Cowles Montessori School Crier

"Together we celebrate diversity, respect, and the love for learning through the Montessori Method. Our environment nurtures and prepares the child for a global community."

Parent-Teacher Conferences - Weeks of October 2nd & Week of October 9th

*Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG) Meeting - Monday, October 9th, 6:00-7:00pm

Picture Day – Thursday, October 19th

Trunk or Treat - Thursday, October 26th

No School for Students - Friday, October 27th

We’ve got a lot going on the Library! I’m so happy to have these kiddos back and ready to enjoy books with me again! Since it’s the beginning of the year we start with our usual review of how the Library works. For Preschool, this means reviewing, or learning for the first time, how we control our voices and our bodies, and how we treat our books. Another important thing to know is how to use a “spotter card”. These hold our “spot” on the shelf while we look at a book so we know right where to put it back when we’re done. We will be learning so much this year. I’m always impressed with how much they remember and love to see their excitement for books grow! I start seeing the students in 3 year old Preschool so be watching for their choices to be coming home! Please use this as an opportunity to show them how we are responsible in returning our Library books!

In Lower Elementary, we are remembering how the Library is laid out, what a call number is, how to look up books on our Library website, and then how to find that book in the room. These are things we will build on all year but their independence and excitement to find that book is fantastic!

Upper Elementary has been reviewing these things as well and will also be learning about more in depth searches offered through our Library database. This will offer books, articles, websites, and more for more substantial research.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions regarding the Library at erin.fidler@dmschools.org. It’s going to be a great year!

Principal Johnson's Message will cover these topics and more:
1. Montessori Parent Education Opportunities
2. Montessori, Growth Mindset, and Standards-Referenced Grading
3. Funding Requests

2018-19 Academic Planning and Course Requests for Roosevelt High School

• October 23rd: Parent Night at Merrill or Callanan, 6-7pm Auditorium (choose the most convenient location for you)

• Learn about the new course request process in MyAP and YOUR role as a parent of a future Roughrider

• Early November: Roosevelt Counselors will be at Cowles assisting students with entering course requests into MyAP

• Parents review student’s MyAP selections in Infinite Campus. Make adjustments with your student and approve online.

• November-December: Roosevelt counselors will review student course requests for errors/appropriate placement and lock requests.

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Montessori Education in the Des Moines Public School District, we are calling on all parents to submit photos that will be displayed on a 25th Anniversary Montessori Pink Tower. The larger-than-life sized Pink Tower will hold 1,925 photos and will be revealed in February when we officially celebrate the 25th Anniversary.

You may upload your photos to the following Dropbox link or contact Kara Dare:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4fuqvqw0alx0rye/AAC08EwAN9xcO2m51TiLzQS1a?dl=0

Intrinsic Motivation- Intrinsic motivation is the innate desire that drives the child to engage in an activity for enjoyment and satisfaction.

Creativity and Originality of Thought- Students are confident using the knowledge and skills they acquired to express their own ideas and creativity. They recognize the value of their own ideas, respect the creative process of others and are willing to share regardless of risk. Students find joy and satisfaction in self-expression.

Social Responsibility- Social responsibility requires the awareness that one’s actions impact the welfare of the group and that one cannot attain complete independence and autonomy until one contributes constructively in a group process. Individuals are able to make a positive contribution to their community and groups within that community.

Autonomy- The autonomous child is self-directed, composed and morally independent.

Confidence and Competence- The confident and competent child perceives himself as being successful, has a realistic understanding of accomplishment and has the ability to learn from his/her mistakes. Competence is the capability for success through taking risks, reflection, and self-correction.

Spiritual Awareness- Montessori students are often exceptionally compassionate, empathetic, and sensitive to the natural world and human condition.

Academic Preparation- On an academic level, Montessori provides students with skills that allow them to become independently functioning adults and lifelong learners. As students master one level of academic skills they are able to go further and apply themselves to increasingly challenging materials across various academic disciplines. Students recognize that there is always room to grow in their abilities to read, write, speak, and think clearly and thoughtfully. Children learn how to learn by doing. Students are encouraged to explore materials, integrate new concepts, analyze data, and think critically. Academic skills are essential to learning and knowing, not the aim of learning and knowing.

As a professional learning community, we are engaging in ways that foster a "growth mindset" as it pertains to teaching and learning. Some ways the staff are helping each other and students foster a growth mindset include:

- Recognizing the potential in others
- Helping each other realize our mindset actually impacts our understanding of success and failure (Heggart, 2015)
- Modeling and sharing relevant examples of how our own growth mindset impacts others in positive and productive ways
- Seeing ourselves as learners and, just like students, understanding that everyone is capable of learning and improving (Heggart, 2015)

The picture attached to this message demonstrates ways we can all talk to ourselves and others with a growth mindset.
Sincerely,
Principal Johnson

Source:

Heggart, K. (2015). Developing a growth mindset in teachers and staff. Marian County, CA: George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Email: todd.johnson@dmschools.org
Website: https://cowles.dmschools.org/
Location: 6401 College Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA, United States
Phone: 515-242-7818
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori/
Twitter: @CowlesDMPS