March 14, 2025

 

Fox and Bear Community

We shared a beautiful day at Tybee Island on Friday! Students enjoyed the exhibits at Marine Science Center and the sand sifting activity on the beach. We were also able to enjoy a picnic lunch and playground at the nearby park before returning to school. 

IReady End-of-Year Diagnostics: Foxes and Bears will take the final IReady assessment of the year on March 21 and March 26. Please make sure your children get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast, so they come to school feeling their best. 

Kroger or Aldi Gift Cards Needed: 

We are down to one remaining Kroger gift card to help fund our supply of healthy community snacks. If you are able to send in a gift card of $30 to Kroger or Aldi for this semester, we greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

Parent Presentations on Asia Welcome!

As most of you know, we are studying the continent of Asia until the end of the year.  We are looking for speakers to come in and share experiences from any country in Asia. Please contact Ms. Kirsten via Remind or Kirsten.Leske@sccpss.com if you would like to share your knowledge with the Foxes and Bears.

Parent Survey:

Please help our school by sharing your honest opinion on this 22-question survey. To take the survey, please click on this link, Family Survey: https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=E244C236

Upcoming dates:

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day- No School!

March 21 - IReady Diagnostic ELA

March 26 - IReady Diagnostic Math
March 27 - Careers on Wheels 
March 28 - Donation Dress Down Day
March 31-April 4 - Spring Break
April 7- SCCPSS eLearning 1/2 day - students work from home

New Grading Rubric for Charles Ellis Grades K-5

A new requirement from the district states that all K-5 students must receive a final grade in each subject, which will be documented in PowerSchool at the end of this school year. Since assigning traditional grades to individual assignments conflicts with the Montessori philosophy, we have been allowed to concentrate on specific work habits and behaviors that contribute to student achievement. 

These key indicators include:

• Follows oral and written directions
• Works cooperatively
• Completes class work
• Produces best work
• Works independently
• Participates in class 

During each parent-teacher conference, we will share your child’s progress on each of these indicators in each subject area. Your child’s Spring conference grade will be entered into PowerSchool as an end-of-year grade. These grades will not solely determine promotion or retention; rather, they will serve as one of several factors considered in making such decisions if necessary. It is important to note that while these work habits and behaviors do not directly measure academic achievement, they are crucial for fostering success within the Montessori environment. At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, we embrace the opportunity for your child to show growth in these skills throughout the school year. We are confident that this approach will provide a comprehensive view of your child’s work habits and behaviors, supporting their development as independent, motivated, and engaged learners in alignment with the Montessori philosophy.

Have a great week!