News
News
At Springmont, we’re proud of our school and like share the accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty and staff. Here you’ll find information about Springmont including recent school news, articles about our curriculum and other interesting items. For additional press or media information, please contact Julie Strickland jstrickland@springmont.com or 404.252.3910.
On the Farm: It's Finally Fall!
October 18, 2021
It’s finally here! That breath of truly fresh air, the brilliant clear blue sky, and the subtle change in the colors of nature. I always feel energized by this particular change in season. After not wanting to be outdoors for the last couple of months, I’m motivated to get outside and work in the gardens! This is a wonderful time to garden and a prime time to start winter vegetables and even plant shrubs and trees.
In the last few weeks, several Middle School Outdoor Education lessons have been devoted to the school's vegetable garden. Students cleared out all the weeds and tired summer vegetables. They added new soil and compost and learned the concepts behind the Square Foot Garden and USDA hardiness zones. If you think you don’t have room to start a vegetable garden, or you don’t know where to begin, this is the method for you! Check out the book Square Foot Gardening by Mel Batholomew. Starting vegetables from seed is a rewarding and cost-effective way to start your veggie garden.
So, what seeds can you plant now? The list is quite long: lettuce, carrots, beets, Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, parsley, turnips, collards, spinach, arugula, and peas are all excellent candidates for fall sowing. Late October into November is also an excellent time to plant onions and garlic. If you delay planting a little past this optimal time, don’t worry! You can always cover your tender seedlings with glass or plastic in the event of a hard freeze. (Because the school vegetable garden tends not to get an abundance of winter sun, we cover our beds with plastic for most of January.) Mulching your seedlings is another way to protect them through the winter.
Fall is an excellent time to plant shrubs while winter is a good time to plant trees. The cooler weather means trees can send all their energy into establishing strong root systems as opposed to producing leaves and flowers.
Another wonderful thing about fall is bird migration. Now is the time to watch for those rare migrants that grace our bird feeders. Keep your birdbaths and birdfeeders, including your hummingbird feeders, full for hungry birds crisscrossing the country. Resist the urge to trim off dead flowers as those also provide wonderful sources of food for these feathered friends.
So, while some may see the end of summer as the end of the abundant garden, in fact, it can be the beginning of a whole new phase of productivity for your outdoor space! Happy fall, y’all!
Announcing the 2021-22 Yearbook Cover Art Contest
October 12, 2021
As has become tradition, students are invited to submit full-color, 8½ X 11” entries for the cover of Springmont's Yearbook. We've had so many great covers in the past - pictured here is last year's winner submitted by Marina Santos.
As your child considers what to include, he/she might consider
- What is your favorite thing about Springmont?
- Do you have a favorite lesson or activity?
- Do you love a particular Core Value here?
- How would you depict that on a yearbook cover?
Creativity and originality are encouraged, and collaboration is welcome! Entries are due to Andrea Restifo by November 5.
Artwork will not be returned and may be used for other Springmont publications.
Welcome, Ann Van Buskirk!
October 04, 2021
We are excited to announce that Ann Van Buskirk has joined the Springmont community as our new School Counselor! Ann is recently retired after serving the DeKalb County School District for the past 31 years. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Certified School Psychologist, as well as an adjunct faculty member of the Psychology department at Emory University. Ann is passionate about integrated social-emotional learning experiences, positive well-being, nature, connecting, and social justice. She enjoys cooking, cannot fall asleep without reading, and loves spending time with her pets, adult children, and spouse of 39 years. Ann was drawn to Springmont several years ago while touring on behalf of DeKalb County and is thrilled to be part of the Springmont community.
Ann will be on campus Monday – Thursday each week and looks forward to working alongside teachers to support our students’ social/emotional development. She will begin by observing in classrooms and learning more about the unique opportunities offered by our Montessori environment. Ann will then be available to support individual students, small groups of students, Elementary & Middle School classes, parents, and families. We are delighted to have Ann’s expertise as we continue to work through the challenges of today’s world and support the leaders of a better tomorrow.
Do You Know a Family Ready to Explore Springmont?
October 04, 2021
Applications for the 2022-23 school year are now open, and we have already received several applications for Toddler and Primary enrollment. We don’t want our current families with younger children to miss out! If you would like a sibling to join Springmont for the 2022-23 school year, please complete the online application soon! Questions? Email me at arestifo@springmont.com.
Upcoming Zoom Coffees: The Admission Office at Springmont is busy with tours and planning for another very active admission season! Last year we had success with ‘Zoom Coffees’ - discussions about a particular level that provide a general overview of our curriculum and activities to parents who might not yet be ready to commit to a one-on-one campus tour. These Zoom meetings are perfect for parents who have questions, are just beginning to explore Montessori or school options, or just want to listen to some conversation before visiting campus. There's no need to RSVP for our Zoom Coffees. Invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to click the links below at the appointed times to join the conversations, ask questions, or just listen in!
Tuesday, October 19, 10 a.m. - Toddler & Primary (ages 18 months-6 years)
Thursday, November 11, 10 a.m. - Elementary & Middle School (grades 1-8)
Tuesday, December 7, 10 a.m. - Toddler & Primary (ages 18 months-6 years)
Individual Student Photos are Next Week!
October 03, 2021
We are pleased to announce that after many positive comments from parents over the last two years, K. Boyer Photography will return to campus Tuesday, October 12, and Wednesday, October 13, to take individual photos of all students and staff! Information about prints, packages, and online purchasing will be provided after photo-taking is completed. See Springmont Weekly News for a schedule by class.
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