QUOTES FROM OUR PARENTS
Tina Dempsey, mother of Caroline in Rosie Scholl’s N/K class wrote to us: “I cannot express enough our deepest sentiment for Rosemarie Scholl. She is truly a caring, charismatic and warm individual. She welcomed us with open arms and immediately made Caroline feel comfortable. We absolutely loved her from our very first meeting and Caroline spoke about her all summer since our spring visit to her classroom. Caroline kept referring to it as “Miss Rosie’s House,” even after she began attending classes there this fall with Rosie and Deniz.”
A note from Peter and Inga McGuire, parents of Clara in Randa Dobrayel’s Junior class, reads: “We are extremely happy with the progress Clara has made over the past year due to your wonderful school and teachers.”
Jennifer and John Degl, parents of Sean and Jack (respectively in Marge Palombo’s N/K and Maggie Monahan’s Stepping Stones classes in Carmel), write: “Both my husband and I are so happy with the education, attention and love that the school has shown our children. Marge has accomplished a great deal with Sean in the short time that he has been there. Maggie and Nina have nurtured Jack to the point where he asks for them each day and looks forward to seeing them when he arrives in the morning.”
HOW SWEET IT IS!
We are always thrilled and gratified by the attendance of so many of our students who have arrived on our doorstep through “word of mouth.” OMS Carmel alumni Connor Sandler and his younger brother Evan both started in our infant program and continued through to our N/K class. Their mother and father (Caroline and Jody) both work for Guiding Eyes for the Blind in Yorktown. After talking to Caroline, Ellin Purcell and her husband Colin made the decision to enroll their infant son, Logan, in the OMS Carmel program also. Logan is now in the Stepping Stones class. This year we have had two new arrivals in our infant program whose mothers are both veterinarians at Guiding Eyes! Benedict Brenninkmeyer (son of Gerald and Beth) and Gregory Brown (son of Timothy and Kelly) are keeping the infant class hustling and bustling!
Kelly Brown recently relayed the following story to our staff: A few of the OMS mothers happened to be standing in the hallway talking together when Caroline Sandler passed by and said to them, “Oh, are you having an OMS moment?” They replied in the affirmative and then continued all talking together as a teacher walked past them. The teacher, overhearing a bit of their conversation, stopped and said to them, “I can’t believe you’re all talking about your children in child care and I don’t hear any complaints from any of you.” Kelly said they just all shrugged their shoulders, smiled knowingly and happily, and said, “Nope.”
SUMMER CAMP — WHAT FUN WE’LL HAVE!
Registration forms for 2009’s OMS Summer Camp have been distributed. As you can see from the photo below, the children are engrossed in a number of interesting and playful activities that engender many treasured memories long after summer is gone.
Please return your camp applications as soon as possible. This is necessary in order to properly and adequately staff the camp with many of the wonderful teachers that the children already know and love. We also want to be timely in advising our staff of their summer schedules so they can plan accordingly.
Photo Caption: From left to right, clockwise: children at OMS Carmel’s 2008 Summer Montessori Camp planting and tending the garden, relaxing in dress-up time, absorbed in outdoor finger painting, and preparing the batter mix for waffle/breakfast day.
AN OMS FAMILY DYNASTY COMES TO AN END!
The long, long line is coming to an end. They’ve been coming, and coming, and coming…it seems like forever! But this is the last year that the OMS Carmel location will be welcoming little ones from the Monaco family dynasty, headed by John and Laura Monaco.
It all started 10 years ago, when Laura brought her first child, Samantha, to Marge Palombo’s N/K class. Laura said she sat out in her car for over an hour crying but inside Samantha was having a ball! Samantha is now almost 15 years old and finishing her freshman year at Brewster High School. Along with being in the National Junior Honor Society and on the honor roll, she is also a “Safe School Ambassador.” Musically inclined and playing piano since she was five years old, Samantha sings in the Treble Chorus at school and made the Chamber Chorus for next year. She also participates in NYSSMA in voice and piano and has been selected to participate in “PCMEA All County” for Chorus. Not surprisingly, back in 7th and 8th grades she was in the jazz band too! Samantha has also acted in several school plays and had a main part as one of the sisters in “Fiddler on the Roof.” She also participates in plays at her church (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton) where she is also an altar server. As if all of this were not enough, Samantha is also on the golf team at school and a member of the LPGA girl’s golf, in addition to playing JV tennis. In her free time (!!!) Samantha volunteers at the Putnam Ridge Nursing Home and is looking forward to working this summer at Friends in Need.
A year later Laura enrolled her second daughter, Ashley, in Marge’s class (but spent less time crying in the car this time around). Ashley is now 13 years old and completing 7th grade. As of February 1, 2009, she is ranked in tennis by the USTA as #1 in the Eastern Southern state division and #30 in New York state! She played singles on the Brewster High School Varsity tennis program. Ashley is on the high honor roll, and like her older sister, she is also a “Safe School Ambassador.” She plays the cello, volunteers at a summer school tennis camp as a coach, and is an altar server at her church.
Gabrielle Monaco started at OMS, again in Marge’s class, when she was three years old. She is now 9 years old and finishing up the 3rd grade, where she is class president. Gabrielle plays tennis and lacrosse and is active in swimming. In addition to winning the “Character Poster contest” at JFK three years in a row for her grade level, she also won an award last year for being the fastest runner in instructional baseball! Gabrielle plays piano, sings in the school chorus and participates in her church plays (most recently “Annie Junior”).
The only boy in the family (besides Dad), Jonathan started his time at OMS at a bit earlier age than his three older sisters. At 18 months of age, Jonathan entered Maggie Monahan’s Stepping Stone class before proceeding on to the N/K class a year or two later. Now seven years old and completing first grade, Jonathan plays baseball, basketball and tennis. He also started hockey this year and won an award for fastest skater in his age group. (He certainly cannot let the girls outdo him!!)
And now we come to our last little Monaco, Emily, who also came to us at 18 months of age in Maggie’s Stepping Stones class. This is Emily’s last year in Marge Palombo’s N/K class. She is fast following in her sibling’s footsteps and plays tennis and takes swimming lessons.
And so, what can we say at this time to the Monacos (other than we’re glad we’re not the mother who’s transporting, supporting, nurturing, feeding, etc. etc. etc. this high achieving, much involved, and dedicated brood—and this is really our way of complimenting and saying, “Job well done, Mom.”). To the whole Monaco clan, we lovingly say that we will miss you all, think of you often, and be glad that you all passed through our lives on your wonderful journey through life.
Good luck to you all. We will miss you.
A BOOK SWAP REPORT AND THANK YOU
Dear Parents: Thank you for your support at our first Book Swap! We ended the day with seven boxes of books to donate to the Reader-to-Reader Charity. The Senior Class helped to sort and package the books. Thank you for your generous donations making the shipping possible. The children were excited to send so many wonderful books to children less fortunate than themselves. Happy Reading!
Cheri Baron, Family Activities Director (and Senior Class Head Teacher)
AN APOLOGETIC CORRECTION
Jamie Cantrell, editor of the OMS Newsletter, sends her sincere apologies to Randa Dobrayel and her JUNIOR class. In the last newsletter, under the “Thank you” section, the class was identified as an N/K class, and you know how very important it is when you are very young to be identified as the OLDER, WISER, SMARTER child you are!! It certainly shall not happen again! (Or Jamie’s nose might get even bigger!)
DO YOU KNOW…
What cleaners are most effective against germs and bacteria?
How to identify a shark by its teeth?
Mark Wednesday, May 13, 2009 on your calendar. Find out the answers to the above questions and be dazzled by the other science activities to be viewed at our 3rd Annual Science Fair. Students from the Junior and Senior classes (grades 1 through 6) will be displaying their science projects for review from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Please come and join the fun.
TUNICS, NECKLACES, A TEMPLE AND PROVERBS!
The Juniors and Seniors are really enjoying their Latin classes this year with Adriana Sarova. The Juniors have personalized their own versions of the classic Roman tunic and created their own laurel wreaths and Roman necklaces (bulas). They dress up in character each time they meet. But the real piece de resistance is the beautiful Roman temple they created while studying Roman culture and history. Included in their study were the Roman gods who have high places of honor at various roof-top locations which are so labeled on the temple along with other architectural details. The columns are beautifully done and when you look at it, it really appears to be an artist’s/architect’s rendering! The Seniors are studying Latin proverbs and maxims and are connecting them to the English derivatives. They have studied over 20 proverbs so far and in a very unique way. Class starts with each child receiving a sight card and a particular proverb. Greek music is then played and danced to. Each time the music stops (a la musical chairs), they take turns saying the proverb they have been given. Kudos to all the Latin students, Juniors and Seniors, who participated in these ventures!
An aside just for your interest: What do you think about when you tell somebody what your alma mater is? Most of us just reply, “Why it’s the school I attended.” The actual Latin rendering for Alma Mater is “nourishing mother.” And a really good school that has not only educated you but nurtured and cared for you is truly your alma mater. We hope our students will always view OMS as one of their favored alma maters.
Sydney Schwartz, a student in Susan Grasso's junior class helps construct a Roman temple as part of their Latin studies.
“IN THE SWIM” ON DRY LAND
OMS classes in Yorktown (Seniors, Juniors and all N/K’s) extend their thanks to Genoeffa Palumbo, a certified WSI and Aquatics Director at Premier Athletic Club, and a representative of the American Red Cross. Genoeffa gave a special presentation on water safety (Longfellow’s Whale Tales) that was very well received by the children. Longfellow is a blue whale in a lifeguard’s hat who likes to talk in rhyme (“Learn about floating before you go boating.”) Through videos, worksheets and color posters safe water conduct is described, and, the consequences of doing otherwise. Specific situations are discussed, e.g. if a boat overturns and one child clings to the boat while another swims to the distant shoreline, which action makes more sense and why. This program was created by the Red Cross to help make children aware of safe behavior in and around water. They learn how to prevent accidents and what to do if something goes wrong at the beach, pool, river, waterslide or wave pool. These lessons may one day save a life.
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR MONTESSORI SCHOOL FROM FRIENDS OF KAREN
Families of Our Montessori School in Carmel, NY took recycling to a whole new level by helping collect once-used shipping boxes for Friends of Karen, a non-profit organization based in Purdys, NY that supports children and their families as they cope with the myriad of financial and emotional issues associated with their child’s life-threatening illness. The gently-used boxes were delivered to Denise Tredwell, Volunteer Coordinator of Friends of Karen, who then packed up treats including chocolate bunnies, fresh fruit and other gifts. These springtime gifts were sent out to the families they serve. Throughout the year Ms. Tredwell collects clean shipping boxes of various sizes to help reduce the shipping costs affiliated with running such a special program of delivering much-needed supplies and birthday and holiday gifts. You can bet these recycled boxes helped deliver lots of cheer to sick children and their families! Many thanks to all the families who participated and to Ms. Marge and Ms. Maggie for helping spread the good word. For more information on events, giving opportunities and volunteer programs of Friends of Karen, please visit www.friendsofkaren.org. OMS in turn thanks Jennifer Çassidy (mother of Ellie and Roddy respectively in Marge Palombo’s N/K and Maggie Monahan’s Stepping Stones classes) for coordinating all these efforts and bringing it to our attention.
THANK YOU
Alice Lee’s and Enza Moschetta’s Stepping Stones classes celebrated spring in an “eggcellent” way! Special thanks goes to Jennifer Escaravage, mother of Natalie in Enza’s class, for bringing in some lovely baby chicks for the children to enjoy. The children were able to meet different kinds of chicks, including the Barred Rock, the Delaware and the Buff Orpington, all of whom lay brown eggs. The children also met an Araucana chick that is commonly known as the “Easter egg layer” because of its green and blue eggs! Additional thanks go to John Delvecchio (father of Gianna) and Martin Ohmacht (father of Katia), both from Alice’s class, for their helpful assistance to a special bunny in hiding all the colorful eggs for the outdoor spring egg hunt. “Everybunny” loved hunting for the eggs!
