Greetings NAMily!

Welcome to the month of March. Let's get ready for Cincinnati Reds Opening Day, Pi Day, St Patrick's Day, March Mathness, College Basketball Brackets, Spring Break, and much more. Ask them about the math jokes or the problems of the day. Its time to put things in overload and get ready to Blast Off to a strong finish of the school year!

Principals Ferguson & Lewallen

March Highlights:

3 No School for Students (PD-No Paras)

4 ILT Meeting 7:30a

4-7 RTI/MTSS Meetings (NEW DATE)

4 STEP Store

5 PTO Meeting 6p

10 PBIS Meeting 8:15a

11 Staff Meeting 7:30a

12 LSDMC 6:15p

10 Read-a-thon starts

18 ILT Meeting 8:00a

20 Classroom Pictures

20/21 Oratory Festival

24-28 Spring Break (NO School)

April Highlights:

1 ILT Meeting 7:30a

2 Foundation Meeting 5p

2 PTO Meeting 6:15p

7-11 OST Reading (3rd-6th Grades)

8 Staff Meeting 7:30a

9 LSDMC 6:15p

15 ILT Meeting 8:00a

16 LSDMC District Meeting 6-7:30p @ Ed Center

17 PTC 4-7p

18 No School for students

21-25 iReady Math Benchmark Testing (K-2 Grades)

21-25 OST Math (3rd-6th Grades)

22 Earth Day

26 Gratitude Gala

28-May 2 iReady Reading Benchmark Testing (K-2 Grades)

May Highlights:

5-9 Science Benchmark Testing (4th & 6th Grades)

6 ILT Meeting 7:30a

7 PTO Meeting 6p

14 LSDMC 6:15p

16 Field Day (All Day)

21 6th Grade Recognition Ceremony 5:30-7p

22 Last Day of School for Students

23 Last Day of School for Staff

You are invited to participate in the 5th Annual Clark Montessori Community Festival on Saturday, May 17 from 1:30 - 5:00 PM on the soccer field (or gym in case of rain). The Festival is a FREE, family friendly event that allows our clubs and teams to provide food, games, and fun to the community while raising money for their line in the Foundation budget. This event is open to the community, including our students & their families, Alumni, and our neighbors. Incoming 7th graders and their families are also invited to see the extracurriculars that Clark provides.

Thanks to the Father's Group for hosting Donuts with Grown Ups. What a great turn out!

Kudos to Ms. Brookins, students and staff on an amazing Program. The theme was: African Americans and Labor. Performance by the NAM Steppers, NAM Band, NAM Choir, ORF Drummers, Ramos & Nixon's classrooms, Au/MD students, and the Men of More. What a great way to end the month of February.

March Meeting

Our next Meeting is

Wednesday, March 5 from 6:15-7:15p in the Music Room. Free childcare will be provided. We will be voting on members for the new PTO Executive Board and introducing new committees for the 4th quarter and 25’-26’ school year.

New Committees:

• Beautification and Garden Committee

• Staff Appreciation Breakfast

• Membership and Recruitment

• Classroom Coordinator/Room Parent

• PTO Meeting Hospitality Coordinator

• Yearbook

• 6th Grade End-of-Year Trip

If you are interested in volunteering for one of these roles reach out to namrocketspto@gmail.com

Description of committees:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14awX9pyOq5-sXO8DlqFVI6c4d1E6guXrNqR0tX7XUKY/edit?tab=t.0

PTO NEEDS for March

Ohio State Testing Snack Drive. NAM students will be taking the Ohio State Testing in April. Each year we provide snacks as a treat after taking their test. Please consider donating a few items to help support our students.

Sign up here to donate:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49A9A82EAAFCC70-55435801-ohio

• Provide nut-free, individually wrapped snacks.

• Donations will be accepted throughout the month of March. Please drop items off in NAM Office.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The PTO is working with NAM administration and other school groups to plan our End-of-Year events such as 6th Grade Recognition, Field Day, and the End of Year Picnic. Stay tuned for how you can help!

JOIN the NAM Facebook Group!

The PTO often uses the NAM Facebook group to communicate with families. Please join to get

important updates, voice your concerns, and join the discussion:

“2024-2025 NAMS Community”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/cincyNAMS

NAM Yearbook

Send pictures from any NAM events to be included in the yearbook.

Send pictures to

namrocketspto@gmail.com

Please include name of event

Class pictures will be taken along with any purchased pictures. Be sure to send the form and money to school.

It's time to prepare for the 25/26 SY. Families will have an opportunity to complete the student placement survey by March 28th. The form will be placed in the NAMily Newsletter. Feel free to share with your families as needed.

Cosmic education is a cornerstone of the Montessori way. It is the idea that all things are interconnected. Class pets bring that connection to the classroom by allowing students to feel empathy, respect, and compassion for a living thing. Having a pet also teaches students how to care for something else. Remembering to feed the animal, check on the animal, and clean up after the animal encourages responsibility. Another core element of Montessori education is grace and courtesy. Learning to handle a small animal must often be done with grace to avoid harming or scaring the animal.

Name: Murphy
Type of Pet: Therapy dog

Room/Location: Room 1214, Heidy Davenport's Class

Fun Fact: Murphy is 7 years old and is a certified therapy dog. He loves children and loves his job at NAM.

Favorite Food: Meats and Sweets

What is Cooperation?

Cooperation is working together for the good of everyone. It is a willingness to respect others and to follow rules which keep everyone safe and happy. Cooperation is being helpful to one another, sharing the load. It is joining others in order to do something that cannot be done alone.

Why Practice it?

Without cooperation, people disturb others. They don’t care about the rules, and they don’t seem to care about others. When we work together, we can often accomplish more than each of us could do alone. When we cooperate, we can do great things.

How Do You Practice it?

Being cooperative is being willing to go along in order to get along. We are respectful of the rules. We consider other people’s needs. We look for ways to be helpful, and we ask for help when we need it. Cooperation helps us bring together the ideas of many so that a new idea can come to light. Working together, we can make any place a safe and happy one.

What Would Cooperation Look Like if…

• You have a project to do for school and don’t have all the information you need?

• You notice that there is some bullying going on in the playground?

• You need to move something heavy?

• You are asked to participate in a group discussion?

• A new teacher seems nervous and doesn’t know the rules yet?

• You don’t agree with something your teacher has asked the class to do?

Signs of Success

Congratulations! You are practicing Cooperation when you…

• Work well with others

• Freely offer your help and ideas

• Follow the rules

• Do your part to keep a safe, happy environment

• When you disagree, do it peacefully

• Ask for help when you need it

Affirmation

I am cooperative. I work and play well with others. I respect the rules. I keep myself and others safe.

Take a moment to read through the NAM Handbook. Sign this form to indicate that you have read the document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G5ooJavbhKz1XQoXeLfeNUlBWAfHVvNt/edit

Be sure that students keep wireless & bluetooth headphones (specifically over the ear headphones ie. beats at home.) They are not able to connect them to our devices at school. Also, during testing, students will not be able to wear bluetooth watches.

Moving forward, teachers will request that students turn phone off when they arrive at school so that they are not a distraction during the school day. If you need to reach your child, please contact the office. In the event that phones are on during the day, staff will confiscate them and return the device to them at dismissal. This information can also be found in our Family Handbook. Thanks in advance for your cooperation!

Click here for steps to complete volunteer application.

Complete this form if you have a concern and a solution to improve student learning experiences at NAM.

Click here if you would like to request interventions or support for your child.

Our monthly Foundation meetings will be held in person in the NAM Music Room directly before the monthly PTO meetings. There will also be a Google Meet option (same link as the PTO meetings).

Foundation Meeting Agenda/Notes (Running Document):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_fKX2P2fPPbOlaBYPvSYS_tpL8tZgz8guAHfwribzFc/edit?usp=sharing

Google Meet Link if you need to join virtually:
Click this link: https://meet.google.com/tbo-edfm-xwn
Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 931-330-0530 and enter this PIN: 446 760 320#

Click here to find Meeting agenda and notes. The next meeting will take place Wednesday, February 12th 6:15p Virtually. Click here to join the meeting.

Email: fergusk@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.cps-k12.org/northavondalemontessori
Location: 615 Clinton Springs Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Phone: (513) 407-2444
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPSNorthAvondale