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Thank You Parents

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Last week, the FMS PTO and FMS Parents showered teachers and staff with treats, gifts and other tokens of thanks throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Needless to say, we felt more than appreciated — we felt cherished. Thank you so much for all your kind words and gestures and for all that you do throughout the year to support our efforts. You are appreciated as well!

From the P2 Blog:

“When Natricia (Ava’s mom), began escorting our children to the multipurpose room for a ‘special project’ (for the teachers), we had no idea how beautiful, funny and meaningful that project was until each of the teachers received their own memory book. Looking at our work through the eyes of the children is a poignant reminder of how important it is. You never know how one lesson or another leaves its mark on each individual child. Last week was filled with wonderful treats from our parents. The collective appreciation that we feel for the outpouring of love from our parents is profound. We know that every day we are entrusted with the great responsibility of being with your children; guiding them with their development of self. The moments of witnessing a child getting a concept, zipping up a zipper, laughing in delight, are treasures beyond measure. We are grateful for this time we share together and appreciate the dedicated support we feel from all of our parents.”

We Love Our Teachers

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This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, a chance to pay tribute to our wonderful teachers and staff.

This year at Foothills Montessori School, we have focused on providing our teachers with the knowledge and platforms they need to reach their full potential. We have attended conferences, seminars, in-services and workshops; hosted nationally recognized guest speakers, thought-provoking webinars, documentaries and book clubs; held regular Teacher Liason and Group Level Head Meetings; and put forth various initiatives designed to make Foothills Montessori the ideal place for your children to learn, grow and enjoy their childhood.

In our school-wide staff meetings we have begun giving out Gyroscope Awards to recognize outstanding staff members. The Gyroscope represents how our staff members do some gravity-defying ‘spinning’ around our core principle, which is to “follow the child” and create the best learning environment for each one.

We also have spotlighted two outstanding staff members on our school website, Erica Sherlock and April Dane. We invite you to read more about them as well as all of our scintillating staff on their new staff pages (administration, primary, lower elementary, upper elementary, and middle school/specialists).

On behalf of these teachers, we would like to thank you, all of our caring and committed parents, as well as our dedicated PTO, for showing us you care in so many ways — for volunteering your time in classrooms, at events, and on field trips;  for organizing luncheons and breakfasts; for  bringing treats and surprises; for recognizing teachers regularly on the PTO Loop — the list goes on and on. We really could not do it without your support and encouragement.

We take pride in the people who make this school so special. Thank you for all that you do!

Congratulations Ms. April!

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Ms. April, Head Teacher in E4, has been chosen as our new Staff Spotlight.

“Ms. April is a positive thinker. She would always acknowledge me even if I got something wrong. She has a great sense of humor.” — Hank (former E4 student; currently in E5)

You can read more about Ms. April below.

[button url=”https://foothillsmontessori.com/april-dane/” target=”_blank” size=”small” style=”coolblue” ]Read More[/button]

 

Ms. Arlene Gets An Unexpected Letter

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One of our teachers, Ms. Arlene Dreitzer, received an unexpected letter from a former student recently.

Dear Mrs. Dreitzer;

Greetings to you from Washington, D.C. I hope that you and your family are well. I have wanted to contact you for quite a while to express my sincere appreciation for your influence and role in my life … you were my 6th grade teacher at P.S. 235 in Brooklyn, NY! The other day at work I was called into a “brainstorming” meeting — you came to my mind immediately because you were the person who introduced me to brainstorming nearly 30 years ago. The great memories from our 6th grade class came flowing back: the “Bear Necessities” vocabulary wall; The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck; Animal Farm; and how could I forget Damn Yankees, our class play! So many years have come and gone, but you stand out as one of the best educators that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Indeed, I started out with the aspiration to teach! I was a student teacher in a middle school in Harlem and used Lord of the Flies as my first text! (Thanks for paving the way.) I later turned to international development and am working and living in Washington with the World Bank. I’m so grateful for the chance to express my thanks and affection to you, dear Mrs. Dreitzer! “Many women have done well, but you excel them all!”

Says Ms. Arlene: “I believe I had this student in 1983. I taught in a magnet public school for gifted and talented children. I recall that it was a 6th grade class of 40 students and I taught every subject. The school was called The Lenox School or P.S. 235. The program was called the Soar Program and students took an entrance exam to attend.”

Ms. Arlene has been at Foothills Montessori for eight years as a Middle School Language Arts Teacher and Reading Specialist. She has 41 years of teaching experience, a MS in education, and has completed an additional 30 credits above her Master’s degree. She loves literature, etymology and teaching, and has made a positive mark on many students throughout her long career as an educator. We are so lucky to have Ms. Arlene at Foothills Montessori.