Notes from the Director:

Dear Parents,

May your New Year be full of promise for each member of your family!!  Congratulations to all members of the GO community for your contributions in making GO a vital, safe and nurturing educational option for our 107 students.

The New Year has many firsts slated for Golden Oak Montessori School.  Every school has some way of describing for parents how their child is doing in relation to the curriculum and activities offered to each student.  In a Montessori school, the teachers are assessing daily how the child is fulfilling his or her daily and weekly work plan which includes practice in math and language activities, journal writing, reading, individual and small group lessons in all areas of study and the follow-up activities related to them.

There are also special projects related to outside research, practical life activities, and community celebrations where your child’s initiative, ability to collaborate, level of independence, and respect of others and the environment are being developed and refined.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Montessori philosophy and method, we do not grade children with A B C D F, nor do we assign numerical grades to evaluate a child’s educational experience at Golden Oak Montessori.  The teachers do describe whether or not your child is making appropriate progress in every area and do write a narrative summarizing your child’s experience thus far at Golden Oak.

The teachers are currently working on written reports that will go out to each family by mail towards the end of the month.  Each family will get a booklet summarizing the content covered in the different academic areas — math and geometry, language mechanics and grammar, reading and writing, and cultural studies, which include, science, history, culture, and geography. 

An evaluation of your child’s progress in those areas is indicated by a P for Progressing Well; a B for Beginning to Develop; or an S for Strengthening Needed.   Art, music, Spanish and Physical Education will also be included.  Your child’s adjustment to the classroom and his or her behavior is also assessed.

The teachers write a narrative of general comments which may include your child’s learning style, his or her adjustment to the classroom, strengths and areas of improvement.

If you have any questions about your child’s report, be sure to call or email your child’s teacher to make an appointment.

I also encourage you to explore the website of Jola Publications.  They publish “The Public School Montessorian” newspaper 4 times a year, which you can read online at www.jola-montessori.com. This quarter’s articles are fascinating.  The website also has wonderful videos, books, articles and essays you can read about the Montessori philosophy and method of education.  It also has links to other Montessori websites.

Best wishes,

Deirdre