From our history books...

In preparation of our upcoming AMS 30th Anniversary Celebration on 2/2/08, a few notes about the history of AMS:

Summer 2002 - Groundbreaking for new school

January 2003 - AMS opens in our current building!

2006 - Merger of the 2 Lower Elementary classrooms

2007 - Opened 3rd morning toddler class, added 3rd afternoon preschool class


Are you or is someone you know an AMS alum? We're working on compiling stories from the 30 years of AMS for our upcoming anniversary. Please contact AMS's own Amanda U. at: amandalynak@gci.net with memories of the AMS experience.

BIG thanks to AMY at the front desk for her suggestion to include a celebration of the history of AMS!

A few things to remember...

eScrip:

As of 12/12/07, 147 people are registered for eScrip to benefit Anchorage Montessori School. We held a contest during parent-teacher conference time in November. Awards will be presented to the classroom with the highest total number of people registered for eScrip, and with the highest percentage of people registered for eScrip.

100 AMS families are still not registered. To register, simply email your Carrs/Safeway card number to Karen.padgett@alaska.com. If you don’t know your number (usually 11 digits starting with 46…), please call Safeway Customer Service at 1-877-723-3929 to find out what it is or sign up for a new one at any Carrs store.

30th Anniversary Celebration:

There's a HUGE opportunity for earning volunteer hours. The 30th Anniversary AMS Celebration and Reception will be held February 2, 2008 in the ConocoPhillips Atrium. Our guest of honor will be our AMS founder Betsy Howard and it's promising to be an exciting evening.

If your excited about this volunteer opportunity and helping celebrate the rich history of AMS please contact: Sherry Lentfer at:
sherry_lentfer@yahoo.com

Just for Fun...a lesson in Spanish from AMS Mom & Spanish teacher Karen P., your toddler/preschooler may already know this!:

Every week, at the end of Spanish class, we sing the following song twice, to the tune of “Goodnight, Ladies.”

Adios, niños, adios, niñas (ah-DYOS NEE-nyohs, NEE-nyahs)
Adios todos (TOH-dohs)
Ya me voy (yah may boy)

Translation: Goodbye, boys, goodbye, girls, I’m going now.

Advice from Sue Keller...

Sue Keller, a Montessori trainer who worked at AMS from ~1985-1995 and is a Montessori trainer in Boulder, Colorado, gave a free lecture open parents and teachers at Midnight Sun Montessori School on 12/7/07. At least 6 AMS parents & teachers attended.

Some key points one parent noted from Sue’s lecture:

It’s a matter of Behavior Understanding, not Behavior Management

From 0-6, the body is in control, not the mind. A change starts at age 3 because language is getting stronger. The more they talk, the more they learn to control their body.

Give them “2 yesses for every no”

Maria Montessori said, “Every useless aid hinders development.” Look for ways to cut the adult out of the picture of a child’s activity.

Recommended reading: Self-Esteem: A Family Affair, by Jean Clarke

Enjoy the ride. Childhood has an expiration date.

Toddler traits: Transductive reasoning (2 unrelated events are related in a toddler’s mind). Everything is alive (ie they think a rock will grow into a mountain). Can only focus on one aspect of an activity at a time.

Ideas: Designate a shelf of the fridge and a cupboard for the kids to help themselves.
Take labels of items you need to the store and let the child find the items.

From 0-3, it takes 8 seconds for a toddler to register what you’ve asked them to do. Ask once. Wait 8-10 seconds, then take action.

BIG THANKS to AMS Mom & Spanish teacher Karen P. for her notes from the lecture!

30 years ~ where did the time go?

Did you know the children that attend AMS are part of a 30 year history? In preparation for the upcoming 30th Anniversary Celebration of AMS, the AMS Parent Blog wanted to share a few highlights of this rich AMS history with you, our readers...watch for these in the coming weeks as we prepare to toast 30 years of AMS on 2/2/08!

1977 AMS opened in September with one classroom in the First American Baptist Church building at the corner of LaTouche and Northern Lights. The co-teachers/administrations were Toni Serpe-Davies and Betsey Howard. There was a maximum of 18 children in each session (morning and afternoon). The school received non-profit status this year.

BIG thanks to Amy at the front desk for the suggestion of educating our readers about the history of AMS!

Need Volunteer Hours?

The year is half over, but there's a HUGE opportunity for earning volunteer hours. The 30th Anniversary AMS Celebration and Reception will be held February 2, 2008 in the ConocoPhillips Atrium. Our guest of honor will be our AMS founder Betsy Howard and it's promising to be an exciting evening.

We need volunteers for the following projects:

1) Helping Betsy call AMS alumnus

2) Assisting with set-up that evening

3) Collecting and tallying the RSVP's

4) Misc. volunteer projects for the event

If your excited about this volunteer opportunity and helping celebrate the rich history of AMS please contact: Sherry Lentfer at:
sherry_lentfer@yahoo.com

Did you see the donation tree?

There's a lovely tree in the AMS atrium. On many of the branches are slips of paper with necessary items listed for the day-to-day operations at AMS. Ranging from $30 for TP (!) to many more $$ for Co-Sponsoring the AMS Auction the donation tree provides options for every budget in considering a **tax deductible** donation to AMS.

Please stop by the donation tree at your next AMS visit and keep your child's education in mind for holiday giving.

So many things to do...

Going out-of-town on holiday? This time of year there seem to be too many things to do...but the U.S. Postal Service offers one easy on-line option: holding your mail with just a click. Simply visit the website below, enter your personal address information and you can place your mail on hold beginning anytime in the next two weeks. Chalk up this method as one less trip you'll have to make to the Post Office this holiday season... and one less line you'll find yourself standing in...

Put your mail on hold today!:

https://holdmail.usps.com/duns/HoldMail.jsp

Montessori Workshop Opportunity

This Friday, December 7th local school Midnight Sun Montessori will be hosting a Behavior Management Workshop for Parents. Hosted by Sue Kennedy, an Infant/Toddler Education Instructor from the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies. Many of our own AMS teachers have been educated at the MEC of the Rockies.

The workshop will run from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Midnight Sun Montessori at 1130 W. 19th Ave. Childcare will be provided and there is a dessert potluck. Please RSVP to: sandy@midnightsunmontessori.com

AMS Teacher's ART

Our Toddler Teacher, Amanda Ungerecht, will have some of her pieces on display & for sale at Half Moon Creek Gallery. The Holiday Open House at the gallery will be on Friday the 7th of December. Amanda does fused glass work, amazing candle lanterns, jewelry, and stained glass. Get out and show your support for Amanda this Friday!

What do you remember?

In honor of the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Anchorage Montessori School we're looking for alumni and parents that have memories to share. If you attended AMS and have anecdotes about your AMS experience we want to hear from you! If you know someone with AMS history still living in Anchorage or beyond *please* have them contact us as well... we're working on compiling stories from the 30 years of AMS. For more information on this project, please contact AMS's own Amanda Ungerecht at: amandalynak@gci.net

Thank you for your support!