Dear Parents
The last ever PTA meeting for this school year was on Monday, 21 June. It was a well-attended and productive meeting.
Minutes were taken at the meeting and, if you wish to have these, please email bhmontessoriparents@gmail.com to receive and I’ll happily send them to you.
Otherwise, here is a summary of what’s what and where we are:
A big thanks you!
To Boudicca and Emm’s Mum, Naomi. She has bravely stepped forward at the PTA’s new Secretary and has done a cracking job on the minutes. THANK YOU NAOMI! You are fabulous. If you want a copy, email bhmontessoriparents@gmail.com and I will forward to you.
And, once again, a big thank you to Sandy, Laurie’s Mum for organizing Springwatch at Stanmer Park. Now, before all of you go “I didn’t know about this”, only six kids could go from each school so just a small invitation was put up at each entrance. But – you can read about it here - http://www.brighton-montessori.org.uk/blog/brighton-hove-montessori-children-meet-david-bellamy-at-the-springwatch-festival
I wasn’t able to go, but I have heard it was a super day out.
A big, big, BIG thank you to the super Mara, Hannah’s mum for Soup and Walk. You can see pictures on http://www.brighton-montessori.org.uk/blog/soup-and-walk-15th-may-2010 Watch this space – Mara is planning another Soup and Walk in September as well as a Winter Fair. Looking forward to it!
Yeah for Jay, Minna’s Dad for organizing Dad’s Night Out. Check out the minimalist photos on http://www.facebook.com/brightonmontessorischool
And, last but not least, thanks for Lisa, Oscar and Alice’s Mum for organizing a stand at Blaker’s Park on behalf of Montessori School Foundation. It was a great opportunity for people outside the school to learn about Montessori education and sign the petition for the state school campaign. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/statemontessorischool/
And, yes – I have been in cheerleading mood due to the football so forgive my over enthusiasm. Just don’t ask me who I am cheering for…
Upcoming Events
So, if you haven’t been able to attend any events, here’s your chance before the school year comes to a close.
Some of you will not be staying next year and it is those parents we would really like to see at these events as it would be a nice way to close your time at the Montessori.
And – if your children are attending next year, please do come as it would be nice to get to know everyone better and maybe for some to make plans to meet over the summer holidays.
Monday, 28th June – Trash and Treasure / Swap. Noelle’s house on Cleveland Road, just by the school. Timings – 12.15 – 4. LAST ONE OF THE YEAR! So, if you haven’t attended so far, please do. Everyone who has attended has always been surprised with the Treasure they have found. More information on posters outside school. Bring clothes, toys, books, and unwanted items no matter HOW rubbish. Or – just come and take. Don’t have to bring anything except for your £5 entry fee.
Sunday, 4th July – B&H Montessori School’s 25th Anniversary Picnic in Stanmer Park from 12.00 Noon to 4 PM
We will be meeting behind Stanmer House in Stanmer Park. Daisy’s organizing, so please email info@brighton-montessori.org.uk for further details! Bring kites, games to share and a picnic.
Monday, 12 July: 1.30 – 3 PM – SPORTS DAY!!
Parents encouraged to attend. Children will be running in various races and activities. Sian, Ava’s Mum, will be running a cake sale raising funds on behalf of the PTA. If you would like to help her, please email bhmontessoriparents@googlemail.com. I’m sure she’d welcome the help! It is the same drill as the Winter Cake sale – everyone bake and bring (and buy)! Look for more details to be posted at school entrances closer to the time.
Friday, 16 July, 8 PM – Parents Party (and Teacher’s, too!)
As I couldn’t bear the idea of a PTA meeting in July, I thought it would be a lot more fun for all parents (and teachers and staff) to get together for a G&T – or two.
So – come meet us at The Park View http://www.theparkviewbrighton.co.uk/ from 8 PM onwards on Friday, 16 July. Organise your babysitters now!
Informal events
If the weather is nice, quite a few parents and children gather informally in Blakers Park on Wednesdays after 12.15 pick-up. Hope to see you there.
Fun class for the kids
Thanks to Sharn, Seren’s Mum for suggesting the following:
Capoeira classes for kids!
Wednesday – Wagner Hall, St. Martins Church, Lewes Rd
3:30pm to 4:30pm – 4 to 8 year olds
4:30pm to 5:45pm – 8 to 12 year olds
Contact:
Suzie 07748 471 491
Capoeira Angola is Roots Capoeira: a unique blend of music, game, art and culture. Capoeira Angola keeps the style, the music, the moves, the mandinga, all the elements of the original Capoeira as it has been played from the slavery days in Brazil to the present day.
Drop in – no need to book!
I know Seren is going and really enjoys it. Hope to see you there!
Fundraising
Thanks to every parent for all of the fundraising we have done this year.
Our efforts have paid for:
Turfing at garden at Pandas / Particles (done!)
Turfing (to be down) at Otters
Farm trip
£200 to the teachers to pay for extra, non-Montessori equipment (thanks to Mum Francesca for this idea).
Lots of gardening and other equipment from the Sainsbury’s / Tesco drive (4500 Sainsbury’s vouchers, 1300 Tesco vouchers! Amazing considering how small the school is…. WELL DONE!! Thanks to Mum Lisa for organizing this.) Some vouchers have been carried over for next year but, in the meantime, the following has been purchased:
Sainsbury Order. Can be viewed here: http://www2.sainsburys.co.uk/ActiveKids/Wishlist/WishlistDetail.aspx?ID=SCH0050044
Assorted colour bean bags - 2 sets
Coloured skipping ropes - 1 set
Deluxe hula hoops - 1 set
Measuring spoons - 3
Numbered tailball - 1
Rainbow skipping rope - 3
Rake - 3
Sequencing spots - 2
Spade - 3
Spordas super safe ball set - 1
Stampabouts - 6
Throw down arrows - 2
Trowel - 6
Vegetable peeler - 3
Tesco Order. Sadly no option for parents to view order.
Gardening Gloves - 6
Litter patrol tabards - 6
Jumbo Composting bin - 1
Gamester Balls set - 12
Upon review of finances and seeing how the rest of the year goes, we are looking into:
A forest trip, outside normal school hours
Animals for the school
More non-Montessori equipment for the school
If there is anything in particular you would like the PTA to fund, please email bhmontessoriparents@gmail.com with your suggestions.
Also, we are looking for fundraising suggestions for next year. If you have any suggestions, please let us know!
Also, don’t forget tea towels – we only have about 30 left. £5 – find at the admin office. All funds go to the PTA!
Montessori Schools Foundation
There is a core group of us working on this – myself, Lisa, Emm, Jay, Mara. We have been busy collecting petitions, meeting with people in the know, and getting the powers that be to visit the school.
You may have read about the successful visit with Caroline Lucas MP.
http://www.carolinelucas.com/cl/blog/what-im-doing-here.html
We are also planning for Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove, to visit the school on Friday, 9 July.
How you can help:
If you are in Kemptown, please write to your MP asking them to visit the school. I would be happy to assist you with this. If you are willing to do so, please email me on montessoristateschool@googlemail.com
Get your neighbours, friends, relatives and colleagues to sign the paper petition handed out at school and RETURN IT to Daisy in the admin office.
OR - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/statemontessorischool/signatures sign here and email everyone you know. They don’t need to be local – but they can only sign once.
Continue looking for disused property (offices, bingo halls, etc) and email details over to Daisy on info@brighton-montessori.org.uk .
Fundraise! Any suggestions for fundraising email over to montessoristateschool@googlemail.com. Dad Jay has suggested recycling mobile phones, which we will be instating soon.
Volunteer! We may have nothing for you to do – yet – but we may need you soon. If you are willing to volunteer, please inform us of the sort of work you like doing, skills, etc so we can utilize you correctly. Again, if you wish to volunteer, please email me on montessoristateschool@gmail.com
And don’t forget….
Kiss and Ride
If you, or a prospective parent, are wanting to looking into alternative transport rather than driving your child to the school, please contact Daisy on info@brighton-montessori.org.uk. No, I don’t know what the “Kiss” means.
Also, thanks to Trudy, Rufus’ mum for meeting with Steven Kelley of Brighton and Hove City Council to explore sustainable transport options for the school.
Online Shopping
From All Saints to Zavvi, Brighton & Hove Montessori School now receive commission from almost 200 different online retailers, so whatever you need to buy, please check our online store first – the link is on our homepage http://www.brighton-montessori.org.uk/
It's a great way to get some fantastic online bargains, find cheaper gas and electricity services and even book a holiday. Remember, anything you buy through our web shop will help towards our fundraising targets.
You pay exactly the same price as on the retailers’ main sites, often lower than on the high street.
The commission we earn comes out of the retailers’ profit margin - it is their marketing spends.
Just a few of the many retailers supporting us include:
3Mobile, All Saints, B&Q, Brand Alley, BT Business Direct, Ebay, Ethical Superstore, Eurocamp, Expedia, Game, Glasses Direct, Habitat, Hmv.com, Kiddicare.com, La Senza, Marks & Spencer, My Name Tags, National Trust Membership, Next, O2, Pizza Hut, Play.com, Qantas, RAC, Republic, Sheila’s Wheels, Skate Hut, Sky, Superdrug, Swinton insurance, T Mobile, Thorntons, Ticket Master, Vertbaudet, Waterstones, Zavvi
Keeping up with school news
If you wish, you can follow the school news on Twitter by signing up to this link: http://twitter.com/lookatthechild
And Facebook http://www.facebook.com/brightonmontessorischool
Please do join! This is the easiest way to keep track of all school news as well as assist with our Google ranking (which is important for recruiting more children into the school). Several of you have joined since the last newsletter – thank you. Please – everyone who is at the school please do sign up!
And, if you haven’t done so already, please write a nice review of the teacher’s on:
https://biz.yelp.co.uk/signup/SHZiGiUnQTtv1vSxcgjcxg/?return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yelp.co.uk%2Fbiz%2Fmontessori-school-brighton
http://www.unschool.me
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=brighton+and+hove+montessori&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=montessori&hnear=brighton+and+hove&cid=6768278697642695417
http://www.cylex-review.co.uk/history/116372-the-brighton-hove-montessori-school/
http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/schools/1307916/the-brighton-hove-montessori-school.htm
http://brighton.enquira.co.uk/education-training/independent-preparatory-schools/brighton-hove-montessori-school-l4636.html
And, finally
Whooo hooo! Thanks to all the Parents for such a wonderful year. See you at Trash and Treasure, Picnic, Sports Day and Drinks!
Kindest regards
Kristin Magnuson
Chair, PTA
REMEMBER, YOUR OFFICERS ARE:
Kristin Magnuson, Chair
Naomi Ibbotson, Secretary
Lisa Brown, Information and Publicity Officer. If you have any events you are organising that you want to communicate, or if you have recommendation on how to improve the school website or if you want to assist with press releases and photos at the school, please contact her on lisa@helloluxx.com
Paul Brown, Treasurer
