Great Horned Owls Monthly Update - February 2024

Dear Great Horned Owls Families - 

Usually, when returning from a break, the children gradually engage in work slowly and become more consistently productive. This year was pleasantly different. They returned focused and ready to continue their educational journey from the first day back. Follow-ups left unfinished from the first half have been mostly completed and new ones have been started. The children are definitely showing  a sincere desire to learn and complete work after lessons. There are still a few who need gentle reminders but overall,  they are doing a good job in engaging with the work.

Over night:

Our night in the gym and the classes were a big success. The children had a great time learning new things from the presentations and activities provided by the parent volunteer. We are very grateful to those who helped out. The baking classes went very smoothly and complements were generously given by the parents about the attentiveness the children displayed. Ms. Katty, Ms. Janelle, Ms. Bahareh and I felt the children are more than ready for their spring camping trip at the beginning of May. We just ask your child continues to practice rolling up their sleeping bags because a few were still struggling with how to do so. They were honest in saying they had not taken our suggestion to practice at home.

Hikes:

Our next hike will be on February 23rd. An email will be sent out about a week before the hike.

Games:

Just in case you missed the last update, here is a list of games you might consider playing at home with your child:

Boggle, Scrabble, from the New York Times yearly game subscription - SpellingBee, Connections, Wordle, Crossword puzzle, etc., Rory’s Story Cubes, Headbanz, and Dixit.

Sequence, Yahtzee, MasterMind, chess, Rush Hour, backgammon, battleship, and card games.

Interpreting the large math sheets when they get home:

***If you missed this from last month…

When your child has taken home math work they did with a partner, it’s important to look at it and ask them questions. To help you decipher some of the short hand symbols, the following will shed some light on what they mean:

When a pair of children have finished their math work, I will check it. If they made a mistake on a problem, I will make a little solid dark circle to indicate it needs to be corrected. If they bring it back for a second check and they still have not gotten the right answer, I’ll place a second round solid circle next to problem. Usually, errors occur if the two children are not paying attention to what their partner is doing and not that they are unable to do the math. If there is a “C” with a circled drawn around it, it means they forgot a comma. If there is an “S”, it means they forgot to show the operation sign. If there is a “L” they forgot the equals line. “C” is a missing comma. If there is a “DS” for fraction work, they forgot the division line. Hopefully this will help out.

Scholastic Books:

The next Scholastic Book order will be placed on Monday, February 19th.

Drama, music, and dance:

***This will also stay for all Web updates for your convenience:

An inexpensive way of exposing your child to the arts is through your local universities, junior colleges, and high schools. Below are links to venues you may want to explore:

Chandler Gilbert Community College -

https://www.cgc.edu/news/2023/fall-2023-performing-arts-events

Scottsdale Community College -

https://www.scottsdalecc.edu/calendars/fine-and-performing-arts-calendar

ASU

https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/ensembles/music-theatre-and-opera-program/season

https://herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/events#allevents

Phoenix in general free events:

https://www.visitphoenix.com/things-to-do/attractions/free-things-to-do/

******Keystone Kards Social Event for Adults*****

The Sandoval Rojas Family, my wife, Sonia, and I are hosting an adult only fundraiser for the school. We’ll be playing a card game where you change tables and partners after every hand. This game was introduced to my wife and I by an ASU professor who used it during a gathering at her home to celebrate those graduate students finishing for the year. I always looked forward to this yearly event and I am so glad we were able to bring it to Keystone. To make it easier for couples to come and enjoy a fun night, we are having two former Keystone assistants watch the children in one of the classrooms and provide pizza for just $20 per child for the 3 1/2 hours. There will be hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The Beer Shop has kindly donated a portion of the beer for your enjoyment. Please consider joining us and please tell another family or friends.

Ms. Bahareh and Mr. Jess

 

January birthdays we celebrated:

8th- Jeronimo

13th - Paden

February Birthday:

2nd - Levi

Important Upcoming events:

Thursday, February 1st - February 14th - Re-Enrollment for 2024-2025 School Year

Saturday, February 3rd - Chess Simul w/Coach Matt

Tuesday (6-7:30pm) - Digital Citizenship (Parent Education)

Saturday, February 10th (5-8pm) - Heart 2 Heart Dance

Friday, February 16th - School in Session (Make-up Day)

Monday, February 19th - Presidents’ Day Holiday/No School/Extended Care Provided

Wednesday, February 21st (9-10am) - Coffee Talk with Ms. Ana: Connecting w/ Our Inner Peace

Saturday, February 24th (5:30-9pm) - Keystone Kards

Wednesday, February 28th (6-7pm) - Board of Directors Meeting

 

Friendly Reminder:

Don’t forget to make your AZ School Tax Credit donation for Keystone Montessori- receive a dollar per dollar credit on your AZ tax return ($200 single or $400 for joint return on AZ form 321, please ask your tax advisor for details or https://azdor.gov/tax-credits/contributions-qcos-and-qfcos )