WHAT’s NEW

1. AFM PTO NEWS On behalf of our community April 2014 Issue 7 WHAT’s NEW Inside: Meet a Guide: Ms. Gregory Our Community at Work Upcoming Events, Save the Date Did you know?, Programs and Activities Reminders • PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTIONS: • Nominees introduced themselves at Wednesday’s General PTO Meeting. Elections will be held by ballot. Ballots will be included in the Blue Bag on Friday, April 18th and due back by Monday, April 28th. Your anonymous vote matters in choosing parent leaders for our school! • _____________________________________________________________________ 2 3 4 AFM FAMILIES GO GREEN! Over a dozen families brought in at least one reusable container for their meal at the International Potluck! The Garden Committee rewarded their efforts with a raffle drawing. Congratulations to The Kilbourn family who won the drawing and to all those who helped reduce our waste! ______________________________________________________________________________ 5 6 POT LUCK WINNERS! Swedish meatballs- Charlie Olivieri Spinach Ricotta Bites: Nicholas & Andrea Cipollini Artichoke Casserole (winner 2nd year in a row!): Ned Cipollini 7

2. Meet A Guide Elizabeth Gregory Primary Guide Life before AFM. I grew up in Massachusetts, south of Boston.  It is called the south shore.  I had the advantage of playing in the woods, exploring a small river behind my house, and tending a large family garden.  My family was eating organic before it became the “new healthy” food.  My mother canned vegetables and we had a cold cellar for potatoes and onions.  My brother and I would collect the eggs from our chickens on the weekends and a fresh chicken was our family dinner on Sundays. As a child, I remember how exciting it was to go to the Farm Grange to buy baby chicks.  f When I graduated from high school, I attended college to study education and become an elementary teacher.  My minor  subject was Library Science. After graduation, I accepted a position as a Media Specialist in a new elementary school in Plymouth, MA.  I married and had three children, two boys, and a girl. I took time off from teaching and later relocated to Connecticut.  I took a job as a Trainer at the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Plant in Haddam Neck.  I later returned to teaching and accepted a position as a Media Specialist in Hartford at the Annie Fisher Elementary School. I was there for 7 years and had an opportunity to further my education in Montessori Education. Why Montessori? I was familiar with the term Montessori, but knew very little about the educational philosophy.  I read several books and decided that this was the way I wanted to see education implemented. Hartford Public Schools was offering a grant to study Montessori for a year.  I was one of 6 teachers who received the grant to attend the Montessori training. I attended the Primary Training and have been teaching Montessori for 6 years.  I enjoy having the three age levels of students in my classroom as well as having my students for 3 years.  We build a wonderful bond together and I can see how each student grows and reaches their potential. Being a Montessori Guide has made teaching a joyful experience. uWhat's your favorite children's book? I do not have one particular book as a favorite.  Being a Media Specialist, I have read many and have many favorite authors.  I like books by Eric Carle, Jan Brett, LioLionni, TomieDePaola, Leo Dillon ,Arnold Lobel, Patricia Polacco, Jane Yolen, William Steig, Maurice Sendak and Beatrix Potter. Those are a few of my favorite children’s book authors.  I have not even mentioned my young adult or adult list. Spend time in your local library with your children, the adventures in reading are endless. g What are your hobbies? Fun is going to the beach for a walk and looking for beach glass and shells.  Fun is driving to the mountains to enjoy the look of nature at different seasons.  Fun is taking my camera and capturing a few close up pictures of nature or my family members. Fun is cooking a meal that my family really enjoys. Fun is taking a vacation to some place new and exploring new stores and restaurants. Fun is what you make it and I enjoy being with my family and friends. Fun is not going skiing downhill on icy snow, I would rather go cross-country or snow shoeing.

3. OUR COMMUNITY AT WORK! The International Potluck was a HUGE success! Attendees enjoyed sampling foods from around the globe, performances and displays made by each classroom. THANK YOU: to our wonderful Guides and students for the beautiful displays, to AFM parents, volunteers, our special guests from Ju Long Wushu, staff and administration for all their hard work and dedication.  

4. To our performers, we'd like to say GREAT SHOW and keep up the good work!  You are an inspiration to us all!   • Ayana Pierre-Maxwell (MC Extraordinaire!) • Blue Hills Suzuki Program, Parents and Students   • Arushi Patel  • Ju Long Wushu  www.julongwushu.com 

5. UPCOMING EVENTS Join your child’s class for an Earth Day Celebration! 12:30-1:30PM Cleaning all garden beds and adding fresh material/Tractor plowing demonstration in rear garden plot/art project led by AFM Parent Dana LaPorta 1:30-2:20PM AFM Parent and Department of Environmental Protection representative, Chris Nelson will give a presentation on recycling! Parents are welcome to bring younger siblings and garden tools. Upper Elementary students will spend the afternoon at the farm. • Tuesday, • April 22nd • PM Room Parent recruitment for the 2014-2015 school year has begun! Get involved in your child’s classroom community! New room parents announced in May. Contact the PTO @ afmpto@gmail.com for more information or to sign up. They’re Back! Join us for fun, movement and socializing! After school meetups at the Elizabeth Park playground at 11:30 and 3:30 on Wednesdays.

6. Did you know? There are many great ways to learn more about Montessori Education. Websites: From Birth-3 years http://aidtolife.org/ YouTube Video: Introduction to Montessori Method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOZlQ-43oX0 Books: The Absorbent Mind By Maria Montessori. Montessori: The Science behind the Genius Hardcover by Angeline Stoll Lillard Teach Me to do it Myself, Montessori activities for you and your child by MajaPitamic PROGRAMS and ACTIVITIES Healthy Foods Initiative: Room Parents are now scheduling for the spring cooking demonstration of Grilled Asparagus. Please contact your room parent to participate- ingredients and supplies provided by the PTO. Please contact Nina with your interest in being involved with the Healthy Foods Initiative, some behind-the-scenes work needed that can be done from home. Art Share:   ArtShare is growing! Join us Thursdays from 3:30-4:30PM in the Community Lounge. This program is free and open to all AFM students. Join us!

7. We'd like to hear from you- provide feedback on your experiences as a parent this school year at afmpto@gmail.com The AFM PTO Newsletter provides families and friends of AFM with information about our community including current and scheduled events, child enrichment programs, and opportunities to be involved. Please send newsletter suggestions or info to: Alexia Zuliani at afmpto@gmail.com. Editorial note: at the discretion of the PTO, the content of all submissions may be subject to editing. Next Newsletter Submission Deadline: April 23rd Newsletters distributed in Blue Bags first Friday of every month • Contact the PTO at afmpto@gmail.com • Annie Fisher Montessori PTO