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
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Events for the month of December:
5th Picture retakes
6th Parents Night Out at the Duce
9th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Shaw at Herrera, 5:30
12th Bullying Presentations by NotMyKid for our 5th-8th grade students
12th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Herrera at Herrera, 4:45
13th Classroom spelling bees
13th Fall afterschool classes end
13th FN middle school students present "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the multi-use room at FN, 6:30
17th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Emerson, 6:15 at Herrera
17th FN Tax Credit Concert, Kindergarten-3rd grade, 6:00 FN multi-use room
18th FN practice spelling bee, 9:00, FN multi-use room
19th FN Tax Credit Concert, 4th-8th grade, 6:00 FN multi-use room
20th FN whole school spelling bee, 1:00 FN multi-use room
December 23rd-January 6th Winter Break, no school
“Peace is what every human being is craving for; it can be brought about by humanity through the child.” Maria Montessori
Dear Faith North Community,
As we move through the season of light and celebrations, I am thinking a lot about peace and what that means to us, to our children and to our school community.
Dr. Montessori was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. She spoke about issues of war and peace, her life’s work, the education of children and its potential impact on world history.
She believed that the way we educate children affects who they become. It affects who they are as people, how they treat others, what their relationship is to society, and the sense of responsibility they feel toward others, to the future, and to the earth. She predicted that these "new children," educated in a new way, could change the world.
Montessori calls us to respect the inner life of the child and as adults, to aid the emergence of the child’s personality. “To do so is to allow the true self of the child, of the adult-in-the-making, to unfold with dreams and vision intact.” When we do this, we save the child from the experience of forced adaptation to the will of an adult, an experience that teaches that the big guy wins and that peace is built around submission and resentment rather than mutual triumph and glory.
How are you bringing peace into your life, into the life of your family, into the lives of your children, into the life of Faith North?
Wishing you beautiful celebrations filled with peace this holiday season.
Susan Engdall
5th Picture retakes
6th Parents Night Out at the Duce
9th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Shaw at Herrera, 5:30
12th Bullying Presentations by NotMyKid for our 5th-8th grade students
12th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Herrera at Herrera, 4:45
13th Classroom spelling bees
13th Fall afterschool classes end
13th FN middle school students present "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the multi-use room at FN, 6:30
17th FN Volleyball Stars vs. Emerson, 6:15 at Herrera
17th FN Tax Credit Concert, Kindergarten-3rd grade, 6:00 FN multi-use room
18th FN practice spelling bee, 9:00, FN multi-use room
19th FN Tax Credit Concert, 4th-8th grade, 6:00 FN multi-use room
20th FN whole school spelling bee, 1:00 FN multi-use room
December 23rd-January 6th Winter Break, no school
“Peace is what every human being is craving for; it can be brought about by humanity through the child.” Maria Montessori
Dear Faith North Community,
As we move through the season of light and celebrations, I am thinking a lot about peace and what that means to us, to our children and to our school community.
Dr. Montessori was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. She spoke about issues of war and peace, her life’s work, the education of children and its potential impact on world history.
She believed that the way we educate children affects who they become. It affects who they are as people, how they treat others, what their relationship is to society, and the sense of responsibility they feel toward others, to the future, and to the earth. She predicted that these "new children," educated in a new way, could change the world.
Montessori calls us to respect the inner life of the child and as adults, to aid the emergence of the child’s personality. “To do so is to allow the true self of the child, of the adult-in-the-making, to unfold with dreams and vision intact.” When we do this, we save the child from the experience of forced adaptation to the will of an adult, an experience that teaches that the big guy wins and that peace is built around submission and resentment rather than mutual triumph and glory.
How are you bringing peace into your life, into the life of your family, into the lives of your children, into the life of Faith North?
Wishing you beautiful celebrations filled with peace this holiday season.
Susan Engdall
Monday, October 21, 2013
State of Grace
Maria Montessori believed strongly in thanksgiving—and not always in the usual sense:
"No object must be made use of without the thought that some unknown human produced it….Their effort and their sacrifice for us must always be present in our minds.
—The Child, Society, and the World
Gratitude is a fundamental part of Montessori. It begins simply with Practical Life lessons of grace and courtesy in the Primary classes. In Elementary "Cosmic Education" is the goal: educating students about the size and scope of the universe; about how many inter-related parts contribute to our food, clothing, lifestyle, culture. All modern societies and economies rest on a web of relationships with everyone willing to do their part. Community service is a large strand in the Faith North Middle School where each student does 100 hours of community service. As young people, they are experiencing the web of relationships that sustains them.
Gratitude and gracias both come from Latin gratia; the root being grace. Gratitude places us in a state of grace: peace, contentment, acceptance, and belonging.
Visitors to our campuses often comment about the peace and grace; the feeling of the physical space as well as the classrooms environments, seeing them as some sort of mysterious paradise. They merely exist in a state of grace.
I am so grateful for our amazing school community. I look forward to seeing you at one of the many fall celebrations we have planned. Check Volunteer Spot for your opportunity to be a part of our web.
Happy Fall!
Susan Engdall
Maria Montessori believed strongly in thanksgiving—and not always in the usual sense:
"No object must be made use of without the thought that some unknown human produced it….Their effort and their sacrifice for us must always be present in our minds.
—The Child, Society, and the World
Gratitude is a fundamental part of Montessori. It begins simply with Practical Life lessons of grace and courtesy in the Primary classes. In Elementary "Cosmic Education" is the goal: educating students about the size and scope of the universe; about how many inter-related parts contribute to our food, clothing, lifestyle, culture. All modern societies and economies rest on a web of relationships with everyone willing to do their part. Community service is a large strand in the Faith North Middle School where each student does 100 hours of community service. As young people, they are experiencing the web of relationships that sustains them.
Gratitude and gracias both come from Latin gratia; the root being grace. Gratitude places us in a state of grace: peace, contentment, acceptance, and belonging.
Visitors to our campuses often comment about the peace and grace; the feeling of the physical space as well as the classrooms environments, seeing them as some sort of mysterious paradise. They merely exist in a state of grace.
I am so grateful for our amazing school community. I look forward to seeing you at one of the many fall celebrations we have planned. Check Volunteer Spot for your opportunity to be a part of our web.
Happy Fall!
Susan Engdall
Friday, September 27, 2013
Events for the month of October:
3rd and 4th Parent/Teacher Conferences
7th-14th Fall Break
16th Site Council and PTA Meeting on the main campus
18th School Pictures
19th Parent Work Day in the Garden
25th Fall Festival
28th-31st Galileo
30th International Day of the Child
Hello Faith North Community,
The nip is in the air and I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief. The children have planted autumn squash that are growing so quickly! We hope you can join us for a work day in the garden on Saturday, October 25th as we further prepare the rest of the beds so that the students can plant and we can all enjoy the "vegetables" of our labor!
As of this writing our 7th/8th grade basketball team is undefeated with a four game winning streak. The games are so exciting and I believe that they will sweep the series. You should plan to attend one of the games, there is extraordinary talent. The next two games will be held at Herrera, October 15th as North faces Garfield, 5:30 tipoff. October 17th North verses Whittier at 6:15.
There are so many exciting events in our community this month. We look forward to seeing you at a few!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
3rd and 4th Parent/Teacher Conferences
7th-14th Fall Break
16th Site Council and PTA Meeting on the main campus
18th School Pictures
19th Parent Work Day in the Garden
25th Fall Festival
28th-31st Galileo
30th International Day of the Child
Hello Faith North Community,
The nip is in the air and I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief. The children have planted autumn squash that are growing so quickly! We hope you can join us for a work day in the garden on Saturday, October 25th as we further prepare the rest of the beds so that the students can plant and we can all enjoy the "vegetables" of our labor!
As of this writing our 7th/8th grade basketball team is undefeated with a four game winning streak. The games are so exciting and I believe that they will sweep the series. You should plan to attend one of the games, there is extraordinary talent. The next two games will be held at Herrera, October 15th as North faces Garfield, 5:30 tipoff. October 17th North verses Whittier at 6:15.
There are so many exciting events in our community this month. We look forward to seeing you at a few!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
September Events:
6th Back to School Bash, Bingo and Spaghetti, 5:30-7:30
9th Afterschool classes begin
11th Site Council/PTA FNM@Shaw campus
28th Night at the Ballpark
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great month of August, aside for the heat, the children have settled in and are enjoying work and community.
This week we will have our first community event, our Family Game Night with Bingo and Spaghetti. As I write, the upper elementary classroom is madly making 250 helpings of spaghetti sauce to serve us on Friday. The have figure quantity, disputed quality and chopped onions until they were in tears. It has been a joyful process to watch.
This week also heralded the beginning of basketball practice for the North Stars 7th/8th grade basketball team. We hope you will join us for a few games. Last year was a very exciting season with our own Jaran Whitfield winning MVP for the entire district.
The end of the month will also mark the beginning of travel for our middle school students. They will depart for their first of 3 land lab experiences to Sky Y in Prescott where they will take part in several personal challenges as they work through the many facets of their Heroic Journey Year. It is a fascinating experience for them. Perhaps you could take the time to engage one in a conversation about their plans.
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
6th Back to School Bash, Bingo and Spaghetti, 5:30-7:30
9th Afterschool classes begin
11th Site Council/PTA FNM@Shaw campus
28th Night at the Ballpark
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great month of August, aside for the heat, the children have settled in and are enjoying work and community.
This week we will have our first community event, our Family Game Night with Bingo and Spaghetti. As I write, the upper elementary classroom is madly making 250 helpings of spaghetti sauce to serve us on Friday. The have figure quantity, disputed quality and chopped onions until they were in tears. It has been a joyful process to watch.
This week also heralded the beginning of basketball practice for the North Stars 7th/8th grade basketball team. We hope you will join us for a few games. Last year was a very exciting season with our own Jaran Whitfield winning MVP for the entire district.
The end of the month will also mark the beginning of travel for our middle school students. They will depart for their first of 3 land lab experiences to Sky Y in Prescott where they will take part in several personal challenges as they work through the many facets of their Heroic Journey Year. It is a fascinating experience for them. Perhaps you could take the time to engage one in a conversation about their plans.
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Friday, August 9, 2013
Events for the month of August:
14th Site Council and PTA meetings on the main campus 5:00/6:00
16th Middle School to the Rock Gym
21st Literacy Night at the Burton Barr Library, 5:00-7:00
21st Zoyo Yogurt Fundraiser, all day! Just let them know you are from North.
23rd NYPD fundraiser! Just let them know you are from North.
26th-29th Galileo testing 1st-8th grades
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great start to the school year it has been. The children returned ready to immerse themselves in the joy of work. We all look forward to a productive and fun school year full of friendship and BIG work.
We will be having our first Site Council/ PTA and Parent Education meeting combination on Wednesday, August 14th on the main campus beginning at 5:00. Childcare and dinner will be provided. We will be sharing and celebrating our school report card. For the second year in a row, Faith North earned an A designation due to student performance on the spring high stakes test, the Arizona Instrument for Measuring Standards (AIMS). Join me as I share this data at our Site Council meeting.
Our first big event will be the Back to School Bingo Bash and Spaghetti Dinner on September 6th from 5:30-8:00 in the multi-use at North. Opportunities for volunteer hours are available at Volunteer Spot on the school website. We look forward to seeing you for some high spirited Bingo games!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
14th Site Council and PTA meetings on the main campus 5:00/6:00
16th Middle School to the Rock Gym
21st Literacy Night at the Burton Barr Library, 5:00-7:00
21st Zoyo Yogurt Fundraiser, all day! Just let them know you are from North.
23rd NYPD fundraiser! Just let them know you are from North.
26th-29th Galileo testing 1st-8th grades
Hello Faith North Community,
What a great start to the school year it has been. The children returned ready to immerse themselves in the joy of work. We all look forward to a productive and fun school year full of friendship and BIG work.
We will be having our first Site Council/ PTA and Parent Education meeting combination on Wednesday, August 14th on the main campus beginning at 5:00. Childcare and dinner will be provided. We will be sharing and celebrating our school report card. For the second year in a row, Faith North earned an A designation due to student performance on the spring high stakes test, the Arizona Instrument for Measuring Standards (AIMS). Join me as I share this data at our Site Council meeting.
Our first big event will be the Back to School Bingo Bash and Spaghetti Dinner on September 6th from 5:30-8:00 in the multi-use at North. Opportunities for volunteer hours are available at Volunteer Spot on the school website. We look forward to seeing you for some high spirited Bingo games!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
May 22, 2013
Dear Montessori Community,
As we close out this school year and plan for the next one, I would like to share changes in staffing and program configuration.
• Ms. GiHwa Hughes will be leaving to begin an internship for the iLeadAZ program where she will be working towards her leadership credentials.
• Ms. Rathert will be a stay at home mom!
Both of these teachers have brought great value to our children and their colleagues. They will be greatly missed.
Here are the staffing plans for next year:
Faith North Primary Teaching Staff: Ms. Marisa Punchios, Ms. Jodi Schramm, Miss Robin Miller
Faith North Junior Elementary Teaching: Ms. Wendy Silver, Ms. Leisla Church
Faith North Senior Elementary: Ms. Gina Roam, Miss Fun Chan
Faith North Adolescent Program 7/8: Ms. Jennifer Matthews, Ms. Shayne Sotelo
FNM@Shaw Montessori Primary: Ms. Denise Standage, Ms. Krista Whiting, Ms. Megan Trezise and Ms. Shaily Yogi
FNM@Shaw Junior Elementary: Mr. Chris Euzarraga, Ms. Paula Craig
FNM@Shaw Senior Elementary: Ms. Crystal Graham
Montessori Resource Specialist: Ms. Tonia Downing-Easton
Special Education Resource: FNM@Shaw: Ms. Yolanda Wheelington
Music: Mr. Robert London, services to both campuses
PE: Mr. Steven Larson FNM@Shaw Patsy Harvey
Program changes will include returning art to the classrooms and eliminating reading intervention pullouts. Ms. Church will relocate to the main campus to take a lower elementary position. Ms. Crystal Graham will move into the position of upper elementary (4, 5, 6) teacher at FNM@Shaw. Ms. Paula Craig will have a lower elementary (1, 2, 3) class.
Please join us on Monday, July 29th for Back to School Parent Night to be held on both campuses. This evening is designed for parent information purposes only. Children should not attend. Times are as follows: primary 4:00-5:00, lower elementary 5:00-6:00, upper elementary 6:00-7:00, middle school 7:00-8:00. Tables will be set up to assist you with PEER Club, bus schedules, PTA, Site Council and other school information.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me at (602) 257-4069.
2013/2014 class lists will be posted on May 20th. Class supply lists will be posted on teacher blogs.
Wishing you a fun and delightful summer. See you on the last day of July!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Dear Montessori Community,
As we close out this school year and plan for the next one, I would like to share changes in staffing and program configuration.
• Ms. GiHwa Hughes will be leaving to begin an internship for the iLeadAZ program where she will be working towards her leadership credentials.
• Ms. Rathert will be a stay at home mom!
Both of these teachers have brought great value to our children and their colleagues. They will be greatly missed.
Here are the staffing plans for next year:
Faith North Primary Teaching Staff: Ms. Marisa Punchios, Ms. Jodi Schramm, Miss Robin Miller
Faith North Junior Elementary Teaching: Ms. Wendy Silver, Ms. Leisla Church
Faith North Senior Elementary: Ms. Gina Roam, Miss Fun Chan
Faith North Adolescent Program 7/8: Ms. Jennifer Matthews, Ms. Shayne Sotelo
FNM@Shaw Montessori Primary: Ms. Denise Standage, Ms. Krista Whiting, Ms. Megan Trezise and Ms. Shaily Yogi
FNM@Shaw Junior Elementary: Mr. Chris Euzarraga, Ms. Paula Craig
FNM@Shaw Senior Elementary: Ms. Crystal Graham
Montessori Resource Specialist: Ms. Tonia Downing-Easton
Special Education Resource: FNM@Shaw: Ms. Yolanda Wheelington
Music: Mr. Robert London, services to both campuses
PE: Mr. Steven Larson FNM@Shaw Patsy Harvey
Program changes will include returning art to the classrooms and eliminating reading intervention pullouts. Ms. Church will relocate to the main campus to take a lower elementary position. Ms. Crystal Graham will move into the position of upper elementary (4, 5, 6) teacher at FNM@Shaw. Ms. Paula Craig will have a lower elementary (1, 2, 3) class.
Please join us on Monday, July 29th for Back to School Parent Night to be held on both campuses. This evening is designed for parent information purposes only. Children should not attend. Times are as follows: primary 4:00-5:00, lower elementary 5:00-6:00, upper elementary 6:00-7:00, middle school 7:00-8:00. Tables will be set up to assist you with PEER Club, bus schedules, PTA, Site Council and other school information.
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me at (602) 257-4069.
2013/2014 class lists will be posted on May 20th. Class supply lists will be posted on teacher blogs.
Wishing you a fun and delightful summer. See you on the last day of July!
All the best,
Susan Engdall
Principal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)