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The New School News
Editor: Jill Staubitz A monthly newsletter for TNS families and staff January 2005The
Open House February 6 News From the January Board Meeting
The New School will hold an Open House The December and January Board meetings focused primarily upon the budget
on Sunday, February 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 for the 2005-2006 school year. The approved budget includes increases consistent with
p.m. All of the school buildings will be those of the past. All current parents have received contracts for the coming school year
open, and staff and parents will be available which indicate applicable tuition and fees. Thanks to Kym Nelson, Mark Abbott,
to answer questions and talk about our Maryellen Daston and Hope Felton Miller and for making phone calls to encourage
programs. If you have friends, relatives Annual Giving donations.
or co-workers who might be interested in
TNS for next year, please encourage them
to attend. $20,000 To Go To Meet Annual Giving 2004-05 Goal
73 families with children currently enrolled at The New School have
Contracts Due February 15 already supported Annual Giving. Combining their donations with those of
Contracts for the 2005-2006 school year
alumni, grandparents and friends, this yearʼs Annual Giving total is $45,485.
have been mailed to all current TNS
We appreciate these gifts, but we are still short of the $65,000 necessary to meet
families. As always, we have many new
this yearʼs operating budget.
families interested in TNS for next year;
The Annual Giving campaign makes up a significant part of the
but our first priority is to provide space
difference between tuition and the costs of operating TNS. Other independent
for children currently at TNS who want
and schools use Annual Giving as a tax-deductible way for families to make up
to continue in our program. To facilitate
this difference.
the enrollment process, please return all
Membership in The New School community means giving of time,
contracts by the February 15 deadline. If
talents and financial resources. We all have different financial means, but it is
special circumstances exist, please discuss
hoped that every family will make some contribution to Annual Giving. 100%
the situation with Barbara Gray before the
participation by current families influences foundations and other granting
15th. organizations as they consider offering financial support to TNS. This year, as
always, we need your help. Please send in your contribution now!
Tuition Aid for 2005-06
Tuition Aid Applications for the 2005-2006
school year are due by February 15 so they March 5 Auction Update
can be submitted to an outside financial Get your babysitter lined up for Saturday,
aid service for review. Tuition aid is not March 5 so you donʼt miss the Glass Bottom
automatically renewed from year to year; Boat Auction. It will be a wonderful
forms are available from Beth Barton in the party with something for everyone!! The
office. Growing Room will be turned into an
underwater oasis with the design guidance
Movie Night February 11 of Eric Peguero Winters. Disc Jockey
Casey Coston will keep the music rolling
The Diversity Committee has organized in the Growing Room during the Silent
TNS Family Movie Night on Friday, Auction, while a live band will perform
February 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Pizza between the Silent and Live Auctions. The
will be served from 6:00 to 7:00 and the food will again be provided by celebrity
movies begin at 7:00. Families with chef Jimmy Gherardhi – he did a great job
Preprimary children will view “Mulan” in last year and we are happy to have him back.
the Nap Room, while those with Elementary The Auctions will feature many traditional
children will see “Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes” Kitchen Position for 05-06 favorite items as well as some unique new
in the Growing Room. “Brown Eyes, Blue ones! One exciting new item is the glass
Eyes” documents an experiment in the Anne Daniels, one half of our Kitchen
art made by students with the guidance of
development of prejudice and stereotypes Staff that provides good food and a clean
glass artist Sandy Gross and Art Teacher
among children; a half hour discussion kitchen, will be returning to school in the
Robin Hartmann. The finished piece will
session after the film will allow for sharing fall of 2005. At that time, we will need a
be a large glass bowl containing a piece of
of thoughts. Cost for the entire evening is $5 replacement for her. Please see Barbara
work by each student in the 3-6, and 6-9!!
per family, payable at the door – everyone Gray if you are interested in learning more
Invitations will be mailed soon – donʼt
is asked to bring a blanket for seating. about this job.
miss this fabulous event!!
Montessori In the Home Elementary Special Programs
This year The New School has Dance Teacher Jeanne Speier
sponsored two talks about Montessori plans to introduce a different dance move
education for the Greater Cincinnati each month. Currently students are
community. In January, North Room Head learning Balinese dance in addition to the
Teacher Beth Tracy Kaliski presented the Katherine Dunham Technique and creative
second of these programs, “Montessori In movement. Jeanne reports that “their
the Home,” to an interested and enthusiastic participation continues to be wonderful.”
audience. Over forty-five parents attended Elementary Art Teacher Robin
and got valuable tips for encouraging their Hartmann offers a big thank you to Sandy
preschoolersʼ independence in the home Gross for the lessons in creating glass
environment. Materials Wanted work. With Sandyʼs help, elementary
According to Beth, the secret is in
Elementary Art classes need baby food students created sea creatures by shaping
establishing a “child-friendly environment . for forming designs in glass. Sandy also
jars and yogurt cups. 6 to 9 Class needs
. . that supports the childʼs inherent need for created a beautiful glass bowl to be sold
guinea pig food and bedding and frozen
order and independence, allows the child at the Auction on March 5. Other Auction
pinkie mice (snake food.) the 9 to 12
the opportunity to make reasonable choices work includes quiltmaking and furniture
Class could use some new CD music as
and affords plenty of time and space to items.
appropriate background for silent work
make the natural mistakes that accompany In addition, 9 to 12 students are
time. Elementary Extended Day would
any type of learning.” Beth had very analyzing package design and 6 to 9 students
welcome any craft supplies. The Preprimary
specific suggestions for creating such an have finished their totem masks. Thanks
class needs bird seed (thistle or black oil
environment at home. In the bathroom, this to Peggy Mossbarger, Julia Wadih, Tari
sunflower seed), a new portable CD player,
includes low towel bars, an accessible bag Frank, Nancy Miller and Mary Clare
assorted decaf tea bags and roasted peanuts
of bath toys and clean-up items. Kitchen
in the shell. Rietz for help in the classroom.
adaptations include the use of step stools,
low tables and cabinet storage as well as
clean-up items that are easily accessible. News From the Staff
Keeping drinks in small pitchers and dry World travel is the theme for some of TNS staff members over the past month.
snacks in low cabinets allows children to 3 to 6 Teacher Shawn Dougherty and 9 to 12 Teacher Ceara Busch spent their winter
serve themselves. break in Spain visiting Leah Busch (Shawnʼs daughter, Cearaʼs sister, TNS grad ʼ96.) In
Low shelves and pegs for hanging addition to seeing the small town where Leah, a junior at Kalamazoo College, is studying,
items in the bedroom as well as labels Shawn and Ceara toured large and small towns. Ceara was especially impressed with
on drawers and a full length mirror help Barcelona, a very “international city” and with the age of many of the buildings and towns.
children get dressed and undressed. Low She observed that the food was great but that, unfortunately, her fluency in Spanish was
shelves and designated art exploration less than she had hoped it would be.
spaces are helpful in the living room or Art Teacher Robin Hartmann visited Germany with her husband Rainer and son
playroom. These areas also offer the Rory, a 6th grader at TNS. They spent Christmas with Rainerʼs family in Bavaria (a “less
opportunity to show children how to handle ornate” celebration than in the U.S.) and also toured Munich and Nuremberg, especially
beautiful objects with care and to appreciate enjoying the museums. While others traveled, 3 to 6 Assistant and Elementary Extended
them. Day Coordinator Matt Goebel enjoyed a visit from his brother who is in the navy.
Thank you to Beth who organized Facilities Manager David Tape has just returned from three weeks in India. He
this very practical and well-prepared talk. spent ten days in the Buddhist monastery of Gaden Shartse and visited New Delhi twice.
Also, thank you to all New School parents He also joined thousands of monks in an 11 day long prayer session for world peace and
who supported this event by attending and/ the tsunami victims held in Bodi Gaya, the site of Buddhaʼs enlightenment. At Bodi
or bringing friends. Gaya, he met the monk from Bhutan who created the tapestry David brought back to hang
in the 6 to 9 Great Room. He took a photo of the monk which he plans to hang along with
the tapestry.
6 to 9 Teacher Mandy Crouch has begun her Masterʼs program this semester
with the course, “Strategies in Teaching Reading.” Several staff members are preparing
presentations for the 45th Annual American Montessori Society Conference in Chicago
in March. Director Eric Dustman is planning a joint presentation with Miyoko
Wardell, Director of a Japanese Montessori school, about their shared experiences and
student exchanges. Preprimary Teachers Shawn Dougherty and Martha Torrence will
give a workshop entitled “Through the Looking Glass: Writing as a Reflective Practice.”
Workshop attendees “will be invited to engage in the art and craft of writing in a safe,
supportive environment” a s a means of sharing the workings of their classrooms and
children.
Photo by B. Tracy Kaliski
6 to 9 News
In natural science lessons, first
Sports Celebration and second year students are learning
photos on this page, about the different world biomes. First
page 1 and the Annual
Giviing insert thanks year is concentrating on North American
to S. Kohn animals and biomes while second year is
studying South America, Australia and
Europe. Third year students are learning
about the five Kingdoms of Living Things
and are using microscopes to learn more
3 to 6 News 9 to 12 News about bacteria. In history lessons, first year
On February 7, kindergartners will take a After finishing the Terra Nova tests, 9 to 12 is learning to tell time, second is studying
field trip to Avon Woods as part of their students have started preparations for their U.S. states and capitals and third level is
Natural Science lessons. The program class trips at the end of March. Fourth and researching the history of the American
“Animal Real Estate” will focus on where fifth year will travel to Cleveland while flag.
temperate forest animals live and what they sixth year will take the traditional trip to The second floor hallway of the
do during the winter. Thanks to Melissa Washington, D.C. Over the past month, Mansion is decorated with first year self
Robinson for the wonderful music sessions students have been collecting money to descriptions and portraits from the classʼs
with the Preprimary children. Thanks to the donate to the Tsunami recovery effort. creative writing lessons. As a lead up to
Gross Huttons for donating finger puppets Claudia Reilly has begun working with Valentineʼs Day, the class will have Secret
and to Julia Wadih for the box of mittens, fifth year students on writing an original Friends from February 7 through 11.
hats and sand tools. Thanks to Susan Taffe Thanks to John Hutton, Kym Nelson,
play – more details next month.
for papers and cards and to Lisa Butler and Kathy Collins and Nancy Miller for
Datha Harrison for donating materials. sharing their experiences with kindergarten
parents at the Next Step meeting.
Preprimary Welcomes
Three New Students
TNS community is happy to welcome three new
Preprimary students and their families. Max
Schweitzer (his mother is Elizabeth Morgan) is just
turning five. Petra Theodosopoulos (parents Philip
Theodosopoulos and Josefa Rangel) is a three year
old as is Connor Evans (parents Carolyn and Chris
Evans.) We hope they find TNS to be a warm and
friendly place.
TNS Celebrates the Diversity of Sports
The New School curriculum has always included the acknowledgement and appreciation of the diversity of world cultures.
Last year, the Internation-oliday celebration focused those studies into a large, school-wide event. This year, students chose to study
diversity through sports, and the Diversity of Sports Celebration took place on Friday, January 28. 6 to 9 Head Teacher Mary Ohlinger
Pray and 9 to 12 Teacher Ceara Thalinger coordinated the event.
Students in grades 3 through 6 divided into groups, did research and planned their presentations in five different areas. Much
of the work was done in the afternoons of Terra Nova test week, thus providing a lively diversion from the testing routine. The sports
featured were Russian Winter Festival, Martial Arts, Aztec sports, golf and sports for children with disabilities.
During the celebration, students circulated among the five stations, getting stickers for participation in each one. At a sixth
station, students could make prize medals for themselves. The Russian station included caviar, borscht and frozen lake racing (a
swimming event.) Along with learning Martial Arts forms, students sampled seaweed, rice cakes and nori. The Aztec station featured
tlachtli (a ball game) and patolli (a board game like Parchesi) as well as Aztec history and chips and salsa. The golf station included a
9th hold pretzel break. At the Sports for Children with Disabilities station, students learned about adaptations to include children who
are blind, deaf and in wheel chairs. They tried to hit a beeping baseball while blindfolded and saw the technology involved in dancing,
racing and skiing wheel chairs.
Special thanks to Greg Lewis from the Cincinnati TaeKwonDo Academy for his demonstrations and assistance to the Martial
Arts group. Thanks to Chris Pray for helping all week with the Aztec games. Thanks to Kathleen Bedree for help with the Russian
Winter Festival, to Deborah Moore for lending scarves and to the Siegels, Borders and Daniels families for printing out stickers and
to the Millers for duct tape. Thanks to all of the parents who helped plan and carry out this event and toall who joined in the fun.
TNS Curriculum in Civil Rights, Appreciating Differences Encourages Acceptance
One of the goals of Montessori education is to help students develop a clear sense of themselves and their place in the larger
communities of which they are a part. Weekly lessons in “Civil Rights and Civics” for sixth year students and “Appreciating Differences”
for third year students directly focus on that goal.
9 to 12 Head Teacher Laura Slanker and Preprimary Assistant J. White have developed the sixth year curriculum over the
past ten years. An initial look at names and other forms of individual identity leads to a broader discussion of young peopleʼs rights as
students, as consumers and in the legal system generally.
As part of the transition to junior high, sixth year students also discuss issues relevant to adolescence such as peer pressure.
Visits from some of last yearʼs TNS grads have given an in depth view of homework and the social environment the class can expect
next year. A presentation on eating disorders is scheduled for later this year.
Another key topic of class discussion is prejudice. J. says the students have come to understand that the Civil Rights movement
of the 60ʼs did not solve all of societyʼs problems and that prejudice is bigger than a black/white issue. She also stresses the importance
of acceptance of others rather than tolerance which, as she says, implies just “putting up with” differences. This yearʼs class is using
“On Prejudice – Ideas, Introspections and Moments in Peopleʼs Lives,” a book compiled by a senior graphic design student in U.C.ʼs
DAAP program, as a resource. The book contains photos and stories from young Cincinnatians about their personal encounters with
prejudice.
Recently, the students attended a lecture at Xavier University regarding labor practices in developing countries and became
more aware of how countries are interrelated. J. notes that the students learned that writing campaigns can be effective in changing
some of these practices but that boycotts often do more harm than good. Soon, the class will study the history of slavery and the Civil
Rights movement in this country. They will tour the Freedom Center as well as underground railway sites in this area. J. and Laura
invite parents to join the class on this field trip, and they welcome presentations by adult members of TNS community to support the
class studies.
This is the second year for third graders to meet with J. and 6 to 9 Head Teacher Mary Ohlinger Pray for “Appreciating
Differences.” As part of the study of acceptance of others, students were asked to bring in their favorite music and explain why they like
that particular style. J. says the class has a “wide range of tastes” and “strong opinions.” Despite some heated discussions, “their level
of acceptance is growing.” Students are encouraged to talk about their own backgrounds and ethnicity to expand their understanding
of how other people live and dispel stereotypes. The use of a talking stick has been effective in designating the speaker and the
listeners in these group meetings; and some students have shared the technique at home in family meetings. Upcoming lessons for third
year students will include prejudices and stereotypes about people with disabilities, awareness of manners and a continued focus on
appreciation of other cultures.
Staff Takes Health Seriously After School News Thanks to All!!!
Students in Elementary Extended
This year, many TNS staff Day have enjoyed working with a variety of Many thanks to all of the families who
members are participating in wellness computer programs including Garage Band contributed to this yearʼs staff holiday gift.
programs sponsored by the schoolʼs health and iMovie. Thanks to Joanna Groden for We all appreciate your generosity and
insurance plan. A Weight Maintenance donating the computers and to Al Kashdan thoughtfulness very much.
program which ended January 4 rewarded and John Powers for technical support. Photo by S. Dougherty
those who had either maintained or lost Thanks to the Allisons for the Fooz-ball
weight in that danger period between table, to the Aarons for assorted games and
Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. to Jessica Licis for magazines.
At the end of January, the 10K-A-Day Winter Session after school clubs
Program, began. With a focus on walking will continue through February 25. These
as a means to better health in many areas, include Science Club, Cooking Club, Art
the program sets each participant a goal Club, two Cooking Clubs and Acting Club.
of taking 10,000 steps each day. Those (Cooking club photo on page thanks to M.
joining the program have already received Pucci.) Registration forms for spring clubs
free pedometers . . . guess the new staff will go home Friday, February 4 and should
theme song is “These Boots Are Made For
be returned by Friday, February 11.
Walkinʼ.”
As a further sign of health
consciousness, many TNS staff members
will be wearing red on Friday, February 4 Calendar of Events
as a sign of support for the American Heart February 6 Open House 2 to 4 p.m.
Association. The “Go Red For Women” February 11 Family Movie Night
day is designed to raise awareness of heart February 15 Contracts due for 2005-
disease risk factors and ways to promote a February 21 No School – Pres. Day
healthy heart. February 25 No School – Inservice
Marchh 5 Auction!!!!!
Thanks to the generous donors listed below, Annual Giving 2004-2005 totals over $45,000.
The New Schoolʼs children and staff really appreciate your support.
Mansion Society
Patrick Borders & Helen Adams
James & Susan Boney
John & Beth Powers
Willie & Joretha Johnson
Friends of the Children
Mel & Kathleen Bedree
Brooks & Beth Ewing
Fred Miller & Hope Felton Miller
Tim & Nancy Miller
Michael Schwartz & Maria Palermo
Neal & Felicia Williams
Horatio & Barbara Wood
Lei Yu & Yiping Wang
John VanWoensel & Laura Fidler
Tariq Siddiqi & Elizabeth Clark
Matthew Clemens & Laura Bolte
New School Associate
Jamie Bennett Casey Coston & Tari Frank George & Maryellen Daston
Datha Harrison & Lisa Butler Darryl & Regina Hodnett Mark & Beth Tracy Kaliski
Kevin Leahy & Joyce Steiner Michael Marcotte & Mary Clare Rietz Egbert & Estralita Powell
Greg Sayles & Beth Whelan Lynn & Andy Seel Robert Siegel & Claudia Reilly
Scott Van Diest Michael & Kym Nelson Richard Polt & Julie Gifford
Doug Krejsa & Dottie Shaffer Alan Schwartz & Kay Kinoshita
Sponsor
Kerry & Bonnie Burte Jeff Goodman & Rebecca Arbona Denise Jeavons
Ken Katkin & Linda Dynan Jeffrrey Mills & Jane Keller Scott & Bette Seibert
Donglu & Ping Shi Dennis & Susan Taffe Keith Thurman & Virginia Reid
James & Leah Turner Christopher & Vicki Weber Margaret & Kevin Kellar
Antonio & Deborah Moore Melissa Robinson & Kim Planet Lorrence & Barbara Kellar
Mark & Ann Abbott Matt & Joyce Brown Pete Cosco & Sally Dannemiller
Neal & Kimberley Poore Moser Victor & Jocelyn Williams ` Sanje Musengo
Andrew & Regina Radin Patrick & Mary Hanley Michael & Catherine Domka
Thomas & Renee Lentz The Kroger Company
Helping Hand
Kelly Combs & Juliet Kashdan Garfield & Corinne Eaton Joseph & Vicki Polanco
Scott & Amy Pugh Karl Stukenberg & Christine Mayhall Julian & Ingrid Wuerth
Stephen & Robin Wilson Sandy Kohn Jonah Weiss
Tom & Marcella Allison Andrew & Tracy Benson Barbara Gray
Arthur Sturbaum & Nancy Ratner Beth Barton John & Suzanne Barrett
Scott Braun & Jill Baker Eric & Renee Dustman Michael & Jennifer Folan
Rainer & Robin Hartmann Jessica Licis Lucille Clark
Gail Fiebig Steven Miller Gene & Maria Seibert
Rosalie Van Nuis Stephen Richey Dolly Varland
Walter Koch Joe & Fran Palermo Warren & Lee Williamson
Ardell & Jody Barkley Richard & Barbara Homlar Andrea VanAusdall
Christopher & Beth Cullen Canarie Thomas & Bonnie Wall John & Cynthia Amneus
Eric & Russell Peguero Winters Robert Anthinelli & Bridget Besinger Buzz Scannella & Robyn Breiman
