Cindy Webb is a familiar face at GMS and is about to become even more hands-on in the world of Montessori education. She has been a room parent for eight years and is now officially stepping into her new role as lead coordinator of the Greensboro Montessori School Community Association (GMSCA). 

GMSCA has dialed back in the past few years due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but Cindy’s mission is to make the organization even stronger than it was before. At a school where meaningful relationships and involvement are integral, her goal is to create a deeper connection between children, parents, and teachers. She has a long history with Montessori and is excited to bring her expertise to the table.

“My husband, Daniel, and I began our search for a school when our son Isaac was 2 years old. Some of our friends always spoke so highly of their children’s Montessori learning experiences, which led me to inquire at GMS. Once we toured the Toddler and Primary classrooms, I knew this was the place where I wanted him to grow. I saw how Montessori’s multisensory approach to learning could build a deeper level of knowledge and awareness than is offered at most schools. The beautiful outdoors spaces (such as the gardens, playgrounds, and woods) really resonated with our family as important learning spaces as well.

Our son Isaac entered Primary in 2016 when he was three years old. He has completed three divisions here and is now a seventh grader in Junior High. Observing typical days in Primary and Lower Elementary allowed me to fully appreciate the expertise of the teachers not only in curriculum, but also in childhood development and management skills. Lower Elementary is where I saw the spark develop for our son to follow his intellectual interests. While those interests have changed over the years, immersing himself in learning about a current focus remains strong. It’s a trait that I envision serving him well throughout his life.”

GMS dedicates children to a life of learning and connecting with the world around them. The Webb family felt these values outside of the classroom and easily connected with the GMS community. 

“Conversing with fellow parents about learning experiences across the different divisions, particularly about what to expect in the upcoming years, has been meaningful for us as we have reflected back for others and also looked ahead for ourselves. We also have appreciated the many community events that GMS coordinates for families to come together on and off campus like Curriculum Night, the Fall Festival, and Spirit Night at the Grasshoppers game. Visiting with familiar faces and touching base with new families is the spirit of the GMS community.  

One common aspect that I see among the GMS faculty and staff is how dedicated they are to each family and to the role they have in nurturing relationships here. There are over 250 students and even more family members that faculty and staff encounter on campus, from the front desk, to carline, to a large event such as the Fall Festival. They somehow recall every name and make personal connections with us all. That level of engagement with families is impressive. Teachers and staff at GMS love their jobs and know the value of their work. Having a teacher that truly knows your child — how they think, how they learn, and how they interact — is quite special.”

Throughout her time at GMS, she looks back on helping teachers as a room parent fondly. Another mission of hers in her new leadership position is to find ways to show more appreciation towards teachers.

“Time spent with teachers in each division helped me to know them as individuals of shared values and concerns and also to appreciate their influence on students. The work that I have done to support our teachers has allowed them to focus more of their time on the critical work they perform in the classroom and after hours.”

In the past, she created the idea of teacher-affirmation boxes that could be filled with notes from parents and students. Cindy states that having these simple gratifications not only represent GMS values, but also allows those in the home and at school to nurture each other.

She only wants to continue and improve this work in GMSCA.

“Working toward creating meaningful connections and increasing involvement among GMS families is a large priority for this year. One idea I am most excited about is building an active parent education community. We all know how challenging parenting can be, especially when we care so much about understanding what is best for our child’s future. I would like to bring together parents that want to learn mindful approaches for home that support the foundations our children gain here at GMS. A few ideas I am working to develop are a parenting book club or discussion group and also follow-up discussions to the virtual ISACS Parenting Series that GMS will offer again this year.”

Lastly, she has some hopes and dreams as a leadership coordinator. Just like every parent here at GMS, she sees a future for her child and for the village that helps him grow.

“The GMSCA hopes to bring together families in a variety of gatherings on and off campus this year. Many of us build connections with fellow parents centered around the friendships of our children. My hope is for the GMSCA to build relationships across GMS that extend further into our shared interests. One way we intend to do this is through establishing several committees of engaged parents to facilitate connections and support across a variety of school activities and initiatives. The GMSCA has the potential to create so many meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and families that could enhance school experiences and also further enrich our lives. I want all parents to participate in a sense of belonging and purpose at GMS. We hope that you all will join us in the opportunities to come.”

Cindy and her husband Daniel, along with their son, Isaac, are beloved members of GMS and the Montessori community as a whole. Her work as a room parent has already shown her commitment to her community and how she embraces every aspect of it. Keep an eye out for any communications from Cindy in the near future as she embarks on her hopes and dreams for the GMSCA.

Dear Friends,

A very Happy 2019 to you all! I wanted to send a personal note of thanks to each and every one of you for your contributions to our School. Whether you donate your time, your talent, or your treasure, every gesture is appreciated and celebrated.

As our children are busy doing their important work in their classes, the GMSCA is also doing our important work cultivating and supporting a vibrant and engaged parent community. Looking ahead, we will have many opportunities to get together to support our children, our faculty, and each other. Keep a look out for these upcoming events - we hope you'll find there's something for everyone!

See you in our community, whether we're enjoying a student performance at school or breaking bread together at a local restaurant!

Karen Kelly,
GMSCA Lead Coordinator

To my fellow GMS Families,

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year!

The GMS Community Association (GMSCA) is excited and honored to welcome our many new families joining our Montessori community for the first time.  We’re also proud to say welcome back to all of our returning families, with a special "hats off" to those pioneering families joining our inaugural ninth grade class. Finally, a special welcome to our new Head of School, Kevin Navarro, and his family.  We are excited about the enthusiasm Kevin has already put into building the partnership between our parent community and our administrative and teaching staff. It’s a wonderful time to be at GMS!

Our hope is that every family will find value in the GMSCA.  Our mission is inclusion; inspiring an engaged community of friends who support and encourage each other as parents. We also strive to recognize the diversity of contributions we collectively bring to our school.

Unlike most other schools, membership in the GMSCA is automatic….and free! We ask for no dues and we do not ask you to sell anything. Our activities are funded through a variety of ways, mainly the fall and spring book fairs. We also raise funds through initiatives like the Harris Teeter Together in Education VIC Card Program, so please let’s get those cards linked to our school (link to #1849)!

Perhaps the most visible way you will see the GMSCA in action is through the events we plan and support throughout the school year. Three of the largest are:

 

Beyond events, we also provide opportunities for you to participate in the overall experience for your children. The GMSCA supports room parents who work directly with your teachers and help coordinate other parent volunteers needed to plan and execute many of the fun and educational activities your children love. The GMSCA virtual community page on Facebook is available to all parents to connect from home, the office or after hours.  We also host social opportunities like morning coffees and Parents’ Nights Out.

In closing, thanks so much to the many parents who participate in the GMSCA. We’re always looking for more parent and community involvement and would love to have your talent on our community team.  You don’t need to attend a meeting, host an event, or take a day off work to volunteer to be an essential member of our community.

Here are a few ways you can contribute right now:

We’re looking forward to a wonderful year for our school, our community and, most of all, our children.

See you at school!

Cordially,

Karen Kelly, 2017-18 GMSCA Lead Coordinator

 

Karen Kelly, 2017-18 GMSCA Lead Coordinator, and her daughter Kyla

 

We recently had the pleasure to do a personal interview with our GMSCA outreach coordinator, Rebecca Sheridan. Becca is such a down to earth and approachable person, and we are eager for you to meet her, in case you haven’t already. We also wanted to learn more about how she is enjoying her first year working with the GMSCA cultivating the Outreach Committee!

GMSCA: Hi Becca! Thank you for agreeing to be our GMSCA family feature! We’ve been very excited with all of the outreach and social activities this school year. It's been great to meet and hang out with other families. Tell us about the outreach program.
Becca: The Outreach Committee focuses on the social aspect of being part of a school community. Its focus evolves a bit every year based on the school’s and GMSCA's needs. This year the focus has been to welcome new families and foster further connections with our established families. Our members help coordinate small group gatherings like parents nights, coffee socials and playdates, and connect our new folks with established families based on something that they may have in common, which may be as simple as being in the same classroom. This spring we had a couple of occasions where some moms met at a local restaurant for dinner. It included moms from every level in the school and lots of people met each other for the first time. This month we are encouraging everyone to meet up at the Green & White Bash. We will also have a couple playdates over the summer to get acquainted with new families and welcome them to our community. I really enjoy social events and connecting with new people, so the Outreach Committee seemed like good fit for me.
GMSCA: Tell us about what brought you and your family to GMS.
Becca: Eric and I fell in love with the campus and the people from our first tour! We felt very connected to the teaching philosophy and the respect the students receive. We also really appreciated the opportunity for children to learn at their own pace and the aspects of peer learning that the children engage in as they grow.
GMSCA: What is your favorite thing about GMS?
Becca: Our kids learn so much about being great independent people and being a positive part of a community. The collective talent in our staff is so amazing and they not only teach our kids, but educate us too! For example, I think the independence that the children develop from an early age is beyond eye opening. Seeing what my kids are capable of in the classroom has really caused me to grow as a parent and encourages me to challenge and support them to have greater independence at home too. I guess I love that the school has helped me grow in addition to helping my kids grow!
GMSCA: Tell us a little about your family!
Becca:  We are in our third year and we have two children at GMS - Aidan who is in Primary with Catherine and Stacy and Ana who started this year in the Toddler program with Skye and Marie. Before becoming a mom I was a physical therapist and Eric is a software engineer who runs his own business here in Greensboro. We moved to the area in 2013!
GMSCA: Thanks so much for your time Becca, and for volunteering to take on this important role with the GMSCA. Your work is helping to expand the network of support and friendship that our families feel.

In this GMSCA interview, we invite you to meet Sophia Dubrovsky, Alex Trestman and their sons, Luka and Ethan, ages four and two, respectively. This interview was conducted by Amy Blanton, GMSCA Communication Coordinator, and fellow Montessori mom.

We were excited to recently catch up with Sophia and her family to learn more about them! It was such a pleasure to interview Sophia as she is a beacon of kindness, warmth and light. You may recognize Sophia from the GMSCA Events Team. Last year she led the effort to organize our school's International Fair which is an annual event held in late January. 

GMSCA: Hi, Sophia! Thank you for being our first GMSCA feature family for 2016. We are so excited to chat with you! Tell us about a bit about your family!

Sophia: We moved here from Connecticut and remain in Greensboro mostly due to the community we've found at Greensboro Montessori School. Alex works for Honda Jet, and I have my own consulting company called Plant Based Made Easy. Luka started at Greensboro Montessori  when he was 18 months old and is now in his second year of Primary in Isabelle and Gail’s classroom, and Ethan just started his first year in Toddler with Skye and Marie.

GMSCA: How did you end up at Greensboro Montessori School?

Sophia: We toured the School when Luka was just 14 months old. I immediately felt at home, especially in the gardens. I knew instantly that this is where I wanted my kids to spend their days. I love the exposure to the outdoors, and the opportunity they have to develop into their own people. It is a very lovely, cozy environment that I felt would allow Luka (and later Ethan) the freedom to explore. Greensboro Montessori is not a cookie cutter program; it gives children the opportunity to mature into their own interests. That was important to our family!

GMSCA: Tell us about your involvement in the GMSCA.

Sophia: Being part of the GMSCA has been wonderful! All of our family and friends live in Connecticut. It wasn’t until joining the GMSCA that I felt like I had found my tribe. We love how community-focused the School is, and it has given us a reason to grow roots in Greensboro. Volunteering is a great way to meet other families. You can volunteer as much or as little as you want. I’ve loved being a room parent for Luka's and Ethan’s classrooms; it’s a great way to be involved with the life of the school and support the teachers. Last year I was the chair of the International Fair and it was an incredible experience reaching out and learning about all the different cultures represented at our School. If anyone is looking for a way to get involved with the community, show up to our next monthly GMSCA meeting.

GMSCA: We can’t wait to see what is in store for this year’s International Fair in January! Tell us more about your sons, Luka and Ethan.

Sophia: Luka and Ethan are both adventurous and charismatic boys, and Greensboro Montessori has been instrumental in Luka’s growth over the last four years. I love that he has a place to explore without the pressure of workbooks or homework. Ethan just enrolled this fall and the toddler program is a great outlet for his strong desires for gross motor play.

GMSCA: You mentioned you run your own consulting firm. Please give us a window into your work with Plant Based Made Easy.

Sophia: I am passionate about nutrition and sharing with the community about how easy and monumental a plant-based diet is for your whole family! I offer cooking classes, consultations, and I frequently post reviews and recipes on my blog.

GMSCA: Thank you so much for your time and for sharing about your family, your work and your deep connection to our School!