An “Open House Night” is scheduled at all classroom locations on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. All are invited to attend. The evening is especially informative for parents of current OMS students who will be “moving up” to the next level.
The infant class is located only at our Carmel site (4 Glenna Drive). Angela Carr is the teacher and can be found by going to the left all the way to the end of the hallway and through the doorway on the right. Infant parents, or anyone else interested in our toddler program may visit the Stepping Stones classes. There are three of them. In Carmel, Maggie Monahan’s Stepping Stones classes (a.m. S3 and p.m. S6) are on the left. In Yorktown, Stepping Stones classes are housed at the Church of the Nazarene (1243 White Hill Road). Vincenza (Enza) Moschetta-Marricco’s morning class (S1) and afternoon class (S4) are upstairs to the left, and are the two rooms on the right side. Alice Lee’s classes (S2 & S5) are downstairs and to the left.
There are a total of four nursery/kindergarten classes for our Stepping Stones parents to explore. In Yorktown at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (2405 Crompond Road), in the main building, the large room down the hall to the left houses Linda Teach’s a.m. class 1 and p.m. class 5 (in front of the partition), as well as Rose Whitters’ a.m. class 2 and Alex Rundle’s p.m. class 6. At the Methodist Church (2300 Crompond Road), Tamiko O’Reilly’s nursery/kindergarten a.m. class 3 and p.m. class 7 occupy Room 8 and Room 15. In Carmel, at 4 Glenna Drive, Marge Palombo’s nursery/kindergarten classes (a.m. class 4 and p.m. class 8) are on the right as you enter the building.
Parents of our kindergarten children, including the ones in Carmel, are invited to visit our two junior classes in Yorktown. Randa Dobrayel’s junior class occupies the main floor of the white house on the grounds of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (2405 Crompond Road) and Susan Grasso’s junior class is held in Room 6 and Room 7 at the Methodist Church site (2300 Crompond Road). Junior class parents or anyone else who would like to check out what our oldest students are up to should be sure to visit Cheri Baron’s senior class held in Room 13 also at the Methodist Church site.
We encourage you to visit as many classes as you wish. We can’t guarantee to accommodate your every choice but the earlier you let us know your wishes the better.
CLASS HAPPENINGS
Cheri Baron’s Senior Class
The seniors sent individual holiday cards (along with a giant “Twas the Night Before Christmas”- type card) to the troops in Iraq via junior class teacher Athina Schwartz’s brother-in-law Shawn, and were very pleasantly surprised when they each received a thank-you note in return.
The class also spent a day on their “passion projects.” This was an opportunity for the kids to share what they are truly passionate about. This all stemmed from their study on the Founding Fathers—how they worked so hard not for pay or fame but because they were passionate and believed in a new nation. The children did oral reports on everything from Legos and baseball to movie making and photography. The photos give you a small peek into what an amazing day it was and why the kids loved it so much.
Dylan Tolbert is passionate about hockey
Sydney Schwartz is passionate about gymnastics
Sue Grasso’s Junior Class
The class went on a trip to the Beczak Center in Yonkers and did a lot of work concerning the Hudson River Estuary, learning among other things about salinity and the animals that live in the Hudson River. This is a continuation of their Hudson River studies earlier this year. The activities were even more hands-on. They learned how the tides come in and out and how the tides affect the Hudson River. They also discussed pollution. There was an estuary model and the children were able to flood it and see how salt water floats into the Hudson and becomes brackish. They learned that the source of the Hudson River, called Lake Tear of the Clouds, is completely fresh water. Using a sponge the children also had a chance to see how they are trying to clean the river and how they are putting plant life back in as a barrier.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day the class did an acrostic on “Freedom” and talked about what freedom means to them. The children were very interested in who killed MLK and in further discussions about the issues he stood for and how others participated. They asked how Rosa Parks died and how old she was.
As they do every year, the class prepared valentines and sent them to the Veterans at the VA Hospital in Montrose.
Randa Dobrayel’s Junior Class
In the midst of our freezing cold winter weather, the class vicariously enjoyed the “warm-weather” presentation by Kami Lim and her mother, Nadine. Their family vacationed in Hawaii in November and they brought back tons of pictures to share with the class. Kami talked about the volcanoes and the native plants and flowers that they saw. She especially enjoyed all the animals—the turtles, the goats and the whale-watching. Kami shared some of what she learned about the culture in Hawaii, e.g. instead of the typical Thanksgiving dinner, they attended a luau feast and enjoyed the traditional dance that originally came from Tahiti. The class all agreed that the pictures were exceptionally beautiful and they are now adorning one of the walls in the classroom. Seeing the pictures on the beach and talking about the warm weather there warmed up the class in the middle of a very cold day!
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the class read a biography about his life and then the children wrote about their dreams for the United States. Included among their dreams were: let everyone be nice to each other; have more money for charities; make the world a better place to live; even though it may be difficult at first, follow in the steps of MLK; never give up; end pollution and poverty; and care about the homeless. Let’s all try to make these dreams come true!
Marge Palombo’s N/K class
As part of the parents’ week project, Ellie Cassidy’s mom, Jennifer, and Alyssa Hubbs’ mom, Valerie, worked jointly with the children on a Ronald McDonald House project. Each child received a card with a picture of a duck on it that they each colored. The children then assisted Jennifer and Valerie in putting together little “care packages” that included items such as soap, shampoo, a comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. that are to be given to families that are using the Ronald McDonald House facilities when their children are in nearby treatment centers. The back of each card noted “These packages have been provided by the children of Our Montessori School in Carmel, New York.”
Tomoya Inumiya and Cassandra Pelosi assemble their care packages
Mrs. Hubbs read a special book, “I Can Help,” to the children (the author, David Costello, is a friend of hers), which dovetailed quite nicely with what they were doing. The book was then donated to the class library. Each child received a “Little Helper Award.” The enthusiasm of the children for all they did was heartwarming.
Marge Palombo’s N/K students say “I Can Help” the Ronald McDonald house families
Alice Lee’s Stepping Stones Class
The children have been having loads of fun. They made gingerbread men and decorated them. During the whole process they also had taste tests. The teachers identified several of the ingredients (cinnamon, ginger, etc.) and had the children smell them. Then the children were blindfolded and tried to identify the same ingredients by smell only. The best part was taking their gingerbread men home. In honor of February being National Wildlife/Bird Feeding Month, they also designed their own bird feeders made with pine cones covered with Crisco, then rolled in bird seed and having a string attached so they could hang it on a tree at home. Just after the first big snowfall, buckets of snow were brought in and the children experienced making their own snowmen on the class table. They made snowballs also and thought it was all great fun.
Enza Moschetta-Marricco’s Stepping Stones Class
The classroom layout and exposure to some trees right outside and close to their window allowed all the children to especially enjoy watching the birds eat and feast from the personally prepared “pine-cone meal” that they had hung on a tree. Additionally each student got one to take home, so they are making a lot of birds very happy!
Amaya Velez-Benenson, a student in Enza Moschetta's Stepping Stones class shows off the bird feeder she made.
GETTING TO KNOW OUR STAFF—DAMARYS HANCE
When she was very young, she thought she wanted to work in a hospital. When she was only 15 years old, she went to work part-time in a dentist’s office. Then in high school, she decided that she wanted to work with children in a teaching capacity. (She enjoyed comforting and nurturing the children in the dentist’s office so this was a natural progression.)
Damarys was born in Puerto Rico. After high school, continuing her part-time work at the dentist’s office, she attended the University of Puerto Rico studying education with a major in biology. After graduation she worked at a Catholic school teaching math and science in second, fifth and seventh grades. But shortly thereafter, her life took a major detour. A young man from the United States was visiting some relatives and friends in Puerto Rico and happened to visit her home. There was a mutual attraction and after a few dates together he returned to the U.S. But they continued corresponding with one another, and when Damarys visited her aunt in New York a year later, they got in touch and had a whirlwind courtship that culminated in his asking her to marry him. Damarys says she would not advocate such a courtship for her daughter or any other young lady, but in her case, it worked, and she and her husband have been married now for 27 years!
Damarys and Harvey were married in Puerto Rico and stayed there for only three days after the wedding before they moved to the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York. At the time, Damarys took advantage of an opportunity to work in a dentist’s office once again, but when her son Jason was born in 1988, she decided to stay at home with him. Her husband owned his own model motor pump company and this enabled her to do so. Her daughter, Kimberly, was born four years later. Damarys had lived in a house in Puerto Rico, but her husband had only lived in apartments here in New York and was very enthusiastic about relocating his family to their own home. That’s when they made their move to Yorktown Heights in 1999.
When her children were in fifth grade and kindergarten, Damarys mentioned to a neighbor that she was interested in getting a part-time job to fill her empty days. That neighbor, along with another one, worked at Our Montessori School and told Damarys that she should apply there for a part-time position. She started with OMS working as an extended day teacher from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Jewish Center for Rosie Scholl’s N/K class. It was only a few months later that she was asked to additionally fill an opening for an assistant teacher in Alice Lee’s Stepping Stones class, a position she still holds today.
Damarys’ face lights up when she talks about all the children with whom she has worked. She says that when she first started in the early morning extended day hours, it was so important to welcome the children in a warm and nurturing way (since many of them were only three years old or so) and make the transition from mommy and daddy to school an easy one. “Love, kindness, nurturing, caring, comforting—just like mommy’s—is what they most need, and it’s what I most want to give them,” she gently says. She notes the importance of when they are crying, you need to distract them and make them happy. If they’re starting to get sick, you need to comfort them the same as their mother would, until a family member arrives to take them home. Damarys adds that one of the most important aspects of her job, especially with the even younger children in Alice’s class, is the concern for their safety. These little ones are just learning about so many different things and running here and there (as they are directed to “walk, not run when you’re inside”). You have to have eyes in the back of your head and prioritize their safe being. This is, of course, in addition to the practical, hands-on and even basic academic activities that are done with the children throughout the day. Damarys says that she loves these children from the bottom of her heart and has no desire to be anywhere else.
Damarys’ son Jason graduated from Yorktown High School and is attending Westchester Community College where he is studying recreational therapy and transferring this year to a four-year college to complete his degree. He has been simultaneously working at “My Gym” and is in charge of all the classes there. On the weekends he oversees the children’s birthday parties. Her daughter Kimberly attends Concordia College in Bronxville. She is in her first year and wants to be a teacher. She is in an early childhood education program and her heart’s desire is to work with very young children.
Well, the apples don’t fall far from the tree in this house! When asked if they ever accompanied Damarys to OMS for any of her time there, she replied that they hadn’t, but they were always listening to the stories she brought home about the children and got such joy and pleasure out of them. It’s not surprising that they would gravitate towards like-minded roles in life with their mother as such a shining example.
Damarys is also a snow angel and this is her third year doing that. Of course she brings all that love and consideration noted above and it’s no wonder that the children are so happy to spend those days with her! She notes that there is a wide span of ages on those days—so you need to be creative and involved in order to keep everyone active, happily engaged and not bored with the day. And we particularly enjoy the enthusiasm, warmth and love that she brings to the children and to OMS in general. Thanks, Damarys!
ALUMNI NEWS
Laura McDaid, a former student who graduated from Our Montessori School’s elementary school last year after attending OMS for 13 years (starting in our infant program), has been named Putnam Valley Middle School’s ELA Student of the Month for January 2011. Kudos to you, Laura!
Aly Baron, another former student, visited the Senior class recently and gave a writing lesson to them (a school assignment for which she received an A+). She also shared with the class her recently mailed manuscript of her novel, “OMS, Our Mutant School.” Aly wrote this novel with the idea that there are kids that are reluctant readers. They do not feel confident in their reading skills, but there aren’t a lot of choices in exciting books to read for the fourth to sixth grades if you are not up to the Harry Potter books yet but are too old to read “Magic Tree House.” “OMS, Our Mutant School” is about a group of kids who have special powers but they don’t know it, and their teacher helps them to discover them so they can become heroes of sorts. The kids loved it! Aly has previously written several short stories, but this is her first novel. She also does all the illustrations for her works. We’ll keep you posted on her future endeavors and publishing history. Good luck, Aly!
Clara Marullo, a former head teacher in our Senior class and drama class, and also mother of two of our former students, Callum and Noah, updated us during the past holidays on the family’s activities since their return to London a few years ago. Clara started a drama school in London that is doing wonderful things for her students. She reports that The Actor’s Workshop had a record year, producing their best ever showcase, and getting 14 out of 18 students into top drama colleges—at a time when securing a place at a drama conservatoire is harder than getting into Oxbridge! In addition, Clara is doing modeling jobs and voiceovers and continues to teach singing to her musical theatre students. Her son, Callum, now 14 years old, sings in a metal band and has become so good at his X-box that he has been asked to review games by the manufacturers! Her son, Noah, now 11 years old, for the second time spent four months in Newcastle filming Tracy Beaker Returns, the BBC’s flagship children’s show. The show just won a BAFTA for best children’s series and Noah is being recognized all over the place. The BBC has asked him back again next summer for Series 3.
THANK YOU
Alex Rundle’s N/K class wishes to thank Eve Caron, mother of Jett and Django, for the generous art supplies she gave to the class. They are greatly appreciated by the children and teachers alike!
Marge Palombo’s N/K class in Carmel shouts out a very big “thank you” to Tyler Mook and his parents Kim and Jeffrey. When Mr. Mook saw that the class was unable to get outdoors due to the quantity of snow outside the building, he returned on the weekend and he and his wife and Tyler totally cleared the small deck outside the classroom door. And it was just in time as the temperatures got a bit milder to allow some outdoor play! Thanks again.
NOTES FROM OUR PARENTS
It warmed our hearts to see what Mike Langkafel, father of Maia in Angela Carr’s Infant class wrote on the Parent Survey requesting information about where someone heard of OMS (a neighbor, school referral, website, newspaper or radio ad, etc.). Under “any other source” he wrote: “Almost all of the above—but mostly word of mouth from all walks of life.”
