Happy Friday!

New Parents:  If you’re relatively new to our school, please visit our Welcome Letter page.  You’ll find a lot of our common policies and checklists there.  There’s also a lot of links to buy uniforms and other supplies.

Important!!  Text Message Alert System:  All parents should be enrolled in Remind, a school-wide text message system.  As we head into snowy weather season, we may need to alert you of any school closures or delays.  We’ll also send out any last minute reminders if we need to.  Please sign up one of two ways:

• On your computer: CLICK HERE to sign up via the web
• On your smart phone:  Open your text messaging on your phone. Instead of a phone number, enter 81010. In the message area, type @noviwoodsm

(We typically don’t close unless roads are hazardous for families and staff, we lose power, heat, water, etc.)

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Wednesday December 13, 10:00am:  Santa visits!
• Friday December 15:  School closes at 3:00pm for all students.
• Friday December 15: Holiday Concert at  6:00pm (children should be ready at 5:45)
  Location: Theatre and Event Quarters at the Novi Civic Center
  45175 Ten Mile Road Novi, MI 48375 (between Novi and Taft Rd)
  248-347-0400
• Monday December 25-Monday January 1:  School closed for Holiday break
• Tuesday January 2:  School resumes
• Friday January 12:  10:00am Peace Day Celebration (parents welcome)
• Monday January 15:  School closed for Staff In-Service training

Outside Play:  Per state licensing rules, all children must be allowed outdoor play year-round, weather permitting.  Contrary to some beliefs, playing outdoors in colder weather does not cause illness.  We actually get sick more in winter from being INSIDE together too much, spreading our germs back and forth with no fresh air.  Please be assured:

• We will always take into account the temperature, windchill and other factors before heading outside.
• We will also limit the amount of time children are outside based on weather conditions.
• We will never go outside if teachers deem it’s too cold.
• Please bring appropriate outdoor clothing for your children.  This means boots, hats, gloves, snowpants and a warm coat.
• We cannot keep one child indoors while the rest of the class goes out because of staff to child ratios.
• If your child is well enough to go to school, they should be well enough to play outside for a short time.
• If there is a health concern, please obtain a doctor’s note stating your child cannot go outside due to medical reasons.  Include the date range and the doctor’s signature.

Signing your child in and out

It is really important that we have all adults who pick up our students to sign in and out.  If you do not know how to use our timeclock system, please click HERE.  Your pin should be set to the last 4 digits of your cell phone number.  If someone else picks up your child other than parents, please update their information in your Parent Portal.  Add them as a Contact and be sure to click ‘Allowed to pickup’.  We are required to keep these records and really need your help abiding by this rule.  Decide on a dropoff and pickup routine where for example you always sign in/out before dropping off/picking up your child and stick to that routine.  The timeclock is now linked to your schedule and will automatically bill you a late attendance fee after your child’s schedule ends (with a short grace period), so this is now another reason to make sure you’re signed out at the correct time!

Parent-Teacher Communication

If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please do so between 8:00-8:30, 11:30-12:30 (you may call and ask to speak to a teacher) or 3:30-4:00. Once class starts at 8:30, the teachers’ priority is instructing the students.  You may leave a message with the office, jot it on the notebook, send an email or contact the teacher at the above times.   If you arrive at school late, please drop your child off with an administrator and they will walk your child in to class.

New Director!

We hope you had a chance to meet our new director Geanine this week!  We are so happy to have found Ms. Geanine as she has a wealth of experience and Montessori knowledge. Ms. Geanine has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and went on to pursue her Montessori credential through the same Montessori Training center as many of our teachers. Although she loved being a Montessori teacher and director for over 10 years, she decided to pursue her Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She went on to work at a behavior therapy center for autistic children, but soon missed the Montessori classroom and that’s when we found her. In addition to her impressive qualifications, Ms. Geanine continually seeks out new ways to learn and show her passion. She has been a featured Montessori presenter at the MiAEYC Early Childhood Conference, which is the largest early childhood conference in Michigan. We think Ms. Geanine will make an excellent addition to our school. Please stop by the office to introduce yourself to her when you get a chance !