CHARITY WORK
Our school is committed to involving our students and their families in service to others less fortunate. Here are a variety of projects we have on-going this school year. Although they are listed by classroom, please feel free to contribute to any and all that speak to you personally. Thank you in advance for your generous support to these wonderful causes.

• Toddler class:  Collecting soap for the Amanda Strong Foundation (Today- December 8th)
• Children’s House 1:  Collecting food for the Amanda Strong Foundation     (Today-December 8th)  **This is an ALL SCHOOL drive**
• Children’s House 2:   Mrs. Bowe and Mrs. Franzen would like to thank all the parents and students who participated in the Hamilton County Coats for Kids program this year—all of our new and gently-used donations will be passed out to kids in our community on Saturday, November 1st.
• Children’s House 3:  Collecting school supplies to support the Chobots’ mission trip to Mexico (Starting Winter/Spring 2009)
• Elementary 1:  Collecting toys for the RTV6 Toy Drive (Today-December 15th)  **This is an ALL SCHOOL drive**
• Elementary 2:  Collecting new, “Hip” clothing for the homeless teenagers at the Outreach Program (Today-December 1st)

SPRING FLING PHOTOS
See all the photos from this year's Spring Fling! - Click Here

Peace Pole Celebration
100 years ago on January 6, 1907, Maria Montessori opened her first Montessori school. She has a vision that children would live in a peaceful world. She persistently worked and spoke out on peace, which is linked to the Montessori approach to education today.

We at the Montessori School of Westfield are committed to continuing her vision of peace by modeling peace with each other, the children, parents and community through our own behavior. By being nurturing adults, as well as advocates for kindness, this may very well be the greatest influence in the development of kindness in our students, and our own children.

We at the Montessori School of Westfield work to emphasize interdependence and a sense of community, which allows real learners to have real responsibilities in caring for, and helping each other.

Through our various charity projects, we learn how to work with others and how people depend on one another in the community.

On this platform of peace, we need to raise our energy of love among us by imagining a scene where everyone is living in peace. This special kind of peace lives inside all of us. This “inside peace” is something that lives, grows, spreads and needs to be looked after. To have this “inside peace”, you must know yourself and learn how to solve problems peacefully, because peace beings with you and me.

Let are lives be filled with peace! Thank you for celebrating Maria Montessori’s vision of peace with us today.

Lemonade Social Event
A great time was had by all at the 2006/2007 Lemonade Social on Sunday, August 13th at Cool Creek Park! Parents and children were excited to meet the teachers and talk about the upcoming school year. Everyone enjoyed cookies and lemonade, and the children had lots of fun playing together!

Montessori School of Westfield Sponsors
Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

Elementary II Class Trip to St. Louis - April 24, 2006
(click for larger Image)

On Friday, September 23rd, students from Pre-K to Grade 8 participated in the school’s one day event to collect money for Hurricane Katrina victims. The day started with pajamas! Student’s paid to wear pajamas to school. Then we had a pizza lunch day, which many children purchased! We ended the school day with a movie matinee from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. The students and faculty had a great time and also collected over $800! All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

BEN & ARI’S Family Fun Event
We had a good turn out for our Ben & Ari’s Family Fun Night on September 11th. Parents and children were enjoying miniature golf, arcade games, and duck pin bowling. Children turned in their tickets for various prizes before leaving. Everyone had a great time! This was a terrific fundraiser for the school.

Muscular Dystrophy Hop-a-thon Event

Last spring, the children hopped their way to collecting big money for the MDA. Montessori School of Westfield raised $2,389.00 for MDA. The children and their families were all very generous for this very worthy cause.

Garry Sumski, Elementary 2 Lead Teacher, and his son Dylan, will be presenting our check at the MDA telethon to air on FOX 59 on Labor Day, September 5th at 10:40 a.m. Be sure to tune in to the telethon and show your support for MDA!