News from Woodland Hill Montessori School 

Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year


We are four weeks into the 2017-2018 school year, and it's going great so far! The weather has been wonderful and the students are eager to come to school each morning.

We are excited to be welcoming 37 brand-new families! We opened the school year with a record number of students. We have 302 students from Toddler through Middle School!

What is Normalizing?

Susan Kambrich, Head of School

The classrooms are now in the process of what Dr. Maria Montessori called 'normalizing'. The translation from Italian can be confusing, but what it means is that the children have become accustomed to the classroom routines, rules and work expectations, and are now learning and experiencing the characteristics that will make them successful learners: the love of work, self-discipline, concentration, and effective socialization. 

Read the rest of Susan's blog.
NEW FACES AND STAFF CHANGES

We welcomed five new faculty and staff members this year.
Paloma Cuprill

Kathleen Lyons

Jackie Santilli

Alisa Scapatici








Andrew Snow

Paloma Cuprill was hired as the Business Manager over the summer. Paloma has worked as an accountant for the Albany Symphony Orchestra and as controller for Eriksen Translations Inc. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Sage Colleges. She joins Sue Evans and Danielle Hall in the Business Office. 

Kathleen Lyons is our new Primary-Middle School Art Teacher. She recently retired from the East Greenbush School District. Kathleen has a bachelor's degree in art education and a master's degree in education from The College of St. Rose.

Jackie Santilli is the Assistant Teacher in Julie's class. Jackie has a bachelor's degree in child development from Syracuse University and a master's degree in childhood education from Sage Graduate Schools. She taught elementary students in schools in New York and Hawaii.

Elisa Scapatici is our new ELA teacher in the Middle School. Alisa was the English teacher at Albany Academies for 21 years and the Chair of the English Department there for the past eight years. Alisa has a bachelor's in comparative literature from Hamilton College, a master's in English and education from Union College, and a doctorate in English from the University at Albany. Alisa will also be serving as director of the Writing Center to assist our older elementary and middle school students in writing.

Andrew Snow is our new violin teacher. He has been a violin and viola teacher and coach for the Empire State Youth Orchestra and CHIME, as well as in his own studio for the past seven years.  He was also a teaching assistant at the Eastman School of Music and Brigham Young University Department of Music. Andrew has a bachelor's and master's degree in Music from Brigham Young University, and a doctorate of musical arts from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. 
Faculty and staff changes


Michelle Edwards is now the Assistant Head of School. She has previously served as the Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development and Head Toddler Teacher. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Grove City College in Pennsylvania, CMTE Toddler Certification, and is currently a candidate in the Masters of Education in Educational Administration program at Lamar University. Michelle holds an AMS Infant and Toddler certificate.  









Iggy Calabria is teaching Upper Elementary and Middle School music. Iggy has a bachelor's degree in Jazz Guitar Performance and a master's of teaching degree in Music Education from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Iggy taught STOMP as a UE and MS elective last year, and is continuing that elective this year.  

 
Ashley Campion will work as the Head Toddler teacher in the afternoon, and as an assistant in the morning session. She joined the Toddler classroom last year as an assistant. Ashley has a bachelor's in early childhood education from the College of Saint Rose. She is currently enrolled at the Center for Montessori Education and is in the process of completing her Infant and Toddler Montessori certification.
Mary Dame has joined the Toddler II (PM) class as an assistant. Mary has worked in school care and the summer program since 2016. Mary has a bachelor's degree in history from the State University of New York at Oswego with a specialization in American History.
Nicole Lenihan is the new Assistant Teacher with Stephanie in Primary. Nicole recently completed her Montessori training at the Northeast Montessori Institute. Nicole has served as a long-term substitute and assistant in the Toddler program at WHMS. Nicole has a bachelor's in psychology from the Sage Colleges, and a master's in industrial/organizational psychology from Capella University.
Erin Mergil is now a Head Teacher, after working with Stephanie last year. She is an experienced Montessori teacher, previously working at Escuela Montessori del Valle in El Paso and Castle Island in Albany. She has a bachelor's degree from the University at Albany in Spanish and linguistics. Erin is credentialed from the Center of Montessori Teacher Education. She recently completed her master's in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Montessori studies.
Summer at WHMS 

Summer 2017 was our best yet! Most of our camps were fully enrolled at both the Elementary and Primary levels. We had a 15% increase in enrollment in summer camp as compared to 2016. 

Traveler Camp was very successful this year, as well as our other elementary camps including Sculpture, Electronics, Tinkering, Upcycling, and Forest Explorers.

Thank you to Meghan Johnson, the Director of Auxiliary Services, and Cassandre Hall and Lourdes Ortega, Summer Program Co-Directors, and all of the teachers from this year's program. Well done!


Dr. Derrick Gay


Dr. Derrick Gay, a well-known diversity and education speaker, gave two presentations at WHMS on Friday, September 1. His daytime workshop provided teachers from WHMS and other local Montessori schools with a list of critical components of diversity and cultural competency skills. 

In the evening, approximately 60 guests attended his talk about re-framing diversity for the 21st century. Dr. Gay's workshops were very well-received.
Friends of WHMS News

The Friends of WHMS hosted a Welcome Coffee for WHMS parents on Friday, September 8. It was great to see new faces and returning ones!






Faculty Training

WHMS teachers returned to school on Monday, August 28 for a week of faculty development and classroom preparation. The week began with team-building exercises on the athletic field with Dominic Cataldo, a former WHMS parent.

Primary Head Teacher Jennifer Graham provided an overview of the Montessori Method for new faculty and Assistant Teachers.

Lower El teachers also learned about Kelso's Choice. The program teaches young children peace-making skills, and increases confidence, reduces tattling and is a preliminary tool to prevent bullying.

All WHMS faculty and staff attended a daylong workshop with Dr. Derrick Gay entitled "The Double-Edged Sword of Diversity." 

The teachers also received training on Creosity (STEM), Montessori Compass, our new record-keeping software, and creating classroom blogs. 

WHMS Happenings




Middle School students and their teachers went on an overnight team-building trip to Nature's Classroom in mid-September. The students participated in group games, canoeing, geo-dome building, a night hike, and low ropes and high ropes courses. The teachers say it "was a wonderful opportunity for the students to make new friends and strengthen established friendships as well as build a strong, tight-knit foundation for their year together."
A student in Stephanie and Nicole's class grated cinnamon at the practical life area.

See more photos at:
https://www.instagram.com/whms_stephanie_nicole/

Several students in Kristi and Ann's Lower El class received a two digit test tube lesson. Kristi says that "parents often hear this from their children and assume it has something to do with science. The test tubes are a Montessori material used to teach the concept of long division. "Two digit" refers to the divisor. For example, 34,543 รท 23 = ?"

https://www.instagram.com/kristifavaloro/





WHMS participated in the Troy Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, September 16. It was led by Woodland Hill's Maker Space Coordinator Jesse Roberts. The WHMS booth featured a rocket launch, catapult, and trebuchet. Jesse will also be setting up the items at Fall Family Fun Day. 



Upper El students spent an entire day outside as part of the Flying Deer Nature Center program.
The students learned valuable information about shelter building, fire starting, and foraging for food. It also teaches them community cooperation and respect for their environment.


Tierra Farm owner Gunther Fishgold (center) tours the Middle School students. They visited the farm on Wednesday, September 20. Tierra Farm is providing this year's hot lunches. 





Upper El traveled to the Patroon Land Farm on Monday, September 25. They harvested eggplants for the Regional Food Bank, which runs a partnership with the farm. The UE has participated in this field trip for at least the last nine years. 
Dates to Remember

Thursday, September 28
MS Coffee House, 7:30 - 8:20 a.m.
Parent Education Presentation, 8:30 a.m.
Bard Academy to visit Middle School students, 12:20 p.m.


Friday, September 29
All School Photo, 8:45 a.m.
Sing Peace Around the World, 9 a.m.
Academy of Holy Names and CBA to visit Middle School students, 12:20 p.m.
Kristi's Class Picnic, 6 p.m.


Saturday, September 30
Yom Kippur


Monday, October 2
Diwali Planning Meeting, 8:30 a.m. in the staff kitchen
Julie's Class Picnic, 6 p.m


Tuesday, October 3
Middle School to  New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
Upper El Class Picnic, 6 p.m.


Wednesday, October 4
Primary Field Trip to Golden Harvest Farm
Cross County Meet at Menands School, 4 p.m.
Middle School Class Ice Cream Social, 6 p.m.


Thursday, October 5
LaSalle Institute to visit Middle School students, 12:20 p.m.
Friends of WHMS Fall Family Fun Day Planning meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Stephanie's Class Picnic, 6 p.m. 


Friday, October 6
The High School at Brown School to visit Middle School students, 12:30 p.m. 
Gala Committee meeting, 8:30 a.m.


Monday, October 9
Columbus Day, No School
Enrichment is available.


Saturday, October 14
Fall Family Fun Day, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.


Saturday, October 21
Voyage of Discovery - Science
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.


Friday, October 27
Lantern Walk and Middle Eastern Dinner, 5 p.m. 

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