December 2006
GENERAL NOTES:
SCHOOL UNIFORM: The winter uniform should be worn from Monday, December 4th onwards. Please dress your children in school uniform only (unless it is very cold and heavy overcoats are needed). Please help our children represent IMS tidily and proudly in and out of school!
STUDENTS ARRIVING LATE: We are concerned about the increasing number of children arriving late. Please ensure that your child reaches school by 8:20 a.m. each morning. Teachers stop greeting children at the door, mark their attendance and begin lessons with the children at 8:30 a.m. Teachers record lateness, and these figures will be included on the student progress reports at the end of the academic year.
HEALTH NOTICE: As winter and the flu season approach, IMS encourages parents to take your child’s temperature each morning. A child with a temperature over 99oF or 37.2oC, should not attend school and parents should consult a doctor promptly.
IMS will continue our proactive Cleaning and Hygiene measures. Teachers are continually working to increase students' awareness of the importance of personal hygiene, regular exercise, and a balanced diet in the prevention of illness and the enjoyment of a healthy lifestyle.
MOBILE PHONES: Please turn MOBILE PHONES TO “SILENT” IN SCHOOL.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER
PTA SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING: (Monday, December 4th) PTA Subcommittee meets each month to discuss PTA business. Please contact the PTA at pta@montessori.edu.hk if you have issues to add to the agenda.
GIVING PROJECTS: As part of the season of giving, Casa dei Bambini teachers have talked to the children about the St. James Settlement. This organization provides social services for needy children and the elderly in Hong Kong. Our children brought in almost 30 boxes of nutritional food and useful gifts. Last year, due to the generosity of IMS families, we collected a huge number of canned goods and dried foods. Many new gift-wrapped toys and presents for the elderly were also donated for distribution during the holiday season. Thanks to Sita Kozel for carrying on the wonderful tradition Fiona Mowbray brought to IMS!
The Elementary children visited the Salvation Army Old Folks Home in Shatin and performed their songs and poems. There were so many touched and delighted faces - it was truly a memorable experience.
FULL DAY OUTING: (Monday, December 4th) All of the children at IMS (Casa and Elementary) will be going to Kadoorie Farm in the New Territories.
WINTER HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRATIONS (10 - 11 am):
- Thurs., Dec 7th*: Asia, Elementary & Antarctica
- Fri., Dec 8th: Africa, Elementary & N. America & S. America
*After the performance there will be in-class celebrations in the Casa classes until noon. The Elementary classes will perform twice.
LAST DAY OF TERM: Friday, December 15th – school ends at 1:30 p.m. for all children.
JANUARY
FIRST DAY OF WINTER TERM: Tuesday, January 2nd – normal school hours
PARENT COFFEE MORNINGS: (Thursday, January 4th & 18th) Please join parents for a casual coffee every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Pacific Coffee right after drop off.
For more about the PTA, click here.
MONTESSORI EVENING: (Tuesday, January 23rd, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.) This is an important opportunity to learn more about the Montessori curriculum and philosophy.
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DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
Each month we introduce holidays from different cultures to the children to help them understand their meanings and how they are celebrated. At school we have many opportunities to provide meaningful holiday experiences by incorporating them in the daily classroom work of music, literature, history, language and art. This is the perfect way to increase the children’s appreciation of other cultures as well as their own.
Click here for more on December holidays.
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PARENT COFFEE MORNING: (Thursday, November 16th) Parents are welcome to join us! FYI, parents have casual coffees every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Pacific Coffee right after drop off.
For more about the PTA, click here.
PTA SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING: (Monday Nov 13th) the PTA Subcommittee met to discuss PTA business.
For more about the PTA, click here.
AIR PURIFIERS: Special thanks to the parents of the Casa classes for donating Air purifiers for each classroom!
HELPER SEMINAR: (November 21st & November 22nd) Over 70 Helpers attended the two seminars given over the two days by Miss Anne Noonan of the Asia classroom. Please review the handouts with your helper, and ensure that s/he has your full support to help your child help him/herself.
PTA FAMILY PICNIC: (Saturday, November 25th) Special thanks to Sita Kozel, Alicia Lee, and Sam Kriegel for another wonderful Family Fun day. It was wonderful to see so many IMS families enjoying Victoria Peak Garden together. Please feel free to share your photos!
SPEECH FESTIVAL: (Thursday Nov 17th & 28th) Congratulations to Adrian Chow and Sean Fontaine, who represented IMS in the Chinese speech section. Well done boys! And we are very proud of the first-ever participation of IMS children in the Mandarin section of the speech festival. Audrey Chow, Kameka Herbst, Stephanie, Ceilidh, Thuy Mi and will represent IMS in the section Mandarin section next month.
Special thanks to Emily Zhang and Teresa Cai who coached the children for the Mandarin speech section. We look forward to more children participating next year.
THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION: (Thursday, November 24th) All the classes helped to prepare the dinner. The younger children husked corn and chopped broccoli. Some of the Full Day children baked corn muffins. The elementary classes make pumpkin pies. Each classroom held its own Thanksgiving celebration, eating the food that the children had prepared over the previous few days. Thanks to the many parents who helped the children prepare the Thanksgiving meal!