Dec. 9, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

The final days of our fall semester are flying by! Students will have their mid-year MAP assessments on Wednesday and Thursday (math and ELA, respectively.) Please ensure your student has a good night's sleep, eats a healthy breakfast and arrives to school on time. We look forward to seeing all of the children singing at the Festival of Lights this Thursday at 5:30 pm! 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

Dec. 10 - MAP Math Mid-year Assessment

Dec. 11 - MAP ELA Mid-year Assessment and Festival of Lights @ 5:30 pm (flyer below)

December 5 - 12 - Scholastic Book Fair. Families can set up an e-wallet for their students at the following link:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/charlesellismontessori

December 19 - Peace & Giving Celebration for the Foxes & Bears

Peace and Giving Celebration  

Our Ellis Families are so kind and gracious, especially at this time of the year. As you are shopping for gifts in the upcoming weeks, in lieu of teacher gifts, please keep our classroom needs in mind.

The children will be talking, writing, and learning about how sharing and thinking of the needs of the whole class makes a peaceful classroom.  To become a peacekeeper is our goal.

Please look over our wish list. If you wish to purchase a gift for the class, send the wrapped gift in by Thursday, December 18.  Please label your child’s gift with his/her name.   We will open up gifts together during our celebration. The children will gain a stronger sense of responsibility for our community resources, and will, of course, be thrilled to see “their gift” put to use.  If you are unable to send in a gift...do not worry….We will have several gifts that we have purchased on hand for the children to open so that no one is left out at gift opening time!

Fox and Bear Wish List

 

Things to make the room our home

$30 Kroger gift cards (no e-gift cards, please)

Paper Towels

Tissues

Cleaning Wipes

Ticonderoga Pencils

Things to help us do our work

We have compiled a list on Amazon of materials that we need 

(or just really want).  The wish list 

can be accessed at the following address:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UPGGECW0BLWW?ref_=wl_share

Have a great week, foxes and bears! 

Dec. 2, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break. It was great to welcome the students back on Monday. We are looking forward to a busy three weeks of learning and fun in December. We will be discussing and writing about holidays celebrated around the world in the coming weeks. 

We are looking forward to seeing our amazing parents and guardians at this Friday's MESS Party. This adult-only party is free and includes great food, drinks, and prizes. All funds go to Montessori training for our teachers. (Ms. Kirsten and Ms. Suzy both received their Montessori training with the help of MESS!)

Important Upcoming Dates: 

Dec. 2 - Principal Profile Meeting @ 6 pm

Dec. 5 - MESS Party @ 6 pm (flyer below)

Dec. 10 - MAP Math Mid-year Assessment

Dec. 11 - MAP ELA Mid-year Assessment and Festival of Lights @ 5:30 pm (flyer below)

December 5 - 12 - Scholastic Book Fair. Families can set up an e-wallet for their students at the following link:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/charlesellismontessori

Stay tuned for information next week about our Peace & Giving Celebration to close out the end of the first semester. Have a great week, foxes and bears! 

Nov. 18

 

Fox and Bear Community

We had a great field trip to the Planetarium in Statesboro earlier this month. We have a busy week this week before Thanksgiving break, and students are working hard to meet all of their requirements. 

Science Fair - Thursday 

Students have been working together on a group project for the Science Fair as part of their Nature Journaling work. The project will be on display at the Science Fair this Thursday, 11/20 from 5 pm - 7 pm. Please stop by with your student so they can show you their work! 

Cornucopia Snack - This Week

Please send in a sandwich bag containing 1 cup of your child's favorite dry snack (ex: nuts, pretzels, crackers, cereal, dried fruit etc.) We will then mix them together to share as a community snack on Friday. Please aim to have your snack in by Thursday morning if possible. 

Cozy Reading Afternoon - Friday 

This Friday afternoon, we will have a special cozy reading time. Students are encouraged to bring a favorite book. They may bring a blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal as long as it fits in their bag. PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING. 

Important Upcoming Dates: 

Nov. 18 @ 6 pm - PTA Meeting with Food Pantry items available for pick up

Nov. 20 @ 5 pm - Science Fair

Nov. 24 - Nov. 28 - Thanksgiving Break

December 5 @ 6 pm - MESS Party (flyer below)

December 5 - 12 - Scholastic Book Fair

We have fabulous Charles Ellis Montessori Academy holiday ornaments with a quote from Maria Montessori herself that reminds us what it's all about, "Establishing lasting peace is the work of educators", for purchase for $10! All proceeds benefit Montessori Professional Development for our staff. Payment link: https://messavannah.square.site/product/christmas-ornament/SQNNA564K2PWG53VWPOFTFRQ?cs=true&cst=custom&brid=XZvpwi_IBdqee7Dw7Eyv3w

Nov. 4, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

Students enjoyed learning about and making ships at last week's field trip to the Ships of the Sea Museum. We are looking forward to the Planetarium at Georgia Southern in Statesboro tomorrow (Wednesday, 11/5.) We have quite a few days off in November, so please encourage your students to make the most of their regular work days to complete their requirements and select challenging work. 

Classroom Observations

Families who are NEW to the Fox and Bear community, we invite you to come in for a classroom observation. Thanks to many of you for signing up already. Please sign up for a time slot at the following link and be sure to read the instructions at the top of the sign up form: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA5AD2BA7FACF8-60020210-foxand#/

Classroom Needs

• Handheld pencil sharpeners (with the enclosed container for pencil shavings) 
• Coffee filters

Wreath Sale - PTA Greenery Sale is underway! Deadline to purchase is Nov. 9, 2025. 

https://sherwoodfundraiser.com/CharlesEllisPTA

Important Dates

Nov. 5 - Field Trip to the Planetarium in Statesboro

Nov. 7 - Donation Dress Day Day for Jamaica Disaster Relief

https://sccpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/25529/239/False/True

Nov. 10 and 11 - No School for Students

Nov. 13 - Family Movie Night (see previous blog posts for info and payment link.)

Nov. 18 - PTA Meeting

Nov. 24 - 28: Thanksgiving Break

Have a great week, Foxes and Bears!

Oct. 28, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

Students enjoyed a lesson on recycling last Friday after our lunch in the front garden. We are looking forward to a fun week of learning. Our first field trip is this Thursday at the Ships of the Sea Museum. We plan to eat lunch there before returning to school, so students will not have access to a microwave. Please keep this in mind if packing a home lunch on Thursday. On Friday, we have a day of special seasonal activities planned, including estimating the number of seeds in a pumpkin, carving a pumpkin, and doing a Halloween scavenger hunt. Please do not send in any candy or costumes. While our activities will be festive and fun, we need the students to remain focused on learning. 

Classroom Observations

Families who are NEW to the Fox and Bear community, we invite you to come in for a classroom observation if you would like to. Please sign up for a time slot at the following link and be sure to read the instructions at the top of the sign up form: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA5AD2BA7FACF8-60020210-foxand#/

Classroom Needs

• Coffee Filters
• Laundry - would any families be willing to take our classroom work mats home to wash and return?

Wreath Sale - PTA Greenery Sale is underway! Deadline to purchase is Nov. 9, 2025. 

https://sherwoodfundraiser.com/CharlesEllisPTA

Important Dates

Oct. 31 - Donation Dress Down Day. No costumes, please. Payment can be made here:

https://sccpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/25269/239/False/True

Nov. 4 - Remote Learning Day. Students do not come to school. 

Nov. 10 and 11 - No School for Students

Nov. 13 - Family Movie Night (see previous blog posts for info and payment link.)

Nov. 18 - PTA Meeting

Nov. 24 - 28: Thanksgiving Break

As always, please reach out with questions. Have a great week, Foxes and Bears!

Oct. 22, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

It was a pleasure seeing so many of you at the Fall Festival and Family Partnership meeting last weekend! We have also enjoyed meeting with everyone for our conferences over the last few weeks to discuss your students. To our new families - please be on the lookout for a sign-up schedule to come in for a classroom observation. Observations are very valuable to understanding your student's experience in the lower elementary classroom. 

Students will begin working on opinion writing this week. Other happenings this week: we plan to have a picnic lunch in the front garden on Friday, 10/24. Please do not send food that needs to be microwaved in home lunches that day. We will also be doing Montessori's Third Great Lesson, The Story of Humans, which explores the emergence of humans and the unique gifts that make us special. 

 

Field Trips - permission forms for upcoming field trips were sent home last week. Thank you to everyone for returning them so promptly.  The dates are listed below. Parents are welcome to attend, but you will need to provide your own transportation and admission cost. Payment for students can be made at the following link: https://sccpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/24786/239/False/True

October 30: Ships of the Sea
November 5: Planetarium (Georgia Southern, Statesboro)
January 15: Life Before Lightbulbs, Fort Pulaski
January 16: Musical Explorers
March 12: Oglethorpe and Tomochichi (Walking Program with Massie)

Art to Remember Fundraiser - flyers and stickers with your student's personal QR code were sent home so you can order products with their art work. Funds raised will go to Montessori professional development for our teachers. Please place orders by Friday, 10/28 in order to receive them in time for holiday gifts. 

Other Important Dates:

Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6 pm - Ellis Family Movie Night in the Ellis backyard.

Payment link for movie night is here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1766314366819?aff=oddtdtcreator

Have a great week, Foxes and Bears! 

Oct. 14

 

Fox and Bear Community

We are excited to begin the second quarter of the school year! Students have enjoyed diving into their study of clouds. Starting this week, students will have longer requirements for their daily writing work. We know they are up for the challenge. We will also begin weekly math fact practice. Stay tuned for more information about what skills your student should be practicing throughout the week. 

Field Trips - permission forms for upcoming field trips are going home in folders today, Tuesday, 10/14. Payment can be made at the following link: https://sccpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/24786/239/False/True

Fall Festival: Oct. 17th

The Fall Festival is this Friday! Volunteers are needed to help with games, food, tickets, spirit wear, etc. Volunteers will receive a spirit wear t-shirt. See flyer below for more details. 

Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4DABAF28A3FD0-58989886-2025?useFullSite=true#/

This year you can pre-purchase tickets for pick-up at the gate from 5pm to 6:30pm, Friday, October 17th. The link to pre-purchase tickets and spirit wear is https://charles-ellis-montessori-pta.square.site/

A representative from Cub Scouting will be at Fall Festival to register interested K-5 students for scouts. More details can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W0wXP2jiF4Rj9qd89DWAtCkxwa-Z_Nrz/view?usp=sharing

Family Partnership: Oct. 18th - Join us for community and discussion on Saturday at 10 am. Flyer below. 

Ellis Family Movie Night: Nov. 13th

Payment link for movie night is here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1766314366819?aff=oddtdtcreator