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Hello, Rockwood families! It was a busy couple of weeks as we launched our new year together! This community is already bonding and showing a level of leadership and work ethic that’s delightfully unusual for this early in the year. It’s a great group! Even so, a gentle reminder: the start of school can be exhausting for students (and parents alike!). It takes a lot to get back into the school routine, so don’t be surprised if your child wants to sleep more or lounge about longer than usual. They may also demonstrate bigger emotions or higher reactivity than normal as they rebuild the endurance for these long, full days. In Rockwood our lessons, including the First Great Story, and post-summer assessments are well underway, as well as our first round of Wilderness Class with Mr. Braden, lessons on handwork basics from Ms. Pat, and watercolor, pastel, and musical instrument introductions with our one-and-only Ms. Teri. We’re slowly rolling out this year’s expectations for Upper Elementary, and our community is building momentum beautifully. If you are new to Cedars and/or Montessori, you are required to attend the Parent Night on “Goings Out,” hosted by Maya, the Early Elementary teacher in Mountain Laurel on Thursday, September 15 from 6:00-7:30. An email with details is on its way! If you’re a Montessori veteran but would like a refresher on this topic, this is a great opportunity! Remember to use the Rockwood’s Parent Connection page all year long on the Cedars Montessori website. It’s a great resource--bookmark it and check it often! You can find answers to common questions, check the class or school calendar for events, sign up or volunteer, view our class wishlist, read the latest newsletter, and find resources and articles about child development, education, parenting, and of course, Montessori. The annual password to access Parent Connection pages this year is ‘Natural.’ Reminders and Sign-Ups Soon you’ll be asked to sign up for your week to donate class flowers and guinea pig veggies. Fulfilling these requests helps our community run smoothly, and we appreciate your support! Upcoming We’re going to Outdoor School at Camp Champions for two nights, September 14 and 15. Please make arrangements to pick up your child at noon on Friday, Sept. 16. Check your Student's Packet for details. In October, we’ll be starting weekly snack teams! A pair of children will plan, budget, shop, prep, and serve a weekly snack for the community on Thursdays. If you’d like to be a volunteer driver for these trips to HEB, watch your Inbox for the sign up! Remember Maya’s Parent Night on “Going Out” on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 6-7:30. Also, starting around October, Rockwood will be open for observations, which I strongly recommend. We look forward to welcoming you to our buzzing hive of activity, work, and collaboration! A sign up will be sent when our classroom officially “opens.” Suggestion Box By this age, students can pack their own lunch. Guess what! That means you can take it off your task list…permanently! How to get there: Dr. Montessori emphasized “taking the time to train,” so choose a time when no one is pressured. You can begin by teaching your child about the four basic food groups and that a lunch should have at least one healthy item from each. Another method is to slowly remove yourself from the process: first, your child observes you closely as you model each step clearly; second, YOU watch and support as your CHILD packs; third, you are in the room as the child packs; last, the arrival point--a packed lunch while you are tending to something else! “But our mornings are stressful enough already!!” Have them pack it in the evening as part of getting ready for bed. This was the ultimate game-changer in my own house with my kids. “But it’s an act of love for me to do it.” Consider other ways–that are just as powerful–of expressing your love. The greatest act of love is independence when they’re ready for it. So instead of packing their lunch for them, consider popping in a love note or daily joke, or providing a particularly enjoyable food that they can choose to pack, or making your own lunch alongside them as quality time together. [Notice I hit all the different love languages there?! You can do this!!] “But it’ll take too long / be messy / won’t be done right.” Consider the lesson time as an investment--for you and your child. Once the process is established, you enjoy one less responsibility, while your child benefits from a significant boost in self-esteem, not to mention a healthy lunch s/he is more likely to eat. It sends the message of trusted and successful competence, which is a blueprint for all other areas of life. All that from one task! “But they can’t reach or find everything. They don’t know where the stuff is.” To support your child in this task, have children’s lunch containers within reach, as well as lunch foods and snacks handy and visible in the pantry and fridge. Each day after school s/he/they can load their dirty containers into the dishwasher, and at night pack lunch for the next day. Getting there is a process, but it is SO worth it, on so many levels. Thanks again for a lovely, supportive start to a great year together! Warmly, Paige
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