Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Brickton Weekly, April 28th, 2011

Vivian My Happy Place by Vivian (Room 102)3rd Grade student, Vivian (Room 102), shared her love of Brickton in her following Creative Writing piece:

MY HAPPY PLACE
My teachers and the teachers’ assistants are very nice.  They help me when I get stuck in works.  Karen also helps in art or when we get here in the morning.  I am so happy that my Mom and Dad brought me to this school.  If my parents didn't bring me to this school, I wouldn't know my friends.  Heather R., Heather W., and Karen are my friends, too.  How many schools let the kids go to ice skating and swimming for gym?  I'm so glad that my parents can come on field trips.  This school is my happy place.

Accreditation Team Participation
As a school fully accredited by the American Montessori Society, our facultyHeather occasionally has the privilege of being a part of an Accreditation Review Team for schools going through the accreditation process.  Last week, Heather Rivera spent three days at Meadow Montessori in Monroe, Michigan, in the southeastern corner of the state. The community serves students aged infant through high school.  Heather’s job was to focus on the 6-12 community as well as Policy, taking notes, and reporting back her findings.  Here is what she had to say about her time there:

“It was a great learning experience for me.  I got to a chance to meet some really dedicated Montessori teachers who have a great passion for what they do.  The school was beautiful.  It had a farm, chickens, 3 goats, and multiple gardens.  The parents and members of the Board were wonderful to talk to.  Its nice to know there are other Montessori schools that exist that mirror the kind of support we have at Brickton.  It just reaffirms my love for and dedication to what I do at Brickton.”  

Spring Cleaning at Brickton
It's not too late to sign up for Brickton's Playground Clean-Up!   Lots of helping hands are needed this coming Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to put down new woodchips in the playground.  This is a fun event in which the whole family can participate!  Please bring your wheelbarrow, rake, and shovel!  Hope to see you there.  Contact Jackie Toro with questions at:jackie.toro@brickton.org

Scholastic Book Club
books Please remember to place your May Scholastic Book Club orders by Tuesday, May 3rd.  Online orders will be accepted until midnight!

Scholastic Book Clubs are a convenient and affordable way to strengthen your child’s love for reading while supporting Brickton. Every catalog has an exciting $1 book pick, along with numerous books priced under $3. Books will arrive in time for your summer vacation!

For every classroom order through May 31, 2011, Scholastic Book Club will donate $1 to the Pajama Program PJ’s for Japan effort.

Thank you for your support!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Brickton Weekly, April 21, 2011

Debbie Kelley Coordinates AMS Conference
DKThe American Montessori Society hosted its annual conference, “A Timeless Promise for Our Changing World,” in Chicago Wednesday, March 23, through Sunday, March 27. Behind the scenes helping to produce this colossal event was our very own Debbie Kelley. Debbie acted as the Local Head Coordinator for the conference and worked with the New York AMS office helping to make the conference a reality. Among her duties was the honor of introducing the Opening Keynote Speaker, Dr. Yong Zhao. Great job, Debbie!

A Peek Into a Children’s House Classroom (Room 107)
Each month, we are going to give parents a peek into one of our amazing classrooms with a slideshow of pictures and short videos.  It’s a chance for you to see what’s going on around Brickton.

Parent Appreciation Breakfast!
Parents, we want to thank you for all that you do.  Please join us for our Parent Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, May 5th, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in the Great Room.

New this year: Have to get to work and can’t stay for breakfast?  Grab a pre-packaged to-go bag with breakfast treats and a cup of coffee!

Summer at Brickton
summer1 Summers at Brickton are full of fun, field trips, and friendships.  Join us this summer for awesome programs.  All the information you need is online at brickton.org/summer.

Dates:  Wednesday, June 8th, through Friday, August 19th  (Closed Friday, July 1st, and Monday, July 4th)
Programs:  Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary (1st – 6th grade), and Discover Chicago (6th – 8th grade)

You can sign up for the whole summer or by-the-week.  Applications are due Tuesday, May 3rd.

Enrollment Form for Current Brickton Students

Enrollment Form for Non-Brickton Students

Scholastic Book Club—Stock up for Summerbooks Reading!

Be sure to place your May Scholastic Book Club orders by Tuesday, May 3. Online orders will be accepted until midnight!  Scholastic Book Clubs are a convenient and affordable way to strengthen your child’s love for reading while supporting Brickton. Every catalog has an exciting $1 book pick, along with numerous books priced under $3. Books will arrive in time for your summer vacation!   For every classroom order through May 31, 2011, Scholastic Book Club will donate $1 to the Pajama Program PJ’s for Japan effort.

Thank you for your support!

A Book of Compound Words
In preparation for her transition to the Lower Elementary program, Sarah (Room 101) recently visited the Lower Elementary classrooms.  While there, she was given a presentation on compound words.  When she returned to her classroom, she pulled out a similar work and got an idea to create a Compound Words Book with her friend Niamh.  They chose picture cards, spelled each word with the moveable alphabet, copied the word, and then drew a picture.  They couldn’t decide which one of them should have the original, so they came up with the solution to give it to the classroom.  Cheryl offered to scan the work so they would each have a copy to print at home, which they could cut apart and assemble  into a book.  Their “published” book is available below and on our website:

Sarah and Niamh’s Compound Words Book

Ice Dreams Tour Ticket Discount
Danny Tamayo, Marketing Manager for Fireworks Sports Marketing, has offered Brickton Montessori School families half price tickets to Ice Dreams starring Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir.  Proceeds from every ticket sale will benefit the American Red Cross: Japan Disaster Relief.

Go to www.icedreamstour.com and type in “johnnyweir” to receive the promotional price.

Friday, April 15, 2011

The Brickton Weekly, April 14, 2011

Manna Credits
We have issued $874.88 in tuition credit from MANNA purchase this school year! Remember that Brickton splits the profit from MANNA with you and you can apply it to your last tuition payment or use it towards any other invoice.  We thank you for participating in the MANNA Program.

Manna orders are due this Friday, April 15th, with card pick up on Wednesday, April 20th.  Order online with your personal code or pick up an order form outside the business office and turn it in to Dotty.

Teacher of the Month – Erica Lane
Each month, we will highlight a different teacher at Brickton.  It’s a chance for you to get to know the teachers better.  At Brickton, we pride ourselves on building the relationship between teacher, student, and parent.  We feel this is important to the strength of our community.
We hope you enjoy getting to know Erica!

Playdates in the Park
The Community Committee is sponsoring a series of gatherings this spring to provide opportunities for students to play together and build community after school.

Weather permitting, please come out and join other families at 3:15 p.m. on the following days for some fun in the park!

· Tuesday, April 19th
Grandparent’s Park
5445 N. Chester
Chicago, IL 60656

· Wednesday, April 27th
Oriole Park
5430 N. Olcott
Chicago, IL 60656

· Friday, May 13th
Centennial Park
100 S. Western
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Questions? Contact Cindy Degand at 773-458-3869 or cddegand @yahoo.com.

Join Brickton’s online community!
LOGO smallSubscribe to Brickton’s Weekly Newsletter:
You can have the Brickton Weekly delivered directly to your inbox.
1. Go to www.bricktonmontessorischool.blogspot.com
2. In the column on the right, enter your email address where it says “FOLLOW BY EMAIL” then click SUBMIT.
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“Like” Brickton on Facebook:
You already like us in real life; “Like” us on Facebook and make it official!
1. Go to our Facebook Page and click the “Like” button at the top.

Follow Debbie Kelley’s Blogs on Posterous:
Head of School Debbie Kelley keeps up with two blogs you’ll definitely want to read: Revisiting Montessori Education and Overheard While Talking to Myself.
1. Go to revisitingmontessorieducation.posterous.com.
2. In the column on the right below “GET UPDATES,” click on “Subscribe by email” and follow the instructions.
3. Now head over to overheardwhiletalkingtomyself.posterous.com and follow the same instructions.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Brickton Weekly, April 8, 2011

Brickton’s Strategic Plan
As you may know, Brickton embarked on the process of developing a new strategic plan over the last year. The process of developing our plan was truly invigorating. The thoughtful input we received from our faculty, staff, parents, Board members, and students (even if they didn’t know it) energized us and helped us define what we want to be and what we need to do to get there.

Our plan is a roadmap for the next several years that will help us achieve our vision – to be the independent school of choice in our surrounding community by delivering the finest quality Montessori education through continued inspirational teaching, a focused curriculum, and sustained operational excellence.

We established goals in six overarching areas that represent the keys to our continued success: Education, Community, Finance, Gifting, Marketing, and Operations. Over the next several months, we would like to share with you some of the key components of our plan. Today, I would like to highlight Education.

Our primary Education goal is to maintain our Montessori and ISACS accreditation and to offer a distinguishing educational experience to attract and retain students. To that end, we have established three workstreams:

  • Articulating a continuum of outcomes, aligning curriculum to outcomes, assessing outcomes and curriculum against state and national standards
  • Developing a Portrait of the Graduate that defines our mission and values
  • Updating our progress reports toward consistency across all levels
  • Creating a stand-alone document that illustrates the logical content sequence of our curriculum across all our programs (Toddler through Middle School)

These activities are not only critical to continuing to provide the highest quality Montessori education to our children, but also are designed to help us improve the way we communicate with current and potential parents.

Our plan is a living document and we are always striving to improve our school each and every day. My door is always open for anyone who wants to share his or her thoughts and concerns. I look forward to continuing to work with you and your children.

In peace and friendship,

Debbie

Prettying Up the Playground
It's Spring Clean-up time at Brickton! Please join us in beautifying our playground.  Lots of helping hands (children and adults) are needed to lay new wood chips on the playground.

When: Saturday, April 30th at 10 a.m.

If you can, please bring your wheel barrel, shovels and rakes.  Please RSVP to Jackie at jackie.toro@brickton.org.  We look forward to seeing you then!

Brickton’s Bowling Bash
bowling The Bowling Bash is Saturday, April 9th, from 12 to 2 p.m.  Fill out the form
to RSVP and turn it in to the main office.


New AED in Brickton’s LobbyAED
Thanks to grant money from the State of Illinois, Brickton now has an  Automated External Defibrillator.  The AED is located on the east wall in the lobby (next to the fish tank), just outside the main office.

Earthquake Drill
Brickton Montessori School will be participating in an area-wide earthquake drill, the Great Central U.S. Shakeout, on Thursday, April 28, at 10:15 am. 

earthquakeThree important steps which may prevent injury if you are in an earthquake are:  drop (where you are), cover (your face and hands), and hold on (to something sturdy) until the shaking stops.  You can get more information about the drill and earthquake safety procedures if you visit these websites: www.shakeout.org and  www.dropcoverholdon.org

World’s Finest ChocolateWorlds Finest
Thanks to all who participated in the chocolate sale.  The World's Finest  Chocolate is scheduled to be delivered on April 14.  Extra chocolate will also be on sale for those who forgot to order or those who just want more!

Paper Recycling
recycling As you know, there are large green paper recycling bins located in the east and west parking lots.  Brickton earns free money when the paper is deposited into these bins. A representative from the Abitibi Recyling Co. recently stopped by to explain that while we are paid $5 per ton for 3 tons or less per month, we earn $15 per ton if we recycle 4 tons or more. In the year 2010, there were several months when we were just short of 4 tons.  We still managed to recycle 35.87 tons of paper and earned a total of $308.15.

Please keep filling the bins with your old newspapers, catalogs, magazines and phone books.  It's such an easy and beneficial way to earn money for our school.