Ask anyone what the most important meal of the day is and I'll bet you they say "breakfast." Most of you know that the term comes from the fact that the morning meal is breaking a ten to twelve hour fast from the day before. Lots of love, adequate sleep and good nutrition are probably the three most important things you can give to your children. They are also three things that the child cannot acquire on his own.
I know that you are all busy and tired! I'm guessing that about half of you are early birds and half of you are night owls. I am a night owl who gets up at 6:00 am. I have had to train myself to go to bed early and get up early to get my morning chores done. I get up and take a shower, put makeup on, get dressed, make breakfast for four people, help make lunch for two kids, supervise three kids morning activities, feed the fish, feed and water two indoor cats and too many barn cats, feed and water and break ice for four horses, one donkey, two cows, five goats and several chickens. Then I drop two kids off at school in Canyon and drive twenty minutes to work. ( I also try to do laundry and dishes on some mornings.)
I know how busy and tired you all are!
I also remember that my kids didn't always like to eat breakfast first thing in the morning. They needed time to watch TV or play before they were ready to eat in the morning. My 15 year old son still takes breakfast on a plastic plate with a plastic fork in the car to eat on the way to school. Your children are welcome to bring their breakfast to school to eat if they get here before 8:15.
Now, your idea of breakfast and our idea of breakfast may be two different things. Remember, you are the only one who can provide good nutrition for your small child. You make their breakfast and you pack their lunch. You provide snacks and you provide supper. Chocolate donuts and chocolate milk are not the "Breakfast of Champions."
Have you been paying attention to the media and current concern over obesity in our country? Most Americans get way too many refined foods and not enough "whole foods" in their natural state. We also eat far too many carbohydrates and not enough protein. The recommended ratio for carbs, protein and fat is 45%, 30% and 25%. A donut has 51% carbs, 6% protein and 43% fat. A cup of 2% milk has 39% carbs, 26% protein and 35% fat.
www.nutritiondata.com is a website that lists nutrition facts and ratios for whole foods, packaged foods and restaurant foods. We have added this site to our list of favorite web sites.
Next week, we'll feature great breakfast ideas from the staff and parents. If you have a great breakfast idea, please e-mail me at ama@amaonline.com.
We know that you all want to be the best parents that you can be. We know that you all have chosen Amarillo Montessori to give your child the best early education. We want to help you provide the best morning nutrition so that your child can get the most out of his morning at school.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Final Parent Orientation
I would like to thank everyone who has followed my blog through the parent orientation process. The rest of the handbook is very thorough and I trust that you will be able to read and understand it. If you have any questions about any part of our parent handbook, please feel free to ask your child's teacher or to call me in the office.
I would like to thank all the families who participated in the selling of cookie dough and pies. Your participation in the school's fund-raising efforts are so important. Because of parent participation in the Annual Extravaganza last year, we were able to install new tile and carpet in Rooms 1, 2, 3 & 4. We were also able to buy an awning to protect the doorway for Room 5.
The school board and staff will be meeting this month to discuss plans for the Annual Extravaganza 2009. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please e-mail me and I will share your comments at the meeting. If you are interested in serving on the Extravaganza committee, please let me know as soon as possible.
I would like to thank all the families who participated in the selling of cookie dough and pies. Your participation in the school's fund-raising efforts are so important. Because of parent participation in the Annual Extravaganza last year, we were able to install new tile and carpet in Rooms 1, 2, 3 & 4. We were also able to buy an awning to protect the doorway for Room 5.
The school board and staff will be meeting this month to discuss plans for the Annual Extravaganza 2009. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please e-mail me and I will share your comments at the meeting. If you are interested in serving on the Extravaganza committee, please let me know as soon as possible.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Parent Orientation: Sixth Session
Toys at school! Please do not allow your child to bring toys from home to school. We feel so bad when toys get broken, lost or "borrowed" at school. Toys can also be distracting when they are in the backpack and kids need to show the toys to their friends. After the winter break, most classes have a "toy" show and tell day so that the kids can bring their favorite toy to show the class.
Regarding clothing, please send your child to school in comfortable, casual clothing. Even kids who have been potty trained for a while can have accidents when they can't remove their clothing easily. The teachers like to have a change of clothing, including socks, in the backpack or classroom for each child. Also, we will go outside on cold days for at least a few minutes. Please send jackets, hats and mittens if you feel that they will be needed at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM. We will not go outside if it is wet!
State regulations require that we offer a rest time for each student who is in school-day or all-day care. Each child needs a nap mat and a blanket that is long enough to cover their whole body. (We hate to see little ones pull the blanket up over their shoulders and uncover their feet!) Nap-time begins as soon as the children finish their lunch. If a child falls asleep, we will allow them to sleep for two hours and then we will wake them up. After one hour of rest time, a child who is awake can put his mat away and work quietly in the classroom. Babies who sleep in cribs are removed from the cribs when they wake up.
Our students bring their own lunches to school every day but Wednesday, when they can choose to pay for pizza. Our handbook contains a list of ideas for lunch foods that you can send for your child. Please send a cold pack for cold foods. We have microwaves in each classroom to warm foods, please don't send items that take more than one minute to heat.
Some of you have already been invited for parent-teacher conferences. It is our goal to provide regular written progress reports and to conference with parents of pre-schoolers in the fall and the spring. Infant and toddler parents are welcome to call for an appointment with the teachers any time.
Regarding clothing, please send your child to school in comfortable, casual clothing. Even kids who have been potty trained for a while can have accidents when they can't remove their clothing easily. The teachers like to have a change of clothing, including socks, in the backpack or classroom for each child. Also, we will go outside on cold days for at least a few minutes. Please send jackets, hats and mittens if you feel that they will be needed at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM. We will not go outside if it is wet!
State regulations require that we offer a rest time for each student who is in school-day or all-day care. Each child needs a nap mat and a blanket that is long enough to cover their whole body. (We hate to see little ones pull the blanket up over their shoulders and uncover their feet!) Nap-time begins as soon as the children finish their lunch. If a child falls asleep, we will allow them to sleep for two hours and then we will wake them up. After one hour of rest time, a child who is awake can put his mat away and work quietly in the classroom. Babies who sleep in cribs are removed from the cribs when they wake up.
Our students bring their own lunches to school every day but Wednesday, when they can choose to pay for pizza. Our handbook contains a list of ideas for lunch foods that you can send for your child. Please send a cold pack for cold foods. We have microwaves in each classroom to warm foods, please don't send items that take more than one minute to heat.
Some of you have already been invited for parent-teacher conferences. It is our goal to provide regular written progress reports and to conference with parents of pre-schoolers in the fall and the spring. Infant and toddler parents are welcome to call for an appointment with the teachers any time.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Parent Orientation: Fifth Session
Thank you for sticking with me for our review of the parent handbook. I'm sorry I'm late getting online this week. Please read the section of the handbook concerning injury at school.
We want to let you know that if your child sustains any kind of head injury at school, we will call you to come and look at the injury. We want you to decide whether or not your child should see a doctor when they have hit their head.
We also want to let you know that we have to notify TDFPS if your child must see a doctor due to being injured at school. If your child has to see a doctor, please make sure that you get a TDFPS form from their teacher or from the office. There is a section for the doctor to fill out and it is much easier to have it filled out while you are there!
The fire department visited AMA last week to conduct our annual fire inspection. We passed with flying colors! We do practice fire and tornado drills regularly, so please do not be concerned if your child says that we had a "fire" at school.
In the event that we experience severe weather this winter, please watch the news or listen to the radio. If the Amarillo Public School system is closed, we will be closed. We hope that you will be able to stay home with your children if the roads are dangerous, but as long as AISD is in session, we will be open.
Regarding attendance, please have your child at school before 8:30 each morning. Our school day starts at 8:30 and children who arrive later than that struggle to catch up each day. Children who arrive a few minutes early have a chance to get a drink of water and visit with their friends before school starts. Please keep in mind how you feel when you have a few minutes to "breathe" before work as opposed to getting there and having to jump right in.
We want to let you know that if your child sustains any kind of head injury at school, we will call you to come and look at the injury. We want you to decide whether or not your child should see a doctor when they have hit their head.
We also want to let you know that we have to notify TDFPS if your child must see a doctor due to being injured at school. If your child has to see a doctor, please make sure that you get a TDFPS form from their teacher or from the office. There is a section for the doctor to fill out and it is much easier to have it filled out while you are there!
The fire department visited AMA last week to conduct our annual fire inspection. We passed with flying colors! We do practice fire and tornado drills regularly, so please do not be concerned if your child says that we had a "fire" at school.
In the event that we experience severe weather this winter, please watch the news or listen to the radio. If the Amarillo Public School system is closed, we will be closed. We hope that you will be able to stay home with your children if the roads are dangerous, but as long as AISD is in session, we will be open.
Regarding attendance, please have your child at school before 8:30 each morning. Our school day starts at 8:30 and children who arrive later than that struggle to catch up each day. Children who arrive a few minutes early have a chance to get a drink of water and visit with their friends before school starts. Please keep in mind how you feel when you have a few minutes to "breathe" before work as opposed to getting there and having to jump right in.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Parent Orientation: Fourth Session
Thank you for joining me for a fourth week of Parent orientation. I hope that this blog will help to answer some specific questions for each family. Before I start on the handbook, I would like to remind everyone that:
Cookie Dough Orders Are Due!!
Regarding the release of students: Please call the office or send a note to school if someone different than their normal ride will picking up your child. This person will need to bring their picture ID into the school with them. The classroom teacher or the office staff will check the ID to verify the identity of the person. Please keep in mind that even if a parent or grandparent is on the regular pick-up list, the staff may still want to check their ID.
Procedure for Illness at School:
The most common reasons that we would call you to pick up your sick child from school include, but are not limited to: fever of 99.4 under the armpit (or the equivalent), vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or the need for a level of care that we cannot provide.
We do not have a nurses office here at the school. Please make sure that you have someone that you can call in an emergency if you cannot leave work to pick up your child. Some communicable diseases are reportable to the health department, so please let us know what the doctor diagnoses. During times of specific concern, your child's teacher may send a note home that needs to be signed by a doctor before your child can return to school.
Please remember that we do not ask you to take your child to the doctor every time they are sick. We do ask that children be fever, vomit and diarrhea free for twenty-four hours before they return to school. Please bring a doctor's note if it has been requested by the teacher or the office. If everyone will be considerate of the health of the other families and the staff who have contact with their child, we will all have a healthier year!
Cookie Dough Orders Are Due!!
Regarding the release of students: Please call the office or send a note to school if someone different than their normal ride will picking up your child. This person will need to bring their picture ID into the school with them. The classroom teacher or the office staff will check the ID to verify the identity of the person. Please keep in mind that even if a parent or grandparent is on the regular pick-up list, the staff may still want to check their ID.
Procedure for Illness at School:
The most common reasons that we would call you to pick up your sick child from school include, but are not limited to: fever of 99.4 under the armpit (or the equivalent), vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or the need for a level of care that we cannot provide.
We do not have a nurses office here at the school. Please make sure that you have someone that you can call in an emergency if you cannot leave work to pick up your child. Some communicable diseases are reportable to the health department, so please let us know what the doctor diagnoses. During times of specific concern, your child's teacher may send a note home that needs to be signed by a doctor before your child can return to school.
Please remember that we do not ask you to take your child to the doctor every time they are sick. We do ask that children be fever, vomit and diarrhea free for twenty-four hours before they return to school. Please bring a doctor's note if it has been requested by the teacher or the office. If everyone will be considerate of the health of the other families and the staff who have contact with their child, we will all have a healthier year!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Parent Orientation: Third Session
Blog Page! Just in case this is your first time to visit our Blog page, please click anywhere on the text in the piece of notebook paper to be taken to the blog site. When you get to the blog page, please look to your right for the Parent Handbook Website. The complete parent handbook is published on this site.
A quirky law in the state of Texas requires the schools, not the Pediatricians, to keep records of the children's immunizations. Your child may have been immunized at the hospital at birth, at the pediatrician's office or at a clinic. Our school, and the elementary school that your child will attend, must have all of your child's records (from birth to now) on file. Thank you for taking the time to track down these records and get them to our office.
We also need a physicians permission for your child to participate in school activities. We don't need a copy of your child's medical record or most recent exam, just a note from the doctor that states that your child is physically able to attend school.
Our school will conduct vision and hearing screening for your child. Sometimes these services are donated, and sometimes we have to charge a small fee. If your child is old enough to be screened, the state requires that we keep the record in our files. If your child has been screened by a professional away from the school, please bring us a copy of the results for our files.
Now that we have been in school for three weeks, I would like to address traffic safety in our parking lot. If you drop your child off at school before 8:15, please park in a parking space or on the street and walk your child to class. From 8:15 to 8:30 you can drive up in front of our doors and drop your child off if they can walk themselves to class. If your child needs help getting to class, please park in a parking space or on the street to walk your child in.
At 11:30 dismissal, please park in a space or on the street and come in, or wait in your car for your child to be dismissed. At 3:00, please park in a space or on the street to come in, or wait in your car for your child to be dismissed. After 3:30, please feel free to park at the sidewalk in front of the school to go inside to get your children.
When cars are left unattended at the sidewalk in front of the school it is dangerous, especially at our busy arrival and dismissal times. Other parents are tempted to drop off their children from the middle lane and the children have to cross in front of the cars parked along the sidewalk. Some parents also get blocked into parking spaces or on the curb because other parents are forced to wait in the middle lane for their child to get out of or into the car.
Please, please, just be especially watchful for very short people in front of and behind your car in our parking lot and please moderate your speed!
If our staff can do anything to help with your arrival and dismissal time, please let us know.
A quirky law in the state of Texas requires the schools, not the Pediatricians, to keep records of the children's immunizations. Your child may have been immunized at the hospital at birth, at the pediatrician's office or at a clinic. Our school, and the elementary school that your child will attend, must have all of your child's records (from birth to now) on file. Thank you for taking the time to track down these records and get them to our office.
We also need a physicians permission for your child to participate in school activities. We don't need a copy of your child's medical record or most recent exam, just a note from the doctor that states that your child is physically able to attend school.
Our school will conduct vision and hearing screening for your child. Sometimes these services are donated, and sometimes we have to charge a small fee. If your child is old enough to be screened, the state requires that we keep the record in our files. If your child has been screened by a professional away from the school, please bring us a copy of the results for our files.
Now that we have been in school for three weeks, I would like to address traffic safety in our parking lot. If you drop your child off at school before 8:15, please park in a parking space or on the street and walk your child to class. From 8:15 to 8:30 you can drive up in front of our doors and drop your child off if they can walk themselves to class. If your child needs help getting to class, please park in a parking space or on the street to walk your child in.
At 11:30 dismissal, please park in a space or on the street and come in, or wait in your car for your child to be dismissed. At 3:00, please park in a space or on the street to come in, or wait in your car for your child to be dismissed. After 3:30, please feel free to park at the sidewalk in front of the school to go inside to get your children.
When cars are left unattended at the sidewalk in front of the school it is dangerous, especially at our busy arrival and dismissal times. Other parents are tempted to drop off their children from the middle lane and the children have to cross in front of the cars parked along the sidewalk. Some parents also get blocked into parking spaces or on the curb because other parents are forced to wait in the middle lane for their child to get out of or into the car.
Please, please, just be especially watchful for very short people in front of and behind your car in our parking lot and please moderate your speed!
If our staff can do anything to help with your arrival and dismissal time, please let us know.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Parent Orientation: Second Session
Please look to the right under the heading "Our Favorite Sites" to the title "Parent Handbook." If you click on that title, it will link you to the site containing our Parent Handbook. You can bookmark that site or reach it through this blog. Any changes to the Parent Handbook will be updated to that site.
Please take time to read the history of our school. We are so proud to be celebrating our 40th year of providing Montessori education to the families of the Panhandle. Thank you for choosing AMA as your partner in the education of your child.
Please also note our hours of operation. We open at 7:30 AM, Monday through Friday. Please do not get upset with our staff if they do not unlock the doors until that time. Several of our teachers arrive at school before 7:30 in order to prepare their classrooms and materials for their students. Our license from the State of Texas does not allow us to open our doors for students until 7:30 AM.
By the same token, please be respectful of our closing time. We are licensed to stay open until 6:00 PM. Our students need to be picked up no later than 6:00 PM in order to prevent violations to our license. If an emergency should cause you to be late, please phone the office immediately since our staff is supposed to report late children to child protective services.
Thank you to parents who have turned in all of their child's completed enrollment forms. Your child's file is also regulated by the state and must be complete for us to remain licensed. Please understand that we are not picking on you, but your child should not be allowed to attend our school without a complete file.
Please take time to read the history of our school. We are so proud to be celebrating our 40th year of providing Montessori education to the families of the Panhandle. Thank you for choosing AMA as your partner in the education of your child.
Please also note our hours of operation. We open at 7:30 AM, Monday through Friday. Please do not get upset with our staff if they do not unlock the doors until that time. Several of our teachers arrive at school before 7:30 in order to prepare their classrooms and materials for their students. Our license from the State of Texas does not allow us to open our doors for students until 7:30 AM.
By the same token, please be respectful of our closing time. We are licensed to stay open until 6:00 PM. Our students need to be picked up no later than 6:00 PM in order to prevent violations to our license. If an emergency should cause you to be late, please phone the office immediately since our staff is supposed to report late children to child protective services.
Thank you to parents who have turned in all of their child's completed enrollment forms. Your child's file is also regulated by the state and must be complete for us to remain licensed. Please understand that we are not picking on you, but your child should not be allowed to attend our school without a complete file.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Parent Handbook Online!
Please look to the right under the heading "Our Favorite Sites" to the title "Parent Handbook." If you click on that title, it will link you to the site containing our Parent Handbook. You can bookmark that site or reach it through this blog. Any changes to the Parent Handbook will be updated to that site.
For our first Parent Orientation "Session," I would like to highlight the mission statement for the Amarillo Montessori Academy. In an effort to reach our goal of providing "quality education" we know that we must love the children and help them get comfortable in their environment. If a child is worried or insecure, his brain cannot process all of the learning opportunities he is offered.
In order to provide a "Montessori setting" we try to have one Montessori Certified teacher in each classroom. Because the Infant/Toddler certification is still fairly new, we have Montessori Certified teachers consult with teachers who are not certified. Some of our pre-school classes have two Montessori Certified teachers!
I always like to tell parents that Montessori education is different from traditional education because we are trying to encourage the children to become "self-directed learners." That means that instead of teachers saying "here is what I know and I am going to teach it to you" Montessori teachers say "here is a world full of knowledge and I am going to show you how to find it."
Finally, we at AMA believe that every child has a gift and that it is our responsibility as teachers to help them find that gift and make the most of it. Some children have intellectual gifts, some have artistic gifts and some have spiritual/emotional gifts. As parents and teachers, we also need to remember that children don't always have the same gifts that their parents and siblings have! Try to take time this week to celebrate your family's gifts.
For our first Parent Orientation "Session," I would like to highlight the mission statement for the Amarillo Montessori Academy. In an effort to reach our goal of providing "quality education" we know that we must love the children and help them get comfortable in their environment. If a child is worried or insecure, his brain cannot process all of the learning opportunities he is offered.
In order to provide a "Montessori setting" we try to have one Montessori Certified teacher in each classroom. Because the Infant/Toddler certification is still fairly new, we have Montessori Certified teachers consult with teachers who are not certified. Some of our pre-school classes have two Montessori Certified teachers!
I always like to tell parents that Montessori education is different from traditional education because we are trying to encourage the children to become "self-directed learners." That means that instead of teachers saying "here is what I know and I am going to teach it to you" Montessori teachers say "here is a world full of knowledge and I am going to show you how to find it."
Finally, we at AMA believe that every child has a gift and that it is our responsibility as teachers to help them find that gift and make the most of it. Some children have intellectual gifts, some have artistic gifts and some have spiritual/emotional gifts. As parents and teachers, we also need to remember that children don't always have the same gifts that their parents and siblings have! Try to take time this week to celebrate your family's gifts.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Welcome Back!
Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year. My goal this year is to add to the blog every Tuesday morning! Right now, I'd like to invite you to review the parent/student handbook through the blog. Each blog post will address a portion of the handbook. I will try to have a PDF file of that portion of the handbook for you to download (my husband Mike says that he can help me do that!)
I am so pleased that you have chosen the Amarillo Montessori Academy for your family. Our job is to love your child so that he/she feels comfortable enough to settle in and learn new things. Please let your child's teacher know how we can best serve your family this year. We love hearing from you on a regular basis. Best wishes this year!
I am so pleased that you have chosen the Amarillo Montessori Academy for your family. Our job is to love your child so that he/she feels comfortable enough to settle in and learn new things. Please let your child's teacher know how we can best serve your family this year. We love hearing from you on a regular basis. Best wishes this year!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Annual Extravaganza!
Please make sure that you have reserved this Friday, May 2nd, on your calendar. Our Annual Extravaganza will begin at 5:30, at the Amarillo Civic Center. Join us for a BBQ buffet, silent auction, live auction and children's performance. Dress is casual western, so polish your boots and call all your friends, and mosey on over this Friday night!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Online Auction!
Go to amarillomontessori.cmarket.com to get the jump on bidding for our Annual Extravaganza Auction!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Fall Registration in Progress!
Now is the time to get your children registered to attend school in the fall. We still have a few openings in the toddler and pre-school classrooms. Just call the Amarillo Montessori Academy at 353-3871 and set up an appointment to meet with the staff. We would love to meet with you and your child and answer your questions. If we don't have a program to suit your needs, we will be happy to direct you to other schools in town. To insure that your child gets the right fit for fall, start your search now!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
New Board Members
Thank you to everyone who attended our family night at Home Plate Diner last evening. Over seventy people signed in to vote and I know that we had that many children and guests. The folks at the Diner were so gracious to provide their restaurant for a meeting place and to donate 20% of the sales for the evening to AMA. Our school board members are also to be thanked for running orders and bussing tables all evening!
Four new board members were elected last night. They are Dennis Amason, Michelle Dear, Farrah Shah and Matt Thomas. They will attend the meetings in March, April and May and then they will fill the positions of the outgoing members in June. I really appreciate the time that the school board members commit to the school.
Registration for summer and fall will be starting next week. Stay tuned to the blog for registration information.
Four new board members were elected last night. They are Dennis Amason, Michelle Dear, Farrah Shah and Matt Thomas. They will attend the meetings in March, April and May and then they will fill the positions of the outgoing members in June. I really appreciate the time that the school board members commit to the school.
Registration for summer and fall will be starting next week. Stay tuned to the blog for registration information.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Family Night!
Monday night we will be introducing a new format for our Annual Meeting of the parents and members of the Academy. We will still be voting for the new school board members, but we will also have dinner and enjoy some down time with each other. We will be having a come and go supper at the Home Plate Diner on Monday night from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.
Twenty percent of the sales fromt the evening will be donated to the school. The teachers and board members will be there to visit with families and to help serve and clean up! We will have a paper ballot and you can vote for the new board members while you are there.
I would like to introduce our prospective board members to you:
Dennis Amason
Father of Garrett (4 years) and Elisabeth (6 years)
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
Experience: Dennis is self employed and he has served as the chairman for his church board. Dennis cares about his child and about the Amarillo Montessori Academy. He wants to serve on the board because he wants to spend his time working on something he is passionate about.
Michelle Dear
Mother of Hudson (3 years) & Hadley (20 mos).
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies from WT
Experience: Michelle has served as the Executive Director of the YMCA. She would like to serve on the board because she thinks everyone should serve their time for their school. She cares about the place where her children will both be educated. Having served as an Executive Director, she understands the important role of the board of directors. Michelle also has experience in fundraising and hopes that experience will benefit the school.
Farrah Shah
Mother of Emaan (2 years)
Education: Bachelor’s in Pre-law and Political Science, currently working on MBA at WTAMU
Experience: Farrah used to be a bookkeeper and is very familiar with financing and budgeting. She is has been the director of Delta Zeta Zeta sorority for 4 years and has received national accreditation. Farrah is very passionate about organizations that she believes in and likes to volunteer her time to support them.
Matt Thomas
Father of Cooper (3 years) & Quinn (infant)
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M
Experience: Matt is an engineer at Thomas & Israel Registered Civil Engineers and he has served on several boards including Center City. Matt attended Amarillo Montessori as a child and feels like it gave him a good head-start. He believes AMA provides a good education for his children as well. He has had experience with several other non-profit boards and believes he can provide a good common-sense approach to matters brought before the board. With an engineering background, he would also be able to help the school by advising and helping the school move forward with our expansion.
Twenty percent of the sales fromt the evening will be donated to the school. The teachers and board members will be there to visit with families and to help serve and clean up! We will have a paper ballot and you can vote for the new board members while you are there.
I would like to introduce our prospective board members to you:
Dennis Amason
Father of Garrett (4 years) and Elisabeth (6 years)
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
Experience: Dennis is self employed and he has served as the chairman for his church board. Dennis cares about his child and about the Amarillo Montessori Academy. He wants to serve on the board because he wants to spend his time working on something he is passionate about.
Michelle Dear
Mother of Hudson (3 years) & Hadley (20 mos).
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies from WT
Experience: Michelle has served as the Executive Director of the YMCA. She would like to serve on the board because she thinks everyone should serve their time for their school. She cares about the place where her children will both be educated. Having served as an Executive Director, she understands the important role of the board of directors. Michelle also has experience in fundraising and hopes that experience will benefit the school.
Farrah Shah
Mother of Emaan (2 years)
Education: Bachelor’s in Pre-law and Political Science, currently working on MBA at WTAMU
Experience: Farrah used to be a bookkeeper and is very familiar with financing and budgeting. She is has been the director of Delta Zeta Zeta sorority for 4 years and has received national accreditation. Farrah is very passionate about organizations that she believes in and likes to volunteer her time to support them.
Matt Thomas
Father of Cooper (3 years) & Quinn (infant)
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M
Experience: Matt is an engineer at Thomas & Israel Registered Civil Engineers and he has served on several boards including Center City. Matt attended Amarillo Montessori as a child and feels like it gave him a good head-start. He believes AMA provides a good education for his children as well. He has had experience with several other non-profit boards and believes he can provide a good common-sense approach to matters brought before the board. With an engineering background, he would also be able to help the school by advising and helping the school move forward with our expansion.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Welcome to 2008!
Welcome to 2008! I know that I am a little tardy with my salutation. Coming back to school after the winter holiday can sometimes feel like starting all over. I hope that you were all able to spend a little extra time with your children during the holiday.
I am quite sure that many schools exist that have staff members who love the children in their care. I just get to see firsthand examples here at AMA of the love that is shared by the staff and students. Of course, I especially get tears in my eyes when I see my sixteen year old son, a former student, playing with the children on the playground.
Daily, I see the students, infant to elementary, sharing hugs and kisses with their teachers and their friends. I hear teachers spontaneously tell the children "I love you," and the children say, "I love you too." One of Mrs. Couch's kindergarten boys says good-bye to her every afternoon with "good-bye Mr. Couch" and she replies, "good-bye Miss E....." (They love their private joke!)
Sure, we have frustrating moments. We have entire bad days (especially when it is too cold to go outside and play.) But we are like a big family. The love that we share on a daily basis gets us through the tough times.
The best moment I have had all year was at nap-time last week. I was sitting on the floor with two little girls patting their backs. One was petting my fuzzy sweater and she said, "Mrs. Cunningham, you are so soft." The other little girl looked up from her mat and said, "And you're pwetty and you smewl good."
I just love them, I love their honesty, I love their wisdom, I even love their bad days. I'm proud of them and I'm so blessed that you share them with us. Try to take a moment today to appreciate your child right now, at the age and stage that they are. Write down the funny things they say and kiss their whole face even when you want to pull out your hair. I'm wishing lots of memories for you in 2008. Enjoy!
I am quite sure that many schools exist that have staff members who love the children in their care. I just get to see firsthand examples here at AMA of the love that is shared by the staff and students. Of course, I especially get tears in my eyes when I see my sixteen year old son, a former student, playing with the children on the playground.
Daily, I see the students, infant to elementary, sharing hugs and kisses with their teachers and their friends. I hear teachers spontaneously tell the children "I love you," and the children say, "I love you too." One of Mrs. Couch's kindergarten boys says good-bye to her every afternoon with "good-bye Mr. Couch" and she replies, "good-bye Miss E....." (They love their private joke!)
Sure, we have frustrating moments. We have entire bad days (especially when it is too cold to go outside and play.) But we are like a big family. The love that we share on a daily basis gets us through the tough times.
The best moment I have had all year was at nap-time last week. I was sitting on the floor with two little girls patting their backs. One was petting my fuzzy sweater and she said, "Mrs. Cunningham, you are so soft." The other little girl looked up from her mat and said, "And you're pwetty and you smewl good."
I just love them, I love their honesty, I love their wisdom, I even love their bad days. I'm proud of them and I'm so blessed that you share them with us. Try to take a moment today to appreciate your child right now, at the age and stage that they are. Write down the funny things they say and kiss their whole face even when you want to pull out your hair. I'm wishing lots of memories for you in 2008. Enjoy!
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