News

Merriam-Webster recently announced that they have selected authentic as their 2023 Word of the Year. While authentic has several meanings, including “not false or imitation,” it is often connected to identity. According to Merriam-Webster, “authentic is what brands, social media influencers, and celebrities aspire to be,” unfortunately causing “authenticity [to] become a performance.”  

As many of you know, Authenticity is one of Springmont’s Core Values; however, it’s not a new buzzword or performance here! Introduced after months of thought and discussion in the fall of 2009, Authenticity was selected as a key element of our school’s identity and one of the seven values integral to fulfilling our mission. These values remain evident in our students’ daily experiences, and Springmont students are encouraged to be their authentic selves every day.

Do you know a family that might benefit from enrolling their children in a school where authenticity matters? We know that choosing a school is one of the most important decisions parents make. We are asking our current families to help us attract more families that value authenticity and a learning environment that balances academic learning with social/emotional well-being. Springmont is extraordinary because of our commitment to authentic Montessori learning that inspires students to become creative, independent, and globally minded. We hope you will help us Share Springmont!

As you travel far and wide and spend time with friends and family during Winter Break, we have a small gift for you! As you arrive this Thursday, we will be handing out a handy luggage tag as a gentle reminder to please share your family’s Springmont experience with those who may be looking for an extraordinary learning experience for their children! Word-of-mouth referrals are the #1 way new families learn about Springmont. Please share your family’s positive Springmont experience with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and co-workers!

In 2018, a small pilot project was launched to see whether the people of Georgia would be interested in a citizen science project designed to educate people about pollinators. The project, overseen by UGA, had three goals: to create sustainable pollinator habitats, to increase the public’s entomological literacy, and to generate data on pollinator populations. It was so well received that in 2019, it was launched statewide, and Springmont jumped in with both feet! We have participated every year since, even during the pandemic! 

Students, Primary through Middle School, participate at an age-appropriate level. Middle School students, many of whom have participated since the inception of the program, accompany Primary and Elementary students into their classroom gardens and teach them to identify the main insects that we count - honey bees, bumble bees, small bees, carpenter bees, moths, butterflies, and “others.” It may come as a surprise to know that wasps, carpenter bees, and even moths are very effective pollinators! Each student watches a particular plant for a specified amount of time, counting each insect that visits that plant. Students learn to identify the different insects, and as they sit still and quietly watch, they learn patience. They have wonderful mentors in the Middle School students, and in turn, Middle School students enjoy imparting their knowledge to the younger students.

Since its inception, when 4000 people participated, the census now includes the Carolinas thanks to Clemson University, and now numbers 12,000 counters! One wonderful outcome of this project is that almost 2800 new, sustainable pollinator gardens were created across Georgia and the Carolinas!

For those interested in further reading, articles in the Journal of Entomological Science are available here and here.

One of the questions I’m most asked is why Springmont participates. The reasons are many! We need to know what is happening to our pollinators and why. Children benefit from learning to identify insects and plants. They also learn to appreciate being in nature, how to be still, and how to observe a world just under their noses. The Great Southeastern Pollinator Census is one of my favorite things to do with our students, and I am already looking forward to August 23, 2024!

Schoolhouse Fare is ready to take the hassle out of preparing healthy lunches for your children! They contract with popular local restaurants to deliver fresh, made-to-order lunches that are individually packaged and labeled with your child’s name. 

Ordering is quick and easy! Menus are posted monthly with the option of ordering for the month, week, or day. The ordering deadline is 5 days before the lunch date on the monthly menu and by NOON on the day before the lunch date on the 24-hour menu. 

Click here for their introductory letter, and click here for registration information! Registration and ordering will begin on December 12, and lunch delivery will begin on Wednesday, January 3 2024! 
 

Pizza Shop, part of the Middle School micro-economy curriculum, is offered to students and staff as our Monday lunch delivery option. Funds raised are used for Middle School class activities, including their annual End-of-Year trip.

Please note that if you paid for the entire academic year when you registered in August, there is no need to complete an order now!

All orders for Spring 2024 are due by 12 noon on Friday, January 5, 2024. Orders received after this time incur a $15 per student late fee. Click here to order!

• Please note that Pizza Shop does not include beverages or side items such as fruits or vegetables. Parents are welcome to supplement Pizza Shop orders with items sent from home each Monday.
• One slice is approximately 1/8th of a 14” Pizza.
• Spring Semester Pizza will be delivered on the following (17) Spring Semester Mondays:
  •    Jan 8, 22, 29
  •    Feb 5, 12, 26
  •    March 11, 18, 25
  •    April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
  •    May 6, 13, 20

Questions? Email Gretchen Stamps.
 

Schoolhouse Fare is ready to take the hassle out of preparing healthy lunches for your children! They contract with popular local restaurants to deliver fresh, made-to-order lunches that are individually packaged and labeled with your child’s name. 

Ordering is quick and easy! Menus are posted monthly with the option of ordering for the month, week, or day. The ordering deadline is 5 days before the lunch date on the monthly menu and by NOON on the day before the lunch date on the 24-hour menu. 

Click here for their introductory letter, and click here for registration information! Registration and ordering will begin on December 12, and lunch delivery will begin on Wednesday, January 3 2024! 

All families are invited to attend our Springmont CommUNITY Dinner on Saturday, February 3, beginning at 4:30 p.m.! It will be held off campus at the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church and feature student performances and a potluck-style buffet dinner. More details and instructions for preparing your family’s dish to share will be provided as the date approaches. 
Lots of volunteers are needed! If you can help with set-up (3:00 - 4:30 p.m.) or clean-up (6:30 - 7:00 p.m.), please email Julie Strickland at jstrickland@springmont.com. 
 

While it is never too late to show your support of Springmont, the active portion of the Springmont Fund campaign has concluded. Thank you to the 25% of our parent community who participated!  To date, we have commitments totaling more than $50,000.  If you are still interested in supporting Springmont, please refer to my recent "HAT TRICK" letter or visit www.springmont.com/giving. 

Head of School Elizabeth Lener and Director of Development & Alumni Relations Karen Poyser were featured on the Sandy Springs Chamber Spotlight! Click here to listen to host Lola Okunola discuss Montessori education with them as part of the Sandy Springs Chamber's podcast series! 

Our Fall Book Fair was a great success!  The transformed Media Center buzzed with the enthusiasm of young minds exploring new literature, while carefully budgeting for their purchases. Thank you to parents for entrusting us with your young shoppers!

Our heartfelt gratitude extends to every volunteer who played a pivotal role in making this event a success.  From setting up the enchanting displays to guiding our young readers through the literary treasures and patiently counting money with each shopper, we thank Kate Ball, Christine Butler, Carolina Cartelli, Masha Dunn, Kristin Maiwand, Kylie McMaster, Thea Patrick, and Frances Randall. A very special thank you goes to Ann Colonna, who spent three days at the fair!

Students are already looking forward to our Spring Book Fair!
 

It’s time to sign up for our Winter Enrichment session which begins January 8 and includes many exciting and fun after-school opportunities for Primary, Elementary & Middle School students!  Please note that classes have a minimum and maximum number of participants and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Fees include a light after-school snack. 

Registrations with full payment are due by Wednesday, January 3, at 4 p.m. (Registrations received after this time are subject to availability and a $25 per child late registration fee.) 

• Click here for information and registration for Primary Winter Enrichment. (Primary Enrichment is open to students who will be age 4 or older by January 8.) 
• Click here for information and registration for Elementary/Middle School Winter Enrichment.

Questions? Email Tiffany Orem