upper Elementary


AMS Intern









this year

Attendance

Lost and Found





Please check it out


conferences We will




charity













earn through eScrip






























earn through eScrip


















carroll creek communicator - frederick county public … filethat they can succeed. we need to walk...

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