News

Thank you to those who were able to attend our Zoom Parent Coffee with Jon. As announced, Associate Head of School for Elementary & Middle Learning Nikki Torres will be our DEI Coordinator. We look forward to sharing plans for how Springmont will continue our work on issues of DEI with our children, families and faculty. At the coffee, there were requests for resources and reading lists. There are many excellent online avenues for furthering your own knowledge of DEI but the non-profit organization We Need Diverse Books has compiled reading lists and other educational resources that are a great place to start – or continue – your own DEI journey.

Click here for Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion

Cursive to Keyboards – Elementary Children and the Written Word

Cursive handwriting has long been a hallmark of Montessori education but is it still relevant in the age of technology?  Developmentally speaking, the process of writing builds eye-hand coordination and control of movement and engages areas of both cerebral hemispheres.  In fact, studies of older students show that notes taken by hand are processed more deeply and are more likely to transfer to long term memory than notes transcribed using a keyboard.  

But why cursive first? The movements of cursive handwriting are natural for young children’s hands whose first drawings mirror the loops and curved lines of cursive instead of the “sticks and balls” of print.  Practically speaking, cursive handwriting eliminates having to make decisions about when to lift the pencil tip and ponder where to put it back down to continue forming the letter.  In writing the alphabet from A to Z in print, one researcher found that a child would have to remove the pencil from the paper and relocate the starting point no less than 55 times, leaving lots of room for error in letter formation.   Additionally, print writing often results in letter reversals (think b/d, p/q and f/t) while the formation of cursive letters makes this, as well as false capitalizations, much less common for developing writers. 

Is there room for keyboarding in a Montessori classroom? Of course! Developing keyboarding skills, particularly proper hand placement and learning to touch type (typing without looking at the keys), is also important.  Springmont utilizes the Keyboarding Without Tears program with Elementary-aged students to build and practice these skills over time.  However, keyboarding should not take the place of developing the fine motor skills fundamental to writing during the Elementary years.  Firm development of cursive handwriting supplemented by good keyboarding skills gives children the cognitive, physical, and practical skills necessary to be fluent writers in a variety of ways. 

We have reimagined our beloved Montessori Mile and are looking to incorporate another favorite activity typically part of the day's festivities – the Chili Cook-off. This year, since we cannot be together, we’re calling it a Chili Cook-IN.  The weather is cooler, football is back….let’s break out our crockpots and cook up some amazing chili!  If you have a delicious recipe you’d be willing to share, please email Andrea Restifo with the details by October 2.  We hope to be able to share an assortment of recipes with our community so that we can cook up pots of chili all season long!

Typically the end of September brings the beginning of Parent Observations and our Muffins for Moms and Donuts for Dads events, all designed to give parents a peek into their children's day at school.  This year we cannot have parents in classrooms or host events, but we know it is still very important for parents to be able to see the learning going on in their children's classes so we will be offering Virtual Observations.  Hosted by Toddler/Primary Division Head Cara Friedline and Associate Head of School for Elementary & Middle Learning Nikki Torres, small groups of parents will join them for 30-minute, real-time virtual sessions.  Parents should look for an emailed invitation to select a date and time this week! 

As some of you are already aware, several years ago, Springmont formalized our long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by updating our Statement of Diversity and Inclusivity. Dr. Montessori was a strong proponent of inclusivity and peace education, and her philosophy brings with it great respect for diversity and true celebration of cultural differences. Last year, our faculty and staff invested considerable time and thought in better understanding bias and inequity and in seeking ways to increase inclusion and justice on campus and in our personal lives. This included not only readings and workshops but also self-reflection and courageous conversations. Springmont continues to stand against intolerance and bigotry of any kind and is committed to making sure our students hear age-appropriate messages that exemplify our commitment to becoming an anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) community. To expand our dialogue about diversity, equity and inclusion to include our parent community, all parents are invited to join Head of School Jon Alden for a Parent Coffee on Zoom this Friday, September 18, beginning at 9 a.m.  We look forward to an open, honest conversation about these topics so hugely important to our children’s education and future and to discussing Springmont’s role in helping to eliminate systemic racial inequities and injustices worldwide.

In preparation for Friday's discussion, this week's Pulse Survey contains two questions related to this topic.  All parents are encouraged to share their perspectives and thoughts, regardless of whether you plan to attend the Zoom Parent Coffee. The survey will remain open until September 18 at 3 p.m. 

All families are invited to join us for our first-ever Virtual Montessori Mile on Saturday, October 3, 2020.

Race Registration: While we will all miss running up the hill on Long Island Drive and the festivities that traditionally take place on campus afterward, we hope our entire school community will join in this beloved event. Mark your calendars for 8:45-9:45 a.m. and look for more details soon! Race registration is $18 per person and includes a long-sleeved commemorative t-shirt! Registrations are due Friday, September 25.  (Late Registration $25) Click here for Race Registration.

Sponsorship: To honor what has become a tradition for some families, we are offering sponsorship opportunities for the Virtual Montessori Mile.  There will be some expenses associated with even a virtual event and sponsorships help us offset those costs. However, we do want to distinguish between the FUNraising of this community-building event and the Development Committee's FUNDraising efforts on behalf of the Springmont Fund. Contributions to this annual campaign, which will begin in mid-October, are incredibly important. We appreciate all the ways our community comes together in support of our students and school!  Please keep this important information in mind as you consider your financial priorities for this critical year.  Click here if you are interested in Montessori Mile sponsorship opportunities. 

Together we can do virtually anything!  Questions? Email Tiffany Orem

It's easy to recognize that our stress levels have been elevated the last five months, and it should come as no surprise that our children are also being affected by the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic.  I am so thankful Springmont has been able to reopen its doors to students. The importance of social-emotional wellness for people of ALL ages cannot be overstated. We need routines. We need community. We need movement.

In my role as Springmont’s Physical Education Teacher, promoting physical activity is my primary goal, but I also strive to support the social-emotional, mental, and other health needs of our students. This year in P.E., we are focusing on three specific goals: personal fitness, sportsmanship, and trying new things. These goals will encourage your children to stay active, endorse fair play, build character, and challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zones.  In turn, this will reduce stress, build self-confidence, and allow students to explore areas of physical activity they may not have previously considered.  Physical activity supports healthy growth and development, reduces the risk of disease later in life, and aids children in mastering fundamental movement skills. 

As we returned to campus, your children shared many wonderful stories about summer adventures. I hope you and your family will continue to find creative ways to be active outside of Springmont this fall.  Ideas for promoting physical wellness in your household include active recreation such as cycling or walking, sports or dance participation, free play or gardening outdoors, and even house cleaning and chores.  These and other forms of movement will help your children adopt healthy life-long habits and alleviate some of the pressures we are all currently facing. In the words of our Head of School, please continue to “Be well”. 

For more information on Physical Activity and the benefits to your children, please visit the CDC’s How much physical activity do children need? webpage. 

Springmont takes the health & safety of students, families, faculty and staff very seriously. As part of our efforts to be transparent about COVID-19 on campus, we will begin sharing a weekly, school-wide COVID-19 Snapshot that includes current, active cases involving our students and employees in Springmont Weekly News.

Because Springmont does not require COVID-19 testing as a condition of continued enrollment or employment (per current recommendations by the CDC), data reported here is from self-reported communications to our administrative staff.

Sharing this data on a weekly basis will hopefully keep the seriousness of the virus and the necessity for safety precautions like masks/face coverings and physical distancing top of mind.

¹Newly confirmed cases are those reported by parents or employees who have received confirmation of a positive test by a medical provider or authorized lab during the previous week.

Additionally, if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in your child’s class (inclusive of both cohorts, if applicable), parents will receive an email notification promptly. Based on case-by-case advice and guidance from the Fulton County Board of Health, we may also notify additional members of the Springmont community. 

Please note that students (and their siblings) in a particular class may be asked to remain home while we seek confirmation of a positive case and counsel from the Fulton County Board of Health.  Students asked to remain home will not be counted absent that day.

In the interest of protecting students’ and employees’ privacy and confidentiality, Springmont will abide by federal FERPA and HIPPA guidelines, which include withholding personally identifiable information related to one’s health.

We are excited to announce that this year's Montessori Mile will be held virtually on Saturday, October 3!  While we will all miss running up the hill on Long Island Drive and the festivities that traditionally take place on campus afterward, we hope our entire school community will join in this beloved event. Mark your calendars and look for more information including Race Registration next week!

To honor what has become a tradition for some families, we are offering sponsorship opportunities for the Virtual Montessori Mile.  There will be some expenses associated with even a virtual event and sponsorships help us offset those costs. However, we do want to distinguish between the FUNraising of this community-building event and the Development Committee's FUNDraising efforts on behalf of the Springmont Fund. Contributions to this annual campaign, which will begin in mid-October, are incredibly important. We appreciate all the ways our community comes together in support of our students and school!  Please keep this important information in mind as you consider your financial priorities for this critical year.  Thank you!

Click here if you are interested in Montessori Mile sponsorship opportunities. Together we can do virtually anything!

Last week we joined the worldwide celebration of Maria Montessori’s 150th birthday, recognizing the long-lasting impact of her work. Did you know that Montessori was the first to put child-sized furniture in classrooms? Can you imagine an early childhood classroom today with adult-sized furniture? Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy, issued a statement reminding us that not only did Montessori change our understanding of children, but she did so while experiencing “the hardest years of the twentieth century.” She lived through war, prejudices, exile, and a global pandemic, and yet she continued to advocate for children, recognizing their need for guidance and care despite politics or health conditions.   

Last week, our Pulse Survey asked parents to choose three words that most exemplify a Montessori education. Maria would certainly have been proud of your answers – the top three were Independence, Confidence and Learning.  Montessori gives children the confidence to learn independently.  Respecting and trusting children allows their natural curiosity to spark social/emotional and academic growth.  The three-year cycle, highly social environment, and beautiful, hands-on materials create opportunities for developmentally appropriate life lessons.  While freedom and choice for such young learners may make some adults uneasy, Montessori students become kind, creative, responsible, self-driven adults.   

Dr. Montessori’s holistic, well-rounded program also promoted peace and inclusivity, and Springmont emphasizes and lives these values daily. 2020 may look different from the early 1900s, but our goal remains the same as Dr. Montessori’s - to give children the confidence to learn independently.

Thank you to all who took last week's Pulse Survey.  Look for our next edition next Monday!

Last Monday, as the school celebrated Maria Montessori’s 150th Birthday, our alumni celebrated with a Day of Appreciation for Springmont and the Montessori method.  Alumni shared fond memories and made donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Tuition Assistance Fund to help our current families continue their Springmont experience despite any financial hardship caused by the pandemic. We are so grateful for this generous community!