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Head's Corner 
We are approaching what I consider the best holiday, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to gather with those we love and reflect on what we are thankful for. This year, I am very thankful for the CMS community and for what I have learned from all of you.
Many of our families will also be thankful for Liliane Cherrick, who will begin teaching French here at CMS until we find a permanent teacher. Mrs. Cherrick, in addition to being Claire's mom, has been teaching foreign language part time at Montessori International Children's House. Also in staff news, we must bid goodbye to Nancy Rollis. Nancy has been a wonderful part of our CMS napping and extended care program. Nancy also goes to school full time and needs more time to devote to her school work. We wish her well and hope to see her back once she completes her degree.
This Friday, CMS will be filled with clothing models as our faculty and staff premier items from our new CMS Clothing Store. A couple of months ago, Kim Wendkos and Lori Smith approached me with the idea of selling CMS monogrammed clothing. Subsequently, Pam Donnelly connected us with a promotions company specializing in making items for a specific purpose. Debra Forish-Pilarski then worked up the new design. While this story is not as dramatic as Devil Wears Prada, it is an example of the wonderful generosity and cooperation of CMS parents that not only gets things done, but gets them done well. Click here for more information about available items. Click here for an order form. Order received by Dec. 6 will be delivered by Dec. 21. Lori Smith will now be handling our CMS clothing. Please contact her at, lorismith@alum.mit.edu or 410-975-0595, for questions about ordering or suggestions for things to add to our CMS clothing store.
Keep in mind, if you are looking for wrapping paper for your new CMS sweatshirt you can still order from Innisbrook. I understand that orders placed on-line are quickly shipped.
A free gift from CMS is our new Parent Handbook. Due to the generosity of Kevin Siegel, we no longer need to print the parent handbook. Mr. Siegel has converted the paper Parent Handbook and converted it to electronic format. Click here to see the handbook. Many aspects of the document have been updated. Over time additional information and pictures will be added.
To clarify any misunderstandings about the use of our CMS family roster it is distributed to build a wider and deeper CMS community. It is not meant to be used for any business purposes.
I hope everyone has a wonderful time of "thanksgiving."
Bob Mattingly
Head of School |
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From the Boardroom
 Board - Building update
CMS is no longer required to hook up the existing building to sewer nor will we be required to do so with the new building. Bob Mattingly has received, in writing, a formal statement from the county that explicitly makes this clear. This is a huge hurdle now crossed and a hearty thank you goes out to many persons who worked diligently, persistently and politely to demonstrate to the county our circumstances - an approach which ultimately yielded this favorable opinion. Because this issue enveloped a host of other cost and engineering concerns, obtaining resolution was a critical element in the process of finalizing building plans and determining more accurately the expected costs. Another round of plans has been submitted and while not an absolute certainty at this juncture, the resolution of the sewer issue may enable the Board to take up the final review and approval at its upcoming November 20th meeting. Stay tuned! The sewer resolution was a momentous event!
Board - Search Update
The Search Committee, as commented upon in the October 1 newsletter, performed a search last year for an interim Head of School, a position accepted by Bob Mattingly, and indicated that we would continue working with the Head Search Consultant firm, The Education Group, in a search for a permanent Head of School. Additional interviews have been held with candidates over the course of the last month, with follow-ups likely over the course of the next couple of weeks. We continue on pace to meet the stated objective of completing this process prior to year end. |
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Development 
The Development & Board of Trustees celebrated fall with a wonderful event at the Dickenson's home. We were pleased to see new faces as well as old friends. Thank you to the Dickenson Family for opening up their home and providing the community with a special night out!
The Committees are currently being formed for our annual Board Fund Raiser, Winter Escape. Creative ideas are pouring in so now is your opportunity to get involved in this wonderful event. Even if you were not able to make it to the planning meeting; there still is an opportunity for you to get involved. You can contact Carrie Dare at 443-623-1989 or abbcd4@yahoo.com or Kristin Slavin at 410-349-1117 or kristin.slavin@wolterskluwer.com.
As a reminder save the date for Winter Escape: Saturday, February 23, 2008! What is Winter Escape? It is a wonderful evening of community spirit, competitive bidding on class projects, trips and more along with fabulous food, drink and great company! So make sure you reserve your baby sitter now so you won't miss this great community event!
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PTO News
Please mark your calendars for Saturday December 8th for a day full of fun at the Family Holiday Craft Day! You won't want to miss it! Be on the lookout for the Innisbrook orders! They are due to arrive at school this week and preliminary reports look like we had sales in excess of $7,000 of which CMS will get 50%! Thanks so much for everyone's participation!
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Montessori Minute
by Gail Guthery
The Second Plane of Development 6 - 12 Years of Age
Around the age of six, the child undergoes a dramatic transformation. No longer the self-absorbed young child, he becomes much more outgoing. Montessori calls this time "the birth of the social being". The child seeks to understand the society in which he lives and to become a participant in it. He has a need to assert the personality that he has constructed during the first plane of development by expressing it.
This is an awkward physical stage. The child grows long and thin, looses baby teeth, and the hair becomes thicker and coarser. This is a period of robust health and physical strength. The child has an abundance of energy. Her quest for intellectual, psychological and physical challenges is endless.
During the second plane, the child experiences the greatest capacity for intellectual growth in his life. Her area of interest has no bounds and she has enormous potential for work. In the classroom the child is given the 'keys to the universe', just enough to spark her interest in exploring further on her own.
Instead of being a sensorial explorer as in the first plane, the second plane child uses her imagination along with a reasoning mind to explore the invisible and the unknown. She is not satisfied with facts, but seeks to understand the why and the how behind them.
The second plane child prefers to work in a group and finds satisfaction and stimulation on cooperative activity. Her peers become very important to her.
She seeks to establish a stronger sense of independence outside the family.
The second plane of development is a time of emotional stability. During this time her conscience emerges and she explore reasons behind what is right and wrong, good or bad. She has a strong sense of justice and has great compassion for those in need. |
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2007 Calendar
11/16
CMS Clothing Premier
11/19 & 11/20
Parent Teacher Conferences
11/19 - 11/23
School Closed
11/27
Fine Arts Presentation
12/8
Holiday Craft Fair
12/11
Winter Program
12/21
Primary Holiday Program
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