F O T S O P C A The beauty of a prepared teacher, a prepared environment and opportunities for prepared students to demonstrate their learning within and outside the walls of CHML is a source of pride, inspiration, awe and joy. There continues to be a collective teaming of students, parents, teachers and staff to think deeply and critically about the education of the whole child. As the school year is moving at speed of light (it seems) please continue to strive to send our Monarchs to school every day and on time so they may participate in the full morning and afternoon work cycles. Along with this newsletter is a snapshot of our proposed transportation bus schedule of drop of and pick up times for SY 19-20. Thank you! PA

Mon h M u sMar 25t , 2019

C A S T H - Pri yCHML’s primary program continues to shine, and we are so proud of all the work

students and staff have done to help CHML’s youngest students grow. On Thursday March 14th, the primary team hosted two wonderful parent ed sessions, one on sensorial material and the other on the mathematical mind. Ms. McCracken and Ms. Sanchez led the session on sensorial materials, expertly deepening our understanding of how these materials are thoughtfully presented to students to isolate particular senses in touch, sound, smell, and sight. Ms. Sloss and Ms. Adepoju led the session on the mathematical mind, where families learned about how the Montessori Method approaches math and even got to role-play being presented a lesson.

Material Highlight - Primary classes are using the Montessori Metal Insets, which is a set containing ten metal frames, each frame containing a metal shape cut-out. Alongside this materials, sheets of paper, colored pencils, trays, and pencil holders are used for the exercise. The purpose of this material is to prepare the child in the development of lightness of touch, muscular control, holding a pencil, and keeping within limits. A child who uses this material also prepares for writing, acquisition of a sense of geometric design, and a sense of artistic beauty.

In Ms. McCracken’s class (pictured left), Alaia’s mom, Lili Wilson, has offered yoga instruction to their afternoon class a few times each month since the fall. It has been a great way for the class to wrap up the week!

AM G O R S - Zi n an R n arZion Gray (left) and Ryan Stewart (right) are two of CHML’s standout 8th graders.

Both students presented their science fair projects at this year’s DCPS STEM fair and both earned awards for their work! Zion’s project investigated how long different fabrics take to burn while Ryan’s project examined with how much ease can your password be hacked. Outside of school, Zion is interested in archery and dance. She’s also big sister to Genesis Gray (5th grade) and cousin to Natalya Valentine (6th grade). At CHML, Ryan is an active member of Travel Club. Ryan also has an interest in computer engineering and has enjoyed surfing from the years that his family lived in Hawaii. In academics, this duo produces great work. When asked about a successful project completed together, they highlighted Ms. Hylton’s humanities project on colonial America.

Other CHML students that presented at the DC STEM fair were Wyndham Mills (7th grade), Sophia Kluck (6th grade), and Olivia Tomelden (6th grade). Way to go girls!

CHML SCIENCE FAIR - CHML is hosting our own science fair for grades K-8 on May Friday May 3rd at 10:00am! Five projects from grades 3-5 will be selected to represent the school at the Elementary DC STEM Fair in June. For more information, contact Alicia Chambers, science teacher, alicia.chambers@dc.gov.

UP N E N

Late march through spring break

● April 4 & 5: NO SCHOOL! PD and Records Days● April 11: Community Meeting, New Building and

Swing Space Update● April 15 - 19: Spring Break!

Please also mark your calendars for future events:

● May 3: Elementary Science Fair (Start working on those projects!!)

● May 20 - 24: Online Auction

Subscribe to the CHML calendar to see all upcoming events at http://capitolhillmontessorischool.org/calendar

Wha t Ele t Mon s i M ri ?It is the Black Strip! One hot, dry afternoon in Madras, India in 1939,

Maria Montessori was talking with a group of children. A boy, about ten years old, proudly proclaims the wisdom of his Indian civilization, one of the oldest in the world. A few weeks later, Montessori invites the boy and his classmates to meet her. Two teachers on bicycles position between them a long wooden dowel, upon which is rolled a huge spool of narrow black cloth. Without a word the teachers begin to unroll the black strip of fabric, as they slowly ride their bicycles down the street. Montessori and the inquisitive children follow behind asking, "What is this? What is it for?" Montessori finally speaks: "This little white part represents the entire time that human beings have been on Earth. Compare it to the black strip, which represents the age of Earth."

Today teachers use a black strip with a narrow red strip at the end. The lesson is generally given towards the beginning of the year. It is meant to inspire and awe as well as give students an idea of the short period of time that humans have been around. It helps students gain a greater appreciation of their place in the universe.

GA ME - S IN M O RCalling all CHML students! Can you write a poem about Spring?

- Poems may rhyme, but rhyming is not required- Poems can be of any length- Poems can be either handwritten or typed

Be creative and have fun with it! Student and families entries are welcomed. Submit your poem by Wednesday April 3rd and it will be featured alongside your photo in the digital edition of the next Monarch Minutes! Place your poem in Mr. Ben’s mailbox or email your poem to Mr. Ben at benjamin.steinberg@dc.gov

ED IN H LE L - C L E R ADG-O-M-O-N-A-R-C-H-S! Ms. Warrick and Ms. Echo have been busy

coaching our CHML Cheer Squad, comprised of 18 enthusiastic lower

elementary, upper elementary, and middle school students. This dynamic group

of mixed age level girls come together twice per week to learn technical

cheerleading skills from experienced coaches and most importantly have fun!

Among the group, six students have previous cheerleading experience, while the

rest are giving cheerleading a try for the first time. A big shout out to the PTSO

for funding the purchase of the team's pom-poms. Our CHML Cheerleading Team

hopes to enter competitions in the near future and raise funds for their very own

cheerleading uniforms.

Con t U !For more information about the events and info in

Monarch Minutes, please visit our website:http://capitolhillmontessorischool.org

Or email our PTSO and Staff collaborators:president@capitolhillmontessorischool.org

benjamin.steinberg@dc.gov

Raffle Winners! - Over two dozen students submitted math puzzle answers. We selected 3 raffle winners, and the winners are …Annabel (3rd grade), Justin (6th grade), and Caroline (3rd grade)!!Please see Mr. Ben for your prize. Congratulations.