A Note from Ms. Kathy
Dear Parents...A number of prospective families visiting SWSM have commented on how invested, calm and reassured our teachers are with the children. My response is often quick and passionate -- "It's due to our Montessori philosophy, our school's mission and our families' commitment to their children and to this kind of education." These make an environment that fosters and nurtures confident, self-assured children.
Here children are allowed to stand on their own, taking small steps to meet and understand their immediate world. These are the steps that help them achieve a realistic sense of self. In a nurturing home and a supportive school, children can take chances -- sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing (unconsciously measuring what they can accomplish and what they can't). The Montessori environment is designed to provide enough structure within which the child can explore and discover on his/her own, reflecting when things get challenging or confusing, moving forward when they are easy and asking for help when uncertain which path to take. It is here the child develops at his/her pace -- sometimes more slowly and sometimes faster than the next child. Children thrive in an environment that allows them to measure their progress against themselves rather than against other children. Our staff is sensitive to this aspect of a child's development and growth. Years of this kind of education in a positive environment produce children who move on to the next level confident with a realistic sense of self.
As we approach the end of yet another year, we see our kindergarteners leaving for first grade with great confidence and pride. They certainly will be missed. The end of the year also brings goodbyes to friends that have been part of our SWSM family for many years. We've run out of children from the clans of the Pavlopoulos Family, the Duggins Family, the Karas Family, the Holland Family and the Pyknis Family. We will also miss all of our other families who are moving on. Please come and visit us from time to time.
I want to take this opportunity to say how much I have enjoyed working with so many of you during this time and thank you for your generous support of SWSM. Whether you were a sound or story mom, helped with a special project, maintained our planters, planted a garden, helped with fundraising, mended a broken work or joined us on a field trip, I thank you for your time and expertise. All of our children benefitted because of your generosity.
Enjoy the season and always make sure your children know they are the most important people in your life. Happy Summer!
Leave No Child Inside Month!
Visit the website www.kidsoutside.info/june and celebrate June, which has been declared "Leave No Child Inside Month" as adopted by the Chicago Wilderness Alliance and pased as a joint resolution in the Illinois General Assembly.
KidsWork Children's Museum
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is providing monthly programs at the KidsWork Children's Museum for children ages 4-10. These programs are offered the fourth Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The programs are free of charge and limited to a capacity of 40 children. The museum also is open free of charge from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on these evenings. Sign-up at the door begins at 6:00 p.m. The museum is located in the Trolley Barn at 11 South White Street in Frankfort's historic district. For information on the programs, call (815) 727-8700.
Upcoming progams include:
Nature Scavenger Hunt - July 23rd
For the Birds - August 27th
Prairie Wonders - September 24th
Reminders
Tuition payments for the 2009/2010 school year will be due on July 1st. A statement will be mailed for the month of
July only.Your child's paperwork -- parent emergency information sheet, medical forms and permission form -- must be submitted
to the office by July 1st. Every two years an up-dated medical form is needed to be on file before the start of the school year. According to the Department of Public Health, a child shall be excluded from school for noncompliance with physical examination and immunization requirements. Incoming kindergarteners are also required to submit proof of a dental and eye exam.