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Cowles Montessori Crier

Extended Break

CowlesMontessori CrierExtended Break
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Cowles Montessori Vision

“Human flourishing, as Maria Montessori put it, means becoming a person of one’s time and place with the means and wherewithal not only to function within but to shape society (NCMPS, 2019).”


“All humans (CHILDREN and ADULTS) flourish in society (ENVIRONMENT).” - Cowles Montessori Vision

School Closures Due to COVID-19

For all humans to flourish in our current society, we are exercising “social distancing” during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this process is to slow the spread of the virus. It is a collaborative effort to “flatten the curve,” which is a process to reduce the number of individuals needing medical attention and to not overwhelm the current health care responders with those in need. This means that students are not able to attend and learn in their traditional school environments. Distance learning programs are being developed to ensure the highest level of safety for our school community and to continue the academic growth and development of our students.


  • All schools are currently closed as DMPS transitions to online and distance learning to complete the 2019-20 school year.
  • Cowles Montessori School will be closed through the end of the school year
  • Online distance learning is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 27th
  • To gather information and better understand everyone's technology needs, all families will complete the distance learning survey for your child(ren): https://dmschools.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5alw7vxlhcyXy7z

Hiring Announcement

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Allie Meyer as our Upper Level Montessori Teacher! Ms. Allie replaces Ms. Lori Myers, who will be transitioning to the Math Interventionist position at Cowles next school year. Please give Ms. Allie a warm Cowles welcome when you meet her!


Here is a note from Ms. Allie Meyer to the Cowles Community:

My name is Ms. Allie Meyer. I am currently in my 6th year of teaching, all of which have been at McKinley Elementary School. While I currently teach 2nd grade, I have also taught Kindergarten and 5th grade. I have served on the MTSS Tier 1 team for the entirety of my time, as well as the Building Leadership Team this school year. I graduated from Roosevelt High School and went on to get my degree in Elementary Education with a science endorsement from The University of Iowa. I completed my M.S.E in Culturally Responsive Leadership and Instruction, with an endorsement in English Language Learning from Drake University, this past December. My experiences at McKinley have enriched my understanding of equity through the lens of ELL instruction, as well as social-emotional learning. I am excited to help all students grow and learn how their successes contribute to our community!


I absolutely love anything science-related, so I have been able to fuel that passion as the McKinley school garden coordinator and work with the STEM club after school. I cannot wait to get hands-on with the learning and student exploration at Cowles Montessori!


I enjoy spending time outdoors biking, gardening, and exploring new places and cultures. I look forward to collaborating with everyone at Cowles soon! Best wishes to you all!

Artsonia: Supporting Artists from Mrs. Dare

CMPG Executive Board Officer Nominees

Here are the CMPG Executive Board Officer nominees for the 2020-2021 school year:

Rochelle Quiner- President

Teva Dawson and Nicole Kosby- Co-Vice Presidents

Kate Thompson- Secretary

Matt Weir-Treasurer


If anyone is interested in serving on the board, please contact Rochelle Quiner: rquiner@gmail.com

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DJPJ's (Disc Jockey Principal Johnson) Weekly Top 5 Songs for getting through the Coronavirus

5. Home - Philip Philips

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTg1n95--KE

4. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtGY4G7II6s

3. Times Like These - The Foo Fighters

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyoeJr6ZcPM

2. Into the Unknown - Elsa from Frozen 2

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIOyB9ZXn8s

1. The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WD_ats6eE&feature=youtu.be

Virtual Field Trips

Looking for something new and fun to do with your student and family while not leaving the comfort of your home? Virtual field trips are an AMAZING option for you! Virtual field trips allow you and your student to explore many museums, zoos, national landmarks, and places all over the world from the comfort of your couch! Below is a list of just some the amazing adventures you can take for free from the couch!


Zoos


Aquariums


Farms


Planetariums


Museums


National Parks


Landmarks and Cities

Lower Level News

Below you’ll find a list of ideas to incorporate learning while at home during our extended Spring break. We support your decision to help your child grow in whichever ways you prefer right now. This list is intended to be a list of tools, not a list of requirements or assignments. Your little one will remember this time at home for years to come. We encourage you to use this time however you see fit. Please don’t fret about taking our role as your child’s educator. But do know we support you continuing to foster your child’s love of learning and quest for understanding.


Keep in touch and take care,

Ms. Thompson, Ms. Lindsey, Mrs. Kenninger, Ms. Andlauer and Ms. Ashley

- Lower Elementary Teachers


Mathematics Cooking:


  • Following a recipe. Practicing measuring.
  • Conversions: How many 1/4t are in a 1/2t?
  • Reading a thermometer.
  • Reading a clock.
  • Card games (Here is a cool resource - https://www.weareteachers.com/math-card-games/? fbclid=IwAR1YAuMppNI0OFVjJGYVvl2rcZCfz2BrJaAcR6IXvdWfu3rZVnt_d0t7qac
  • Counting money. Creating a shop and having someone in your home come and make purchases. Practice counting and giving change.
  • Create your own survey. Create a graph with your results.


Integrated Activities:

  • Homework Bingo (attached below)
  • Ridgeline Montessori at Home, Weeks 1 -4. (attached below) These tasks are fun and incorporate a variety of skills.


Online Resources:

Four Weeks of Activities