NAMily Newsletter
April Edition
A word from the principals!
Greetings NAMily!
This is the time we have all prepared for to show exactly what our students know. We are always amazed at just how intelligent our NAM Rockets are and excited for them to show all of Cincinnati. (No pressure!) Take time this month to encourage your child to show what they know. We believe in them and look forward to seeing their progress! We let them know that they can do hard stuff!
Best Regards,
Principals Ferguson & Lewallen
Important Dates:
April Highlights:
1 Staff Meeting 7:30a
2 PTO Meeting 6:15p
8-11 OST Reading (3rd-6th Grades)
16 LSDMC District Meeting 6-7:30p @ Ed Center
17 PTC 4-7p
17 Math Night 4:30-6:30p
18 Records Day-No School for students
18 Midterms available
19 Community Clean Up Day
21-25 iReady Math Benchmark Testing (K-2 Grades)
22 Earth Day (Beautificatoin Projects TBD)
26 Gratitude Gala 3-5p
28-May 2 iReady Reading Benchmark Testing (K-2 Grades)
29-May 2 OST Math Benchmark Testing (3-6 Grades)
May Highlights:
1-2 Science OST Testing (5th Grade Only)
5-9 Science Benchmark Testing (4th & 6th Grades)
7 Foundation Meeting 5:00 p
7 PTO Meeting 6p
7 New Parent Transition Night 7-8p
14 LSDMC 6:15p
15 Talent Show 6-8pm
16 Field Day (All Day)
20 6th Grade Recognition Ceremony 5:30-7p
22 Last Day of School for Students
22 Teacher vs Students Sports Games
23 Last Day of School for Staff
Wear your NAM Gear on Monday 4/7!!!
To kick off testing week have your child wear NAM gear. We will have a Pep Rally to get students excited about OST!!!
Girls 2 Women Fundraiser 4/19/25
If you have questions please contact Ms. Sherrer - sherred@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or Ms. Lena - brydiel@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Desserts can be purchased with your fish fry meal. ($2 - $6)
When placing your order online, please select a pick-up time within our serving hours on Saturday , April 19, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
This helps us have your meal ready right when you arrive!
Payments are due by April 14, 2025Please select a pick-up time within our serving hours on Saturday April 19,2025, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
This helps us have your meal ready right when you arrive!
Teacher Appreciaion
We will be celebrating our annual teacher and staff appreciation week May 5th -9th. This year the tehme is Bi Top Circus! Below is an itenerary of weekly envents along with ta suggestion of ways your can contribute to the fun of showering our teachers and staff with the appreciation they deserve! The ideas are optional suggestions to participate in the daily themes. If you have other ideas or would like to show your appreciation to teachers and staff in different ways, please feel free!
March Highlights
Oratory Festival
Great job to all of the students who presented at the Oratory Festival.
PTO Updates
April Meeting
Our next Meeting is:
Wednesday, May 7th from 6:00-6:45p in the Music Room. Free childcare will be provided.
New Committees:
Membership and Recruitment
Classroom Coordinator/Room Parent
PTO Meeting Hospitality Coordinator
Yearbook
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
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
Please include name of event
Thank you for the TESTING SNACKS!
On behalf of the students and staff, thanks to all of you who made donations! We appreciate your support.
Class Pets at NAM
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.
Class Pet Spotlight
Name: Spicy
Type of Pet: Rose Hair Chilean Tarantula
Room/Location: Room 1106, Amie Wagner's Class
Fun Fact: Spicy sheds her skin once per year usually in June.
Favorite Food: Crickets
April Virtue of the Month: Tolerance
What is Tolerance?
To be tolerant is to accept differences. You don’t expect others to think, look, speak, or act just like you. Tolerance is being free of prejudice, knowing that all people have feelings, needs, hopes, and dreams. To be tolerant also means to accept things you wish were different with flexibility and patience.
Why Practice it?
People who don’t practice tolerance cannot stand to have anything differ from what they want and expect. Tolerance helps them accept things as they are. People without tolerance judge people for how they look, sound, or dress. They decide who can be a friend and who cannot. When people are teased or left out, they feel sad and lonely. When we are tolerant, we don’t allow differences to drive us apart.
How Do You Practice it?
Practicing tolerance is showing respect and appreciation for differences. You don’t judge or tease someone who is different. You make them feel at home. You show forgiveness when someone makes a mistake. Tolerance does not mean being passive and letting someone hurt you. When that happens, you need assertiveness. When you are tolerant, you have patience and flexibility to accept the things you cannot change with good grace.
What Would Tolerance Look Like If…
A new student comes into class wearing clothes you have never seen before?
Others are making fun of someone because all he cares about is math?
Your mother picks you up late for the third time this week?
Another student keeps asking to share your lunch?
You’re on a school trip and it is hot and uncomfortable?
Your sister has a really annoying habit that she can’t seem to change?
A student keeps bullying you on the playground?
Signs of Success
Congratulations! You are practicing tolerance when you…
Accept differences
Are free of prejudice
Don’t complain when uncomfortable conditions can’t be helped
Make others feel included by reaching out in friendliness
Change yourself instead of trying to change others
Accept people the way they are, faults and all
Affirmation
I am tolerant. I overlook people’s faults. I appreciate differences. I accept the things I cannot change with good grace.
Family Handbook
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
Community News
Green House Clean Up
Shout out to Ms. Aya and NANA on the clean up work at the NAM green house. We are very grateful for the teams hard work and look forward to being able to use this as a great space for urban farming education. Check out the space!
Want to volunteer?
Click here for steps to complete volunteer application.
Need more support for your child?
Click here if you would like to request interventions or support for your child.
Foundation News
General & Monthly Meeting Information
The NAMSF is an independent not-for-profit corporation organized to carry out the following purposes:
- To support and promote the welfare of the children students, faculty, and staff of the North
Avondale Montessori School (NAMS) of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a Non-School Organization (NSO) defined in Cincinnati City School District Policy 9212 (as amended)
To support and promote high standards of academic achievement, athletic performance and administrative efficiency at the North Avondale Montessori School and Preschool.
To generate funds through fundraisers, solicitation of contributions, and grants.
Alongside other parent organizations, coordinate scheduling and approve all fundraising events and solicitations by various school organizations.
To initiate and facilitate all school-wide fund-raising events with the help of all school organizations.
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). The next meeting will take place on Wednesday May 7th 2025 5pm.
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#
**2 Board seats are vacant!!! Consider joining The Foundation!!!
24/25 Previous NAMily Newsletter Links
Resource Center News
Have a concern?
Complete this form if you have a concern and a solution to improve student learning experiences at NAM.
Mission Statement:
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
