Greensboro Montessori School alumni have a built in network of support with each other, and we got a bird’s eye view of how special that network is when we welcomed our college-agedalumni back to campus for a reunion and cookout on the evening of Sunday, August 7. The spirit of belonging was palpable. As each alum walked through the door, the alums who had already arrived would call the person's name and cheer. For those of us faculty in attendance, it was heartwarming to see and feel!

Several of the alumni asked for a tour of our recently renovated classrooms and reminisced as they walked through their Toddler, Primary and Lower Elementary classrooms recalling the names of their teachers and pointing out Montessori materials that they remembered. Our director of marketing and development, Jillian Crone, commented, “They wanted to see everything and kept remarking how nice the School looked. One alum asked, 'Can we see Cathy Moses’ Lower Elementary classroom?' I had to tell them things had changed and Cathy had moved to Upper Elementary, but more importantly, I was amazed how personally invested they were in their former teachers and classroom details. They clearly relate to Greensboro Montessori School as if it were their childhood home.”

At dinner, the alumni were joined by long time Middle School faculty members Deirdre Kearney, Doug Williams and Jonathan McLean, plus former teacher Angela Cook, who taught middle school science for eight years and led the School in the founding of the our nationally acclaimed Land Program in Oak Ridge. The alumni were eager to reconnect with their mentors, and share stories of their recent adventures. International travel was a hot topic since no less than eight of our youthful dinner guests had either just returned from, or are soon departing for, an extended trip abroad; some traveling with the university and some exploring on their own. We heard stories of visits to London, Mannheim, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam and shared our well wishes for Bridget Lavender (Class of 2010) who departs very soon for a semester in Perugia, Italy. For many of our alumni, their capstone field trips in 8th grade to the United Nations in the Fall and Costa Rica in the Spring ignites a passion for experiencing life and culture around the globe.

Alumni gatherings like these are a great way for us to follow the evolution of our graduates and learn how their foundational experiences at Greensboro Montessori School continues to shape them into adulthood. As we approach our 20th graduation ceremony in June 2017, we look forward to sharing more alumni stories as a way of telling the world just how transformative a Greensboro Montessori School education can be.

At a glance - Where are they now?

Greensboro Montessori School alumni attend a variety of colleges and universities across the nation. Our Alumni Reunion on August 7, 2016 welcomed students who attend the following:

· Davidson College (Davidson, N.C.)

· East Carolina University (Greenville, N.C.)

· Lees-McRae College (Banner Elk, N.C.)

· North Carolina State University

· Rice University (Houston, Texas)

· University of Chicago

· University of North Carolina at Asheville

· University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

· University of North Carolina at Greensboro

· University of South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)

· Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

· Washington University (St. Louis, Mo.)

This summer I've been introduced to Montessori Market, a summer camp Greensboro Montessori has offered for the last 17 years. Through a unique blend of environmental education and hands-on learning, campers participate in a week-long business preparing consumer goods for sale to the general public at the conclusion of camp. Just as our 2016 graduating class impressed me, Montessori Market has revealed yet another School tradition which is so much more than meets the eye.

Montessori Market is an all-hands-on-deck camp featuring contributions from the entire school community. Whatever produce we can't harvest from our own permaculture gardens, we source from local farmers. Both faculty and students work together to gather ingredients before camp even begins. This year, Nancy Hofer, Mary Jacobson, Kristy Ford and Andi Bogan chaperoned our Lower Elementary Al Fresco summer camp students to a local blueberry farm where they hand picked blueberries for jam. We also needed peaches which led me to think about The Produce Box, a service which delivers fresh produce from North Carolina farmers to my doorstep each week.  After one quick trip to Raleigh and the overwhelming generosity of The Produce Box, we had boxes of peaches, certified organic zucchini, green bell peppers, corn, jalapeños and tomatoes.

A panoramic view of The Produce Box's warehouse in Raleigh.

A pallet of produce generously donated by The Produce Box.

The students began camp with a full refrigerator of fresh, North Carolina-grown produce and three sprawling gardens from which to pick fresh basil for pesto and lavender for sachets. They have also made a wide variety of handmade crafts to accompany their foodstuffs.

Mary Jacobson, a Lower Elementary faculty member, oversees food prep for blueberry jam.

Campers prepare a variety of handmade crafts while taking a break form the kitchen.

As the students approach the end of the week, the most beautiful and compelling aspect of camp comes alive. With finished goods ready for sale, you have to wonder, "for whom and to whom will they sell their goods, and where?" I've since learned that Montessori Market has always worked for the benefit of children in need. Campers wake up bright and early to sell their products at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on the Saturday immediately following camp, and all proceeds are donated to a charity focused on kids. Hence, it's time to introduce BackPack Beginnings.

Founded six years ago by Parker White, a new mother at the time, BackPack Beginnings' mission is to deliver child-centric services to feed, comfort, and clothe children in need in Guilford County.  By ensuring food and basic necessities are given directly to children in need, BackPack Beginnings makes a positive and lasting impact on their health and well-being.  As a 100% volunteer organization, BackPack Beginnings serves over 6,000 children experiencing hunger and trauma in our community annually. Recently, Parker has been named one of four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Sixth Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide. This award honors incredible volunteers from across the country who have made a profound impact on children’s lives in their community. (You can vote for Parker daily from now until September 26; if she wins, The NASCAR Foundation will make a $100,000 donation to BackBack Beginnings.)

Our Montessori Market campers have been learning, cooking, and collaborating on behalf of BackPack Beginnings all week.  This Saturday, July 30, they will be at the Curb Market proudly displaying their finished goods, and a donation to BackPack Beginnings will allow market-goers to shop from their products. In addition to the pesto and sachets, shoppers may also select from blueberry jam, peach jam, salsa, zucchini bread, and a number of homespun crafts.

Peach and blueberry jams—lovingly made by students participating in Montessori Market—ready for display at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market.

100% of the donations received on Saturday will assist the BackPack Beginnings' Food BackPack Program which helps fight childhood hunger in our community by filling the weekend food gap for children in need. By the numbers, this program sends 1,600 children from 26 schools with fresh food each weekend totaling 6,400 food bags per month. This effort is in addition to their Comfort BackPack, Food Pantry and Clothing Pantry programs. While our hope is that we receive enough donations on Saturday to empty our booth, any remaining products can be directly donated to BackPack Beginnings for direct inclusion in Food BackPacks or the Food Pantry.

So this is the story of how a summer camp evolves into so much more than a summer camp. How the Montessori philosophy challenges us, as adults, to push our kids to do more than text, snapchat and Netflix during summer break. How engaged faculty and community organizations prepare children for a lifetime of success by providing real-world experiences in running a business, manufacturing, time management, and philanthropy. And how children come together to help others less fortunate than themselves. And how Montessori Market is more than meets the eye.

Greensboro Montessori School (“Greensboro Montessori” or the “School”) has named Paul Ibsen Interim Head of School for the 2016-17 school year. The School’s Board of Trustees and a formal Search Committee are actively searching for a new Head of School to assume leadership of Greensboro’s only authentic, dually-accredited Montessori institution in the 2017-18 school year.

Ibsen joins Greensboro Montessori after retiring from Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C. as Assistant Head of School for Finance and Management. He served in this capacity for 19 years and was responsible for directing all school support services, including the administration of a $36 million annual operating budget and oversight of all facilities. As Interim Head of School for Greensboro Montessori, Ibsen will work closely with administration in the daily operations of the School while also engaging faculty and families to familiarize himself with all aspects of the Greensboro Montessori experience. He will use this knowledge to provide neutral, unbiased assistance to the Board of Trustees and Search Committee to identify Head of School candidates who match the School's unique vision and culture.

“Paul brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership skills to our thriving organization,” said Asheley Kotis, President of Greensboro Montessori School’s Board of Trustees. “We are looking forward to working with him throughout the upcoming school year and appreciate the insight and informed recommendations he will bring to the Search Committee and Board. More importantly, we are delighted for the enthusiasm, professionalism and congeniality he brings to our diverse community of administrators, faculty and 240 students and their families.”

Ibsen will begin his post as Interim Head of School on Tuesday, August 9. Inquiries about Greensboro Montessori’s search for a Head of School should be directed to Heather Goggin, personnel administrator, at [email protected].

On Tuesday, June 14, Greensboro Montessori School welcomed a group of regional leaders who work in conjunction with the national nonprofit known as FoodCorps. FoodCorps is a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who specialize in connecting kids to healthy food in school by providing nutrition education, hands-on activities like gardening and cooking, and access to school lunches filled with nutritious foods from local farms.

“Thousands of young Americans have dedicated themselves to reforming the food chain, from field to table, and of all the programs that have emerged to channel that energy and idealism, FoodCorps is the most inspiring.” - Michael Pollan (Featured Speaker in the 2016-17 Bryan Series sponsored by Guilford College)

The participants, who direct FoodCorps programs locally and regionally all over the state of North Carolina, conducted a day long retreat on our campus. Cooperative Extension directors from Guilford and Warren counties, nonprofit leaders from the Sandhills to Wilmington, and public school representatives from Cherokee, Scotland, and Wake Counties were in attendance. GMS Environmental Education teachers, Eliza Hudson and Jenny Kimmel, and Admissions Director, Rhea Egbert, led them all on an inspiring tour of the three expansive garden spaces on our 10-acre campus (for Primary, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary/Middle School).

Did you know that 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary of Greensboro Montessori School's permaculture gardening program? Many of last week's FoodCorps visitors are just starting school gardens or managing programs that are young compared to ours, and we were honored and thrilled to share our experience, expertise and leadership in this area. We're even more excited to learn there is a growing number of school gardening and Farm to School programs popping up in Guilford County and throughout the state.

We are proud to be a pioneer in environmental education programming. Our gardens have a lot to offer not only our own families, but also the wider community. What a joy to share the philosophies of both Montessori and permaculture gardening with these visitors! Our hope is to inspire and encourage child-driven work around the state with this visit.

On behalf of the School and my teammates, thank you for your support of our gardens over the years and for allowing us to nurture each child’s relationship to the natural world. It gives us great pleasure to share what we’ve learned over the years because of your generosity.

To learn more about the history of the Greensboro Montessori School gardens, check out our blog on our School Within a Garden page

To learn more about FoodCorps (and their work here in Guilford County!), check out www.foodcorps.org.

The GMS Community Association proudly presents a celebration of photography, childhood and community at the 2016 GMS Green & White Bash on Saturday, April 23 from 7-11pm.

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The GMS Gymnasium is transformed into the Greensboro's swankiest art gallery featuring photography by your child and other GMS students. Patronize the exhibit while you admire the incredible work produced for our "Through a Child's Eyes" fundraising exhibit.

Ticket prices start at $35 but we hope you'll take a peek at our fun combo packages, too! Are you more like Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz or Steve McCurry?

What fabulous gallery social would be complete without exquisite wines, savory fare and more shopping opportunities...

• Heavy hors d'oeuvres, Dessert and Dancing. Cash bar.
  • Menu by local fave, Savory Street Catering
• Silent Auction featuring luxury items, unique experiences and, of course, artwork!
  • Browse the on-line catalog and start bidding early. Highest on-line bid will be our starting bid at the event.
• Fun Photo Booth - snap some memories with friends, props and a sense of humor.
• Blind Wine Pull - $20 a ticket to take your chance at an elegant rosé or a daring cabernet
• Gift Giving Wall - surprise a teacher with a tangible wish list item for the classroom
• The evening begins with a festive performance by the crowd stopping GMS Middle School Music Ensemble and ends with you on the dance floor moving to your favorite DJ request.

GMS Student Art Show

Youth Art Month takes place annually, traditionally in March, to celebrate the value of art education for all children.  Please join us in our celebration of the arts by attending the GMS Student Art Show & Reception on Tuesday, March 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  The art show is hosted by Mitchell & Bartlett Orthodontics, a true supporter of children's art and artists in the local community. Their office at 5314 West Friendly Avenue.  This is the third year in a row that they have hosted a GMS art show. Thanks to Dr. Kelly Mitchell and her mother Sharon for being such gracious hosts.

These are just a few of the artists in Lower Elementary  that will be exhibiting their work.

Lower Elementary Self Portraits

Imagination is more important than knowledge.  - Albert Einstein

Self Portrait of Elizabeth

  Self Portrait of Albert

Self Portrait of Mahinda

Self Portrait of Mary Grace

Upper Elementary Illuminations

Upper elementary art students have been using their art studio time to work on scenery for Medieval Faire Fare performance on Wednesday, March 23. As a result these talented artists will not be exhibiting a lot of their art work at the show.  You can look forward to their art work displayed at the performance.  Take a look at their Medieval illuminations they created in art.

Primary Art

Primary students enjoy taking their art home right upon completion, therefore they will not have their work displayed at the art show. However,  please frequent the gallery hall located outside the front office to view some of their latest printmaking works.

I'm not sure what the draw is for basketball but on every level at GMS this sport  is the number one activity that our students can't wait to play!  Their excitement brings me a lot of satisfaction as their PE teacher - whether its watching the Lower Elementary students finally catch on to dribbling for more than one bounce or seeing a child light up after they have repeatedly thrown a basketball up in the air towards the backboard and hoop then finally it falls through the net. The very first time a child makes a basket is usually a big moment for them, and it makes me smile every time!  We also have Lower El students that play on basketball teams outside the school who show a lot of skill and promise from a very young age. I enjoy watching all of the students develop their skills over the course of the year.

Often the kids get on a kick to see who can dribble for the longest or how many times they can dribble in a row. Recently, I watched one middle school girl dribble for 15 to 20 minutes in a row and the celebration in her voice when she told me, "That's my new record," was noteworthy.

Just as the Middle School basketball season comes and goes with a lot of excitement so does the thrill of playing basketball during PE class.

In the words of basketball legend, Michael Jordan, "Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships."

Look what has hatched in the art room! 

Lower elementary art students have been learning about life cycles in their classrooms and this prompted our current art project.  Large eggs were created out of paper mache.   Students learned an inexpensive and natural way to make paper mache.  They may want to create this recipe at home.   It is a simple recipe of equal parts of flour and water.  I usually start with 1 cup flour and 1 cup water.  Mix to get a paste like consistency and add water if too thick and flour if too watery.  The students enjoyed mixing the recipe and getting it just right.  So fun and so messy!  Take a look at the process.

The following week they created either a snake or a caterpillar hatching out of their egg.  This has been a great lesson for students to practice patience while working on a 3 dimensional  art project that took many weeks.  They are excited about completing their final art piece.  Be on the look out for these marvelous creatures!

Students have also worked on scenery for their upcoming program about life cycles.  Here is a sneak peek of one of their pieces.

“I want to live in a way that lines up with my values."

Volleyball begins right after our winter holiday break for students in the Elementary and Middle School. The classes focus on teamwork and communication in volleyball. Lower El is working hard on basic serves and hits. Upper El is playing without the need of a training ball (they are using one of the 2 pictured below) and middle school is midway through their ISL competitive volleyball season. Go Panthers! Championship game is Thursday, February 11.

Volleyball is a great team sport and makes the kids rely on their fellow team players in a way that other sports don't. It is rarely the case that a player can just hit the ball hard and score a point. In volleyball players must be able to hit the ball with some accuracy or at least be able to bump the ball straight up to set it for the player who can hit it over the net.  Communication is essential to success! Sometimes it is challenging enough for youngsters to just get a good hit on the ball. But the other big challenge is to have enough confidence in your teammates that they will assist in the volley in order to get the ball over the net.  In the end, whoever wins or loses doesn't matter, because the main lessons are about teamwork and good communication.

Following our unit on volleyball, we will move directly into basketball season. March Madness... here we come!!!

Thanks, Terry

Educating the Whole Child Research confirms that students perform better in school when they are emotionally and physically healthy. They miss fewer classes, are less likely to engage in risky or antisocial behavior, concentrate more and attain higher test scores.