January/February Events:
January:
8th Site Council/PTA
9th School Spelling Bee
13-17th Galileo Assessments 1st-8th grades
20th After School Enrichment Classes Begin
23rd Prospective Parent Meeting (main campus 10:00)
30th and 31st Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences
February:
12th Site Council/PTA (main campus)
14th Me and My Guy Dance (main campus) 6:00
17th District Closed
20th Prospective Parent Meeting (FNM@Shaw) 10:00
21st Regional Spelling Bee (Go Savannah!)
25th District Track Meet at North High School (5th and 6th graders 9:00-12:00)
Dear Faith North Community,
“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” Gandhi
In the Montessori classroom and (hopefully in your home), emphasis is placed on using real objects. Glass breaks if dropped, a child learns responsibility. Sharp corners poke if you bump into them, a child develops self-control. Paper tears if tugged, a child understands he must be gentle with books.
The child in a Montessori environment is not punished or reprimanded for breaking an object, but the entire activity/material is removed from the shelf until the object is repaired or replaced. Because it is the only material of its kind, the child understands that his classmates will miss out on that activity. He develops a sense of social responsibility and accountability that no amount of adult talk can instill.
Here is a favorite moment from a classroom observation: a child approached a material that he had broken accidentally and which had recently been replaced. The boy looked at the pitcher and fragile glass on the tray. He knew how fun the activity was, but remembered what happened the last time.
As he lifted the tray and turned his body the pitcher started to slide—he froze. His eyes widened as he waited for the pitcher to stop moving. He resumed his trip to a table, unaware of the poise and control with which he moved his body. He reached his destination, lowered the tray, and exhaled largely. A wide smile of satisfaction and triumph covered his face, and he poured to his heart’s content.
Nobody praised his achievement, but then nobody needed to.
Susan Engdall
