Ms. Casanova is an active performing member of The Busa Family of Dance which performed for the children during an in-house field trip. She is returning to WSMS after a several year break during which her daughter, Charis Goodman, took over the class. Vickie is both a textile artist and dancer and believes that "everyone is an artist." So her fun-filled classes will be sure to invigorate the minds and bodies of these young dancers.

Ms. Casanova incorporates a wide variety of energetic movement techniques to introduce your children to ballet, jazz, modern, creative movement and multicultural dances-all set to heart pumping music and even classical. The Spring Recital is always a highlight of the year and will feature original costumes and important shine time for these young artists is training.

This extra curricular activity is open to all WSMS students, both boys and girls. The classes for the Fall Session will be held on Mondays, beginning September 14th and will continue until December 7th, with a class time from approximately 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Daily class attire should be tights or leotards and ballet shoes (slippers). The cost of this limited enrollment 11-week session will be $100.00, not including any costumes.

Please return the registration form along with your payment, made payable to West Suburban Montessori School, no later than Wednesday, September 9th. Registration will be taken on a first come first serve basis. As with any after school program, class is dependent upon adequate registration.

Dance Rhythms Registration Form

Musikgarten will be offered again on Tuesdays beginning September 15, 2009 and ending December 8, 2009. There will be no class November 24, 2009 (Thanksgiving Week). Class time will be 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. If enrollment demands, a second class will be offered from 3:15 - 4:00 p.m. Enrollment for each class will be limited.

The cost for the 12-week session is $100. The class is open to all WSMS children.

Please return the registration form along with your payment, made payable to West Suburban Montessori School, no later than Wednesday, September 9th. Registration will be taken on a first come first serve basis. As with any after school program, class is dependent upon adequate registration.

Musikgarten Registration Form

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For questions about the WSMS website or about WSMS in general, please contact info@wsms.org.

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Please contact us if you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with West Suburban Montessori School:
Privacy Policy Issues
West Suburban Montessori School
1039 South East Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 848-2662
privacy@wsms.org

Looking forward to seeing you all at the Parent Meeting on Thursday, January 25th at 7pm. Childcare is available for those signing up in advance at school. Please note that one of the agenda items to be discussed is a series of proposed changes to the WSMS Bylaws. These changes have been voted on and accepted by the Board, but are being put to the parent membership for a vote at the Parent Meeting as well. Please take the time to read the 3 documents that make up the Bylaws (below), so you can inform yourself of the changes before voting. Thanks, and please contact Anna Harlan if you have questions or comments.

• WSMS Bylaws: Main Document (proposed changes in blue)
• WSMS Bylaws: Policies (proposed changes in blue)
• WSMS Bylaws: Procedures (proposed changes in blue)

Please don't forget to volunteer for a WSMS committee. Upcoming Board Meetings are at 7pm in the WSMS Nap Room on the following dates:
Wednesday, April 18
Wednesday, May 16

June 2008
Dear Families: Get ready for another summer full of fun new crafts, activities, theme days and field trips! If yo u have not had a chance to turn in your permission slip for the following weekly Field Trip & Theme Days, please see Bruce in the office immediately. Permission slips were due May 16, 2008. Please also see Bruce or Mrs. Nash if you would like to chaperone any of the Field Trips. Extra hands are always appreciated!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS REGARDING THE SUMMER PROGRAM!
*Please check Cubbies for the proper clothes for changing if your children get soiled at any point.
*Please no flip-flop shoes at any time.
*Please apply sun screen before leaving home. We are outdoors a lot.
*Please wear your school T-Shirts on trips away from the School.
*Please be on time for school and trips. FIELD TRIP DAYS WE NEED TO LEAVE ON TIME!

2008 SUMMER PROGRAM: WEDNESDAY FIELD TRIPS & THEME DAYS

05/28/08: Flower Planting at WSMS. We will be planting flowers in urns and in the ground.

06/04/08: Getting In Touch with Nature at WSMS. Trailside Nature Center will come to our school!

06/11/08: BROOKFIELD ZOO. Bus departs 9:30; Returns 12:00.

06/18/08: BLACKBERRY FARM, 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora. Bus departs 9:15, Returns at 1:30. We will eat lunch at the farm. Please bring a bag lunch with your child’s name on it.

06/25/05: Hot Dog Day at WSMS. Do not bring lunch! Mr. Ruszczyk, Ellie’s dad will grill for us.

07/02/08: Hat Day at WSMS. Wear your favorite hat to school. We will be doing a Mexican Hat Dance and acting out the story “Caps for Sale."

07/09/08: PIRATE'S COVE THEME PARK, 499 Biesterfield Rd, Elk Grove. Bus departs 9:15; returns 12:00. The children’s creative exploration and imagination are stimulated and encouraged

07/16/08: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, ST. PATRICK'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 5900 W. Belmont. Bus departs at 9:30; Returns 12:00.

07/23/08: Friendship Day at WSMS. We will make salad and serve our friends.

07/30/08: Movie Mania Day at WSMS. We will watch Curious George and make banana splits.

08/06/08: Pirates and Princesses Day at WSMS. We will be taking a journey with pirate stories and activities.

08/13/08: Wacky Water Day at WSMS. Splash party in the school yard. Bring bathing suits/towels for water play.

08/20/08: WALK TO OAK PARK BAKERY, 904 S. Oak Park Avenue. Bring 50 Cents to purchase a sweet treat.

May 2008
It's hard to believe the 2008 Summer Childcare Program is just around the corner! The program begins Wed, May 28th. In the past, we have tried to provide a variety of activities to ensure fun for everyone everyday! The program provides safe outside play, many arts and crafts projects, stories, and a snack twice a day. We will also have free play, painting and building lego creations, circle games, hoops and balls, planting outside, and kids in the kitchen making dessert. Details concerning the 2008 Summer Camp Field Trips (held on Wednesdays throughout the summer) will be published soon.

March 2008
Spring is almost here and this month we will focus on spring time topics--kites, windsocks, posy printing, rainbow mobiles, finger painting flowers, hand-some lions, soft lambs, frog puppets, and on St. Patrick's Day, shades of green will showcase the festive shamrocks around the room for all to view. The days are longer with Day Light Savings Time which means we will be getting outdoors more often.

November 2007
It is almost time to celebrate Thanksgiving. We have a variety of different activities for this month: turkeys, pilgrim hats and of course, making cornucopia is always a seasonal favorite. We're making placemats: the children will be delighted to add these placemats to their Thanksgivng table. These and other Holiday crafts will add a festive touch for the season. Please remember to add warm clothes to your child's cubby: long pants, long sleeve shirts or sweaters. The weather has changed and we do go outside as weather permits.

Summer 2007

Our summer program begins soon. We have tried to provide a variety of activities to ensure fun for everyone everyday! The program provides safe outside play, many arts and crafts projects, stories, and a snack twice a day. We will also have free play, painting and building lego creations, circle games, hoops and balls, planting outside, and kids in the kitchen making dessert. The schedule of field trips/theme days, which occur each Wednesdays. Following is the list of this summer's in-house/off-site field trips:

Wed May 31: Flower Planting at WSMS - We'll be planting flowers in urns and in the ground

Wed Jun 6: Adopt a Tree Day at WSMS - Please supply your child with a disposable camera, labeled with your child's name. It will stay at school.

Wed Jun 13: Hawaiian Luau - We will make fruit kabobs, dance to Hawaiian music, do the limbo, and wear grass skirts.

Wed Jun 20: Movie Day at WSMS - Curious George movie, popcorn, projects, and games.

Wed Jun 27: Space Center at Triton College. 2005 5th Avenue, River Grove. Zip! Zoom! Whiz! Zoom into space, whiz by the stars and planets. We'll discover how people explore space and see some of the most amazing sights in our universe. *Let Bruce and/or Mrs. Nash know if you are available to chaperone this event!

Wed Jul 11: "Little Red Riding Hood" play at St. Patrick's Performing Arts Center, 5900 Belmont Ave by bus. Depart school 9:45A, return 12:00P. *Let Bruce and/or Mrs. Nash know if you are available to chaperone this event!

Wed Jul 18: Pirate Day at WSMS. Ahoy Mate and Maties. We'll make a treasure chest, hats, maps, and eye patches. Lots of pirate fun!

Wed Jul 25: Transportation Day at WSMS - Bring your bikes, trikes, and scooters to the gym. Fun on your bikes - indoors only.

Wed Aug 1: Lincoln Park Zoo (by bus). We're going on a safari! Depart 9:30A, return 12P.

Wed Aug 15: Water and Friendship Day at WSMS - Please send a plain pillow case to be painted. We;ll need bathing suits and towels for water play.

Wed Aug 22: Tea Party Day at WSMS - Wear your favorite costume to school!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
Please wear your school T-shirts on trips away from the school. Please be on time for school and trips. Please check cubbies to be sure there is a proper change of clothes. Please no flip flop shoes. Apply sunscreen before leaving home; we are outdoors a lot. FIELD TRIP DAYS WE WILL NEED TO LEAVE ON TIME!

Nov 2006

A special thank you for items received from the Wish List. All the items are really appreciated. Thank you again.
November is the beginning of very chilly weather, so remember warmer coats, caps and gloves for outside play and walks. We will be crunching leaves as we walk.

The Child Care room will be decorated with artistic holiday renderings of Indian corn, cornucopias and terrific turkeys. Completed projects will be display and will go home for the Thanksgiving Holidays.

Gobble, gobble, enjoy.

Sept 2006

We hope to have a wonderful September! New year, new projects, new songs and welcoming new friends.
A big thank you to all who shared their precious time during our Summer Program; it really makes a difference! At the end of August, we had to say goodbye to many who left for first grade. We will miss them, but they are ready to move on and will be successful in their new schools.

Thanks to our wonderful parents for being chaperones on the summer field trips: Mr. Edwards for the awesome zoo trip; Mrs. Shack and Mrs. Dassinger for the great play and puppet projects; Stacey Hallab for the homemade cookies, the slide and the help on Dinosaur Day. Also thanks to all the parents for the wonderful snacks, the extra cold snacks and bottled water.

Walking to the Bakery to purchase treats was wonderful. Each of the children returned home with their money because a CTA employee visiting at the same time was so impressed with the polite behavior of the children, that he paid the cost of everyone’s bakery treat!

On the un-birthday, the children made and decorated their own cupcakes. We played games in the Gym and Mrs. Shack and Mr. Ruiz took a swing at the piñata. After a few swings, it was all over!
*Please remember to label all items for child care boxes, shirts, underwear, linen (everything). We need a second set of clothing for upstairs in childcare.

Mar 2008
This month we will borrow experience boxes from the Field Museum on the topics of animal tracks and early people and animals in Illinois. We will also borrow display cases of animals whose footprints are in the Animal Tracks Box.

Oct 2007

This year we are again taking advantage of the wonderful teacher loan program from the Field Museum. We are enjoying display cases of a hammerhead shark and giant spiders, as welll as experience boxes about ocean life and bats. We look forward to borrowing materials about Native American culture in November.

Nov 2006

We have enjoyed having parents observe our class in October and look forward to new families observing in November. There will be opportunities for parents to work with their children in the classroom during Parent-Child Nights in the coming months.

A special thanks to all the parents who donated items from the Wish List to our class. All art materials will be put to creative use. We also greatly appreciate the stereo/CD player donated by the Hallab Family.

This year we are again borrowing materials from the Field Museum to supplement classroom work. We are enjoying experience boxes about “Life in the Oak Tree” and examining and comparing skulls and teeth of carni-vores, herbivores, and omnivores. The children greatly love the exhibit cases of animals to display in the class-room.

Nick Kitsos, Ben's dad, gave a wonderful interactive presentation to the afternooners in both classrooms about hand-made instruments and body percussion. It was lots of fun and he really engaged the children!

Looking ahead to December, please mark your calendars for the Family Holiday Party. It is always great fun and the children will be giving a short musical performance.

Sept 2006

We wish to welcome Ms. Arlette to our class as Ms. Israel’s assistant. Ms. Arlette is a talented artist and has much experience teaching art to adults and children. She is looking forward to working with our class and sharing her artistic talents with us.

Welcome to all new and returning students. We are looking forward to a new school year. We are excited to work with many new beautiful materials in the classroom.

For questions about Social Committee, please contact Mona Rao .

As of November 27, 2006

(4) $25 gift certificates Anthony Salerno – (4 individual bids) - Mrs. B.
Mrs. B: Spend some extra time in the classroom with Mrs. B. just one on one. Student needs to be a currently enrolled or a graduate. Can be any day after class is finished at 3:00 o'clock. Expires May 2007

Miss Israel: Movement and Music class for you and three of your friends. This will take place after class time is finished during the week. The class will be designed to match the age and interest of the children. Children need to be enrolled at WSMS or graduates. Expires May 2007

Mrs. Lim: A trip to the Conservatory with Mrs. Lim during our lunch break for one currently enrolled WSMS student. Expires May 2007

Mrs. Gloria Nash: Spend part of a Saturday with Mrs. Nash. Trip includes breakfast or lunch and a trip to build a bear.
The total time would be 2 and a half to 3 hours. Expires March 1, 2007

Mr. Bruce: "Lunch with Mr. Bruce." One student gets to invite four friends to eat lunch with Mr. Bruce at Mrs. B.'s lunch table in the kitchen. With the students imput Mr. Bruce will plan the lunch, deliver the food and supply interesting conversation. The students need to be enrolled at WSMS. Expires May 2007

Mrs. Harris: Mrs. Harris will be "Super Nanny" and come to your house for three hours and take care of the child/ children while the parents have an evening out. Expires May 2007

Miss Colleen: Dinner and a movie at WSMS on a Saturday. The winning child can invite 9 friends who attend WSMS. There will be pizza and popcorn with the movie. Approximately 2 and one half hours. Expires May 2007

Ms Arlette:
(i)Parent/ Child Artistic Play Experience
Children learn through play. Join Ms. Arlette for an afternoon of letting your child lead you in art making for the pure enjoyment of the experience. We will use our creativity and imagination for a special art project. (Up to five pairs of one child and one parent/guardian/special adult)

Date: Sat. Feb. 17, 2007
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Ages: 5-6 years of age with adult

(ii) Individual /Small Group Art Lesson

Join Ms. Arlette for three one-hour art classes as we explore three basic art mediums. Our focus will be on self-expression. (Up to three participants)

Date: TBD 1st quarter 2007
Time: Directly following classes (2:30 to 3:30pm)
Ages: Current Afternooners

(2) Chicago Wolves Tix + Parking Pass: 2nd Row; Sat. Jan. 20th, 7pm @ Rosemont - Tim & Stefanie Christopher
(2) KidCraft Rockers - Pink Chenille or Denim - Gerry & Angie Maguire and The Sachem Company
(1) Family Studio Portrait - (after the holidays) - Mark & Cinzia Segal
(1) Professional Photographic Poster of Chicago - Mark & Cinzia Segal
(1) Round of golf for Two @ The Glen in Glenview - Betsy Voyles
(2) Hours of electrical services - Jeff & Mary DeGrazia and Oak Electric, Inc.
(1) Group parenting presentation by Fresh Start Families, Inc. - George & Sarah Valaika
(1) KidCraft Sandboat Sandbox - Gerry & Angie Maguire and The Sachem Company
(1) Beautiful piece of GEM jewelry: Laura Kitsos & GEM
(2) hour golf performance evaluation: Betsy Voyles and Body Balance for Performance
(1) hour in-home massage and coordinated babysitting services: Sarah & David Tribuzio and Massage 2 Go
(1) 10th Anniversary Elmo TMX doll: Marrey & Will Picciotti
(2) hours of tutoring: Marrey Picciotti and AIM Group Tutors, Inc.
(2) Autographed copies of books by Barack Obama: Anne Bowhay & Jeffrey Hanneman
(2) tix for Teatro Vista's production of Massacre: Ana & Jim Doyle and Teatro Vista
Assorted books, CD-ROMs, and DVDs: Ana & Jim Doyle and Encyclopedia Brittanica

March 2008

The graduating Afternooners are very excited about sharing their Big Work and helping at this year's Open House. The Afternooner are enjoying The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White, the Money Game, hierarchy materials, illustrating numbers to 1 million, parts of speech and Biomes of North and South America. The 3 and 4-year olds are choosing independent work and following their interests in the classroom.

Nov 2007

This month is observation month for students who started this September. Three-year olds are busy with new lessons, making friends a nd learning their way around the classroom. Four-year olds are working independently and making their own choices of "big work". Many students are very interested in lessons on numbers and letters. Afternooners are very busy enjoying the Museum Boxes an a shark video. Fall projects include decorating Halloween bags, leaf designs and and making skeletons with a variety of pasta shapes. We are in our second chapter book on the Boxcar Children.

Nov 2006

Everyone is settling into “Big Work”! All the observations are completed for returning students. This month the new students will have their turn. New students are busy making friends, trying new lessons in Practical Life and Sensorial, and enjoying snack. Favorites are cookie baking, painting and water activities.

Children in their second year (generally 4-year olds) are choosing old favorites, language and math work. The Afternooners started science experiments in October, map work, penmanship, reading, some parts of speech, and operations in math.

The Museum Boxes continue to be a favorite activity. We will be starting our music practices soon to be ready for our Holiday Concert.

Reminders: Weather is changing. Check your child’s the clothes box in cubbies and/or child care for suitable items. Label all items: hats, gloves, jackets, boots, etc.

Please arrive on time-Class starts at 8:30 a.m. No children should use the door code, and please do not allow them to use the Time Clock. VIP: Check the calendar on Fridays for the upcoming week of snacks. Please sign up for food prep items, i.e. apples, carrots, bananas, and oranges so we have them for the week.

Sept 2006

I am really excited about the school year starting again. There are many new materials placed in the classrooms and old materials as well to share with the students. I am looking forward to listening to everyone's summer adventures.

One change is the lunch box cubbies are in the Gym this year. Ms. Israel's near the East Gym door, and Mrs. B's cubbies are next to the kitchen.

The Spanish class will focus on ear training, and introduce Spanish as a second language through singing, movement, and listening. WSMS will offer this class for twelve weeks this Fall on Wednesdays, from 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. The Fall Session will begin on Wednesday, September 16th and end on Wednesday, December 9th. Classes will not be held on November 25th (Thanksgiving Week). As with all extra-curricular classes, no refunds may be offered for days missed. The class offering is dependent on an adequate number of participants. Registrations are accepted on a first come first serve basis.

The twelve-week class fee is $100.00 per child.

Please return the registration form along with your payment, made payable to West Suburban Montessori School, no later than Wednesday, September 9th. Registration will be taken on a first come first serve basis. As with any after school program, class is dependent upon adequate registration.

Spanish Registration Form

We welcome your interest and talents in serving on one of our Parent-Run Committees this school year.

1. Large easels
2. Large chalk board

3. Financial donations for classroom materials
- Animals Around the World for Mrs. Israel's Room
- New reading series with verb & noun cards for Mrs. Brzozowicz's Room

4. Financial donations for "Geodome" replacement
The Geodome is the play structure Southwest of the main school entrance. We would like to replace it with playground equipment for the children.

Moss Modern Flowers
Owned by Chris Geoghegan
7442 Madison St., Forest Park
708-366-8780

Gem: A Jewelry Boutique
Owned by Laura & Nick Kitsos
1710 North Damen Chicago 60647
773-384-7700
www.gemoakpark.com
laura@gemoakpark.com