(Some Thoughts for Our Graduates. This is a shortened version of a father’s blessings given to his daughter on a special occasion. These are beautiful thoughts, no matter the occasion.)

Blessings to You, My Child

May you always believe in yourself. Never doubt your worthiness or your capacity for achievement, endurance and growth. In all that is important to you, persist with confidence that you are smart enough and strong enough to find a way through or around any obstacle. Never be without hope for within you is all you will ever need. And never doubt you are lovable. Don’t worry about the approval or affection of any who are unworthy of appreciating you.

May you feel and express gratitude. Appreciate people and the good things in life. Gratitude isn’t a debt to be paid but a key to a treasure chest filled with the fullness of life. Give without need or expectation of gratitude. Cherish every moment of happiness, and never let unkind or ungrateful people harden your heart or ruin your day.

May you be resilient. Resolve to bounce back from every setback, knowing your focused will is enough to overcome disappointments, frustrations and even great tragedies.

May you always love. Know that your heart may be wounded, but it will always heal if you love yourself. Safeguard the part of you that is loving, compassionate and generous. Be kind to those who don’t seem to deserve it. Don’t carry grudges. Forgive others, not only for them, but for you.

May you be happy. Remember, happiness is always within your grasp. Never underestimate the lasting joy of feeling worthy and finding meaning and purpose in love and service.

Night Time Swings

By

Teri McDuffey

 

Night time swings are more than diamond rings

When all the diamonds are in the sky

My Father’s lights shine bright

All through the night

And Daddy is swinging me way up high

The sun is shining on the moon,

Mommy and the crickets are singing their tune

I wouldn’t trade night time swings

For anything

Night time swings are more than diamond rings

When all the diamonds are in the sky

My Father’s lights shine bright

All through the night

My brother is swinging me way up high

The sun is shining on the moon,

Music from the jukebox is singing its tune

I wouldn’t trade night time swings

For anything

Night time swings are more than diamond rings

When all the diamonds are in the sky

My Father’s lights shine bright

All through the night,

And I’m the one who’s swinging me high

The sun is shining on the moon

The angels in heaven are singing their tune

I wouldn’t trade night    time swings

For anything

I’m finally swinging me way up high

And God, I think he’s winking his eye

I wouldn’t trade nighttime swings

For anything

(Think about swinging on the porch swing with your child as you read the words to this song.)

Dear MSMS Parents-

If you shop at City Market and use a Loyalty (value) Card – MSMS can earn $$$$ without any cost to you! City Market has a program called “City Market Community Rewards”. Once you have enrolled in this program every time you shop at City Market and use your Loyalty Card, MSMS will earn monetary rewards. Once a household member enrolls his or her card, all linked Loyalty Cards within that household will begin earning funds for MSMS.

To Sign up for this program please follow the directions below (it only takes a few minutes):

1.       Log on to www.citymarketcommunityrewards.com

2.       Click on “City Market Community Rewards” on the left hand side

3.       Create your own Kroger account following the directions on the screen

4.       Once your account is created- search for:”Mt Sopris” under “Find your Organization” and click on it.

If you need assistance please ask Kira and she can help get you set up.

Thanks for helping us earn more money for our school!

May the road
Rise to meet you.

May the wind
Be always
At your back.

May the sun shine
warm upon your face.

And the rains fall soft
Upon your fields.

And until
We meet again,

May God hold you
In the palm of His hand.

-Old Irish Benediction

Being a Montessori parent means...

• observing your child on a regular basis
  

• observing in the classroom so that you really know what goes on in there
  

•  including your child in every aspect of family life
  

• slowing down and considering your child's developing needs
  

• fostering the same independence at home as at school
  

• counting to ten (and taking a deep breath) before imposing your will upon your child (unless in moments of extreme danger)
  

• doing your very best to refrain from slapping, threatening, or shouting
  

• ensuring you have not put your child into a Montessori school in order for them to get good grades when they go to "real" school. (There is sooooo much more to Montessori than that!)
  

• understanding that authentic Montessori schools are not babysitting services. (We call the 3 – 6 classroom "Primary" because that is what it is – the first and critically important years in a child's school life.)
  

• understanding that if you pull your child out in the middle of a three year level, they have NOT had a Montessori education. Taking a child out of a Montessori classroom to go into a public Kindergarten class takes away the child's leadership year.
  

• really trying to understand the Montessori philosophy. ( There are so many books written by so many different people that there is no reason NOT to read more. )
  

• understanding what your long-term goals are for your child and how those goals are going to be achieved.
  

• asking yourself "Are my everyday practices helping my child grow into the kind of person I'd like them to be?"

http://themontessorichildathome.blogspot.com/

There is no school on Monday, February 17 ~ President's Day.  Have a great weekend with your Valentines!

What does Love Mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4-8 year olds. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. Now my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.  Rebecca- age 8

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.  Billy – age 4

Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.  Karl – age 5

Love is when my Mommy makes coffee for my Daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is okay. Danny – age 7

Love is what is with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. Bobby – age 7

Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday. Noelle – age 7

Love is when Mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.  Chris – age 7

Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken. Elaine – age 6

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day. Mary Ann – age 4

I know my sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones. Lauren – age 4

When you love someone, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.  Karen – age 7

I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her. Bethany – age 4