September 1, 2015   View our photos on flickr Like us on Facebook
Notes From Dr. Hunt - Welcome Back!     
In these first few weeks of school our staff and students spend time participating in group activities and conversations supportive of a community of learners.  Building a strong community is paramount in a classroom of students in multiple-age groupings.  Before students can grow to their potential they must feel safe and secure.  After all, learning requires the learner to take risks and at times fail.  At a Montessori school we are blessed to welcome back two thirds of each classroom, which makes building a sense of community more fluid for both the staff and students.  For example, our 2nd through 6th graders know the systems and routines of their classroom environment.  They know how to be active participants at morning circle.  They also know how to honor one's workspace, use their lockers, use the peace table, and move politely with purpose in the hallways and other shared spaces throughout the school building.  This continuity of care is documented as best practices for schools in the academic literature.  Such care is even related to student's academic achievement.

Continuity of care for Coastal Montessori Charter School includes the three-year cycle, which is unique to a Montessori education.  This three-year cycle allows for incoming students to be ushered in by their peers, not just their teachers.  It is beautiful to watch the older students interact with the younger students and vice versa.  The older students use dialogue and appropriate modeling to show the younger students "the ropes" at CMCS.  In the Montessori culture we teach and practice grace and courtesy, in order to teach our students the soft skills.  Soft skills are the character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's relationships with other people.  Sociologists may use the term soft skills to describe a person's "EG" or " Emotional Intelligence Quotient."

One tool in the Montessori classroom used for promoting soft skills is the peace table.  The peace table is a low-lying table where students can go when they are experiencing a moment of difference with classmates.  The peace table is just that, a peaceful place for reciprocal dialogue.  Often times there are comfortable and attractive pillows at this table, which creates an inviting space for honest conversations.  Students use a two-minute sand timer to promote purposeful speech.  Each student involved in the moment of difference has two minutes to tell his or her story.  There are two rules every student follows while at the peace table:
  1. You may not repeat yourself, and
  2. If you mention a student not seated at the peace table during your story, you must invite that person to the table.  

We desire for each student to honor his or her voice with a mutual respect for other viewpoints and perspectives.  After all, relating and communicating is an essential component of being a productive and positive member of a community.

In closing, it is remarkable what young minds are capable of doing when given the tools and the time to live up to their human potential.


Kindly,
Dr. Hunt  
Dr. Hunt's Office Hours:
8:30 - 10:00 a.m. every Tuesday
THIS WEEK
AUGUST 2015
  9/4 (Fri.) - Earned Free Dress Day

9/4 (Fri.) -
A Bug's Life showing this week at After School Movie Day, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m., $10, Come support MMUN fundraising endeavors!!
 
ON THE HORIZON
SEPTEMBER 2015

9/7 (Mon.) - No School - Labor Day

9/9 (Wed.) - Observation Day

9/11 (Fri.) - After School Movie Day , 3:45 - 5:30 p.m., $10

9/14 (Mon.) - CMCS Board Meeting

9/16 (Wed.) - MMUN Dollar Dress Day

9/18 (Fri.) - After School Movie Day, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m., $10

9/25 (Fri.) - After School Movie Day, 3:45 - 5:30 p.m., $10

9/30 (Wed.) - Formal Dining Day

9/30 (Wed.) - Squirrels Club

  
SUBSCRIBE TO THE CMCS CALENDAR 
Click here to subscribe to the CMCS Google school calendar and stay informed about upcoming events. Subscribing will put CMCS events on your device's calendar software that will be updated automatically when we update the calendar. This subscription process is compatible with most calendar software programs like Mac's iCal and Outlook.

View our entire CMCS calendar
How Has Attending CMCS Impacted You and Your Child?

CMCS OPEN ENROLLMENT
October 1st - December 15th
for 2016 - 2017 School Year

The CMCS team is seeking parents and students to share their CMCS story around Georgetown county in order to increase CMCS visibility and create a greater understanding of our mission as a Montessori school.  Specific talks and events will be posted on the CMCS events calendar by the end of September.  If you are interested in telling your story contact Ms. Kristy or call the office at 843-235-0413.
Montessori Book Club
Dr. Hunt will be reaching out via email to all book club participants this week to decide on the best day and time to meet and enjoy the fall book club book, " Montessori Learning in the 21st Century: A Guide for Parents and Teachers," written by M. Shannon Helfrich.

If you are interested in learning more about Montessori pedagogy, please sign-up to join the book club.  Dr. Hunt will be facilitating one club this fall and a second book club in the spring (depending on interest).
Specialty Classes Begin in September
Music/Drama, Physical Education (PE), Visual Arts, and Spanish will begin in September after Labor Day weekend.

PE DAYS
As always, students must be in their PE uniform, wear tennis shoes, and bring a water bottle. Students will not be allowed to participate in PE without a water bottle. This is a health and safety issue and we ask that parents help their children be mindful of remembering their water bottles.

VISUAL ARTS
If you have not already done so, be sure to bring in your art supplies before the first class. Students may use their pastels and sketchbook from last year if applicable. You may wish to ask your child to check the art shelf before making purchases. If purchasing classroom supplies will create a financial burden for you, please contact the CMCS office at 843-235-0413.
CogAT Testing Change - All 2nd - 6th Graders Will Participate
All students in grades 2 - 6 will take the CogAT this year.  There is no need to send an email to Dr. Hunt by October 5th.

ABOUT CogAT
In South Carolina, the CogAT abilities test is the tool used for determining gifted and talented (GT) status.  The CogAT tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and nonverbal reasoning.
LITERACY SPOTLIGHT
Amber Wheeler Bacon,
Literacy Coach
As friends, family and some in the CMCS community have learned of my new position, many reactions have gone something like this, "Congratulations! Um, what's a literacy coach?" It means different things at different schools and so I will use my first update to tell you what it means to be the literacy coach at Coastal Montessori Charter School. My job is to support students, staff and families in all things related to reading and writing. Here's how I will be supporting students at CMCS.

A main goal of South Carolina's Read to Succeed initiative is that all students will be reading on grade level by the end of third grade. That also happens to be one of our charter goals. But, wait! Aren't we also a Montessori school, too, that believes each child travels his or her own journey through the curriculum, sometimes at different stages and at different times? Yes, we are. One of my functions as literacy coach is to come in where these two ideas converge: honor where the child is at, while giving the extra support he or she needs to be successfully reading and writing at grade level.  READ MORE.

Ms. Amber
After School Options
HOMEWORK CLUB
MONDAY - THURSDAY
After-School Homework Club, facilitated by Coach Chris, runs from 3:45 to 5 p.m., and offers homework support for all interested students. Click here for more details and to sign-up. Advance reservation price is $7/day, same day price is $10. Homework Club is held at CMCS.

FRIDAY MOVIE DAYS
Fridays CMCS offers movies for $10 from 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.  Partial proceeds will benefit the MMUN NYC Conference for 6th graders. Popcorn is provided.  If your child has specific allergies please communicate this with the Movie Days staff and pack an appropriate snack for your child. Upcoming schedule:
  • Sept. 4 - A Bug's Life
  • Sept. 11 - Curious George
  • Sept.18 - Pooh's Heffalump Movie
  • Sept. 25 - The Land Before Time
MORE OFFERINGS
Girls on the Run
Begins August 31st
Mondays and Thursdays
3:30 - 5 p.m.
at CMCS
$150
Click here for more details

Street Beat Kids Hip Hop Dance Program
Begins September 14th
1st - 4th Graders
Mondays
3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
$45/month
Click here for details

Rock Solid Golf
Begins August 31st
Boys and Girls
3:30 - 5 p.m.
at The Tradition Club
8 - 11, Tuesdays and Thursdays
12 - 15, Mondays and Wednesdays
$100/month
Click here for more info

Cooking Workshop
Begins September 14th
Mondays - Upper El
Tuesdays - Lower El
at CMCS
$75
Click here for all the details

Floor Hockey
Begins September 9th
Wednesdays
3:45 - 5 p.m.
at CMCS
$40
Click here for more info

Art Studio
Mondays in September - 14, 21, 28
3:45 - 5 p.m.
at CMCS
$40 includes supplies
Click here for all the details

Guitar Class
Begins September 16th (10-week course)
Wednesdays, 3:45 - 5 p.m.
at CMCS
$300 (includes guitar and all materials)
Click here for all the details
Contact Us

247 Wildcat Way 
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
 
843-235-0413
 
Weekly Update
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
September Breakfast Menu
September Lunch Menu
Attention 6th-Grade Parents
Please note that if you live outside of the Waccamaw attendance zone your child(ren) does not automatically qualify to attend Waccamaw Middle School for 7th grade.  You must submit a request to GCSD in order to be considered for enrollment.  The contact person for this request is Dr. Wingate.
Congratulations from Michelle Obama!
"Congratulations on your 2015 Let's Move! Active Schools National Award! I was thrilled to hear about your school's outstanding work and exemplary leadership in the areas of health and wellness..."

READ ENTIRE LETTER FROM First Lady Michelle Obama.
Parent Volunteer Needed for District Cabinet
CMCS is seeking one parent volunteer to serve on our two-person Parent Cabinet that represents CMCS at the district level.  This year the Parent Cabinet will meet at the Beck Education Building in Georgetown on October 1st, February 4th, and April 7th, at 6 p.m. Please contact Ms. Tia if you are interested.
Uniform Points of Interest
TIE-DYE FRIDAYS
Tie-Dye shirts may be worn on any Friday with clean jeans or jean shorts of the appropriate length, or the usual khaki or navy uniform bottoms. Tie-Dye shirts are also worn for field trips.

FREE DRESS DAYS
1. Earned Free Dress is the first Friday of each month and is earned by students who consistently follow the uniform policy.
2. MMUN Dollar Dress Day is ONLY once a month this year, on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.  Students who donate $1 to the 6th grade MMUN NYC Conference may participate.

Students who do not wish to participate in Earned Free Dress, MMUN Dollar Dress Day, Formal Dining Day, or Tie-Dye Fridays should wear the normal CMCS uniform to school.
Transportation Notes
  • Please do not drive on the grass to the CMCS front door on rainy days. All students are received in the front entrance of WMS on raining days.
  • Do not arrive before 3:20 p.m. for pick-up, it adds to the congestion with middle school traffic
$20 for Field Trips
Each student is assessed a $20 fee to cover costs of field trips for the entire year. Please make checks payable to CMCS and turn into the office.

If this $20 assessment is creating a financial burden for you, please contact the CMCS office at 843-235-0413.
2015-2016 School Calendar
calendar-banner.jpg
Click for Next Year's School Calendar
Coastal Montessori Charter School (CMCS) follows the Georgetown County School District calendar for vacation and holidays.
Community Events
ANTI BULLYING PERFORMANCE
by Sticks and Stones
Thursday, September 24th
3 pm
Waccamaw Neck Library
DeBordieu Auditorium
More info

FALL FUN FEST

Saturday, October 31st
6 - 8 pm
Georgetown First Assembly of God Church
Free Admission
Print your tickets here
Teacher and Staff Directory
ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Nathalie Hunt, Director
Kristy Harbaugh, Office Manager
Tia Bergeron, Operations Manager
Kelly Metz, RN, School Nurse

UPPER ELEMENTARY
Sarah Wilson, Lead Teacher
Natalie Boggs, Teaching Assistant
Hillary Usher, Lead Teacher
Sarah Stimpson, Teaching Assistant
Andria Hejl, Lead Teacher
Nan Gadek, Teaching Assistant
Elisabeth Enriquez, Lead Teacher
Celeste Reid, Teaching Assistant

LOWER ELEMENTARY
Antoinette Ursits, Lead Teacher
Pam French, Teaching Assistant
 Shaye Heiskell, Lead Teacher
Johanna D. Wilson, Teaching Assistant
Amy Williams, Lead Teacher
Jo Addington, Teaching Assistant
Ally Boddicker, Lead Teacher
Jamie Williamson, Teaching Assistant

SPECIALTY TEACHERS
Chris Bergeron, Athletic Director and Physical Education
Keely Elliott, Spanish Teacher
Kim Evans-Robey, Visual Arts Teacher
Kalley Long, Music and Drama Teacher
Nicole Nucero, Special Education Resource Teacher
Amber Wheeler Bacon, Literacy Coach