Head of School Letter
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 12:16PM Please read the 2011 Head of School Letter by Kim Bednarek. You can find it online here.
Summer 2011
On behalf of the Faculty, Staff and Board of Directors, I am very pleased to welcome you to the 2011-2012Our Discovery academic community anticipates a very productive 2011-2012. In light of a multi-agency (Florida Kindergarten Council, Florida Council of Independent Schools, American Montessori School) accreditation process in the spring of 2012, next year promises to deliver a comprehensive vertical & horizontal curriculum map. This work will follow the Montessori threads that begin in our Toddler classrooms and culminate in the Upper Elementary years, as well as outline Learner Outcomes per program level with a National Core Standards mindset. This work is being done within the framework of an insightful Strategic Plan accomplished in the spring of 2011, with a Vision to carry us through 2016.
Discovery’s community partnerships are flourishing in alignment with our Youth Philanthropy work. The 2011-2012 school year will begin with our Faculty, Staff, Co-Founder and Board of Director’s working together during a multi-day retreat experience at the White Oak Conservation Center www.wocenter.org. This will also kick off our inaugural collaborative educational partnership with WOCC, as we expand our vision of global citizenship to incorporate wildlife conservation with our Elementary students adopting a rainforest species and making the journey to White Oak. This will directly correlate with our Discovering Philanthropy partnership with the International Rainforest Alliance, inclusive of curriculum initiatives in the classroom, and student-to-student videoconference opportunities in support of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala.
As a Montessori community we practice good stewardship of our planet and support an inclusive and vibrant community of global citizens. Throughout the upcoming school year our students and families will have the opportunity to participate in our on-campus Edible Schoolyard project, BEAM hunger drive, the investigation of an IB World School Middle Years program, and an exciting selection of multicultural celebrations, holidays and festivals.
Please find enclosed in this packet the information you will need to prepare for the new school year, as well as a list of requirements for completing your child’s school file, your child’s classroom assignment and class roster. Please note that in our on-going pursuit of efficiency and the greening of our campus, we have posted pertinent forms, emergency procedures, uniform information, parent handbook and classroom guidelines on our website www.dmsonline.org.
Please enter our website through the “Current Parent” blue hand to find all necessary links and documents. There is also an area on the website called the “Teacher’s Corner.” Here you will find links to each of the classrooms and their teachers. Our school calendar is embedded in our website as a Google calendar and will constantly be updated to reflect the most current happenings at Discovery. If you have any further questions or concerns, or you are experiencing trouble with access to school information on the website, please do not hesitate to call the office at 247-4577 or email info@dmsonline.org.
The tremendous foundation your child receives from an education based on Montessori principles will serve as an intrinsic guide to foster their love of learning. A Montessori education is not just cumulative in its learning; it is exponential in its understanding. We are pleased to share in your child’s academic journey here at Discovery Montessori School. We share your passion in ensuring that the experience will be meaningful and fulfilling and look forward to working with you throughout the 2011-2012 year.
Respectfully,
Kim Bednarek
Head of School
OUR MISSION To inspire our children to become passionate lifelong learners and responsible world citizens, in a challenging and nurturing academic environment firmly rooted in Montessori principles.
OUR VISION To cultivate an inclusive and vibrant community that promotes knowledge, creativity, independent thinking and mutual respect.
OUR CORE VALUES Academic Excellence: We embrace academic excellence, guiding our children's innate curiosity and encouraging joy in learning ; Independence and Imagination: We foster independent thinking and spark imagination, inspiring our children to become the leaders of tomorrow ; Peace and Respect: We instill respect for self, respect for one another and respect for our planet, enhancing prospects for peace.