Education for Peace

Montessori philosophy is based on the concept that humans are evolving toward a peaceful way of life in relation to all things. Many of the small things we do in the classroom every day are aimed at this goal. Etiquette, respect for the work of others, using words to solve problems, learning to share and take turns with limited resources, respect for all living things and celebrations from around the world are just a few of the ways Montessorians work toward peace every day. We also turn games from competitive to cooperative and make up stories where the evil witch doesn't die a horrible death but learns to get along with everyone else.

Yet in our culture the children are bound to be exposed to violent actions. At this stage in their development it is very natural to mimic what others are saying and doing and adults should respect this need. We witnessed block towers repeatedly falling down in the weeks following September 11, 2001. There were also drawings of people crying and planes crashing into buildings. Though human civilization is slowly evolving toward peace, children will continue to witness troubling images on the TV news. Children need to sort out their feelings just as adults do and we respect this need by providing suitable age-appropriate outlets.

At home and at school we can set standards for the type of behavior we expect. Violent behavior is never tolerated at school, even if it's "just pretend". Playing super heroes almost always results in someone getting hurt. The preponderance of jumping, kicking and swinging motions that seem to arise with budding social skills around the age of four can be easily channeled into more positive activities such as gymnastics, soccer, dance, karate or simple imaginative games involving active but benevolent characters such as animals, community figures or athletes. Monitor your child's TV viewing or delete it altogether. Educators agree - the less time your child spends watching tv, the better. How about a family game of "Kick the Can" instead?

Maria Montessori was developing her philosophy of education throughout the World Wars. She realized that if humankind is to achieve peace, the children must be taught to solve problems by talking rather than fighting, to share limited resources and to respect other cultures and religions. She could not have foreseen the violence that plagues our society today but her ideas remain the obvious solution; if we want to see our grandchildren living in peace we must teach our children to live peacefully.

Montessori and Discipline

Maria Montessori's approach to discipline was based on the concept of "normalization". When the child is "normalized" or free of distractions and able to concentrate on the skills he is in need of practicing, misbehavior does not occur. Only when the child is frustrated or distracted does improper behavior occur. With this idea as a basis we have built our disciplinary approach incorporating the techniques of many other authors (notably, Jane Nelsen's Positive Discipline, Rudolph Dreikurs' Children the Challenge and Faber and Mazlish's How _to Talk So Kids Will Listen).

We start off the school year with very few classroom rules and add them as they are needed, often with the children deciding on what the new rules should be. Every rule has a purpose and every child is aware of that purpose. When rules are broken we employ logical consequences. For example, if a child is misusing equipment, the equipment is removed from her immediate use and the child is directed toward something more suitable. If the pink tower is being knocked about we direct the child to a hammering activity. If an Elementary child misuses work time he may have to spend some play time getting caught up. Rules are designed to protect the right of the child to work in a safe, distraction-free environment. While we are striving to provide a "fail-safe" environment, in which the child's self confidence is continually being reinforced by her own successes, we allow her the opportunity to learn from her own mistakes with as little adult interference as possible. When a dispute arises we ask even the youngest child to "use words" to tell the other child how he feels.

In the most extreme cases a child may be asked to sit apart from the group until the child has decided she can return to the situation with control (In contrast to "time-outs" where the adult decides when the child may return). Spanking is never a solution to a problem in child behavior. Spanking teaches children to hit. Reward and punishment teach the child to behave for the satisfaction of adults rather than for their own satisfaction. This sort of domination by adults very often results in rebellious and manipulative behavior in the child and low self-esteem.

Of course, every child offers a new set of challenges, but these are the general tactics we use in handling day to day problems. By the end of the normalization period (approximately 6 weeks) teachers, parents and students have hopefully arrived at an understanding of how each of our individual needs can best be met so that we can all spend more time on academics and less time on behavior management. The public libraries have many books on this topic. If you have a particular concern, please feel free to talk to any of us after class or schedule a time for a conference or a class observation.

Toddler Time

News from the Sunflowers and Tadpoles Classes

Self care and toiletting skills are a huge part of the toddler curriculum. You have probably already noticed your toddler's confidence increasing and she has fallen into the routine of coming to school, hanging up her coat, taking her shoes off and putting them on again. We allow plenty of class time so the child can practice these tasks at her own pace. Even the youngest children are following the crowd into the bathroom to work on toiletting. Although all of our toddler students are taking part in toileting practice, we've seen an 18% increase in independence at the JR Campus where children are wearing pants during class rather than diapers, compared to the PA Campus where children remain in diapers throughout the morning. If the program continues to be successful we will likely adopt it at PA next year. Thanks for your support of this new program, JR toddler parents!

The following are excerpts from the Summer 2001 edition of Infants and Toddlers, a Montessori journal. (Note: The author points out that cloth diapers are preferrable to paper from a child development as well as from an environmental point of view. We find that cotton training pants make the toilet learning process much easier for a toddler. G Diapers are another choice - more absorbent that cloth, but more environmentally acceptable than traditional disposables.)

Diapers and Toileting that Works: Follow the Child

by Susan Tracy, MEd, Montessori teacher, lecturer, consultant and parent educator, Palatine, Illinois

In the United States, in the last 30 years, cloth diapers have become a rarity. Coinciding with the widespread use of disposable diapers, toilet training has been happening later and later, often not until a child is three or four years of age.

In Montessori infant/toddler teacher education, early toileting is taught as a practical life, self-care skill. We observe the child's interest (a sensitive period) at approximately 18 to 24 months of age. My experience with my own four children, and hundreds of children in toddler classes, confirms this.

With all of the current interest in infant and toddler learning and development, new attention is being given to the early capabilities that they possess. None of this is new to Montessorians. Current research confirms what we have known for years: children develop their basic human capabilities during the first three years.

-It is best to use cloth diapers that are all cotton. Velcro or snap diaper covers hold the diaper in place. My favorite is the all-wool cover. It is very cool, soft, breathable and it repels wetness. One cover can last through several diaper changes, until it becomes soiled. The all-in-one type of cloth diapers (diaper attached inside of vinyl cover) are more expensive and not as breathable but they are even easier to use.

-Cloth diapers allow both the infant and the adult to notice wetness. The diaper should be changed promptly so that the baby's normal condition is to be clean and dry. Disposable diapers are so absorbent that the child is less aware that wetness results from urination.

-Change diapers in the bathroom so that the child learns where these things are handled. A changing table is unnecessary, expensive, and potentially dangerous. Babies like to move and can easily fall off a changing table. It is preferable to change the baby on a low pad placed in the bathroom. A gardener's kneeling pad makes this easier on the adult.

-Dump or scrape solid waste into the toilet. You are supposed to do this even with disposables. The baby learns where bowel movements should go; this is also a help with toilet learning. Put diapers in a diaper pail; no need to soak them.

-I wash my own cloth diapers every other day with mild detergent and run them through an extra rinse. Hanging diapers in the sun will help whiten and sterilize them. I do this instead of using bleach. A diaper service is still cheaper than disposables, if you prefer not to wash diapers.

-Diaper changing can be pleasant. We do it cheerfully, without giving the child negative messages about his body or waste like icky or stinky. Diaper changing provides the adult an opportunity to give some attention to the baby several times throughout the day. We can kneel facing the child when we talk. We can verbalize what we are doing.

-Give a baby or toddler some time out of diapers every day. They can be bare-bottomed or wear cotton underpants although it is difficult to find a small size. This will increase awareness of bodily functions, help with diaper rash and enhance freedom of movement. Babies can often crawl a month or two sooner without a diaper on.

-I recommend that a potty-chair be placed in the bathroom at 9 to 12 months of age. At this age, infants enjoy sitting on any little chair. They are just learning how to sit. At two years of age, they can switch to a big toilet with a step tool. Provide a diaper pail in the bathroom for the underpants and clean-up towels. Old towels should be available just for this purpose. They can then be washed along with the underpants. Allow the child to clean up along with you as part of the natural consequence.

-Provide clothing that allows independence: elastic-waist pants, loose shirts and socks, slip-on or Velcro shoes. During the toilet learning process, it is easiest for children to have no clothing over their underpants. Just dress them in underwear and shirt whenever possible. It is best not to go back to diapers at night or when going out. You can put plastic pants over the underwear at this time.

-Observe and note the child's elimination schedule. Notice signs with facial expressions or behaviors like hiding or grunting. Take the child to the potty according to these observations so he or she has some beginning experience. There is no pressure for the child to produce anything in the potty.

-"No" is a toddler's answer to most any question. So don't ask, "Do you need to use the potty?" Say instead, "It's time to go potty", or better, "We use the bathroom before we..."

Within a few weeks or months, a toddler can be using the potty consistently. The adult needs to be calm when there is an accident. We do not need to scold, it is a natural process and they are just learning to control it. Try to be matter-of-fact. The adult is prepared, talks with the child and provides the environment and opportunity for toileting. We are not forcing the child; we are allowing the child to follow his own interest.

Early Childhood Calendar

News from the Otters, Turquoise and Cottonwoods Classes

Work Period

In Montessori schools the activities are called "work" so that children will associate positive feelings with the term which will hopefully carry over into their adult lives. During the work period the children are free to choose anything they have had a lesson on. Teachers give new lessons, assist and observe. By now each child has had lessons in every area of the classroom. They are encouraged to practice each skill again and again as teachers look for areas of special developmental interest for each child. Much of the work period up to this point has been spent remembering to put work away, push in chairs, use "inside" voices and feet, use "careful" hands, use words rather than hands when a problem arises with another person, and respect the work of others.

Circle Time

We finish each class with a "circle" lesson including songs, calendar, weather and sharing (the opportunity for each child to have a turn to talk). At circle time we usually read a story or play a game. The first weeks of class were spent focusing on health and safety rules, good manners and the concept of "community" from the family to classroom, school, neighborhood, town state and planet. This is where we are with the circle lessons:

Monday - Music/Art
We have conclude a brief history of art this month discussing the perennial question, "What is Art?" We have talked about primitive art on cave walls and the Egyptians and Romans recording history through their art. We will touch on the Renaissance and Modern Art before we begin our "Artists of the Month" with Renaissance artists Rembrandt in October. We will try our hand at self-portraits, will learn a little about the artist's life and notice the similarities and differences between his paintings. If you have any pictures or books about Rembrandt van Rijn please send them in for us to share.

Tuesday - Time/Seasons
We have been enjoying the fall weather and looking for signs of fall. We are collecting leaves for rubbings, collages and collections as long as we have them!

We will soon begin the Thanksgiving Timeline which begins with the story of cranky King James of England and the Pilgrims' hope for a better life, and ends in six weeks with the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving. The purpose is not only a history lesson, but also to establish the concept of the passage of time as the story unfolds week after week. By then end the children will be telling the tale with little help.

Wednesday - Geography
We've talked about how the Earth got it's shape, what it is made of (in case the song is not yet running through your head!), the water cycle, and we are studying the shapes that land and water can make. The land and water forms we study include lake, island, bay, cape, gulf, peninsula, strait and isthmus. Look for these shapes in puddles or in your travels and help your child identify them.

Thursday - Literature
We've talked about the importance of books, parts of books, how they are made, the proper way of handling them and are working on our own books individually and as a class. Park Avenue Campus visits Story Time at the library while the Jeremy Ranch Campus group enjoys the bookmobile each week which helps to foster a life-long love for books and learning.

You can help at home by being a good role model and showing your child how much you enjoy reading. Reading aloud on a daily basis is important for your child's development of language skills. If you've gotten bored silly of Disney and Sesame Street, try choosing a book you enjoyed as a child that may seem a little over your child's head. As your child gets used to more words and fewer pictures you may be surprised at the level of books you can enjoy together. Try the original Winnie-the-Pooh and Mary Poppins books or just a few pages at a time of Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte's Web, The Secret Garden, Trumpet of the Swan, Stewart Little or The Little Princess. Older siblings will enjoy hearing these as well.

We begin our study of authors this month with Mitsumasa Anno. He is a Japanese artist with a strong interest in math whose wordless picture books can be enjoyed over and over with new discoveries always to be found. If you have an Anno book to share please encourage your child to bring it to class.

Friday - Biology
So far we have studied the characteristics of living and non-living things. Moving, eating, growing, reproducing, breathing, eliminating waste and sensitivity are some of the qualities your child may be able to pick out as distinguishing a rock from a cat. The delight of a Montessori look at science is in moving from the world in general around us in for a close look at the details of life with discoveries as small as the parts of an ant. We progress through the year toward an understanding of how all living things are interdependent in the web of life.

During September we looked at those living things that are neither animals nor plants - molds and algae of the order Protoctista. We successfully raised healthy batches of mold and looked for algae in the aquarium.

In October we are studying Invertebrates. We have created insect zoos in class and are hatching butterflies at Park Avenue. Any specimens you and your child find before they go into hiding for the winter will be greatly appreciated. This is a good time to have an invertebrate feast of shrimp, crab, lobster, clams or oysters for dinner. Can you find any bones inside?

Outside Time

We spend unstructured time outside each day. We also like to take occasional walks to allow us to enjoy the seasons as they change. Going to the park, the fire station or the library is good for practicing field trip skills before taking the entire Early Childhood group to a place like the Tracy Aviary. Please remember that when we are returning from an excursion if your child sees you across the street or parking lot it will be a huge temptation to run to you. Please help us by staying out of sight until we are safely back on school grounds.

Early Childhood Events

In September we visited the Fire Station. We reviewed fire safety rules and how and when to dial 911. Make sure your child knows two ways out of his bedroom (is going out the window safe?) and a family meeting place outside. Have a family fire drill so everyone knows what to do. When checking into a hotel establish a family ritual of locating the nearest exit first thing and then checking the smoke detector. Make a jingle out of your address and phone number so even the youngest child can sing it. Decide which neighbors to go to for help. In an emergency your child may be able to help you out of trouble!

The good ladies from "Prevent Blindness Utah" will be at the Jeremy Ranch Campus on November 14th and Park Avenue Campus on November15th. All students over the age of 3 will be screened for amblyopia. If there are any concerns about your child's vision you will be notified.

All Early Childhood students will be taking a field trip to the Osguthorpe (McPolin) Barn to enjoy the signs of fall. JR Campus will go from 9:00 - 11:00 on Wednesday, October 12th. PA Campus will go on Thursday, October 13th from 9:00 - 11:00. Please make sure all students are at school by 9:00 am wearing their Soaring Wings t-shirts. If you don't already have one or if you need to trade in for a larger size, let your child's teacher know. Your first shirt is free, extras are $10. Please let us know if your child cannot attend. We will need lots of parent volunteer drivers. Drivers should bring the following: water bottle, first aid kit, change of pants and a cell phone. See the driver signup sheets on the classroom doors. It will be a fun fall outing!

Halloween parties will be Monday October 31st. Early Childhood students will experience "The Party Day". There are three of these special days built into the school calendar - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. For EC classes in particular we strive to create an exercise in "How to Have a Healthy Celebration", avoiding sugar and mayhem and incorporating an appropriate lesson. A lot of time, effort and thought goes into the preparations for each party; we want to provide opportunities to celebrate through cooking, crafts, storytelling, song and dance. The youngest children are often unsure about the change in routine and it may be Valentine's Day before they are comfortable with the party concept. Our goal is for each child to grow up with a sense that celebration does not necessarily include overindulgence.

For the 3- to 6-year-old child, Halloween provides a great opportunity to experiment with what is real and what is not, what is scary and why, and the role-playing that goes with dressing up. Early Childhood students may wear a costume (No candy, weapons, bloody or grotesque costumes, please!) to the party and we will have signups for necessary goodies. EC parties will be from 9:30 am until noon (classes are closed until 9:30 for preparation) . This schedule allows the teachers time for special preparation, and allows the children just the right amount of time to celebrate. Enrichment and Prep students have an optional noon pick-up on this day. Please let your child's teacher know whether or not your child will be in class that afternoon.

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Elementary Update

Eagle's Nest Upper Elementary &

Moose Tracks Lower Elementary News

Constructive Spelling
When children are just beginning to enjoy their newfound ability to write, we must be careful not to discourage their attempts. Remember how it felt to get a corrected paper back from the teacher dripping with red ink? For this reason we carefully consider the child's abilities and encourage him to make his best attempt at writing on his own. An emergent reader does not yet know all of the bizarre spelling rules of the English language. We want him to enjoy the thrill of written communication and work on those spelling rules as his skills allow. The Elementary student learns to use the dictionary often. Grammar lessons expose him to a wide variety of words and their meanings and spellings. When working at home with your child, encourage him to sound out words and explain, "In this word 'c' says 's' instead of 'k'". Make sure you have a good dictionary available, and above all, read, read, read!

Monday - History
This month the elementary class brings the study of the history of the Earth down to a focus on the USA in general and Utah in particular. We will spend some Mondays in October on book reports.

Tuesday - Geography
In October we will wrap up our study of Functional Geography and switch gears by extending our morning language studies into the afternoon with a look at poetry.

Wednesday - Healthy Lifestyles
We will take advantage of any lingering warm weather to wrap up game skills, culminating in a game of Capture the Flag - with parents! Please meet us on the North Field at 11:30 on October 19th and be ready to run!

Thursday - Botany
We will focus on Botany this month, including botanical nomenclature and collecting fall leaves.

Friday - Field Trips
October 7th - Eagle's Nest will leave at 8:30 am for the Golden Spike National Monument to complement our studies of Utah's history. Moose Tracks will trek to the Kimball Art Center in the afternoon.

October 14th - Moose Tracks and Eagle's Nest Classes will travel to This is the Place Monument to bring Utah history from abstract stories to concrete experience.

Spanish
Courtney has taken us through a review of vocabulary and is beginning to add phrases as we transition into immersion style Spanish. We are conscientious about introducing new concepts in English and being sure each child is proficient in reading and writing English before being asked to do so in Spanish. Courtney will then follow up in Spanish as the children become ready to broaden their skills. Gracias, Courtney!

Halloween Party
We will have a party and dance on Monday October 31st from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Students may bring costumes to change into. No candy, weapons, bloody or grotesque costumes, please! See the party sign-up on the classroom doors. Early pick-up at 3:00 pm!

Happy Campers!
Thanks to all of our happy camping Eagle's Nest and Moose Tracks parents for their support of our Fall Family Campout. We had a wonderful time in the woods together! Teachers and students gained much from the team building and group projects and we all appreciated your help and team spirit.

Mark Your Calendar

October 4th...
Speech and hearing testing at both campuses - look for information to come home soon.Please return the completed form and fee by Monday October 3rd if you want to have you child tested.

October 11th...
Back-to-School Night at both campuses 6:00 - 7:30pm. All families are invited for a slide show and lesson by your student!

October 12th...
Happy Birthday, Libby!

October 19th...
Noon dismissal for all classes.

Octoer 20th - 21st...
No school. Fall Break.

October 28th & November 4th ...
Parent/Teacher Conferences. No school. Sign up for a conference time with your child's teacher. No students, please. We encourage you to arrange with those signed up before or after your conference to watch children in the hall. Please do not leave children unattended.

October 27th...
Fall Food Drive to benefit Adopt-a-Native Elder begins

October 12th...
Jeremy Ranch Campus Early Childhood fall field trip to the Osguthorpe (McPolin) Farm 9:00 - 11:00 am. Drivers are needed. Students will need to wear their SWMS t-shirts.

October 13th...
Park Avenue Campus Early Childhood fall field trip to the Osguthorpe (McPolin) Farm 9:00 - 11:00 am. Drivers are needed. Students will need to wear their SWMS t-shirts.

October 31st...
Party Day at both campuses:

Toddler students are welcome to wear costumes and enjoy special activities during regular class time.tNo candy, please!

Early Childhood Classes at both campuses begin at 9:30 am with special festivities until noon. Costumes are welcome. See class sign-ups for necessities. No candy, please!
Noon pick-up optional for Enrichment and Prep.

Elementary students are welcome to bring costumes to change into for a party at 1:00 pm. Early pick-up at 3:00 pm! See class sign-up for necessities. No candy, violent or grotesque costumes please!r 29th

November 7th...
Fall Food/Medicine/Sewing Goods Drive deadline.

November 10th...
Navajo Rug Show at Snow Park Lodge in Deer Valley. All EC and Elementary students will attend to present the proceeds of the Fall Food Drive and the PC Children's Fair. Let us know if you can help drive.

November 14th...
Vision testing at Jeremy Ranch Campus during class for all students over the age of 3 by the kind ladies at Prevent Blindness Utah, free of charge. You will be notified if there any concerns.

November 15th...
Vision testing at Park Avenue Campus during class for all students over the age of 3 by the kind ladies of Prevent Blindness Utah, free of charge. You will be notified if there any concerns.

School Bulletin Board

Welcome, Morgan & Cameron!

Warm congratulations to Sierra and rest of the Cobleigh family on the birth of new sister Morgan. Big hugs to Bobby and the Valaika family on the birth of new brother Cameron!

Baby Steps

As most of you know SWMS teachers are encouraged to bring their babies with them to school. Though many have preceded her, Tobianna was the first baby in the classroom in recent years. Our policy has been to support Michelle, our Elementary Teacher and Tobianna's mom,and our many other teaching moms however we can. As a result Michelle missed relatively few days with her class over the past eight years, students watched Tobianna develop from a tiny infant to a confident student, and Tobianna has an uncommon sense of self that we think has a little to do with being at school every day. We had always considered babies in the classroom to be the natural course of things since Duna began her teaching career 26 years ago with her son, Leith, on her back. An article in the November 8, 2010 edition of the New York Times points out that others a catching on. A program called Roots of Empathy was founded in Canada which centers on bringing babies into classrooms. The program has been implemented in 12,600 classrooms and has shown that the baby's presence "...teaches children to understand emotions and more fully develop their own inner world...There is growing scientific evidence that the healthier emotional outlook fostered by a program like this boosts students' learning achievements."

Safety at Home and School

We do a lesson in the Early Childhood Classes called "Safe and Unsafe." The teacher presents similarly packaged products such as drinking water, rubbing alcohol and spot remover and asks the class which one is safe to drink. Every time we do this just as many children pick the dangerous liquids as the safe ones. Other similar packaging includes pancake syrup and furniture polish, sea salt and moth crystals, Parmesan cheese and dish washing detergent. The lesson is, "Always check with a grown up before putting anything in your mouth!"

The week before school started the entire faculty spent several hours discussing safety procedures for every aspect of the school day. We reviewed procedures for earthquake, fire and lock down drills. We've checked our CPR and first aid training. The first several weeks of school safety information was reviewed with all classes on age-appropriate levels. We will soon conduct our first fire drill of the school year followed by earthquake and lockdown drills which should make for exciting dinner table conversation.

At home you can reinforce safety rules by making sure your whole family knows what the smoke alarm sounds like, two ways out of every room and where to meet outside in case of fire. Make sure your child knows her whole name and phone number. Children 4 years old and up should know their addresses as well. As at school, if a stranger talks to your child the child should immediately come tell you. Practice a family password, just in case someone unfamiliar should pick them up. Make sure dangerous chemicals are placed out of your child's reach and far from food items. And of course, seat belts should be worn in the car every single time you get in, without exception.

Most of us came to Park City to raise our children in a safe environment. With a little vigilance we can keep it that way for a long time.

Grandparents Day is Every Day

It's a special day when grandparents come to school. We invite all grandparents of Soaring Wings students to visit class where their grandchild will serve them tea, introduce classmates and show them a favorite lesson during normal class time. Grandparents are welcome to call to schedule their own Grandparents Day any school day. If you have not already given us your folks' e-mail addresses, please send them to duna@soaringwings.org or drop them with any teacher so they will receive notices of school events.

Vision Testing

All students over the age of 3 will be tested for amblyopia by the kind ladies of Prevent Blindness Utah. You will be notified if your child has any problems. Jeremy Ranch Campus vision testing is on November 14th. Park Avenue Campus testing is November154th.

Navajo Rug Show

We have been sponsoring a Navajo Grandmother through Adopt-a-Native Elder since the early 1990's. Grandmother Frances Bahe, travels from her hogan in Teesto, Arizona to the annual Rug Show in Deer Valley each November. Grandmother Frances raises sheep and grandchildren. She weaves and sews traditional Navajo garments. When asked how she spends her winters she replied, "Keeping warm." We look forward to visitng with her again in November.

The Rug Show is one of our very favorite field trip experiences. The Navajo elders, along with their children and grandchildren, provide a rich cultural showcase including lessons on weaving, grinding corn, string games, stories, songs, dances and a taste of fry bread. This year we are attending the ceremonies at Snow Park Lodge on November 10th. We will make a presentation of proceeds from our 2011 Children's Fair along with gifts for Grandmother Frances and the proceeds of our Fall Food Drive.

This year, along with the annual food drive each campus will be collecting other items that the elders commonly need as follows;

Park Avenue Campus - Simple medicines such as aspirin, Ben Gay, Vicks VapoRub, Neosporin, hand lotion, lip balm, sun screen, cough drops.

Jeremy Ranch Campus - Sewing supplies. Specifically, 5 yard lengths of cotton prints or solids for skirts, 3 yards lengths of panne or velour for shirts, thread, needles, scissors, pins.

There will be drop boxes at the front doors of both schools for donations. We will accept canned goods, dried beans, flour, rice and other non--perishables. Please bring your donations to school by November 7th .

Montessori-ize Your Home

We recently sent home catalogs from one of our favorite suppliers, Montessori Services. When you place your order for the child-sized tools that help your child to become more self-sufficient at home Soaring Wings gets credit for 10% of your order. This comes in handy in January when we are refreshing the classroom shelves. Just enter our customer number, 118924, on your order.

Another favorite supplier, Michael Olaf Montessori, is now offering a similar promotion. Until December 1st, we will receive credit for 10% of your order of toys, games or tools at www.michaelolaf.com. Just enter our school ID number, UTSW01, on your order.

We often hear parents remark, "If only we could get our child to pick up his things at home!" Check out these suppliers for the tools to make the system work just as well at home as it does at school. Any of our teachers are happy to come to your home to consult with you on customizing your child's home environment.

Losing Our Marbles

From time to time we find some small, vital part of an activity missing. Some of these items may look like nothing but may cost a small fortune to replace. If you find odd objects in your child's possession, please return them to us.

Dress for Success

Children should be wearing clothes that they can easily manage themselves. One of our primary goals is fostering autonomy. If your child cannot tie shoelaces yet, please provide shoes with buckles, Velcro or slip-ons. Also, overalls and belts with tricky buckles can be very discouraging when trying to get to the bathroom in a hurry. Sand, water and paint are generally available every day at school. Elementary students go on field trips every Friday which often involve hiking and outdoor play. Bring a change of clothes in the car for special appointments instead of dropping your child off with the admonishment, "Don't get dirty!" Remember, when we see your child come to school in an atrociously mismatched outfit, we teachers know you have done the right thing as a parent by allowing him to dress himself!

Ski Program

Moose Tracks Class teacher Michelle Aldrich is organizing a ski program for Wednesday afternoons beginning in January for 5 weeks. Students enrolled in Early Childhood Plus, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Classes are eligible. Look for more information to come home soon.

NO SCHOOL OCTOBER 20th and 21st - Fall Break!

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Soaring Wings PTSO News

SWPTSO is our parent/teacher/student volunteer organization that makes things happen! They organize parties, community projects and fund raisers that support our school. The following is a list of SWPTSO events for this school year.

September: Fall Fiesta - Thank you to Libby Bailey, Anne Weinrauch and all of the parents who helped organize a wonderfully warm gathering on a rainy afternoon at Park Avenue.

October - November: Fall Food Drive for the Navajo Rug Show Giveaway (food donations & support of our Navajo grandmother through Adopt-a-Native Elder) - Thank you in advance to Erin Martin, Tama D'Angelo and Leah Linebarger for organizing this project which means so much to our Navajo friends.

October & March: Conference Refreshments - Thanks to Jules Manning, Erin Martin, Tama D'angelo and Stevie Harrison for organizing snacks for the busy days of Parent/Teacher Conferences.

December: Angel Trees - Advance thanks to Lynn Chadderdon and Ann e Weinrauch for chairing this project to benefit the families at Peace House during the holiday season.

April: Yearbook - Michelle Aldrich and Kim Norman are planning another edition of the yearbook destined to become one of your most cherished possessions. Thanks, Michelle and Kim for all the work you are about to do!

June: PC Children's Fair - Lina Singleton is our Fair Chair, with Libby Bailey, Lynn Chadderdon and Leah Linebarger overseeing the Class Basket Auction. Fair 2011 was a great one, not only in proceeds, but in parent, teacher and community involvement. This is our biggest event, the proceeds of which go into our Children's Planet Fund, which are then donated to organizations chosen by students for their involvement in promoting a healthy world for children. Thanks to everyone involved for planning this Park City favorite!

A portion of Fair proceeds goes into the Teacher Enrichment Fund which enables teachers to get out to conferences, travel to observe schools and bring back great new ideas. Stevie, Leah and Lina will be attending the upcoming Montessori in the Mountains Conference in Estes Park, Colorado thanks to your support of the Fair.

These are the projects that remind students of how they can make a difference in their world. If you'd like to become involved, just talk to any teacher.

1. Camping anywhere in southern Utah

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Out of the Mouths...

"What do you know about fall?"

asked of the Cottonwoods EC (3 - 6 years old) Class at Jeremy Ranch Campus

 

 

August: The trees are red.

Molly: The leaves change colors.

Elsa: It makes me cold.

Nora: It's fun when my mom rakes leaves and then my brother, sister and I run into the pile!

Sean Patrick: Halloween is coming!

Rudger: The different kinds of colors.

Liam: I need to wear a jacket.

Van: It gets windy.

Haydenne: Picking apples.

Julian: You can get sick.

Maddie: My birthday is on Halloween.

Ryder: I like hot coffee.

Wesley: Leaves fall out of the trees.

Aidan: Apples!

Sophie: That the leaves turn different kinds of colors.

Daisy: It starts to get cold.

Keira: When the leaves change colors you rake them into a pile, then jump in them and drink hot chocolate.

Stevie: I know it's fall when I wear my parka in the morning and by afternoon I'm sleeveless.

Anne: Butternut squash soup.

Kim: Eyes itching, nose running.

Leah L: Football.

Lynn: The smell of woodsmoke.

Lina: Hot summer days and cool winter nights.

 

 

 

"What was your favorite part of our field trip to historic Main Street today?"

asked of the Eagle's Nest Upper Elementary (3rd - 5th grades) Class at our Park Avenue Campus

 

Tobianna: The Egyptian Theater because of the hieroglyphics.

Reyna: The Egyptian Theater because of the plays they have performed there.

Lauren: The Egyptian Theater and the hieroglyphics.

Jake: The old Bogan boarding house haunted by Lizzy.S

 

 

 

 

 

tevie:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!