Friday, June 5, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, June 5, 2015

Thank You Corner
Thank you, Heinz and Theresa Weiland, parents of Kaylee Ann in Room 105, for talking with the Lower Elementary students about having a fun and safe summer. Heinz’s summer safety presentation was enhanced by McGruff, the Crime Dog (Theresa!) Students brainstormed and discussed how to be safe this summer while biking, walking and swimming with their families and friends. The stress fidgets were appreciated!

Thank you, Dave Degand, father of James in Room 105 and Sarah in Room 100, for providing a presentation on Fire Safety for the Children’s House and Lower Elementary programs. The protective gear and equipment were very impressive to our students.  The information brochures, fire hats and coloring activity books are sure to be used over summer break!

Thank you, Shashana Chau, mother of Hanna in Room 100, for guiding the volunteer opportunity to pack meals to help fight hunger and give back to other communities at Feed My Starving Children. We are grateful for all the families who chose to celebrate the first day of summer vacation helping others!

Thank you to ALL the marvelous Brickton families for making the 2014-2015 a fabulous year! Your contributions of time, treasure and support are affirmations of the trust and belief you have in providing a Montessori education for your family. Enjoy your summer break and we’ll welcome you back September 2! 
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See you Monday, campers!
Welcome letters, supply lists, and field trip permission forms were all emailed to Brickton Summer Camp families. Monday, June 8 is the first day of Brickton ‘s summer camp. Printed copies of the welcome letter, supply lists, and field trip permission forms are available upon request from the office.  
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Congratulations!

Yesterday, we celebrated the Graduation and Promotion Ceremony at the Irish American Heritage Center. We proudly promoted students completing the Children’s House, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary three year cycles.

The graduates invited two guest speakers, former graduates Sean Arnoldt and Kira Barrett, to share their reflections and advice as the 8th graders head to high school. Our Middle School graduates shared their heartfelt speeches with us and Charles Martin, their Director had thoughts to share with them as well.   Copies of speeches are provided through the links below.

Sean Arnoldt, guest speaker, Class of 2013
Kira Barrett, guest speaker, Class of 2013
Mica Barrett, graduate
Julia Deane, graduate
Joshua Plier, graduate
Aisuram Romero, graduate
Diego Sanchez, graduate
Charles Martin, Middle School Director

To complete the ceremonies, our graduates were awarded their Middle School diplomas! We wish for them that their high school experiences continue to engage them, inspire them towards their goals as life-long learners, and support their desires to be responsible global citizens.  Bravo and come visit us soon and often!
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Volunteers Needed!
Each year during the spring and summer, Brickton completes several beautification projects from planting to painting with the help of volunteers. Anyone with the desire to improve the school environment is welcome to volunteer. The time you give to Brickton, whether one or ten hours, will be a rewarding experience.  Please contact Kelly McDermott through the office or email at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org with your availability.  Thank you.

Parent Alliance is looking for someone to help co-chair the Back To School Block Party wih Ivana Drazic-Cunningham (mother of Luca in Room 102). Planning begins at the end of June. Contact Kelly at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org for more information.
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Brickton Reads: A Fresh Look at Your Home Library
Reading Rockets provides ideas for taking a fresh look at your home library. Having interesting things to read at home is a great way to keep kids motivated.
Below are a few questions to ask. Simple changes can create an amazing home library and help your young reader get motivated for summer reading. 
Does your home library offer…?
  • A variety of books? Kids love to read all sorts of materials, including books, magazines, newspapers, and poems. Consider including travel brochures, street maps. Kids LOVE looking at Brickton Yearbooks!
  • Books written at a variety of reading levels? It’s important to have some books that are easy for your child to read, but it’s also good to have some that can be read most successfully with an adult or older reader.  Book Buddies are everywhere!  This balance enables your child to feel confident with some books and grow as a reader with others.
  • Some method of organization? Sometimes grouping books by topic or series helps your child find other books they might like to read. Grouping books using book baskets may help them find a book more easily than a crowded shelf.  At Brickton, students act as classroom librarians and organizers.
  • Lots of nonfiction material? Even the youngest readers love to read about real places and things: include photographs, maps and charts full of interesting information.
  • Lots of choice? Find creative ways to add books to your library. Playgroup book swaps, yard sales, and used book stores all offer affordable ways to add to your collection.
For a quick guide to choosing good informational books for young kids, see this article: www.ReadingRockets.org/article/26050

And for more information on creating a literacy-rich home, visit:www.ReadingRockets.org/article/c435
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Looking Ahead…
Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21
2015-2016 School year begins: September 2

Monday, June 1, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, June 1, 2015

Thank You Corner
Thank you Janet Contursi, mother of Zach in Room 106, for teaching our Kindergarten students about dog safety.  The students learned invaluable lessons, and the Brickton community is very grateful.

Thank you Lillian Degand, grandmother of James in Room 105 and Sarah in Room 100, for providing your science expertise for our students. In Lower Elementary students used hand magnifying glasses to observe red wiggler worms, and creating aworm compostingbin. In the Upper Elementary class Lillian discussed the science of observation. The discussion was further connected to the observation of flowering plants, analyzing them for their shape and form. Finally, the students used their artistic skills to document their plant observations using watercolor pencils.
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5K Shirts Available
A limited quantity of 2014 and 2015 Brickton 5K Run/Walk t-shirts in various sizes are available for $10. Stop by the office and see Kelly to get your Brickton t-shirt today and support Brickton at the gym or on your run!
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Mark Your CalendarsGraduation and Promotion Ceremony

On Thursday, June 4, we will celebrate the Graduation and Promotion Ceremony at 7:00 at the Irish American Heritage Center, located at 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago. Kindergarten, third and sixth grade students will be promoted to the next program level, and eighth grade students will graduate.
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Beyond Brickton: A Service Opportunity
Join us for this volunteer opportunity as we pack meals to help fight hunger and give back to other communities.  We will be participating in a food packing session at: Feed My Starving Children at 1071 National Parkway, Schaumburg from 12 pm – 2 pm on Friday, June 5th. Participation is free, but registration on your own is required.  Recommended for ages 5 and up.
REGISTER: Follow this link
GROUP NAME: Brickton Montessori School – Beyond Brickton
JOIN CODE: 644138
QUESTIONS?: Please contact our Parent Alliance Co-chair,  ShashonaChau, at writesc@yahoo.com
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Volunteers Needed!
Each year during the spring and summer, Brickton completes several beautification projects from planting to painting with the help of volunteers. Anyone with the desire to improve the school environment is welcome to volunteer. The time you give to Brickton, whether one or ten hours, will be a rewarding experience.  Please contact Kelly McDermott through the office or email at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org with your availability.  Thank you.
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Brickton Reads: A Fresh Look at Your Home Library
Reading Rockets provides ideas for taking a fresh look at your home library. Having interesting things to read at home is a great way to keep kids motivated.
Below are a few questions to ask. Simple changes can create an amazing home library and help your young reader get motivated for summer reading. 
Does your home library offer…?
·  A variety of books? Kids love to read all sorts of materials, including books, magazines, newspapers, and poems. Consider including travel brochures, street maps. Kids LOVE looking at Brickton Yearbooks!
·  Books written at a variety of reading levels? It’s important to have some books that are easy for your child to read, but it’s also good to have some that can be read most successfully with an adult or older reader.  Book Buddies are everywhere!  This balance enables your child to feel confident with some books, and grow as a reader with others.
·  Some method of organization? Sometimes grouping books by topic or series helps your child find other books they might like to read. Grouping books using book baskets also help kids find a book more easily than a crowded shelf.  At Brickton, kids act as classroom librarians and organizers.
·  Lots of nonfiction material? Even the youngest readers love to read about real places and things: include photographs, maps and charts full of interesting information.
·  Lots of choice? Find creative ways to add books to your library. Playgroup book swaps, yard sales, and used book stores all offer affordable ways to add to your collection.
For a quick guide to choosing good informational books for young kids, see this article: www.ReadingRockets.org/article/26050

And for more information on creating a literacy-rich home, visit:www.ReadingRockets.org/article/c435
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Looking Ahead…
Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4
Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm
Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 22, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 21, 2015

Gratitude Corner
Thank you to all who were able to join us for the annual Brickton 5K!  We got in some great physical activity while enjoying time outdoors and visiting with friends. 
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Peace Picnic

Pack your hamper with a hearty dinner and join us Friday, May 29th from 5 – 7 pm at the annual Peace Picnic at nearby Catherine Chevalier Woods. The Parent Alliance will provide the popcorn and bounce houses and staff will host softball and kickball games. 
We will take this opportunity to honor directress Kathleen Kasser as we wish her continued success as Assistant Director at her new school.  Come join the fun!
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Mark Your Calendars: Graduation and Promotion Ceremony

On Thursday, June 4, we will celebrate the Graduation and Promotion Ceremony at 7:00 at the Irish American Heritage Center, located at 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago. Kindergarten, third and sixth grade students will be promoted to the next program level, and eighth grade students will graduate.
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Beyond Brickton: A Service Opportunity
Join us for this volunteer opportunity as we pack meals to help fight hunger and give back to other communities.  We will be participating in a food packing session at: Feed My Starving Children at 1071 National Parkway, Schaumburg from 12 pm – 2 pm on Friday, June 5th. Participation is free, but registration on your own is required.  Recommended for ages 5 and up.
REGISTER: volunteer.fmsc.org
GROUP NAME: Brickton Montessori School – Beyond Brickton
JOIN CODE: 644138
QUESTIONS?: Please contact our Parent Alliance Co-chair,  Shashona Chau, at writesc@yahoo.com
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Volunteers Needed!
Each year during the spring and summer, Brickton completes several beautification projects from planting to painting with the help of volunteers. Anyone with the desire to improve the school environment is welcome to volunteer. The time you give to Brickton, whether one or ten hours, will be a rewarding experience.  Please contact Kelly McDermott through the office or email at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org with your availability.  Thank you.
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Brickton Reads

Summertime:  Make it a funnier time with word play.  All parents are delighted with the novel and refreshing way their children use, confuse, abuse and misuse words! We love this part of family life:  in fact, many family stories and pet names come from this very phenomenon. You can read more about funny word play here.

Recently National Public Radio came up with:   Do We Talk Funny?  51 American Colloquialisms.  Here are a few from the compilation:
doodinkus:  unspecified objects
whoopersocker:  extraordinary event
ish:  expression of disgust
laggy:  a little late
larruping:  delicious

Brickton students regularly invent similar words during their conversations at lunchtime.  Lower Elementary loves a good "homonym alert!” In addition to excessive reading over the summer, how about keeping the lovely daily tradition of mealtime conversation. Playing with words instead of food is a manners lesson. Here's some vocabulary for the launch: "Hey kids, tonight we are having burgers and polite prandial conversation!" 
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Looking Ahead…
School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25
Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29
Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4
Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 15, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 15, 2015

Thank You Corner

The Parent Alliance would like to thank all the families that contributed to making the Staff Appreciation Breakfast a success. 

Thank you ALL for the amazing Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday. What a delight to share a cup of coffee, have an individualized omelet, and indulge in fondue mid-week! Our gratitude goes out to all our amazing families for the food and monetary donations, as well as the preparation, and serving of such a wonderful meal.
Thank you for sharing your children, for collaborating with us,and for supporting Brickton Montessori School!
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A Note From Directress Kathleen Kasser
Dear friends,
As I write this to you, my heart is full.  Today I want to tell you that after 18 wonderful years here at Brickton, I am leaving at the end of this school year for an opportunity as Assistant Director at Park View Montessori School.   Megan White, my talented and esteemed co-directress, will be taking over direction of the classroom in the fall.
I have appreciated the camaraderie of the people with whom I’ve worked and the cordial relations I’ve enjoyed with parents.  The best part, though, has always been spending time with Brickton’s children, and those are the memories that seem dearest to me as I look back over the time I’ve spent here.
After 40 years in Montessori, I have taught hundreds of children as a directress and hundreds of adults as a teacher trainer. I am saddened to leave Brickton.  At the same time, I am looking forward to taking up this new adventure that life has offered me.  Thank you for your good wishes and support.
Yours faithfully,
Kathleen

Brickton will honor Kathleen at the Peace Picnic with a memento for Kathleen to remember Brickton and a second item to remain at the school for us to remember her.
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Brickton’s 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run • TOMORROW

Join us for a scenic trail run through the Catherine Chevalier Forest Preserve. The Brickton 5K was established to give a physical challenge to students and families while participating in a community activity to fundraise for the school. These funds augment the education Brickton provides for a lifetime of learning, curiosity and creativity. Registration forms are available in the office and participants can sign up at the race. If you have questions or would like to learn more about this event, please contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org or call 773.714.0646.
Race Day Schedule:
9:30 AM         Kids Fun Run
10:00 AM        5K Run/Walk
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Peace Picnic

Mark your calendar for Friday, May 29th from 5 – 7 pm for the annual Peace Picnic at nearby Catherine Chevalier Woods.  Pack your hamper with a hearty dinner and the Parent Alliance will provide the popcorn and bounce houses.  To round out the activities, staff will host softball and kickball games.  Come join the fun!
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Volunteers Needed!
Each year during the spring and summer, Brickton completes several beautification projects from planting to painting with the help of volunteers. Anyone with the desire to improve the school environment is welcome to volunteer. The time you give to Brickton, whether one or ten hours, will be a rewarding experience.  Please contact Kelly McDermott through the office or email at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org with your availability.  Thank you.
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Brickton Reads

To Slide or Not to Slide:  That is the Question.
In the great summer sport of baseball, sliding is exciting to watch. We wait to see players slide. But something villainous, also called the slide, is waiting for many children every summer, and some parents don’t even know it’s out there. 
"It's called the "summer slide," and it describes what happens when young minds sit idle for three months. Children who do not read over the summer will lose up to three months of reading achievement. Summer reading loss is cumulative. By the end of fifth grade children who lose reading skills over the summer will be three years behind their classmates." (Reading is Fundamental)  There are many reasons and resources for parents to keep kids reading throughout the summer and beyond: library programs, book clubs, audio books, and much more.  Parents need to prevent this slide. So make sure to keep your eye on the ball and keep them reading at home base!  Enjoy the slide at baseball games and avoid the other kind at home plate!
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Looking Ahead…
Brickton Kids Fun Run and 5K, Saturday, May 16, 9:00 –11:30am
Board Meeting – Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Club Day – Records Day, Friday, May 22
School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25
Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29
Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:30pm
Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4
Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm
Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21

Friday, May 8, 2015

The Brickton Weekly, May 8, 2015

Fine Arts Night

Last night Brickton’s Kindergarten through Middle School students shared their musical talents at our Fine Arts Night through song, band ensemble, Orff instruments and a drum circle.  It was a delight to hear our students’ celebration of musical creativity. Bravo to all the performers!
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Friends of Brickton Day & The Art Expo
We enjoyed hosting grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, parents and other special friends at our annual Friends of Brickton celebration today! Our day started with a light breakfast in the Great Room surrounded by student created art work. Guests then spent time working with their student host in the classroom, learning more about the Montessori method.

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Special Recognition Reception
Today we honored Karen Glab and the incredible impact she has had on Brickton as a founding parent, volunteer and staff member for 28 years.  In her honor, the school dedicated a lovely wooden bench for the playground and presented her with an engraved crystal memento to remember her years at Brickton.
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Volunteer Corner
Thank you to John Joyce for his assistance in helping us secure a new location, Bethel Community Church, for our Fine Arts Night.  The acoustics and venue were perfect for the students to share their musical celebration with family and friends.  We appreciate the time and effort of Dave Degand, for hauling our new playground posts, and Rob Arnoldt, who is tackling the arduous task of installing them to re-secure our monkey bars.
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Brickton Reads
Does reading Harry Potter have an effect on your behavior? Researchers have published findings that show Harry Potter readers demonstrate keen social perception, empathy and lack of prejudice towards marginalized individuals and groups. "It seems that Rowling might get at the beautiful, sobering mess of life in a way that could have a meaningful impact on our children’s collective character. Fantasy may be especially effective in assuaging negative attitudes."  In short, reading stories and narratives are a great way to reach and transform people from the earliest ages at the deepest level.  Check this out and then check out the books!
http://www.npr.org/2015/05/01/403474870/does-reading-harry-potter-have-an-effect-on-your-behavior
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Cecropia Moths at Brickton
Each spring, Brickton provides a cecropia moth cocoon for each classroom.  There are opportunities for related lessons from the lifecycle of a moth, characteristics of butterflies versus moths, identifying male versus female cecropia moths, and appropriate food sources for larvae, etc., as students anxiously await the emergence of their moth. As North America's largest native moth, these insects are magnificent to behold.
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Register Now!
Brickton’s 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run • May 16, 2015
Join us for a scenic trail run through the Catherine Chevalier Forest Preserve. The Brickton 5K was established to give a physical challenge to students and families while participating in a community activity to raises funds for the school. These funds augment the education Brickton provides for a lifetime of learning, curiosity and creativity.Registration forms are available in the office.If you have questions or would like to learn more about this event, please contact Kelly McDermott at kelly.mcdermott@brickton.org or call 773.714.0646.

Race Day Schedule:
9:30 AM         Kids Fun Run
10:00 AM        5K Run/Walk
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Looking Ahead…
Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Wednesday, May 13, 8:00 – 10:00am
Brickton Kids Fun Run and 5K, Saturday, May 16, 9:00 –11:30am
Board Meeting – Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Club Day – Records Day, Friday, May 22
School Closed – Memorial Day, Monday, May 25
Hot Dog Lunch, Friday, May 29
Peace Picnic, Friday, May 29, 5:30pm
Last Day of School, Thursday, June 4
Graduation/Promotion Ceremony, Thursday, June 4, 7:00pm

Summer Camp! Camps run from June 8 through August 21