New Message from Michele:
Calendar:
Dec 10: TCH Parent Book Club, 8:00 p.m., see below
Dec 11: Spirit Friday & Can Drive
Dec 11: Boots for Kids Sock Drive, details below
Dec 17: Community Sing Watch Party, 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
Dec 18: Spirit Friday & Can Drive
Dec 18: Campus Closes at 3:30, no Friend’s Club
Dec 21-Jan 1: Winter Break, campus closed
Looking Ahead:
Jan 6: CHiPA meeting, 9:00 a.m. via Zoom
Jan 7: TCH Parent Book Club, 8:00 p.m., see below
Jan 12: Jr High Open House
Jan 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Campus Closed
Jan 19: Mid-Year New Parent Orientation
Jan 21: Montessori Up Close: The Elementary Years
Jan 21: TCH Parent Book Club, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Jan 27: Montessori Up Close: The Kindergarten Year
Feb 1: Tuition Assistance Applications available
Feb 3: CHiPA Meeting, 9:00 a.m. via Zoom
Feb 4: TCH Parent Book Club, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Extracurricular Activities:
Points of Interest:
We Need More Than Kindness
By Jamie Schaub
Dr. Montessori fought for peace among people and nations. She was part of the League of Nations - the predecessor of the United Nations. It is in our training as Montessori more..
Other Notes:
Boots for Kids - Sock Drive
We are happy to help the Boots for Kids organization again this year with a sock drive. Each child they support with a new pair of winter boots also receive two pairs of socks. If you’d like to support this cause, you may bring in a new package of crew socks by December 11. All sizes (toddler through adult) are needed.
Can Drive Update
Thank you for all the cans that you have donated. We would very much appreciate it if cans were rinsed and cleaned before you donate them. Please try not to crush them or scratch the barcode. Thanks!
COVID-19 Resources
Slideshow
TCH COVID-19 webpage with link to updated Phase 4-5 protocol
Google Accounts
If you have a child in Primary through Elementary, you should have received an email with login information a few weeks ago. If you haven’t done so already, please follow the instructions to set up your child’s account. In the event that we have to implement virtual learning, we want everyone to have some familiarity with Google Classroom before there is a need to use it. Please reach out to Marty with any questions (martin@traversechildrenshouse.org).
TCH Inclement Weather Policy:
TCH Administration determines school delays and closings with the assistance of TCH outdoor services provider, Chris Danbrook. Parents will receive an email by 7:00 a.m. (or earlier if possible) notifying them of the delay or closure. The information will also be posted on the school’s website 7:00 a.m. Please note that TCH will not automatically follow the closure decisions of TCAPS and NMC.
Sign up for text alerts: In addition to an email alerting you about school closings and delays, we notify parents by text message via Remind. Simply download the Remind app to your mobile device and set up an account. Then, Text @hg6c3f2 to the number 81010. You will receive a welcome text from Remind. The class is titled TCH Parent Community.
I’m grateful for…
“I’m grateful for a community that understands and supports the importance of mental health, as well as an administrative team that invests in it!”
Parent Business Directory
Did you know there is a directory of TCH family-owned businesses in the Parent Portal? If you own a business and are not listed, please let us know by completing this Google form. With the harsh economic impact of COVID-19, it is more important than ever to support TCH family-owned businesses.
Facebook Community Page
Join our Facebook group, The Children’s House Community, to share ideas, swap/sell items, and connect with other families.
Amazon Smile - You Shop. Amazon Gives.
Learning Opportunities for Adults:
“What It Means to be Black in White Spaces” with Julie Lythcott-Haims
This week, a few of us attended a webinar with Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of “How to Raise an Adult” and “Real American.” We wanted to share the recording with our community for viewing. In this webinar, Julie shares her personal experiences of being black and biracial in America, and how her experiences have and continue to shape her life.
Follow these steps to access the recording of this webinar:
- Visit www.isacs.org/webinars and select “RECORDED WEBINARS” in the left hand column.
- Scroll towards the bottom of the page to the “PASSWORD PROTECTED WEBINARS” section.
- Select “ISACS/CAIS/NYSAIS Webinar with Julie Lythcott-Haims” to reveal the 12/1 webinar, which is now available for viewing.
- Select “12/1/20 - What It Means to be Black in White Spaces” with Julie Lythcott-Haims.
- Password: This recording is available via Zoom which requires you to enter the following password to view the recorded webinar: spaces$2020 (all lowercase).The recording will be available until February 28, 2021.
Child Abuse Training
Our staff participated in a virtual training with the Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center on November 18 because it is important for all of us to understand signs of abuse, use proper terminology with students, and know how to respond if a child is talking to you about an experience they have had. Please refer to this handout that was presented during the training.
TCH Parent Book Club
Dec 10, Jan 7, Jan 21, and Feb 4 at 8 p.m. via Zoom
To continue our anti-bias, anti-racist education and work as a school community, please join us in a school-wide parent book club. We will start by reading “This Book is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell. (This book is written for children and young adults so you may want to read it as a family.) You can purchase this book locally through Horizon Books. Parents are invited to join us via Zoom to discuss the four sections of this book. Please let us know if you plan to participate by completing this Google form.
Montessori Up Close
This series of presentations by our faculty will take place via Zoom. See our Parent Ed webpage for details.
Recordings:
Montessori 101 with Michele Shane: Zoom recording
Anti-bias at Home with Britt Hawthorne: Zoom recording (Access Passcode: !XaE8233)
Fostering Independence with Megan Andrews: Zoom recording
Assessment in a Montessori Classroom with Sandra Besselsen: Zoom recording
Sleep Training with Britny Tollstam: Zoom recording