Bishop Hamilton Montessori School “THE May Community, Learning, Excellence, Faith, Commitment BUZZ”2010 from the desk of Mark Mrs Sasouni Your Dear Parents and Friends, Calendar May 13 his school was founded 27 years ago by an Volunteer Recognition exceptional visionary, Elaine Hopkins. She Continental Breakfast envisioned a learning environment “Where May 20 Mind and Spirit Go Hand in Hand”. She Grandparents’ Tea built a unique school in the pursuit for ex- Tcellence in Montessori education, Christian studies May 21 and for an enriched experience in the arts. PD Day No school – daycare only Under the leadership of Alison Goss, the school con- tinued its pursuit for excellence by strengthening May 24 Fundraising Gala Event 2010 the Montessori component through the school’s suc- Victoria Day attendees, from left to right, cessful CCMA accreditation and the introduction (School Closed) present School Director Renette Sa- of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. souni, former Principal Alison Goss May 25-28 These initiatives were aimed at ensuring quality and and past Principal and BHMS founder, Auction Week consistency in the delivery of our Montessori pro- Elaine Hopkins. In support of grams across all spectrums of the school. ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ As incoming director, I am tasked with leading our school into a new stage of its con- and the Capital Fund tinued growth and development. I have had the opportunity to observe the school as a parent and for the past month as director; although we have much to accomplish in our May 27 continued pursuit of excellence, we are blessed with a seasoned and committed group Toddler Pot Luck of teachers. The depth and breadth of our intellectual capital is something this school 4.30 pm and its community should be applauding. May 28 Sr. Elementary (3rd yr) As my first communication with the community it is only fitting that I share my short Montreal Trip term priorities with you. Since my arrival I have scheduled one on one meetings with all faculty and non faculty members of the team. This is a long yet very worthwhile May 28 process; getting to know the team and gaining their unique perspective on our school has Alumni BBQ provided me with a wealth of information and insight. My meetings are also enabling me to identify operational, communication, and marketing systems and strategies we June 7 - June 11 must consider as we head into the 2010-2011 school year. Junior High Bike Trip One of my short term priorities has been to commence dialogue with our parent com- June 2 New Parents (Casa/Toddler) munity. This will take place in the form of enhanced communication with our class par- 5.00-6.00 pm ent committees including increased visibility on my part. We are also in the process Meet your new teacher of developing a parent survey that is aimed at obtaining parent feedback regarding and other families who are our facilities, programs, the school community, including overall parent experience. new to the classroom Obtaining parent perspective with respect to our school strengths and areas requiring development is very important feedback for us to capture and I am hoping that you will June 9 invest 15 minutes of your valuable time to provide us with your input. Our objective is New Parents (Elementary) to release the survey before the end of the school year. Meet your new teacher and other families who are new to the classroom I would like to extend my sincere thanks to BHMS students, colleagues, and parents who have extended a very warm welcome to me over the past month. I see a wealth of po- June 9 tential and this excites me to no end. Staff Recognition of Service Luncheon Renette Sasouni, School Director ©Bishop Hamilton Montessori School - 2199 Regency Terrace - Ottawa - K2C 1H2 - 613-596-4013 - fax: 613 596-4971 - bhms.ca Junior High in Einsteinium by Rupa R., Science Director, Junior High class (ages 12 to 14 years) Bishop Hamilton Montessori School lead with medals in all areas at “The Ottawa Regional Science Fair” at Hillcrest High School on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Students in grades 7 to 12 research, develop, and present projects in the fields of science and engineering. Students from both public and private schools in the Region are invited to enter projects. BHMS entered 6 teams in the Junior (grades 7 and 8) divisions. “Every single team we sent won a medal this year”. Results are posted below. Congratulations BHMS Science Medal Winners ! Did you miss us on Rogers TV? Please visit the link below for a short and worthwhile segment of our BHMS Scientists on Rogers TV. We are very proud of our BHMS students and program. http://www.rogerstv.com/option.asp?lid=93&rid=4&pag=2&sid=68&mid=3&arid=4&oth=39 The video is posted under Cooking and In Studio Fun and see the link to Bishop Hamilton Montessori School. The segment also aired as part of a ‘best of show’ on April 28th. Take a look at the this! Junior 2010 Divisional Award Winners School Gold Silver Bronze Hon. BRONZE MEDAL: Michael Men. Hayman ‘H.A.L.’ Bishop Hamilton Montessori 2 2 2 - Collège Catholique Samuel-Genest 2 1 - - Turnbull School 1 2 2 1 Immaculata High School 1 1 1 - École secondaire publique De La Salle 1 - 3 - Joan of Arc Academy 1 - 1 2 Macdonald-Cartier Academy - 2 1 1 Queen Elizabeth Public School - 1 2 2 Hawthorne Public School - 1 0 1 GOLD MEDAL: Tristan Hume Ashbury College - - 1 - ‘Brainwaves’ Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School - - 1 2 École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité - - - 2 Summit Alternative School - - - 2 Venta Preparatory School - - - 2 Cedarview Middle School - - - 1 Elmwood School - - - 1 Greenbank Middle School - - - 1 Hillel Academy - - - 1 W.O. Mitchell Elementary School - - - 1 SILVER MEDAL & Fisher Park Public School - - - 1 SPECIAL COMPUTING SCIENCE AWARD: Bryan Cheng & Adam Jackson ‘Sudoku Solver’ BRONZE MEDAL: Lubina Nayak & Aashna Uppal ‘R3: Reduce, Reuse, Recyle’ GOLD MEDAL: Sonia Siddiqui SILVER MEDAL: Kanika ‘Bye Bye Bacteria’ Dewan ‘Whiten the World’ ©Bishop Hamilton Montessori School - 2199 Regency Terrace - Ottawa - K2C 1H2 - 613-596-4013 - fax: 613 596-4971 - bhms.ca Self confidence, self esteem and the physical body by Janis A., Director, Toddler Community (ages 18 months to 3 years old) Scribbles I have told parents in BHMS was part of a collective the Toddler Community advertising campaign insert in that “self esteem starts the Globe and Mail, organized with being able to take by CCMA and posted in the care of your own little BHMS lobby. body.” The children From the BHMS and their bodies have Hamilt op on h s Parent Handbook: i many needs and urges. B onte M ssori Scho Staff are not since 1983 ol When a child learns Parent Handbook permitted to 2009-2010 to walk, he is capable “Where Mind and Spirit administer any Go Hand in Hand” of participating in over the counter Family Work, known medication to students that is as Practical Life in not specifically prescribed by a Montessori schools. physician. Allowing the child to participate in the life he sees going on around him is an act of great respect for, and confidence Free trees from the City of in the child. This includes care of the self. It helps him to feel important to Ottawa. http://www.ottawa. ca/residents/healthy_lawns/ himself and to those around him. His participation is needed in the care of forestry/tree_program/plant/ his body. index_en.html Don’t need it? Please contact Self care activities the office if you would con- include undressing sider donating it to BHMS! and dressing, washing, We’re having another AUCTION wiping nose and tears, May 25-29 in support of the rubbing lotion on skin, BHMS Capital Fund. preparing food and feeding self, brushing The LOST & FOUND box is hair and teeth, putting located between the two doors a kiss on a bruise. What at the end of the hall on the first floor of the building. else can you include in self care? This newsletter is printed by Harvest House Printing The child’s reasons Services. for, and methods of working are different than ours. We adults will usually do a task in the most Please re-cycle this newsletter. efficient and quickest way. A child is working to explore the materials, master To contact the editor or to the activity, and to perfect his abilities. Concentrating on a task is one of the unsubscribe: most calming activities. [email protected] There are many physical, emotional and mental values in caring for your physical self. We learn to eat when we are hungry, dress for comfort, keep ourselves clean, give healthy care to one’s own body, to comfort and care for one’s emotional self. What better lifetime gift could we give our children and our fellow humans? I am certain that as children learn to care for their own bodies and self, they are naturally drawn to care for others. ©Bishop Hamilton Montessori School - 2199 Regency Terrace - Ottawa - K2C 1H2 - 613-596-4013 - fax: 613 596-4971 - bhms.ca Casa Biology - “freedom with responsibility” by Anna W, Casa Director, Wild Rose class (ages 3 to 6 years) With the return of the good weather we also have the return of many forms of life. We delight in the chirp- ing of birds, the singing of frogs and the emergence of creatures that have been hibernating over the winter. We try to bring the re-birth of life in the spring to the attention of the children in the CASA programme.