Today the entire JBMA campus came together to reinstate an old tradition, the Peace Ceremony. The first Peace Ceremony was spearheaded by the Lower Elementary in September 2001. Students gathered together to show support for peace in our world. As the ceremony grew, more classes and students took part in creating the special program. Today, once again, Lower Elementary has stepped up to bring back this beautiful expression of hope and love. All students, from Toddlers through Middle School, participated in this special occasion and it was beautiful!
Note:
Standardized testing for Lower Elementary May 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, and 12th in the morning.
Please make your best effort to ensure your child is present during these days.
Art Show and Spring Performance, the evening of May 8th
Field Day, May 22nd
The last day of school is May 25th; dismissal is at 1:00
Digital media and technology are evolving at a dizzying pace, both unlocking extraordinary opportunities and posing real risks for young people. Students are using the immense power of the internet and mobile technology to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined, both in and out of the classroom. At the same time, tech use can bring up ethical challenges such as cyberbullying and misinformation and health issues related to media balance and social and emotional well-being.
We see these as teachable moments. We believe that digital citizenship skills have become essential for students in the 21st century. That’s why we are committed to teaching our students how to be digital learners, leaders, and citizens. We believe teaching these skills goes hand in hand with the Montessori philosophy of educating the whole child. In a world where technology and information are everywhere, Maria Montessori would see the value in teaching kids to become safe and responsible digital citizens.
Joseph S. Bruno Montessori Academy has just been recertified as a Common Sense School, an honor that recognizes our efforts in teaching digital citizenship to young people and engaging the entire school community in this important discussion. The recognition acknowledges our school’s commitment to helping students build skills that are essential for their well-being today—and for the opportunities, they’ll have tomorrow.
This honor is provided by Common Sense Education, part of a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
We are one of the more than 80,000 schools across the country that use Common Sense Education’s groundbreaking educational resources. As a result, our students are better equipped to navigate the digital world and use devices for learning.
Here are a few tips in the form of short videos about children using technology and some of the games they may be playing at home.
4 Tips for Learning with Technology5 Reasons to Consider Co-viewing Media and Tech with Your KidsWhat is Roblox?10 Things Parents Should Know About Minecraft
We visited the National Weather Service in Calera! Our students loved the live model of a tornado!
We toured in small groups letting the classes mix for even more fun!
Getting to see the radars and talk to Mr. Gerald was a highlight of the trip. He is “the man” that determines when a tornado watch or warning is needed!
We were able to see many different types of computer models and methods the weather service uses to get information.
We played games to test our safety knowledge.
Our students were excellent guests and eager learners!
A real weather balloon!
Our kiddos were fantastic listeners with many great questions about operations at the National Weather Service!
The balloon is about 60 inches in diameter. It will expand to as much as 20 feet as it rises in the air.
It was a gorgeous day for a field trip!
The bus ride is a real treat too!
We certainly picked a perfect day for a field trip! Our students did not really know what to expect from the National Weather Service visit. They were made to feel at home immediately by the wonderful workers at the Calera office. They spoke to our students at the elementary level making everything interesting and fun! We appreciate their efforts and hospitality to allow us the visit and for giving us great weather for the trip!
Our students enjoyed working on their mindfulness and kids’ yoga! Hand Embroidery is a tool for improving fine motor skills and helps the mind be focused!
Dates to remember:
Homework Place Value Review due on April 21st
3rd Grade Poetry Homework due on April 24th
(as they will be out for Camp Mcdowell on April 28th)
1st and 2nd-grade Poetry Homework is due on April 28th
3rd Graders Camp McDowell Forms due by April 17th
Peace Ceremony, April 21st
Art Show and Spring Performance, the evening of May 8th
Standardized testing for the third level is May 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Please make plans to be in town during this time!
This week the annual JBMA STEAM Day was reinstituted for the first time in 3 years! STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, Art, and Math. Parents from our school community volunteered to spend the morning speaking with our students about their STEAM-related professions. What a great time we had learning about so many different types of jobs! We met with a surgeon and a cardiologist, an engineer and an optometrist, a pilot and some musicians, a pharmacist, and a technical expert! Each speaker gave students an idea of the academic subjects or hobbies that interested them as children; how much time they spent in preparation for their profession; but above all, they shared their reasons for selecting and enjoying their chosen careers! A big thank you goes out to all parents and speakers for their involvement and contributions to our STEAM Day 2023! Thanks also go to Ms. Chris and Ms. Melanie for coordinating logistics to make it all happen!
Although there were many participants, the following sessions are the ones we were able to attend:
Brooke Williams – chemical engineering
Brenessa Linderman – surgeon
Caroline and Samuel Nordland – musicans
Jayda Moore – pilot
Mr. Jonathen – a musician
Franks Fitts – hydroponic farming
Brigitta Boer – cardiologist/inovator/engineer
Alena Samal – optometrist
Bobby Kwok – pharmacist
Chip McCarty – tech guru
Reminders for the week and near future:
No School Monday, April 10th
Weather Station Field Trip Forms all grades due by April 11th.
3rd Graders Camp McDowell Forms due by April 14th
Peace Ceremony, April 21st
Art Show and Spring Performance, the evening of May 8th
We wish our Class……2rrific families, a wonderful Easter, and a long weekend with loved ones!