Halifax Montessori Childcare’s Monthly Newsletter
Email : haliparent2006@yahoo.com Website : www.halifaxmontessori.com.sg
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year and a bountiful Year of the Ox.
At the start of 2009, we sent out the English and Chinese version of our first paperless progress report along with the children's photo portfolio and progress checklist. Please give us your feedback.
2009 promises to be another exciting year here at Halifax Montessori Childcare. We will be enhancing our physical education program so that our children get more intense and vigorous workouts within the same timeframe. The revised program will also allow them to work on their specific gross motor skills like balancing, hopping, jumping, running, hurdling, throwing, catching, kicking and general co-ordination.
Remember to make a date on your calendar for 2 sessions of parents' seminar (18th Apr & unconfirmed date in Oct) conducted by our Consulting Principal, Ms. Martha Monahan. In conjunction with Martha's visit, the school will also be hosting 2 Open Houses and teachers' skills upgrading sessions. Don't forget the 2 sessions of Parents' Teachers' Meeting on 26th & 27th March, 2009 and 25th & 26th Sep, 2009. You can also expect the quarterly progress reports and monthly webs via email.
Since we sent out the circular in mid-January about recycling plastic bags for changed clothes, an encouraging number of parents have responded to our call and reused the plastic bags. Thank you parents for your support. We also wish to see more parents coming forward to volunteer for our Parent Involvement Program. Please speak to Ms. Maria about this issue.
30th Jan, 2009 (Fri) was Ms. Jenny's last day in our school. Ms. Jenny was married in December 2008 and needed to leave us for personal reasons. We congratulate her on her marriage and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
Ms. Janet will be the new teacher for Nursery class from 2nd Feb (Mon). Ms. Janet joined our school on 5th Jan and has been working alongside Ms. Jenny for the past month in the Nursery class. She gets along very well with the children and they are well acquainted now. Ms. Janet is a qualified Montessori Directress, bringing along with her several years of pre-school teaching experience. Ms. Jenny has briefed Ms. Janet on all the children's progress, strength and areas that require enhancement. The children were told of Ms. Jenny's departure on 29th Jan, 2009 (Thu) and they bid Ms. Jenny farewell on Friday with a cake and sang the song "I love You". We had ensured that this transition for the children was as uninterrupted and smooth sailing as possible. As a result, promotion from Tangerine to Apple class was halted in January and February.
Yours Sincerely,
Yeo Hwee Fung
Director
Principal's Message
Year 2008 has passed ending with a spectacular concert and graduation. Our children have done well once again. We will definitely miss those who have moved into the mainstream schools and we hope to see them back during the coming holidays.
Year 2009 marks a new beginning and as we are in the midst of the Lunar New Year, I would like to wish one and all a happy and prosperous new beginning.
Our teachers have planned many exciting activities for our children to learn and progress. Each day will have something new for every child. We have also sourced many interesting places for the children's excursions. So please ensure that your children are in school if they are well.
At this point, I would like to remind you to let your child stay at home when he/she is ill. It is now a MCYS requirement that children who have taken ill can only return to school with a certification from the doctor that they are fit for work in school. I hope to have your continued support in this matter. 
It is also a MCYS requirement that parents sign in/out when leaving and picking their child from the centre. Hence, we urge parents to please remember to sign at the register, placed on top of the shoe rack at the entrance to the school house. We were recently reminded by our supervising officer that parents have not been doing that.
Once again, I hope to see more active parent participation in the coming months. If you have the time, come in and read a story book to our children. Please don't decline if you are approached to spend some time with your child and his/her classmates. You will find it full filling and enjoyable; an experience that last a life time for your child. 
Last year, we had Khai En's father in the classroom to talk about his occupation. We would like to thank him for making Occupation day and Christmas so exciting and merry for the children.
I would like to assure parents that the teachers, the staff and myself will give our best in the interest of your children.
Maria Seow
Principal