Reminders

Our summer program runs through August 1. We will be closed the week of August 4-8 to prepare for our 2014-2015 school year, which begins August 11.

Morning is the busiest time of our day and we generally start it outside on the play-ground. We usually don’t have time to apply sunscreen and bug repellant until later in the day, so please do this before you leave your house.

Make sure your child wears sturdy, athletic-style shoes with closed toes, sides and heels. The pea gravel from our playground works its way under little feet clad in sandals or clogs (ouch!), so save the sandals, flip-flops, clogs, Crocs™, etc. for home.

For safety’s sake, only adults should open the gates to our playground area. ALWAYS sign in and sign out on the clipboard for your child’s classroom, and make sure the teacher on duty sees you. Also for safety’s sake, when you come inside to pick up your child, never leave your car’s engine running in our parking area.

Our center closes promptly at 6 p.m. The late pick-up fee is $1.00 per minute, payable that same evening to the teacher who has to stay past closing time.

We’re in the Swing of Summer

We’re having fun in the sun, in the community and right here at school. We’ve walked to the farmers’ market in downtown Overland Park to buy fruits and vegetables for the classrooms and for Ms. Angie, and enjoy live performances by Rockin Robin and Eco Elvis. At school, we’ve exercised our bodies and had a great time with Stretch-N-Grow and Dancin’ with Deja, and we’ve been entertained by Lulu Bell the Clown, a petting zoo, and more.

Highlights for this month include another walking trip to the farmers’ market. We’ll have fun here at school with the Stretch-N-Grow parachute; a water slide; yoga, art, creative movement, and soccer classes; a magician; and our end-of-summer pizza party (with dessert provided by the Frosty Treats ice cream truck). Parents, you are always welcome to join us, and we certainly appreciate the extra assistance you provide when you come along on our walking field trips.

We are also active outside on our playground just about every day. The children love playing in the sand or burying their arms in the pea gravel, eating lunch outside at the picnic tables, and jumping in straw in our little barn, not to mention kicking up pea gravel dust just running around the playground. Getting dirty is so much fun!

Thank You NotesEvery day, a teacher or Ms. Angie, our chef, will comment that a parent or

grand-parent has donated this or volunteered to do that... the thoughtfulness and consideration that you show us is amazing and we appreciate it so much! From donating recyclable paper and envelopes to volunteering to accompany us on our field trips, our students’ families are so generous! If you ever need a donation acknowledgement letter or receipt for tax purposes, just let Barbara know.

Ms. Deja deserves a shout-out for stepping in to teach creative movement when Bike Day was rained out. We have not given up on swim/water play days and will continue them through July if it does not get too terribly hot.

Rain may have put a damper on some of our activities, but it has certainly helped our gardens grow. Many thanks to Ms. Emilie, Ms. Angie and Ms. Lala in particular, who have worked hard to beatify our flower and vegetable gardens. Please feel free to stop by and pull a weed or two or water over the weekend if it gets dry enough. Ms. Angie could use some more help in our raised garden beds – talk with her to learn more.

Kudos to Papa Keno’sIn June, we had our first field trip to Papa Keno's with Room #2 - we are going

room by room so as not to overwhelm – and it was a HUGE success. The pizzeria staff gave each child a tray with some flour and pizza dough and then demonstrated how to pull and toss the dough. The children's hands stayed very busy while they waited for a giant pizza to come out of the oven, which we then ate for a snack. The pizza was fabulous!

If you go into Papa Keno's with your child, be sure to let the staff there know how much we appreciate them allowing us to invade their space before regular business hours.

Johnson County Montessori Preschool

Parent

Help Us Stay Safe at SchoolDuring the warm summer months, we spend lots of time on our large playground, especially at the beginning and

end of our day. Help us keep all our children safe by always signing your child in and out on the form on the clipboard for your child’s class. We do our best to be aware of where each child in our care is at any given moment – a tall order in the best of circumstances given the size of our playground. If a parent or other authorized adult picks up a child and does not alert a school staff member (especially when we have a substitute teacher on duty), or does not fill in the sign-in/sign-out form, it makes our job that much more difficult. Please help us avoid having to go through “missing child panic” by following this important policy. Our staff members will be watching parents (and the children, of course), and issuing reminders.

Also for safety reasons, you and your child need to be especially punctual on off-campus field trip days. We cannot allow parents to drop off or pick up their children at off-campus field trip sites! Please consult your activity calendar and plan ahead so you can get your child to school in plenty of time.

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent

Tired of nagging and begging to get your kids to do as you've asked? Wish you had some tools to help you avoid losing your cool when your children make poor choices? You can guide your children to become responsible for their lives and put the joy back in parenting with “Love & Logic” principles, developed by the Cline/Fay Institute. We highly recommend this approach.

Shawnee Mission Medical Center / Shawnee Mission Health has Love & Logic classes scheduled for this coming fall (Saturday, September 13 or Saturday, November 1, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Cost is $65 per couple. Visit www.shawneemission.org for more information and sign up early.

August Tuition is Prorated Since we will be closed August 4-8 to prepare for the 2014-2015 school year, tuition for August will be prorated

based on your child’s planned attendance (August 1 only or August 1 and 11-29). Barbara will get information about this to each of you soon. We start the new school year on Monday, August 11, and new tuition rates for the new school year go into effect then.

REMINDER: If you are in the Shawnee Mission School District and your child is starting kindergarten in one of its schools, kindergarten conferences are scheduled for August 12 & 13 and the first day for kindergarten classes is August 14. If you need child care for August 11-13 (or any other days that we are open but the public schools are closed this year), contact Barbara. If we have room, we’d be happy to have your child spend the day with us for $45 per day.

Registration for the New School YearIf you have not yet enrolled your child for the 2014-2015 school year, please do so now. We are still accepting new

enrollments. If fact, if you will help us spread the word about our fabulous little school, we’ll help you in the form of a tuition discount. If a family you refer enrolls their child, once that new child has attended for three months, your reward is a $100 tuition discount if your child attends 4-5 days per week, or a $50 tuition discount if your child attends 2-3 days per week. In addition, the family that you refer is eligible for a 50% discount on their first annual registration fee. Feel free to copy and distribute the coupon below to your friends, neighbors and co-workers.

Classroom Happenings

Tegan Grissom and Ila Collins worked their pizza dough at Papa Keno’s during their classroom’s visit in mid-June.

From Deja and Anna in Classroom #2: We have had a wonderful start to our summer camp.

We are enjoying being outside and exploring nature. We would like to thank all of the dads, grandpas, and father fill-ins who came to our “Doughnuts with Dad” event to celebrate Father’s Day.

In July, our camp theme will be art. We will learn about lines, shapes, color, forms, and textures, as well as the role of an artist and how to look at art.

Please remember to bring your child’s water bottle every day, apply sunscreen and insect repellant before you leave your house for school, and on our water play days, please bring swim shoes/water shoes.

From Tammy in Classroom #4:

Our summer program has had a terrific start (well, except for all of the rain that kept us from enjoying water play earlier in June). We had a great turnout for “Doughnuts with Dad” right before Father’s Day. Thanks for coming and having breakfast with your children. Thanks, too, to all of the parents who have helped us out on the field trips we’ve had so far. We could not do this without you!

A few quick reminders:« Continue to apply bug repellant and sunscreen in the morning before coming to

school; we’ll reapply later in the day« Send a labeled and filled water bottle with your child daily« Please let me know when your child will be gone on vacation as far in advance as

possible – this helps me with planning for the days & weeks ahead

From Emilie and Anna K in Classroom #5:We are enjoying our summer activities as well as each other in classroom 5.

We have had fun with in-house guests, including Lulu Bell the Clown and Stretch-N-Grow, and our Happy Feet soccer lessons, Dancin’ with Deja sessions, and art classes. Our annual doughnut and coffee event in honor of Father’s Day was a success (thanks for coming, dads). We’ve also enjoyed our walking field trips to the Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park Farmers’ Market, and Papa Keno’s. We are learning about animals around the world during classroom time.

« Our class has water fun days on Thursdays (weather permitting). Have your child wear a swimsuit under their clothes on water play days, and bring water shoes, a towel, and underwear. The children will change into dry clothes and regular athletic shoes after water play.« The mosquitoes are out and biting, so please continue to apply insect repellent (and sunscreen) before coming to school.« Send a filled (and labeled) water bottle with your child each morning. The children get thirsty when they’re playing outside, we are not able to accompany children in and out of the classroom each time one wants a drink and still maintain proper supervision of the playground. The water bottle needs to go home with your child daily to be cleaned.« Please continue to check your child’s storage box and make sure it contains a complete change of clothing appropriate for the current season. Please label each clothing article.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our supply of summer items, and to our volunteer helpers.

Farewell, FriendsLate July/early August is always a bittersweet time for us, as some of our

friends head to kindergarten or first grade. We know they’re going to do well in “big” school and make lots of new friends. The older children who returned this summer will be missed, too. Although we’ll be sad for a while, we are so proud and happy to see them go off ready and eager to learn in elementary school. We’ll be getting to know lots of new friends with the start of the new school year, and hope all our alumnae come back to visit us.

Anna Randel and Stella Forster loved the cherry bomb pop effect on their tongues after the Frosty Treats ice cream truck visit in June.

Classroom 5 en route to the farmers’ market and live music in downtown Overland Park.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday FridayJuly 1

Pasta with Tomato/Veggie SaucePeasPearsMilk

2Chef’s Salad (with turkey, eggs, beans, cheese & croutons)Fresh MelonMilk

3Sloppy Joe with Veggies (on wheat bun)Fresh VeggiesFresh Seasonal FruitMilk

4 No school today

7Chicken Patty SandwichCherry Tomatoes & JicamaOrange SlicesMilk

8Chef’s Salad (with meat, eggs, beans, cheese & croutons)Fruit CocktailMilk

9Asian Noodle Salad with VegetablesCarrotsBananas & Mandarin OrangesMilk

10Breakfast for Lunch:

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach & CheeseCerealFresh MelonMilk

11Turkey & Cream Cheese Roll-UpsFresh VeggiesFresh Seasonal FruitMilk

14Pasta & Tomato/Veg SauceSpinach Garlic BreadPeasMandarin Oranges & PineappleMilk

15Quesadillas with Spinach & BeansSalsaCarrots & PeppersBananasMilk

16Turkey, Cheese & Spinach Sandwich on WheatCarrots & CucumbersGrapesMilk

17Bean Salad with QuinoaGarlic BreadPearsMilk

18Pasta Salad with Veggies & Greek Yogurt DressingCrackersCornOrange SlicesMilk

21White Chili (with chicken)Tortilla ChipsCarrots & CornApple SlicesMilk

22Cheese Tortellini Salad with VeggiesGarlic BreadApplesauceMilk

23“Baked” PotatoesCheese & Sour CreamSteamed BroccoliPeachesMilk

24Hard-Boiled EggsHummusFresh VeggiesFresh MelonMilk

25Taco Salad (with ground turkey, beans, cheese & veggies)CornMandarin Oranges & PineappleMilk

28Breakfast for Lunch:

Pumpkin PancakesCerealFresh Seasonal FruitMilk

29Hot Dog on a Wheat BunFresh VeggiesFresh Seasonal FruitMilk

30Toasted Cheese Sandwich with SpinachBroccoli & CarrotsFresh MelonMilk

31Fish SticksFresh VeggiesFresh Seasonal FruitMilk

Aug 1PizzaCarrotsFresh MelonMilk

Menu for July(Note: Menu substitutions for fruits and vegetables may occur depending on availability, freshness and price.)

Johnson County Montessori Preschool JulyJohnson County Montessori Preschool July Activity CalendarActivity Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

1Art with Alisha

Extra charge enrichment activity:Ms Deja’s Creative Movement Class

3:00 pm

2 Frosty Treats

Ice Cream Truckcomes to school

10:00 am

3 4 School Closed

Happy 4th of July!

7Yoga with Emilie9:00 to 11:00 am

8 Art with Alisha

Extra charge enrichment activity:Ms Deja’s Creative Movement Class

3:00 pm

9 T-Shirt DayThe Rockin Rob Show

at Overland ParkFarmers’ Market

9:30 am

Classroom 4 toPapa Keno’s

10 11Happy Feet

Soccer Lessons8:30 am

14Stretch-N-Growcomes to school9:00 to 11:00 am

15Art with Alisha

Extra charge enrichment activity:Ms Deja’s Creative Movement Class

3:00 pm

16 Water Slide

at schoolAll Day

17 18Happy Feet

Soccer Lessons8:30 am

21Dancin’ with Deja

9:30 am

22Bike Day

Bring your tricycle, bicycle and/or other

riding toy, plus helmet)

23 Magic Bob

comes to school10:00 a.m.

24 25Happy Feet

Soccer Lessons8:30 am

28Frosty Treats

Ice Cream Truckcomes to school

10:00 am

29Art with Alisha

Extra charge enrichment activity:Ms Deja’s Creative Movement Class

3:00 pm

30 Water Slide

at schoolAll Day

31 Aug 1 Happy Feet

Soccer Lessons8:30 am

Pizza Party for LunchIce Cream Truck

Treats for DessertAlisha Vincent (Halley's mom) has been doing a great job preparing and executing art projects on Tuesdays. She is so creative and the children have been wonderfully engaged and busy during her classes. We miss our music with Ms. Ann (who returns in the fall), but Alisha has helped us have happy Tuesdays. Ms. Emilie stepped in to teach yoga classes when Mr. Michael resigned. Mr. Michael has been talking about retirement for a while now and his goal is to move to Mexico for a much quieter and simpler life. We will miss his Kidz in Motion classes and wish him all the best.