Rheel News at IMS

We are all patiently waiting for the fall weather to be here! While we wait, we are enjoying the sunshine and planning for all of the fun activities that lay ahead this month!

Discovering Your Role in the School Community: Volunteering After Normalization

As guardians, one of the most exciting aspects of your child’s school experience is discovering how you can be an active part of their learning journey. Volunteering offers a meaningful way to contribute to the school community while connecting more deeply with your child’s educational environment. However, before we explore these opportunities, it’s important to understand the Montessori concept of normalization, a key milestone your child will reach before the school welcomes volunteers.

What is Normalization?

In Montessori education, normalization is the period during which children become accustomed to their environment and begin to work with concentration, independence, and joy. It’s a phase of discovery where your child finds their rhythm within the classroom, gains comfort in their daily routines, and fully engages with the work that appeals to them. Work cycles are a core part of this process, allowing children uninterrupted time to explore their interests, solve problems, and engage deeply in their learning.

This process lays the foundation for productive, peaceful work. Your child is “discovering” not only how to function in the classroom but also how to navigate social interactions, make choices about their learning, and contribute meaningfully. As they discover their potential, the need for routine and uninterrupted focus becomes essential.

The Role of Family During the Normalization Period

Though it’s natural to want to help from the start, it’s important to give your child the time and space to settle into their school environment. This is why Montessori schools typically wait to welcome volunteers until the normalization process is complete.

In the meantime, you can support your child’s learning at home by encouraging independence, creating consistent routines, and offering choices. These practices mirror the experiences your child is having in the classroom and help support their transition.

Volunteering After Normalization

Once the normalization phase ends (around October 20), we welcome family volunteers to assist with classroom activities, events, and more. These roles allow you to engage in your child’s school life and contribute to the broader community

Regular student attendance is crucial for academic success. Studies show that students who miss just 10% of the school year—about 18 days—are at risk of falling behind in key subjects like math and reading. Chronic absenteeism can lead to lower grades, a decreased chance of graduating on time, and difficulties in developing strong study habits. Attending school consistently helps students stay on track, build meaningful connections, and achieve their full potential. Let's work together to ensure every student is present and ready to learn!
We understand the value of family vacations and the unique educational experiences they can provide, from exploring new cultures to hands-on learning in different environments. However, it’s important to be mindful of our school calendar when planning these trips. Extended absences can affect a student's progress and create challenges in keeping up with classroom learning. We encourage families to plan vacations during school breaks whenever possible to ensure students don’t miss critical instructional time. Together, we can balance both family enrichment and academic success!

As of now, we do not need to make up any school days missed due to weather. Island Montessori operates on a total hours system for the school year, and we have built-in additional hours to account for events like this. If there is an event that requires our building to be closed for a longer period, we will notify families about any additional days that may need to be added to our calendar. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility!

We are excited to announce the addition of a new counselor, Ms. Heather, to our team this year, as well as the continued partnership with our beloved counselor, Ms. Mackenzie. As you may know, Ms. Mackenzie has been presented with an incredible opportunity to transition into the private counseling sector. We are fortunate that she has graciously agreed to work with our school part-time at the start of the year to help ensure a smooth transition to Ms. Heather. Ms. Mackenzie will remain with us on a part-time basis until Winter Break.

Ms. Heather brings a deep passion for student success and well-being, and we are thrilled to have her on board. She, too, will be part-time this school year, and we look forward to our students and families getting to know her better.

We want to ensure that our students have access to clean drinking water every day, which is our top priority. Some of you may be aware that we previously had reverse osmosis (RO) systems installed at our water fountain stations. However, last spring, we noticed that the RO systems could not keep up with the daily water consumption, causing our water fountains to stop functioning properly.

After consulting with the county and understanding the filtration measures they have put in place, we decided that, in the best interest of our students, it was necessary to remove the RO systems. This change has allowed our water fountains and bottle fillers to function consistently, ensuring a steady supply of drinking water.

We understand that this may raise concerns for some families. We are happy to accommodate any families who prefer to send bottled or gallon water to school. You are also welcome to send your student with an extra water bottle from home if you prefer.

As always, the health and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.