"So Much More Alike Than Different"
by Diana Schor
Diana Schor is a new parent at Stoneridge. She and her husband have a daughter in Children’s House.
Prior to joining the Stoneridge community this academic year, our daughter Maia was enrolled in the Toddler program at Harborlight Montessori School (HMS). We liked the extended day program because it fit our needs as working parents and provided a nurturing and stimulating environment for our two-year old daughter.
My first introduction to the school is illustrative of the positive experiences that we had at HMS. On a hot July day in 2010, I walked into the Toddler room to observe children playing and interacting with each other. I had barely sat down in a corner when one of the toddler boys discovered my presence and eyed me with curiosity. I smiled at him, he smiled back, and then spontaneously ran to me, gave me a big hug, and then ran back to his play. Needless to say, I was totally surprised and thought to myself, only a happy child would hug a stranger! I knew then that I wanted Maia to go to a school that nurtured such happy and content children. More...
MS Silent Auction Begins on Jan 30
Monday January 30 to Thursday, February 2
Support the Middle School Spain Exchange program by participating in our Silent Auction in the Stoneridge lobby. There are just four days to bid on beautiful pieces of art from local artists, plenty of gift certificates to the best restaurants and boutiques, plus fun theme baskets!
Join in the bidding and help us get to Spain!
**If you cannot make it in to the school to bid but see something you like, you can bid by proxy. Simply email Sue Estey at scestey@yahoo.com.
For a complete list of auction items, please click here.
Montessori in the Toddler House: Part 4
by Pam Richardson, Toddler House Head Teacher
Our prepared environment brings organization to our classroom and gives toddlers the opportunity to create their own order. This is important as toddlers are very sensitive to order at this stage of development. More...
Winter in Children's House
by Linda Seeley, Children's House 1 Head Teacher
January did not prove to be a true winter month this year, but we still carried out our winter activities (sometimes using our imaginations). We have been discussing the animals who hibernate, those who "deep sleep," and those who stay active. Of course, many may be confused by the warm temperatures. Classrooms are also decorated with a variety of handmade snowflakes. More...
Everybody Dance Now!
by Heather Carnevale and Diane Sullivan, LE Head Teachers and Hannah Mell, Music Director
Folk dancing is a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation over hundreds of years. And, it's one that continues today in Lower Elementary. We follow the beat of the music and learn the steps to dances that come from the folk traditions of North America and the British Isles. These are social dances that bring the children together in a spirit of community and respect. The dancers learn and experience a new kind of cooperation through dance while having a genuinely good time! More...
Learning to Dream
by Julia Lewis, Upper Elementary student
Last week in UE, we learned about Martin Luther King. After making timelines about his life and listening to the fifth graders present in assembly (the script is attached below) we watched his powerful speech, I have a Dream. We were asked to write a small speech or few sentences about what we believed in. I wrote my own piece about what I thought was right and real. Here is my speech: We Cannot Hide. More...
Being a “Good Sport”
Suzanne Caruso, MS Teacher
What does it mean to be a good sport?
In my short tenure as a basketball coach at Stoneridge, I have observed the qualities of “good sportsmanship.” Whether our team wins or loses, or a teammate makes or misses a shot, or an opponent steals a pass...each player on the team is supportive, rooting for his or her teammates with energy and enthusiasm. More...
To Google or Not to Google: Snail Blood and Giant Sea Kelp
by Martha Morgan, Librarian
Should I google it?
A first grader walks into the library wondering if snails have blood -- a common event at a school like Stoneridge. Looking in a guide book and at the encyclopedia entry are no help. So ... let's google it as "snail blood". And voila, various websites confirm that yes, snails do have blood, if in a different form than ours. More...
Citizen Scientist: Our Visit with author Loree Griffin Burns
by Martha Morgan, Librarian
Recently, nonfiction author Loree Griffin Burns, came and visited Stoneridge and talked about writing and science with the Kindergarten through Middle School classrooms. She was a passionate speaker about our role as observers and actors in the natural world. She shared information and images from her two published books, The Hive Detectives : Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe and Tracking Trash : Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motions, and introduced us to the ideas behind her new book, Citizen Scientists : Be A Part of a Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard. This book, to be published SOON (February 14!), discusses ways for all of us to participate in scientific study. More...
Annual Fund Update
by Anne-Seymour St. John, Annual Fund chair
Thanks to the generous gifts and pledges of the 35 families below (a third of the parent body), as well as grandparents, alumni and their parents, current and former staff and trustees, we are $70,540 of the way towards the Stoneridge Annual Fund goal of $130,000. Not bad at all. We’re half-way through the school year and more than $5,000 past the half-way mark to the goal. More...
Evening of Wine-Tasting and Live Jazz: Feb 11
The Stoneridge Parent’s Association invites you to an Evening of Wine Tasting and Live Jazz!
Saturday, February 11
7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
King Hooper Mansion
8 Hooper Street, Marblehead (Old Town)
$20 per person
Join us for some great live music from Henley Douglas Jr and the Cool Times Trio. Douglas is the founder of the Salem Jazz & Blues Festival, founding member of The Boston Horns and known for having created a buzz on the North Shore music scene. We'll have fabulous hors d'oeuvres while wine expert and Stoneridge parent, Jill Viselli, along with wine connoisseurs from Shubies of Marblehead, provide expert guidance on buying (and consuming) wine. If that's not all, enjoy olive oil-tasting with oil from Sauvignos of Beverly Farms. Also featured:
> Silent Auction of wonderful art donated by members and friends of the Stoneridge Community
> Wine Collection Raffle (win a giant array of Stoneridge families' favorite wines--just $10 per raffle ticket!
and back by popular demand...
> Great Gatherings--sign up for one or more fun and interesting events for parents and for children!
> Open bar with wine and beer
Many thanks to Dan Bernal, Stoneridge parent, and his colleague Eric Steenstra of Mortgage Network, for their generous support of this event. For more information look for the display in the Stoneridge lobby or contact Sarah Parker, Chair, Stoneridge Parent’s Association at: sarahfparker@gmail.com
See Pat Tucker at the front desk to purchase your tickets!
Winter Camp II: Feb 21-24
Back by popular demand--Winter Camp for February vacation! Wondering how to keep your child entertained during our February break? Then consider Winter Camp at Stoneridge. Open to children in CH through UE, Winter Camp will provide plenty of fun, games, rest, and exercise. Your child will have a great time so you can balance the endless demands on your schedule.
Staffed by our own Ellen Sears, along Ashley MacDonald from our After Care program and Stacie Grasso from TH, we bring you the best-of-the-best in childcare for four days. More...
Re-enrollment contracts and deposit due - Monday, February 27.
Re-enrollment contracts and deposit are due on Monday, February 27. Thank you for returning these items on time!
