We’ve Got Spirit, Yes, We Do!

Community, by admin, March 16, 2016, Leave a Reply
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Spring has sprung, and we’re jumping for joy (literally) and gearing up to place our next order of AWESOME VdM SPIRIT WEAR!  Whoop it up, folks!  You’re going to LOVE all the offerings!

Order forms will be sent home with students on MONDAY, MARCH 21st (the day we return from Spring Break!) and will be due back at school by FRIDAY, MARCH 25th.  As you can see, we have a one-week  turnaround for submitting forms.

The spirit wear will be ready for pick up and distribution to families the week of April 11th at the latest.  We are gunning for all tees, hats, tanks and hoodies to be in your hands as soon as possible!

Samples of each item will be outside the Upper Elementary each day next week, weather permitting.  We have each type of shirt available in two sizes- either small & large or medium and extra-large, so you can determine best fit for all family members.  *Please note:  the women’s tees and girls’ tees run SUPER SMALL!  Size up once or twice!

Please make checks payable to Villa di Maria Montessori School and place order forms with payment in the envelope outside the main office.

Nicole Cook, VdM Business Manager, is on the ball with all aspects on the ordering front!   Nicole Cook, VdM Business Manager, is on the ball with all aspects on the ordering front!

Below you’ll see all the “goods” in mock-up form:

Alternative Unisex Eco Jersey Lightweight Full-Zip Hoodies Alternative Unisex Eco Jersey Lightweight Full-Zip Hoodies Men's and boys' short sleeved t-shirts (technically unisex but more on the men's fit side) American Apparel for the men folk Next Level for youth Men’s and boys’ short sleeved t-shirts (technically unisex but more on the men’s fit side) American Apparel for the men folk Next Level for youth Women's and girls' short-sleeved t-shirts (these shirts rock, but they run EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL! Order UP a size or two and definitely check out the samples!) American Apparel for the ladies. Next Level for the girls. Women’s and girls’ short-sleeved t-shirts (these shirts rock, but they run EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL! Order UP a size or two and definitely check out the samples!) American Apparel for the ladies. Next Level for the girls.

Women’s Next Level Terry Racerback Tank

Adidas Unstructured Embroidered Cresting Cap One size fits all! Adidas Unstructured Embroidered Cresting Cap One size fits all!

Bound for the Big Apple!

Upper Elementary, by admin, March 8, 2016, Leave a Reply
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WHO IS LEAVING ON WEDNESDAY AND WHY?

Seventeen Villa di Maria Montessori School 5th and 6th grade students are participating in the Montessori Model United Nations as delegates this year, representing four countries:  Burkina Faso, the Republic of Peru, the Republic of Portugal, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Students sit on a variety of committees, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Human Rights Council (HRC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), Economic & Financial — Second Committee (ECOFIN), and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MMUN?

“MMUN students formulate, present, debate, and revise positions on current issues that are affecting people of the world.  By assuming the perspectives of a citizen of their selected countries, MMUN students not only develop an understanding of the needs and rights of others, but also learn the respect the cultures, the political views, and the belief system of others.

Taking on their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN simulation, students research the issue that their UN committees will address. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about topics including peace and security, human rights, the rights of the child, child labor, the environment, food and hunger, economic development and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation.

When they arrive at the MMUN Conference students transform themselves into UN Ambassadors and assume the rights and responsibilities of world leaders. Their imaginations propel them to collaboratively create resolutions to our world’s most pressing problems. MMUN encourages students to know that they can make a difference.”

– Montessori Model United Nations

WHEN?

Our Villa di Maria crew of students, teachers and parents depart Wednesday, March 9th and return on Monday, March 14th.

WHERE DOES THE MMUN TAKE PLACE?

New York City!  One highlight of this experience is that this is the only model United Nations that allows student delegates to vote on their draft resolutions from the seats of actual UN delegates at the actual United Nations!

HOW DID THE STUDENTS PREPARE?

Students begin by learning general information about the countries they represent, as well as general information about the United Nations. Students are then introduced to their committees and specific topics. They research one topic thoroughly, write a position paper on that topic, then do the same with their second topic. When position papers are complete, students write opening speeches, learn about and practice parliamentary procedure, caucusing, and drafting resolutions in order to be thoroughly prepared for the trip.

The Agenda of our MMUN’ers:

Wednesday:

Fly to New York City

Attend the Opening Ceremonies for the MMUN

Thursday:

Country Display Set Up

Committee Sessions

Visit the Empire State Building or Times Square (2 groups)

Friday:

Committee Sessions, Committee Sessions, Committee Sesssions (Most of the Day!)

China Town or Little Italy

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Saturday:

United Nations Headquarters

Final Voting Assembly at the UN HQ

Lunch at Grand Central Station

Visit the American Museum of Natural History

Walk Central Park to the Guggenheim Museum

Sunday:

Sightseeing Cruise

Central Park

Monday:

Fly Home!

* BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE VILLA DI MARIA FACEBOOK PAGE AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES FOR UPDATES AND PICTURES OF THE GOINGS-ON IN NYC!

The Hands are the Instruments of Man’s Intelligence- Dr. Maria Montessori

Children's House, by admin, March 7, 2016,
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“He does it with his hands, by experience, first in play and then through work. The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.”

In the Montessori Children’s House, the child experiences hands-on learning opportunities through practical life activities from folding cloths and pouring water to polishing silver and tying bows. The sensorial materials also offer endless opportunities for concrete exploration and internalization of all visual and dimensional aspects needed to set a solid foundation for a mathematical mind.  Think pink tower and geometric cabinet.  Additionally, activities such as touch boards, sound cylinders, and baric tablets allow for refinement of the senses through the work of the hand. Language and Mathematics are both introduced with multi-sensory materials such as sandpaper letters and decimal golden beads. The self-guided learning and freedom for repetition with the materials separates Montessori from traditional learning centers and creates the optimal experience for natural development in young children.

The importance of the hand is at the heart of Montessori education.  The use of hands helps the child construct himself. Dr. Maria Montessori felt strongly that the hand and brain must develop in harmony. The hand reports to the brain; the brain guides the hand; the cycle continues, resulting in the development of the intellect.

More than a century later, neuroscience is filled with evidence of the strong connection between the hand and the brain. 

“If you made a human being based on what your brain thinks your body looks like, you’d get this.  This is you from the perspective of your brain.” – Dr. Stephen Hughes

What’s Up in the Upper El?

Upper Elementary, by admin, March 3, 2016,
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I like Lord of the Rings because it shows the light of good and the dark of evil. I like Lord of the Rings because it shows the light of good and the dark of evil.

Many of our stellar Upper Elementary literature-lovers chimed in with their current reads and/or favorite reads!  Much appreciation for their willingness to share their books with the Villa di Maria community!

Check ’em out!

This book is adventurous and scary! This book is adventurous and scary! This book has so much humor!  It's soooo funny!  This book is like my life. This book has so much humor!  It’s soooo funny!  This book is like my life. This book is fun, silly and it shows how I feel sometimes- like a dork!  :) This book is fun, silly and it shows how I feel sometimes- like a dork!  🙂 I like this book because it is full of World War II action! I like this book because it is full of World War II action! It's very important in the history of Civil Rights. It’s very important in the history of Civil Rights. This book is not my favorite, but it's great because it has completely different character interests and personalities.  It's an everlasting, two-points-of-view adventure, which is perfect for my taste. This book is not my favorite, but it’s great because it has completely different character interests and personalities.  It’s an everlasting, two-points-of-view adventure, which is perfect for my taste. I like this book because it's very ominous. I like this book because it’s very ominous. I like Dragon Blood because of the relation of animals and humans. I like Dragon Blood because of the relation of animals and humans. This book is very cool and funny, but I can't relate to any of the characters because they're vampires. This book is very cool and funny, but I can’t relate to any of the characters because they’re vampires. I like this book because it has a good pace and a good story. I like this book because it has a good pace and a good story. I like Brown Girl Dreaming because it feels like I am right there in the story- with the people. I like Brown Girl Dreaming because it feels like I am right there in the story- with the people. This is a very action-packed book.  It leaves you on the edge chapter after chapter. This is a very action-packed book.  It leaves you on the edge chapter after chapter. I like the book because it's violent. I like the book because it’s violent. Interesting and mystical. Interesting and mystical. I like Smile because it's about a girl that falls and loses her teeth.  Then she goes on a journey to get her teeth back.  I give it five stars! I like Smile because it’s about a girl that falls and loses her teeth.  Then she goes on a journey to get her teeth back.  I give it five stars! This book is a mystery about a kid my age who solves it.  I like it because I like solving mysteries, too. This book is a mystery about a kid my age who solves it.  I like it because I like solving mysteries, too. I like West Viking because it's full of information. I like West Viking because it’s full of information. I like this book because of the suspense.   I like this book because of the suspense. I like this book because it's kind of scary, and it's funny. I like this book because it’s kind of scary, and it’s funny. It's full of amazing characters and fills you with suspense as you're reading. It’s full of amazing characters and fills you with suspense as you’re reading. Took a millisecond for Mrs. Anderson to respond with her all-time favorite book! Took a millisecond for Mrs. Anderson to respond with her all-time favorite book! Ms. Rebecca, true to form, enjoys so many books from so many genres, she couldn't narrow it down to just one.  She would recommend ANY of the above as interesting reads!  How much shall we wager that Ms. Rebecca revels in her personal florilegium?   Ms. Rebecca, true to form, enjoys so many books from so many genres, she couldn’t narrow it down to just one.  She would recommend ANY of the above as interesting reads!  How much shall we wager that Ms. Rebecca revels in her personal florilegium?