June 2013: Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

An update about happenings at West Side Montessori:

Spring Fundraiser a Runaway Success
Many thanks to everyone who helped to support our Decked Out for the Derby fundraiser in May. More than $100,000 was raised to support the school. Special kudos to Catherine Summers and her volunteer team who made the magic happen. The committee has created a brief survey regarding this year’s spring fundraiser. Click here to provide feedback to the planning committee.

Natural Playground Development
The grass is finally growing! A variety of hardwood trees have been planted. The Little House shed has been moved to prepare for a tricycle trail and sand play area. Plans are being finalized for a large hill to be constructed this summer that will provide many imaginative play possibilities for Children’s House students. Classroom gardens will be readied for fall planting. We’re making progress step-by-step.

Perrysburg Land Acquisition
The Board voted at the May meeting to purchase the corner lot next to Perrysburg Campus. This was the last available opportunity for us to secure the land for our future use. Generous donors are helping to make this unbudgeted purchase possible. Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to date. Our goal is to raise the money to cover the purchase price.

Development Director and Development Assistant
Today we are posting position openings on our website for Development Director and Development Assistant. If you know someone who meets the requirements and would be a good fit for the school, please share this information. For the past three years Ben Roberts has shared his expertise as a consultant responsible for securing funding and for construction of our new Bancroft building and developing the fundraising capacity of the school. Ben’s knowledge and persistence during the depths of the recession are major factors in our success.

Our Amazing Graduates
As we prepare for 8th grade graduation this evening and are thinking about each current student’s many accomplishments and future plans, we are also celebrating the success of our 2009 graduates who are moving on to college in the fall. Parents often ask, “What happens after Montessori?” Here is a snapshot four years out:

• Kristin Darah – National Merit Commended Scholar, Sylvania Southview, will attend The Ohio State University to study finance
• Anna Davies – Honor student at St. Ursula Academy, will attend The College of Wooster for International Studies and then plans to go to medical school to become a pediatrician
• Carolina Fidler – International Baccalaureate graduate, Notre Dame Academy, will attend the University of Illinois honors program to study chemical engineering
• Parker Hack – St. John’s Jesuit, will attend The Ohio State University to study in the Scholars: Sports and Wellness Program
• Sachin Jindal – St. John’s Jesuit, will attend The Ohio State University
• Madeline Kaplan –Salutatorian and International Baccalaureate graduate, Notre Dame Academy, will attend Yale University to study history or American Studies
• Kelsey Laurerer – National Honor Society, Hilton Head Prep School, will attend Santa Barbara City College and then transfer to the University of California
• Beth Ann Less – Valedictorian, St. Ursula Academy, will attend the University of Michigan to study engineering
• Daniel Miller – creative writing honors graduate, Western Reserve Academy, will attend Knox College to study creative writing
• Priyanka Pitroda – Honor student and Mock Trial competitor at Sylvania Southview, will attend The Ohio State University to study biological sciences
• Rachel Reeves – St. Ursula Academy, will attend The Ohio State University to study business
• Matt Riordan – St. John’s Jesuit, will attend George Washington University to study business
• Tommy Sandwisch – St. John’s Jesuit, will attend The Ohio State University to study pre-medicine
• Allison Sheehan – co-captain rowing and swim teams, St. Ursula Academy, will attend the University of Michigan to study business
• Victoria Sidell – St. Ursula Academy, will attend Texas Christian University
• Jacob Sigman – National Merit Commended Scholar, St. John’s Jesuit, will attend the University of Michigan to study international relations
• Molly Wheeler – Salutatorian, Sylvania Northview, will attend Ohio Northern University to study pharmacy

Summer Plans
There will be plenty of action at West Side this summer with summer camp in full swing, renovations to accommodate the new Upper Elementary classroom, and continued outdoor improvements. Have a safe and fun-filled summer.

I look forward to seeing everyone in the fall.

Decked Out For The Derby!

Posted by westadmin

We’re out of the starting gate and heading into the first turn as we settle into our sparkling new facilities on the Toledo Campus. The children, teachers, and administrative team are beginning to implement possibilities open to us in our beautiful purpose-built facilities on our own 37-acre campus.

One of the most successful design elements of the new school is the observation windows into each classroom.  Parents feel comfortable “hanging out” in the hallways as long as they like without disturbing classroom routines.  What a lovely way for parents to develop an understanding of how and why Montessori education is so powerful!

One ambitious and highly anticipated aspect of the Toledo Campus development is the natural playground designed for The Little House and Children’s House children that will cover the 30,000 square foot fenced area. The master plan includes gardens, playing fields, climbing hills, sand and water features, embankment slides, and “caves”for climbing, running, jumping, balancing, and more. This past fall as a first step we installed outdoor grass-pave patios outlined by large boulders that surround the classroom porches. The porches and patios were used extensively throughout the fall. This spring and summer we plan to start building the hills and climbing/sliding features imbedded in them.  This phase of the natural playground development will cost approximately $50,000. Designated funds from the Coming Together Campaign and Annual Enhancement Fund as well as on-going fundraising will be used to implement the full playground design over the next few years.

Lower elementary students currently play in the space between the East and West buildings where the Phase 3 development (gymnasium/convocation, arts, kitchen, classroom) will be located. They also use the upper elementary and middle school playgrounds that include swings, play structures, an outdoor basketball court, and soccer field. Additional outdoor enhancements for lower elementary students are also being developed.

At the same time, the school has an opportunity to purchase an additional 1.3 acres of land adjacent to our Perrysburg Campus that can be used for development of a natural playground and/or eventual expansion to the school.  Perrysburg parents are excited about the prospect and have begun to make contributions for the land purchase.

This year’s auction event will support development of the Toledo Campus natural playgrounds as well as the Perrysburg land purchase.  Last year’s auction raised $45,000 that was used toward phase one of the natural playground and Perrysburg program enhancements.

I urge you to join me for an evening of great food and great fun in a spectacular venue while we focus our collective energy on raising money to make West Side Montessori the best it can be. I’m betting you’ll have a fabulous time.

Let’s all Get Decked Out For The Derby!

Lynn Fisher

Holiday Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

Today, December 21, is the winter solstice and the last day before winter break. High energy and holiday festivities are evident throughout the school. Children’s House at Bancroft Campus hosted an open house for parents and friends, Lower Elementary celebrated with a holiday breakfast and craft activities, Upper Elementary and Middle School presented a band and ensemble concert this morning followed by our traditional ice skating party and a special luncheon. Perrysburg Little House children had pajama day while Children’s House students celebrated a Mexican fiesta.

This afternoon the Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School students gathered to learn a new song that is our musical gift to you and to all those we cherish. The music was written by Bob Schneider who gave us his blessing to re-write the words to suit these troubled times and send a message of peace and hope to one and all. Please go to our website, www.montessoritoledo.org on Christmas Eve to see the video of our children singing Listen to the Children.

Safety has always been a high priority at West Side and now, more than ever, we are aware of the trust you place in us each time you send your children to school. We promise to honor that trust with our careful ongoing review of the safety and emergency policies and procedures at school as well as our loving attention to each individual.

Our children are fortunate in many ways they cannot comprehend. Someday they will understand the impact a Montessori education has had on their lives and will value the sacrifice you made to send them to this school.

I wish your family a safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday break and look forward to beginning a new year together.

Warm regards,

Lynn

Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

A monthly update about happenings at West Side Montessori

Parking Lot and Road Widening Completion
The old utility poles along Bancroft Street are gone at last and if the sunny weather prediction holds we will complete the road widening, entrance re-location, and internal driveway/parking lot blacktop beginning this coming Monday, November 5.  Work will be taking place before and during school hours so be prepared for some tricky maneuvering.  We will have plenty of help on hand to facilitate drop off and pick up for several days.

The following weekend, November 10 and 11, parking lot striping is scheduled.  There are some changes being made to the parking areas that will be shared in detail next week.  You will receive printed copies of the plan and it will be available electronically as well.  Again, we will have plenty of help on hand the first few days of the following week to help streamline drop off and pick up.

Hang Up Before You Pick Up
We have been actively reminding drivers on our property that safety is our number one priority and is more urgent than any phone call.  Please park in a parking space, not in carline, if you need to use your phone.  Please do not use any electronic device unless you are parked.

Organizational Update
With the completion of the Campus Consolidation project, a long-term objective of the school has been achieved – to provide purpose-built facilities for all of our students.  Now we begin a new era of opportunity as the Board of Trustees, administration, teachers, and PACC all work to refine and develop next steps.

In order to help the school reach its fullest potential the school has contracted Ben Roberts as a consultant for one year.   Ben was initially contracted by the Board as the Campus Consolidation Program Director responsible for securing financing and supervising construction of the new school.  Now he is transitioning to work on institutional advancement including: increasing the size and community profile of the Board of Trustees, raising funds for capital and program enhancement such as the natural playgrounds, and supporting continued development of marketing to grow the enrollment of the school in order to maximize the new facilities.  Ben’s goal is to strengthen the organization and leave the school poised for excellence for years to come.

Opportunity in Perrysburg
At a series of recent coffees Perrysburg Campus families have been discussing the opportunity to purchase the 1.75 acre corner lot next to the school for future development.  With the construction of condominiums currently underway on two sides of Perrysburg Campus, this is the last opportunity to expand as the owners will either sell or develop the parcel in the very near future.  They are awaiting our decision but won’t wait much longer. Purchase of the property would give the school options such as a natural playground, gardens, or future classroom expansion.  The school needs to raise $60,000 in pledges and gifts by the end of December towards the total cost of $140,000 for the property, fencing, and fees, with the balance of the cost to be raised over the next few years.  More details will be available soon.

Immigration Day and Election Day
Did you notice the costumed middle school students huddled outside in the cold this morning?  The culmination of their ancestry study was an immigration simulation.  They had to face numerous obstacles in order to enter America including: heartless immigration officials, quarantine for various communicable diseases, shuffling back and forth between bureaucrats to get their papers in order, and for some, eventual rejection for alleged crimes and other inconsistencies.  The students experienced how scary and confusing it can be to enter America.  In their family research some students learned of relatives who sneaked into our country via Canada or South America in search of freedom.

Meanwhile, the Upper Elementary students conducted a presidential election with several polling places around the school. All elementary and middle school students registered to cast their ballots.  The students learned how elections are conducted and even experienced a surprise visit by the candidates.  Check out our website for pictures and election results. www.montessoritoledo.org.

 

 

 

Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

A monthly update about happenings at West Side Montessori

Settling In
Five full weeks of school have flown by with daily adjustments at the new consolidated Toledo Campus and smooth sailing at the Perrysburg Campus.  It’s been fun to see everyone’s positive reactions to the new Toledo Campus building.  Our librarian, Glenda, is looking forward to new library furniture that is scheduled to start arriving this week.  And I’m working with parent volunteers on finishing touches in the new building such as the tall trees that will highlight the crossroads area.  Some Middle School art students are restoring the 20^th anniversary bench while others are painting a large triptych scene that will decorate the East conference room. There are many little touches to come that will make our new house a home. It will just get better and better.

Natural Playgrounds
We have begun work on the natural playgrounds at Toledo Campus.  Surrounding The Little House and Children’s House porches are grasspave2 patios bordered by large rocks that are designed to be outdoor classrooms.  Under the sod there is topsoil, a plastic honeycomb structure, then a crushed stone base. This structure will support heavy use without the grass wearing out. The playground beyond remains a large dirt field that the children love but parents dislike due to dirt-covered children at the end of the day.  We will be hydro-seeding it shortly to help solve that problem.

There are many more features to come, such as hills with built-in climbing features and slides.  The ultimate design will provide an incredible outdoor experience for our children.  The playground plan will be implemented in stages as funds are raised through the Annual Fund Campaign and Spring Fundraiser. I’ll share the playground plan and get feedback at the PACC meeting tomorrow evening, October 2, at 7:00 PM.  We are also looking at the possibility of adding more land for a natural playground in Perrysburg.

Carline and Parent Pick-Up
Most parents have been exceedingly patient and understanding as we work out the new carline process in the midst of the road-widening project and parking lot completion at Toledo Campus.  Thank you.  The teachers, PACC, and administrators have been working on improvements and several will be implemented soon.  We have already followed up on PACC president, Beth Gensler’s, idea of creating an outdoor corridor between the East and West buildings so that we can leave the doors unlocked for a more free-flowing, parent-friendly atmosphere before, during, and after school.  When we seal and stripe the parking lot we will shift the parents’ parking area to make it more accessible and will mark crosswalks to improve safety.

East Parking Lots
We are allowing parents who wish to park in the East lots to turn left at the oak tree and, keeping in the left lane, circle around to the parking lots.  The East carline will continue as marked through the green cones with cars then keeping to the right lane in front of the East building.  Andrew Sautter will continue to direct traffic at the critical Alternate Merge points. Please, please refrain from cell phone use while driving on our campus, and watch for merging cars.

Road-Widening and Parking Lot Completion
The final stages of electrical and cable
shifting to the new poles should be completed this month and then the school entrance can be moved to line up with Apsley Blvd and the deceleration lane from west to east can be completed.  The turn lane from east to west has begun construction since last week. The estimated time of completion for the entire project, including finishing the parking lot, is three to four weeks after the old utility poles come down.  We ask for your continued patience during this final construction process.

Trevor Eissler Speaks to Parents
Last Friday, after Trevor Eissler’s Book Montessori Madness! A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education was sent home for parents, I noticed an upper elementary girl coming up the front walk with her nose in the book she had kept for herself.  Other parents report that their children want to read it also.  So, I guess Trevor speaks to both parents and children.  Upper elementary and middle school students are welcome to join the crowd at Trevor’s presentation in the Toledo Campus Commons at 7:00 PM on October 9.  Child-care is available for younger children with a reservation. Hope to see you there.

May 30, 2012: Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

Build It and They Will Come
This week the exterior of the new school will be finished as work continues non-stop on interior painting, flooring, and cabinetry. West Side parent volunteer Danielle Fisher-Snyder climbs high on scaffolding each day to paint clouds on the blue sky ceiling over the new library space. Corridors feel like winding paths that lead to “Central Park” where the sun will be painted around a light tube illuminating the crossroads. The myriad of details in process are bringing the new school alive. Teachers and volunteers are busy packing classroom materials in anticipation of the June move.

Coming Together Dial Down
Tomorrow evening, Thursday, May 31, West Side trustees and parent volunteers will make follow-up phone calls inviting families to join the many generous teachers, administrators, parents, trustees, grandparents, and friends of the school who have already donated or pledged $1.2 million towards the new school and natural playgrounds. We have $50,000 left to raise before ribbon cutting. Each dollar pledged or donated before then will be matched dollar for dollar to reach our $1.3 million goal. Every gift is valued. No gift is too small or too large.

May 8, 2012: Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

Build It and They Will Come
The new school is coming together quickly with rapid construction progress both inside and out. The pre-primary classrooms are being painted while drywall installation is completed in the rest of the building. We are on target for the big move in June after school ends. Classroom teachers are responsible for packing their classrooms and will solicit parent volunteers as needed. As you can imagine, the move is a massive undertaking with 36 years of accumulated “stuff” to sort and pack. Plans are evolving for a giant garage sale.

Coming Together
Meanwhile, we are continuing to raise capital funds through the Coming Together Campaign. In February we announced a challenge from several generous donors who committed to match all gifts and new pledges dollar for dollar up to $100,000 to complete the $1.3 million campaign goal. To date we have received $44,500 towards that goal including $7000 of the Fund-a-Wish raised at the auction. That leaves $55,500 more needed prior to a back to school ribbon cutting event. Watch for a letter that invites all families to participate in the campaign. Stewardship is an important part of the West Side culture. What better way to show your commitment to quality education than to help West Side provide the best education possible for our students today and tomorrow in our new purpose-built facility!

Around the World in 180 Minutes
Our annual fundraising event last Saturday night was a smashing success. There was lots of buzz regarding the beautiful Health Care REIT headquarters, fabulous food, and outstanding silent and live auction items. It was an elegant setting for the high energy party atmosphere. Over 200 guests bid generously and raised well over $50,000 to enhance school programs. Kudos to Committee members Julie Roberts, Nicole Nungester, Catherine Summers, Becca Gorman, Steve Summers and all the other hardworking parent and staff volunteers responsible for the most successful fund raising event in school history.

School Day Lengthened for Next Year
For the past 10 years Bancroft Campus has had a longer school-day than McCord or Perrysburg. The upcoming campus consolidation sparked renewed thinking about the length of the school day. We have decided to meet the American Montessori Society recommendation of a minimum 3-hour program to allow for longer blocks of uninterrupted work time for all ages. Consequently, school will begin at 8:30 AM and end at 3:30 PM. The half-day morning program will end at 11:30 AM.

Lower Elementary – Growth and Change
In order to accommodate the growing lower elementary enrollment, we have decided to locate Lower Elementary C in the existing Bancroft building in a spacious classroom that will match the size of the two new lower elementary rooms in the new building. All lower elementary students will have childcare, art, music, technology, and library in the new facility and French or Spanish in the existing building. In the future, when the next building phase is complete, all three lower elementary classrooms will be clustered together.

Lower Elementary B teacher, Yvonne Irizarry, will be retiring at the end of this school-year after a long and successful career as an educator. We were fortunate she chose to become a Montessori teacher near the end of her career and taught at West Side for seven years. Yvonne cares deeply about her students and is known for her high level organization skills and incredible work ethic. We will miss her.

Year-End Activities
We’re looking forward to the upcoming whirlwind of year-end culminating events including; the Lower Elementary Orff Festival, Middle School Dinner Theatre, Grandparents’ Day, K-Dub Run/Walk, Kindergarten Spring Sing, and 8th Grade Graduation. Check our website, www.montessoritoledo.org, for events, dates, photos, and more! If you haven’t visited the new website yet you are in for a treat.

January 2012: Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

Open House…..it’s not just for new families!  I hope to see you at Open House this Sunday, January 29, from 1-3 PM. 

Come take a student- or parent-led tour at your child’s next Montessori level.  There will be students in the Lower Elementary through Middle School classrooms eager to describe their work.  Teachers from  The Little House through 8^th grade are excited to show you their classrooms and talk about their programs.  Come and bring your friends, family, and neighbors – the more the merrier.

Build It and They Will Come

Have you driven past Bancroft Campus in the past two weeks?  Suddenly, the new school appears to be rising from the mud, a welcome sight!  The unusually warm January has helped things  to move along.  Foundations and underground work are substantially complete and framing is in process.  Trusses have begun to arrive on site. Check out our recent blog post for pictures of the progress at the following link:

http://wsmbancroftconstruction.wordpress.com/

Understand Me: Parenting for the one-to three-year-old

Our new parenting class is off and running, meeting on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – 10:30 AM.  Childcare is available during the class. The initial response has been great.  Topics to be discussed during the first 8-week session include: Tantrums and Anger, Independence/Dependence, Myth of the Perfect Parent, At Home with Your Toddler, Social Development/Sharing, Language Development, Importance of Routines, and Parenting Styles.  Anne Spenny, Admission Director, can answer questions regarding registration.

Ask a Kindergartner What Internal Organs Do

If you are in doubt about the function of your internal organs, our McCord kindergarten enrichment students can help.  Children wrote facts in their journals about an internal organ they had studied.  Then many had the opportunity to present the facts to their younger Pre Primary morning classmates.  This week Annika Slotterbeck presented her journal entry, “The Heart Pups Your Blud”, to the Yellow Room  class.  When Brandi asked if anyone else in the class knew a fact about the heart, Henry Cohen responded “Your heart is where we store our love.”

Competition and the Montessori Child

Montessori schools provide a peaceful, collaborative learning environment that does not promote competition for grades and test scores.  Parents often ask if our students are prepared for the competitive environment they will face when they leave West Side.  Our answer is a resounding, YES!

Humans are competitive by nature and the keys to success in any endeavor are high level skills and persistence.  Both are qualities our students exhibit in abundance.  West Side students participate in numerous competitive activities outside of school such as gymnastics, soccer, dance, and music.  The school also offers after school programs such as Destination Imagination, Power of the Pen, and Math Counts that teach our students how to handle both victory and defeat graciously.

Power of the Pen

Last weekend 12 West Side Middle School students participated in the Power of the Pen District expository writing competition in Findlay, competing against approximately 100 students from 12 area schools.  The 7^th grade team placed 3^rd and the 8^th grade team placed first in the competition.  Based on their individual scores, a number of the students will go on to the regional competition at Lourdes College in March.  Congratulations and good luck to our talented and accomplished writers!

December 2011: Letter from Lynn

Posted by westadmin

A monthly update about happenings at West Side Montessori

It’s been another wet week at West Side as we ended the wettest November in Toledo history. In fact, Perrysburg Campus was closed on Wednesday due to high water. And the Bancroft Campus construction site looks like we are creating a pond feature – not currently in our natural playground design! Fortunately, the low area is not where the new building will stand. Sunshine today was welcomed by all.

Build It and They Will Come

Weather permitting, the footers for the new Bancroft Campus building will be poured at the beginning of next week. The stem walls, frame, and exterior walls will follow. The shell will be enclosed before the floors are poured. The administration office renovation in the existing building is on target to be completed sometime in January.

Spread the Word

Marketing at West Side Montessori has been stepped up in the past 6 months with a series of beautiful postcards depicting young West Side students engaged in work. In addition, our advertising in Toledo Parent News will be more prominent in the future and I will write a parenting column for the publication beginning in January.

New Website in the Works

This fall the school selected Design Hub, a Saline, MI, company, to create a new website that will effectively market the school and provide a user-friendly and comprehensive site for current parents as well. The design process and content creation are well underway with a projected roll out beginning in February.

Meanwhile, the school has been developing a series of short videos capturing children, teachers, and typical work at each level of the school. Visitors to our website will soon have the option of choosing to have these videos and other information about Montessori emailed to them periodically.

New Parenting Program Planned

Beginning in January West Side toddler teacher Cindy Weiher will initiate a yet-to-be named parenting program that will include infants by next fall. Cindy has recently returned from observing a highly regarded model program run by the State of Minnesota in public schools that is designed to facilitate parenting skills. She has also attended a Montessori infant/parent training seminar in Chicago in preparation. We plan to use components of the Minnesota program and make it available to the general public as well as current West Side families. Watch for details in The Inside Story.

Middle School Practical Life

Montessori practical life activities for young children such as pouring, scooping, scrubbing, sweeping, dusting, and raking are well known, but what kind of practical life activities take pl ace in the Middle School? Come and see for yourself this Saturday, December 3, from 2:00 – 5:00 PM when the West Side Middle School students host an Arts & Crafts Extravaganza at Bancroft Campus. Students have planned, organized, and created items for the event. Additional vendors are included. Admission is $1. Items to be sold include; homemade pies, candies, jewelry, purses, woodworking, lacrosse sticks, blankets, original artwork, fused glass art, beaded stemware, and more. The students have chosen to donate proceeds from the sale to the Coming Together Campaign, for the new school.

-Lynn Fisher

WSM Head of School

Letter from Lynn Fisher, WSM Head of School

Posted by westadmin

Letter from Lynn

This is a monthly update to keep everyone in the loop about happenings at West Side.  I’m writing today from my desk in the hallway at Bancroft Campus where I’m camping while the old section of the building, the original ranch house, is being renovated for administrative offices.  For the first time in our history we will have real offices and space designed to make our work more productive.  There will even be a workroom where parents can gather for committee meetings and special projects.

Build It and They Will Come

Outside, the giant earthmovers are grading and compacting sand for the building pad.  Soon the foundation will be added and the pre-engineered building components will arrive.  After that, progress should be rapid and very visible.  We have recently engaged the company, Natural Playgrounds, to work with us to design an exciting outdoor play space.  We’ll share details as the project evolves.

Fundraising for the project continues with our Coming Together Campaign pledges and gifts totaling over $1 million toward the $4 million cost of the project.  The next 2 months will be our push to move the campaign forward.

Renowned Montessori Author and Speaker

Mark your calendars now for our fall speaker, Dr. Angeline Stoll Lillard, who will discuss her book, Montessori, The Science Behind the Genius on Thursday, November 10, at 7:00 PM at Bancroft Campus.

Her presentation will speak directly to the call for evidence-based learning.  Dr Lillard puts forth an amazing body of current scientific research that reveals how children learn best and how the evidence points, time and again, to the teaching methods developed by physician Maria Montessori.  Please extend an invitation to this event to friends and neighbors.  This is an excellent opportunity to bring guests to see what Montessori education is all about.

Program Highlights of the Month

The Lower Elementary students have embraced their theme for the year, Peace is in Our Hands, with numerous activities.  This week students in LEC wrote Peace Recipes.  The following recipe comes from the heart and hand of Alec Schoepf.

Peace Recipe

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of kindness, a pinch of meditation, 10 cups of connecting with each other, 4 teaspoons of respect, another pinch of sweetness, and a ¼ cup of sharing.

Directions: In a bowl mix kindness, meditation, and connecting with each other, respect, sweetness, sharing.  Put on the grill and peacefully enjoy a lovely peace burger.

The Upper Elementary Environmental Club is beginning to restore a section of our 36 acre Bancroft Campus to its natural Oak Openings prairie.  Students are currently identifying and clearing invasive, non-native plants.  UE teacher, Fran Pancoast, who is studying to become a certified naturalist, is mentoring the group.

Lynn Fisher

Head of School
West Side Montessori
Toledo, OH

lfisher@wsmctoledo.org
419.866.1931

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