Getting Ready!

Parents,

As we prepare to head back to school I'd like to point out a few important bits of information.  Please read through this entire post!

Our special on Tuesday is music.  On Tuesday I will also be sending home a document (actually, I'll be linking it here) detailing the student's daily schedule.  They have physical wellness on Thursday so gym shoes need to be school and in lockers by then!  (Please see me if you need assistance purchasing gym shoes or other back-to-school items.)

The student's back-to-school packets from the office contain several important documents.  Please remember that many of these are required by state law so do Mrs. Coney a favor and return them as soon as possible.  It's something you can take off YOUR checklist and she won't be calling you over the next few months!  :)

The Waukazoo PTA schedule was in your child's back-to-school packet.  We need Montessori parents to add their voices to PTA!  Please consider being part of the PTA.  The Waukazoo PTA is a vibrant organization that works hard to support Waukazoo and its students. 

The PTA is once again sponsoring a Fun Run/Walk Event.  This will kick-off almost immediately this fall.  The date of the Fun Run is September 30.  This is the only PTA fundraiser in the school and the funds raised cover many Waukazoo opportunities, including but not limited to:  Brainstormers, the Publishing Center, Discovery Days, Patriot's Day, the Tulip Time parade, playground equipment, field trips, teacher's supply budgets, and the Montessori 5th grade year-end dinner.

Waukazoo's morning and afternoon procedures have not changed since last year.  But I am once again appealing to parents to take advantage of the school bus system if possible.  The parking lots at school are small and easily overwhelmed at the end of the day.  If your child lives along a bus route please have him or her ride the bus if at all possible.  Thanks!

Parent Night:  The Upper Montessori parent night is scheduled for Thursday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m.  Parent night is an opportunity for new parents to get to know our classroom and our curriculum.  (Returning parents are encouraged to attend our new parent session.)  Please make every effort to attend this classroom and curriculum informational meeting; if you find that this night does not work with your schedule please let me know and we will attempt to schedule an alternate before or after-school meeting.

Finally, yes I have redesigned the blog.  During a movie on Friday night I sat down and changed a few things.  I have also added a Voki.  This was fun!  Students are able to make their own by visiting the site, www.voki.com.  For some reason she pronounces my name correctly on the Voki site but when linked to the blog she gets it wrong!  Please be sure to sign up for email updates, this is the easiest way for you to get classroom news and updates.

I'm looking forward to Tuesday, I will be meeting our class at the playground door at the end of the 4th and 5th grade hallway!  

Enjoy the rest of your Labor Day weekend.

Mrs. Perrien

Back to School Letter

I'm posting the back-to-school letter and the information about snacks.  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone next week!  Don't forget..our open house is Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.

Mrs Perrien

DeVos Children's Hospital "Learn"

I visit the DeVos Children's Hospital site every few days because I enjoy their quick articles and parenting tips.  Today's post is about a successful beginning to the school year, I recommend reading this article:

 Going back to school 2011

Photos from the end of the school year

I just discovered these on my computer!  Enjoy!!

Year End

Photos from the 5th Grade graduation dinner:

5th Grade Dinner

Parents-

Enjoy my all-time favorite back-to-school commercial!  :)

Back to School shopping

Good morning families!  I decided this post could wait no longer.  Target, Meijer, Staples, Office Max...their adds fill the newspaper, reminding us that back-to-school is really NOT that far away.

Ouch!  Wasn't it just yesterday we were putting away winter jackets, buying sunscreen, and planning our summer trips?

It is what it is!  Enjoy these wonderful August days; if you do so happen to feel the NEED to do some back-to-school shopping you'll need the following:

• Shoes (white-soled) that stay at school for gym class.
• One to 1.5 inch binder with inside pockets.  PLEASE do not buy trapper keepers--they are simply too big!
• One box of Kleenex.  These are donated to the classroom and pulled out as needed throughout the year.  We pulled the last box out in May last school year, so they really are needed.
• Index cards:  One set of lined and one set of unlined.  These will stay in cubbies and are pulled out for projects throughout the year.
• One set of thin-tipped markers. (Not required, but nice to have.)
• One set of snacks for the "forgotten snack" cupboard.  Please avoid snacks with peanut products.

Most other items are provided at school.   However, we would also appreciate donations of Orange Cube Cricket Diet (orange cricket cubes found at VI Pets), Clorox wipes, and a "green" all-purpose cleaner.  We would also appreciate a donation of a ream of wide-ruled lined notebook paper.

That's it!  If your family is unable to afford any of the items above, please contact me and I will make sure they are equipped for the start of the school year.  Otherwise, please check in at this blog every few days to see if anything new has been added. 

-Mrs. Perrien

Mrs. Art

“Every day is a gift.”  What is often an overdone phrase takes on new meaning when it is uttered by someone fighting for her life.  Two weeks ago I ran into Mrs. Art (Claudia Hayes-Hagar) while having breakfast at deBoer with friends, namely Mrs. Coney and Mrs. Sale.  We were three friends enjoying our time together, catching up on summer activities and events.  We were delighted to run into Claudia.  All three of us knew that Claudia had received the news that her cancer had returned.  Furthermore, we were aware that she faced a difficult road.  However, standing there that day with Claudia it was evident that she was in excellent spirits.  She shared with us the latest news on her cancer treatments.  While she stood there talking I couldn’t get over how wonderful she looked.  She was dressed in loose, yet stylish capri’s with a peasant top.  She had on the cutest shoes! (Claudia always wore the neatest shoes!).  Her hair was a little longest that I was used to on her, but I loved how it softened her face and if I dare say, made her look younger and more carefree. 

 

As Claudia turned to say goodbye, she commented to us, “You know, every day is a gift.”  When I heard the news today of her passing I thought back to her words.  Every day IS a gift!  In the seven years that I taught with Claudia at Waukazoo she often shared the gift of her friendship.  She taught me to adore French press coffee!  Whenever I walked into her classroom she pulled out a coffee mug and prepared a fresh cup.  She never asked, she just gave me a smile with the coffee mug.  I also remember a staff meeting where Claudia shared a few yoga stretches to get us into the right mind for the meeting (I’m not really sure that is possible, though!)

Claudia was the type of teacher who spoke her mind.  She was fearless, opinionated, and passionate.  Her gift was that you always knew where she stood with you.  If she didn’t like something you’d said or done, you knew it.  But you also knew when she agreed with you, was happy with you, or proud of your work!  I appreciated this as a colleague, and as a parent of two of Claudia’s students.

My girls loved art class!  They loved the art projects, the creativity that took place in the classroom, and the faith that Claudia had in their efforts.  Claudia’s gift to her students was her belief that each and every one of them was an artist.  She saw the uniqueness in each of her students and worked hard to pull that out during her classes.  I believe she was successful! 

Every day is a gift!  Claudia embodied this spirit when she battled cancer in 2008, when she walked the Waukazoo halls and made students smile, when she stood up in meetings and spoke up for kids.  Claudia reminded three friends of this when she saw them just two weeks ago.  I will miss Claudia.  I will miss being called, “Dude!”  I will miss seeing her at the Holland Area Arts Council, where she taught my girls once again in after school art classes.  Most of all, I will just miss Claudia.

***********************************************

Waukazoo Boys and Girls:  Feel free to add your favorite memory of Mrs. Art in the comments section.  Make sure to sign only your first name!