Hello and welcome back to Term 3!

The staff and I would like to extend a

warm welcome to new families joining

the Montessori Pre-School family this

term.

Term 3 is going to be another busy

term for the Pre-School, with

upcoming events.

• The Pre-School is currently

planning an informal morning or

afternoon tea for families to

come along and meet someone

new. Watch for the framed

question, on the foyer bench

with proposed dates and times

• An information evening, ‘School

Readiness’ will be hosted at the

preschool on the Tuesday,

14 August, more details will

follow later in the newsletter

• P r o p o s e d w o r k i n g b e e

September school holidays to

re-stain outdoor steps and wash

windows.

During Term 3 educators will begin

completing ‘Transition to School

Statements’ for those children who

will be starting school next year.

Completed statements are sent onto

the school, where your child will be

A U G U S T 2 0 1 8

DATES TO

REMEMBER

Thomas Eccles

Gardens visiting us

Wed, 8 Aug

Post Office Visit

Fri, 10 Aug

‘School Readiness’

Evening

Tue, 14 Aug, 7pm

Library Visit

Thur, 16 Aug

Library Bus visiting

Thu, 23 Aug

Last day Term 3

Fri, 28 Sep

First day Term 4

Mon, 15 Oct

Dropping Off

Please remember to

use the Woolworths

carpark to drop off

and pick up

From the Director’s Desk attending in 2019. Information

provided in the ‘Statements’ informs

the schools preparation to welcome

your child.

Families who have children going to

school next year are welcome to

request a copy of their child’s

Transition Statement’, please see

Kathy if you would like a copy. If you

could also let Kathy know which school

your child will be attending.

I would like to take this opportunity to

thank our families for your continued

support of our lovely Pre-School,

through donations of wood for the

woodworking bench, assorted ribbons

for craft, the ongoing collection of

construction collage materials and a

delightful knitted/crochet doll family

for the classroom.

Donations of this kind continue to

complement the arts, craft and role

play activities offered to support the

children’s current interests.

Cheers until the next newsletter

Wendy

You are invited to participate in our “Just One Thing” campaign for 2018.

We hope to give all Montessori families a chance to be involved in our pre

-school community. We would especially encourage families which are

new to the area to get involved. Volunteering at the Pre-School is a great

way to meet people and make friends.

We have over 50 families attending Montessori over 20 of them new to

the Pre-School this year, and we would be grateful if every family would

nominate to do “just one thing” throughout the year. Apart from building

up our community, a successful campaign will make a significant

contribution to our Pre-Schools fundraising efforts.

Attached is a list of “Things” that we would appreciate your assistance

with. Please tick just one box (or more if you wish) and place your

contact details at the bottom of the page. Please return to the office as

soon as possible, you can either print a copy or email), so that we can

collate the responses, and when the time comes someone from the Pre-

School will be in contact with you regarding your participation.

If you are able to volunteer for just one thing please contact Kellie on

0420 967 463

Yours Sincerely

Kellie

Everybody is welcome to attend our next meeting on:

Wednesday, 8 August 2018, 7:30pm at the Pre-School

Meetings wrap up no later than 9pm!

Com

mittee C

orn

er:

General

Meeting Dates:

12 Sep

10 Oct

14 Nov

12 Dec

Everybody is

welcome

Page: 2

In the Children’s House: How the child learns:

The use of the materials is based on the young child’s unique aptitude to

learning which Dr Maria Montessori identifies as the ‘absorbent mind’. In her

writings, Dr Montessori frequently compared the young mind to ‘a sponge’. It

literally absorbs information from the environment and the child retains this

ability to learn by absorbing until they are almost 7 years old.

Dr Montessori reasoned that the experience could be enriched by a classroom

where the child could handle materials which would demonstrate basic

education information to the child.

Experience has proved Dr Montessori’s theory; that a young child can learn to

read, write and calculate in the same natural way that the child learns to walk

and talk. In the Montessori classroom the equipment invites the child to do this

at their own periods of interest and readiness.

Montessori emphasised that the hand is the chief teacher of the child. In order

to learn there must be concentration and the best way a child can concentrate is

by fixing his attention on some task he is performing with his hands.

Areas of interest for the children at present:

• Baking Flatbread (Science in action)

Last term the children made flatbread using just two ingredients. Using

equal parts of natural yogurt and SR Flour combined together, the children

made a soft dough which was kneaded and rolled to create a flat bread.

The flatbread was then cooked in a frypan using a small amount of heated

cooking oil.

The children and educators found the bread was very nice with honey

spread on top.

Page: 3

Mikayla

“It is not

enough for the

teacher to love

the child. She

must first love

and understand

the universe

She must

prepare herself,

and truly work

at it.”

Dr Maria

Montessori

Iona

• Practical Life Activities:

Tipping, pouring, spooning from bowl to bowl,

fine motor development and care of the

environment.

With the rearrangement of the tables and

chairs in the classroom over the holidays the

children are encouraged to carry trays of work

to all areas of the classroom, further

developing gross motor balance and upper

body strength.

NAIDOC Week 2018:

On the last Thursday of Term 2 the children received a visit from Bob

Buffington and students from Yass Valley High who came to share Ngunnawal

Aboriginal culture with the children.

Bob told the children how Didgeridoos are created and shared a story about

the first Didgeridoo. Did you know that hot coals are placed on the top of a

piece of wood of choice, and allowed to slowly burn down the centre to

create the hollow which creates the sound when blown through?

After the story the boys were invited to try getting a tune from the

Didgeridoos that Bob had brought along.

Woolworths Fresh Food Tour:

On Tuesday, 24 July the children participated in a tour of Woolworths Fresh

Food and Produce section.

The children and

educators learnt about

healthy food choices,

played a guessing game

identifying the fruit in the

paper bag, and discovered

that fruit can look very

different on the outside to

what is on the inside.

Page: 4

“Imagination

does not

become great

until human

beings, given

the courage

and the

strength, use it

to create.”

Lucinda

The children tasted an assortment of fruits,

some not so common such as the ‘Papple’ a

cross between a peach and apple, it was very

tasty.

The children were given a wonderful goody bag,

containing information about healthy food choices and games.

After our visit, Woolworths has kindly offered the Pre-School one free box of

assorted fruits each week. The fruit will be placed in a basket on the dining

table for the children to snack on each day, further encouraging healthy

eating.

We received the first box this week and the fruit basket is proving to be a hit

with the children. The basket needs refilling most days.

Mobile Library Van Visits:

The Yass Mobile Library Van makes

its way to the Pre-School on the 4th

Thursday of each month. This

service provides an opportunity for

the children to borrow books to

read at the preschool and

supplement the books that are

already being offered at the

Preschool.

A roster has been drawn up so all children have the opportunity to access the

Mobile Library Van, over the course of the coming visits, space inside the van

is limited.

Housekeeping: Please don’t forget to pack a broad brimmed hat and a water bottle.

Children are encouraged to wear broad brimmed hats when participating in

outdoor play no matter the season.

Drink bottles filled with water encourage children to drink water throughout

the day. Please remember to pack your child a drink bottle with their name on

it.

Page: 5

“The child is truly a

miraculous being.”

Dr Maria

Montessori

Ruby

‘Straw Free’

The television program ‘The War on Waste’ recently raised compelling concerns

about the damage plastic straws pose to the environment, waterways and the

animal inhabitants.

The Pre-School, has given thought to its use of plastic straws for craft activities

and has been considering alternatives that can be used instead of plastic

straws.

• The children are currently painting recycled paper to be used to make

paper beads for threading activities instead of straws

• Use paper straws that are recyclable instead

Sustainability • Please remember you can recycle all of your

‘scrunchable’ plastic at Woolworths. You would

not believe how much your general waste is

reduced if you recycle your ’scrunchable’ plastic!

• We also have our red bin at the entrance to the Pre-School building

where you can recycle your plastic bottles, cans or bottles for the Pre-

School to place into the Return and Earn located in the Woolworths

carpark. The vouchers are used to by resources for the Pre-School.

Our Community Cake, cuppa, chat and community come along and meet other families who

attend the Pre-School. Do you have an hour to spare?

Proposed dates for family get together:

Saturday, 18 August; or

Saturday, 25 August

10.30 am or 1.30pm

(which is preferred)

Page: 6

“Let the

children be

FREE.”

Dr Maria

Montessori

Page: 7

“As soon as

children find

something that

interests them

they lose their

instability and

learn to

concentrate.”

Dr Maria

Montessori

Lemons for sale in the foyer!

What can be made with lemons?

Lemon Butter:

450g white sugar

30g of butter

4 eggs well beaten

2 lemons, rind of one lemon

Method:

Place sugar, well beaten eggs, butter, juice and rind of lemon into a

saucepan and stir ingredients constantly until they thicken over a low heat.

Place warm Lemon Butter into to sterilised jars and place the lid on. The

butter will keep for weeks in the fridge.

Orange and Lemon Cordial

10 oranges

4 lemons

2.5kg sugar

25g tartaric acid

25g citric acid

2 ltr of boiling water

Method:

In a large container place the finely grated rind of 4 oranges and 1 lemon.

Juice all the oranges and lemons. Pour the juices into the container and

add the sugar, tartaric and citric acids. Add the boiling water and stir well

until all the sugar is dissolved. Cool and pour into clean sterilised bottles.

Seal and store in the refrigerator. This cordial keeps well for about 6

weeks. Makes 3 x 1.25litre bottles.

Seedlings for Sale:

The children assisted to pot up kale, snow peas, cauliflower, and rainbow

chard seedlings. The seedlings will be on sale next week for $2.00 per

seedling.

School Photos:

Advanced Notice, it is being planned that school photos will take place in early

Term 4.

Is your child

starting school in

2019?

Have you ever asked the

question… ‘Is my child

ready for school?’

Come along to hear from

representatives from our local

primary schools talk about

‘Readiness for School’

Tuesday, 14 August 2018, 7pm

at Yass Montessori Pre-School,

262A Comur Street, Yass.

RSVP to Kathy on 6226 1596 or

admin@yassmontessori.com.au