Country Montessori School
Admin Corner
October 6, 2023
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.” “Preventing conflicts is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.” “If we are among the men of good will who yearn for peace, we must lay the foundation for peace ourselves, by working for the social world of the child.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
Upcoming Dates/Events:
- October 19 – Parent Education Night
- October 28 – Halloween Carnival
- November 2 and 3 – Parent/Teacher Conferences
- November 8 – Trot-a-thon!
Parent Education Night – October 19
This evening is devoted to giving our families an overview of the Montessori curriculum. Teachers from each of our programs will be demonstrating and speaking about specific Montessori materials in the different areas of the curriculum. Our Music, Art, Computer, Physical Education and Spanish teachers will also be presenting their curriculum as it relates to the early childhood and elementary levels. Child care will be available.
- Please RSVP to Susan at Susank@countrymontessori.org if you will be attending this event and if you will be needing child care no later than 10/16.
Morning Social – Thank You
Thank you to all of our families and staff that joined us for the first social event of the year, the Morning Social/Annual meeting. It was wonderful to all be together and a special thank you to our Owl students for working at the yogurt station. We truly appreciate your time and participation.
New Teacher
After a long search we are excited to announce that Alex Kish will be joining our amazing staff in the position of music teacher. He has over six years of experience, wonderful energy and full of enthusiasm. He will begin classes on Wednesday, October 11.
Halloween Carnival
We are thrilled that our traditional Halloween Carnival is being brought back and is on Saturday, October 28 from 11:00-1:00. Not only is this a wonderful family event, it is a special time for all of our students to wear their Halloween costumes as we do not dress up on October 31st. All classrooms will have fun Halloween celebrations and special snacks on the actual day.
The Halloween committee is already in planning mode for this exciting day. There will be a haunted house, carnival games, a jumpy house, treats and more!
Please keep an eye out for the communication regarding this event, parent participation will be needed and greatly appreciated.
CMS Trot-a-thon!
We are excited for our first fundraiser of the school year as it involves all the students. The Trot-a-thon will be held on November 8th. Mark this date on your calendar to come and cheer the students on! We will be sending out more information next week about how to get started!
For further information, please contact susank@countrymontessori.org
Parent Participation Hours
The CMS Parent Participation Policy provides parents and extended family members the opportunity to get involved with and support CMS.
Each family is required to provide 20 hours of service per school year. Single parent families are required to provide 10 hours. Families may also elect to pay $25 per hour of service ($500) in lieu of providing service hours.
Morning Arrivals
We are reminding families to please stay in your cars and wait for a teacher to come to get your student. Our arrival procedure is to ensure the safety of our students, to be as efficient as we can, getting our students to class on time and preventing traffic on Monte Vista Road. Thank you for your support and understanding.
Morning Parking Lot Procedures-Elementary Students 8:15-8:30-Use Curb Unless Full
- 1st level-5th level students-Curbside
If there is no room on the curb please pull into the parking lot to avoid backing up the traffic on Monte Vista Road-Please stop at the crosswalk and wait to be moved forward
- If your student is late and it is before 8:40, you need to drive through the parking lot. Your student will be marked tardy-Please stop at the crosswalk and wait to be moved forward
Early Childhood Students 8:15-8:30
Two Lanes in Parking Lot- Ladybug,Bumblebee and Dragonfly students-Please stop at the crosswalk and wait to be moved forward
- Please do not get out of your car, your teacher will take your student from the car
- Please take a right hand turn only out of parking lot
***If you have students in elementary and early childhood please use the curb drop off unless it is full please use lane 2 or 3.
Half Day Dismissals-12:30
Please pull up in front of the office. Walk to the front office gate to pick up your student.
Early Childhood 2:30-2:45 Dismissals
- Please use 2 lanes and stop at the crosswalk and wait to be moved forward and your student will be brought out to you
- If the parking lot is full please use the curb and your student will be taken to you
**If you have children in both EC and Elementary your EC student will be dismissed at the 3:00 dismissal.
Elementary 3:00-3:15 Dismissals
- 4th and 5th level students will be dismissed from the curb
- 1st-3rd level students will be dismissed in the parking lot using 2 lanes
- Please wait at the crosswalk until you are moved forward
Attendance and Tardiness
Country Montessori puts an emphasis on the importance of students being to school on time not only for themselves but for their classmates and classroom. All students should be in class by 8:30.
There is a grace period until 8:40 for our Early Childhood students to accommodate car seats;however we encourage all of our EC students to arrive by 8:30. This does not apply to elementary students. Daily attendance is taken each morning and recorded. Absences and tardies will be reflected on the students report card and we discourage excessive tardiness and absences.
Late Arrival Procedures
If your student is late to school you need to park and accompany them and wait outside the office in the enclosed area. Administration will take all tardy students to class at 9:00 AM. Please make every effort to have your student to school on time. This applies to both Early Childhood and elementary students.
Illnesses
Please do not send your student to school with any symptoms or if they are not feeling well and to be able to return to school their symptoms need to be improving. If your student has a fever, is vomiting, has diarrhea or is on an antibiotic they may not return to school for 24 hours and be symptom free. We appreciate your support and understanding.
All illnesses need to be reported to Susank@countrymontessori.org. Negative Covid tests are not required for symptoms; however please have your child stay at home for the following:
- Runny noses
- Wet cough
- Vomiting-Students need to be vomit free for 24 hours (without medication)
- Fever-Students need to be fever free for 24 hours (without medication)
- Tired/Not feeling 100%-We want our students to feel well while at school
- Diarrhea-Students need to be diarrhea free for 24 hours (without medication)
Parking
For visitor parking please use the spots in front of the school. The parking spots located by the dumpster are employee parking and certain staff arrive at different times of the day.
Head Injury Policy
In the event of an injury above the neck we will call the student’s parents to inform them of the incident and require them to come to the school and check them out and make the decision to take their student home or leave them at school. The student is monitored until the parent comes to school. If the staff member notices any changes to the student’s condition, 911 will be called and the parent is immediately called to let them know.
CMS Blood Drive
Thank you to all our amazing teachers and families who were able to stop by and donate to support the San Diego Blood Bank.