December 2019 Newsletter

December 2019   

Parent Links:

CMP tuition and school calendar
CMP Facebook Page
Families Facebook page
Volunteer Sign-up
School Directory

DATES TO REMEMBER
December
6th – Tuition Due (5 weeks)
23rd – Jan 3rd – No School (Holiday Break)
January 6th- Classes resume

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Parents, want to be more involved or informed?    To learn more about volunteer opportunities this school year and to stay connected with the CMP community you can:

1. Read the classroom dry erase boards for class information weekly.

2. Read and refer back to this all school news for dates.

3. Read classroom newsletter monthly.

4. Join the Countryside Montessori Preschool Families Facebook group. 

Congratulations!
New Big sister Rylee and Family
New big Brother Owen this past month!

Thank you!
*Mikayla Z for all the work and food at our Mom’s Night Out event!

For Small Hands Fundraisers:       http://www.ForSmallHands.com or use catalog in your child’s mailbox.
CMP Code needed: 104170

 

Delight young children with real tools that let them handle real tasks “all by myself!” This company provides hard-to-find, child-size items that allow your child to pour their own juice or rake leaves by your side, doing purposeful “work” that supports self-confidence and independence.

There is a code on back of catalog that you will need that connects the fundraiser to CMP. The funds will go directly to a credit that your child’s classroom can buy new materials for your child’s classroom.

Parentsinspiration:

Aren’t we all looking to create a stress-free winter holiday season?

It is a lovely thought that you and your children will be sitting by a fire, singing holiday songs with friends and family. Yes, it is a lovely thought, dream, visualization or whatever you want to call it.

Of course, we all want that! Now I am going to bring you back to the natural reality of life with small children. This year, try instead of getting caught up in the constant crazy, take a breath and strategize the small things you can control (loving strategies) and that you and your family will benefit from.

 Here are some “Parentinspiration” tips to get you started:

  1. Throw out perfection! We often place a lot of pressure as parents on ourselves to create the perfect holiday experience for our children, but keep in mind that your quality time (not every minute) is typically all your children need. Your children aren’t expecting anything to be Pinterest-worthy (another parent pressure if you choose to let it be). What they are expecting, and need is your physical and emotional presence. A good example is before you go to an extended family’s home for the day, be sure to have a nutritious breakfast and conversation that morning with your child. That simple calm time is powerful. It sounds simple because it is!

  1. Minimize your outings. Minimizing is actually maximizing people! We parents put pressure on ourselves to squeeze as much shopping and fun as we can into a short time span. Be selective about your outings, do some of your shopping online if you can, and leave lots of space for downtime, so that you and your child feel rested, rather than the opposite, drained in pocketbook, body and emotional health.

  1. Your child will show you meltdown or emotional cues. Note them! Not the kind when they don’t get something they cry. That’s learning boundaries. The kind of signals when they are tired or have had enough fun and are emotionally overloaded. Observe the cues, learn them, recognize them and get out of situation before they become full blown(meaning it is probably time to go). Remember this time of their little lives does not last forever.

  1. You knew this was coming…Perform self-care! I don’t say this lightly. If you can’t do this for yourself, PLEASE do this for your child. The best gift you can give your child is gifts that will help them be healthy people in this lifetime. Here is your chance!

  Make Winter Decorations with Homemade Dough

doughstars

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1-1/2 cups water

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine the flour, salt and water; mix well and knead for 10 minutes. Roll out on a lightly floured surface.

Cut into desired shapes and make holes for hanging. Bake for 30 minutes; allow to cool.

Decorate with poster paints or tube paints.

Allow to dry and spray with clear polyurethane on both sides to preserve.

Use ribbon or yarn pieces to hang.

Parent Advisory Board News:
Please take a minute to look over the notes from our last meeting. We are looking for some volunteers who might be interested in organizing a few social events and help with organizing some other volunteer projects around the school.

Information about Operation Ornament will be in your child’s mailbox later this week.  We will split the monies collected to our six teachers and gift to them before we leave for holiday break.

Our next teacher appreciation meal will take place on Jan 9th, 2019. If you signed up you will be contacted to coordinate items closer to the date.

Our next board meeting will take place on February 13th at 6:30pm.

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 2nd ANNUAL Truck Touch Fundraising Event on Saturday, May 16th at Northside Town Center. Planning is underway and we could use more help! Please email our committee chair, Erin V. We are working on securing vehicles, planning food for purchase, and so much more.

Seasons greetings to all!

November 2019 Newsletter

NOVEMBER 2019   

Parent Links:

CMP tuition and school calendar
CMP Facebook Page
Families Facebook page
Volunteer Sign-up
School Directory

DATES TO REMEMBER
November
1st – Tuition due (5 weeks)
8th – MOM’s Night OUT!  6:30 p.m.
14th – Parent Advisory Board (PAB) Meeting 6:30 p.m.
27th-29th -No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December
6th – Tuition Due (5 weeks)
23rd – Jan 3rd – No School (Holiday Break)

Sip, snack, shop and mingle with other Moms!!!!

Friday, November 8th from 6:30-9:30 Countryside Montessori will be hosting a Mom’s Night Out just for you and any other women you would like to bring! Invite your friends to join you and have some fun!

REMINDERS & INFO
Winter Weather Reminders:

  • When Madison Schools Close, CMP will close.  Please listen to the radio or look at listings at online or television stations.  CMP will NOT list their name, rather know we are closed when MMSD closes.
  • Be sure your child has appropriate clothing for the outdoors every day- Warm jacket, snow pants, mittens, (no gloves please, and no scarves)and hat.
  • Full day children should be sure to have an extra pair of socks.
  • Check your child’s extra clothes box for warm extras- take home the shorts please:)
  • Allow yourself winter weather travel time- our pick up times remain the same.  We want you to be safe.
  • If your child is ill: a fever, loose stool, persistent cough, runny nose, etc. we ask you to keep them home.  Ill children sent home from school, need to stay home the following day, and symptom free for 24 hours.

Staying Healthy TIPS:

  • Cough in your elbow (not your hands!)
  • Get a good nights rest (10-12 hours)
  • Stay home from activities when not feeling well.
  • Eat fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water
  • Handwashing, handwashing…
Celebrating our community of volunteers: Thank you for all your help and efforts! We couldn’t do it without you. Many of you listed below helped with a task on our Volunteer Sign-up including: outside fall projects, organizing our upcoming moms night event, or fall pumpkin day!

Stephanie and Jerry F * Tara Hoff * April G * Erin V * Cody and Hannah C * Andrea C * Olivia T* Tracy H * Katie O* Natalia  * Micayla Z

Parent Advisory Board News:
Thursday, November 12th at 6:30pm we will meet at CMP in the downstairs office. ALL CMP parents interested in learning more should PLEASE join us! You can take a look at the notes from our last meeting. We are really excited to announce we have completed our board nominations and filled all officer positions. Introducing our 2019-2020 school year officers…

Member (Ex Official substitute)– Tracy H
Treasurer – Katie H

Secretary – Olivia T

Vice President – Andrea C
President – Amy H

**Every month we will be highlighting more of YOU our CMP parents and staff! We want to make introductions, share stories, learn about each other.  

Peaceful Parenting Practice:

10 Tips for Raising Grateful Kids

How to help kids show (and feel) appreciation

Saying thank you is one of the first social rules many parents teach their children, and for good reason. We want our kids to be appreciative and not take things for granted, and learning to be grateful can improve kids’ relationships, ability to empathize, and overall happiness. If you are looking for ways to reinforce the importance of gratitude or would like to find other meaningful ways your kids can show appreciation, here are some tips:

Learning to be grateful can improve kids’ relationships, ability to empathize, & happiness.

 

1. Set an example. Kids learn a lot from watching their parents. Show them what it means to be grateful by offering a genuine “thank you!” to a waitress who serves your food, a helpful neighbor, someone who holds the door open for you. But don’t stop there — include your kids, too. Thanking children for doing things that are helpful, even when they are chores like putting away toys, reinforces the behavior and lets them know they’re appreciated.

2. Point out generosity. Call attention to it when people (including your kids!) do things that go beyond what’s expected — helping without being asked, being especially thoughtful, or taking extra time to do something because it’s important to someone else. Send the message that you will notice if they knock themselves out for you, or for someone else.

3. Have a talk. For some kids, especially young children or those who have trouble understanding emotions, it can help to have a talk about how showing appreciation makes other people feel. Try asking your child how he feels when people say thank you to him for doing something nice, and then how he feels when they don’t. Going over his own feelings will help him understand how his behavior affects others and make it easier for him to understand the emotional benefits of being grateful.

4. Find fun ways to say thanks. There are lots of ways to show gratitude. If your child isn’t comfortable talking to strangers or has a hard time expressing herself in writing, work together to come up with a different way for her to show her appreciation. She could try giving a smile or a thumbs up if someone holds the door, or show grandma how much she loves her new coat by drawing a thank you picture (or taking a smiling selfie!) instead of writing a card.

5. Share the love. Encourage kids to think of people who help them, from coaches to neighbors to the local firemen, and say thanks with cookies or cupcakes. Making them and giving them are fun, and they help kids see how connected we all are.

6. Put things in perspective. Talk to your kids about those who are less fortunate. Don’t scare them, but don’t keep them in the dark either. Understanding that not everyone has the same advantages will help them develop compassion for others and gratitude for their own privileges.

7. Let kids choose. Encourage kids to turn their interests into action. Whether it’s a fundraising drive at school, a bake sale, or a run for charity, expressing her interests and using her skills for a good cause is a great way to boost her confidence and give her a chance to give back at the same time.

8. Get involved. If kids are too young to go alone or aren’t comfortable dealing with strangers solo, make giving back a family affair. Find places where you can volunteer together or let your child choose a charity to donate to. Giving and gratitude go hand in hand, and doing it as a family will bring everyone closer and help you make some great memories.

9. Make gratitude part of bedtime. When you tuck him in at night, ask your child to tell you three things he’s grateful for. Even if he’s had a bad day it will help him—and you—end each day on a positive note.

10. Give kids credit. Be mindful of the fact that your child may have her own way of expressing gratitude, even if it doesn’t fit your expectations. Different kids communicate in different ways. For example, your child may be more comfortable giving a hug than a verbal thank you, or might show her appreciation by helping out around the house or drawing you a picture. Tuning in to your child’s unique way of being thankful will let her know that even as she’s learning new ways to give back, you see and appreciate the thoughtful person she already is.

-Article from www.childmind.org