From the Head of School

From all of us, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a joyous, safe holiday season, celebrated with the rich traditions of your family. I will see you at arrival on January 4, 2010!

Light
At this time of year, we recognize and celebrate several events. I like to refer to them as celebrations of light. The Winter Solstice, Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, all featuring light within their traditions. I enjoy searching for statements and quotations that further this sentiment and there are several that I would like to share:

“There are newly released spiritual energies that can be used to create an Armament of Peace. What a splendid hope for the future is the growth of these natural virtues in the child. It is along this path that the nations of the world will progress most surely toward that harmony founded by the prophet when, ‘the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them” Maria Montessori

Dr. Montessori took her thoughts further by incorporating elements of peace and interdependence into a curriculum for children. Children have a natural tendency for peace, and if we nurture a child’s sense of awareness of the community and harmony, we set values in place that lead them toward cooperation, not conflict.

In 1929, she addressed an organization in Geneva, Switzerland that was connected to the League of Nations. Her subject was Peace & Education. She began by stating:
“How strange it is that exists no science of peace, no science with an outward development comparable at least with the development of the science of war. War depends on mankind; it is exclusively a human phenomenon. Therefore, more than any other, it ought to be open to human research.”

Education is not ordinarily included in the efforts in the cause of peace, whether it is the larger peace we associate with lack of war, or the day-to-day peaceful existence that society used to take for granted. It is necessary that we consider education as a fundamental point from which we can nurture respect, love and world peace. To further this thought, I offer a letter that Mahatma Ghandi wrote to Dr. Montessori on November 19, 1931:

“You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach real peace in the world, and come out a war against war, we shall have to begin with the children, and if they grow up with natural innocence, we won’t have to struggle to pass idle, fruitless resolutions but we shall go from love to love, peace to peace, until all corners of the world are covered with that peace which consciously or unconsciously the whole world is hungering.”

The science of peace is the science of life. Very fortunately, guidance is at hand. The gentle guidance of the child. Education as an aid to life is a mutual affair, because it is the children who know all those things we need to learn again.

News and Notes
Book Fair @ Joseph Beth Booksellers
I want to comment on the successful book fair on December 6. Yes, it was a fundraiser, but it encompassed many other aspects of the unique, warm, dynamic Ruffing community. After I donned my flannel PJs and roamed round the racks of books, I encountered engaged, spirited families thoroughly enjoying the evening and relaxing in the atmosphere that we transported from our school to the store. We are indeed fortunate to have this, so thank you for being a part of our family.

Poet in Residence
This past week, David Hassler, our Poet in Residence, worked with our three Lower Elementary classrooms with a specific focus on our 50th anniversary. David has been working with the students and staff at Ruffing for the past five years, conducting a variety of classes and workshops. He opened the school year for us at our first All Staff Meeting with a community-building poetry exercise that will be incorporated into this year’s 50th Celebration legacy. If you want to see how he has guided our students in the past, there are two framed poems on the wall outside the Admissions office.

Open Mic
The room had all the ambiance of a coffee house as the musicians and singers arrived. The stage in the Middle School was set with a sound system, music stands, drums, keyboard, and guitar. Ruffing’s first “Open Mic” was held on December 3, and it was a most memorable, enjoyable and wonderful evening! It was arranged by our own Sandpaper Letters band, and the Ruffing parents shared their musical talents in a variety of ways. We heard Beatles songs, Elton John, U2 and original music and lyrics, as well. It was another manifestation of our diverse and talented community, and I am encouraging them to make it a monthly event. Watch for future dates, and we hope to see you there, to participate or applaud!

Gordon L. Maas, Head of School

Message from the Board of Trustees

Ruffing's Board of Trustees, as part of its ongoing planning process, regularly reassesses the school's strategic investments and financial health. As you may know, Ruffing's operating expenses, including financial aid, are funded entirely by tuition and other program revenues. In the annual budget process the Board strives to balance the desire for affordable tuition with the need for strategic investments.

At their December meeting, the Board approved Ruffing's budget for the 2010-2011 school year. This budget, which includes tuition increases across the grade levels averaging 5%, reaffirms the commitment to our strategic priorities related to compensation, professional development, and the school's long-term financial obligations. The Board and school administration are working together to manage the consequences of the current economic environment. For example, Ruffing's Financial Aid Policy allows the school to address aid requests with as much flexibility as possible.

The strategic investments reaffirmed by the Board reflect its focus on preserving Ruffing's place as the compelling education option for years to come. We proudly note the fact that our students are eagerly sought by area schools and are universally recognized as well prepared for life outside and beyond Ruffing. It is a testament to both our unique Ruffing culture and the wisdom of the Montessori method. Through it, we allow each child to realize his or her full potential as compassionate citizens of the world.

The Board recognizes the significant financial commitment families make to provide their children with a Ruffing education. We are confident that you will be pleased with the return on your investment in your child's potential.

50th Anniversary Golden Bead Gala
The planning committees are working hard to create a festive fundraising party for the school on April 17, 2010, to celebrate Ruffing’s history. We are looking for volunteers in support of the event to join the Gala Table Host/Hostess Committee. Table Hosts and Hostesses will plan to attend and will encourage their friends to join the fun. Call Julie Comber-Martin or Kimberly Dyer to discuss joining the committee.

In the West Wing
(A new monthly feature of Ruffing Today, highlighting news and curriculum activities in the Upper Elementary and Middle School)

Ruffing’s curriculum pays tribute to the time-honored prescription for becoming a writer: read a lot and write every day. Each level addresses writing, beginning with the indirect preparation in the Toddler Community to strengthen finger and hand muscles and hold a pencil properly, and the rigorous writing curriculum, infused throughout the humanities-based curriculum in the Middle School.

In the Upper Elementary, the opportunities blossom for writing, reading books with more complex plotting, and exploring numerous forms of communication. Each grade in the Upper Elementary reads a novel a month (some assigned and some chosen by the student), and many different assignments evolve from the novels: creating a board game to parallel the novel’s plot or analyzing a character, or writing an in-depth analysis of a character, for example.

An excerpted sample of creative writing by Anna Crowley, 6th Grade: “Point of view from a Christmas Light: …Once we were all attached, William plugged us in. I felt a warm tingly feeling which meant I was on. The whole room was lit up by just us Christmas lights. Soft Christmas music was playing and the kids were smiling up at us. Now this is what I was made for. Because when you think about it – which you have plenty of time to do stuck in a box most of the year – lights are a pretty important part of Christmas. Even though we only come out of the basement once a year, people always look happy to see us light up the room.”

There is a balance between creative writing and expository writing. Students write essays, cultural reports, as well as forms of letters, and they work on the elements of a strong paragraph, incorporating proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.

An excerpted sample of a report on Ancient Egyptian Food, co-written by Nora Hyman, Maggie Navracruz and Jane Underhill, 5th Graders: “The Egyptians didn’t use sugar because it was unknown to them. The rich used honey for a sweetener and the poor used dates and fruit juices. The Egyptians ate very healthy food…Most of the crops they grew were barley and wheat. They liked to eat strong tasting vegetables, such as garlic and onions, covered in oil and vinegar dressing. The only fruits Ancient Egyptians could grow were grapes, dates, and figs.”

School-wide, the writing curriculum is varied to reach each student at his or her developmentally appropriate stage, with a goal of developing strong skills and facility with written expression, in all of its forms.

Building Security Reminder to Parents
Safety and security are important at Ruffing. Like most schools, our building’s security system is armed whenever the school is closed – weeknights, weekends, and holidays – and the Cleveland Heights police are automatically dispatched when the alarm sounds. To avoid unnecessary visits by our (usually) friendly police officers, please do not enter the school when it is closed. If you absolutely need to get into the school for that forgotten book report or the handmade sweater your child is expected to wear to grandma’s, you may contact Debra Mitchell at 216-849-3841 to make arrangements to get in. Also, remember that no child should ever enter the building when there are no adults present. We pride ourselves in maintaining a safe school and appreciate your cooperation!

Financial Aid Applications Accepted Dec. 1 through Feb. 5
This year Ruffing will utilize the online service of Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) to process applications. FAST does not decide whether financial assistance will be given or how much to give; using information provided by the applicant, FAST provides a need-based financial aid analysis that includes a recommendation of what a family should reasonably contribute toward tuition. All information from FAST is kept confidential. Results are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee which makes awards based on financial aid funds available from the school’s 2010-11 operating budget.

As a reminder, you must reapply each year. To start the process, please do the following:

• Log onto the School’s website at www.ruffingmontessori.net.
• From the Admissions menu, select Financial Aid and click on the “FAST” button at the bottom of the page.
• The application process is self-guided. You may navigate in and out of the program allowing you to partially complete an application and go back to it at another time. Online email and a 24/7 helpline is provided. Please do not call the school with questions.
• The charge for the application is $34.00, payable by credit card at the end of the session. If you do not have a credit card, or cannot budget the fee, please call Debra Mitchell at Ruffing for assistance.
• After completing the online application you will be required to mail your tax returns for both state and federal taxes with all schedules and W-2’s to:

  FAST Processing
  ISM
  1316 North Union Street
  Wilmington DE 19806-2594
  

• Including the School’s name on the outside of the envelope will ensure faster processing of your application.

The online submission deadline for all applications is February 5, 2010. Your tax return must be mailed to FAST as quickly as possible following the online application process. FAST will not process your application until all required documentation is received. Make your tax appointment early!

Our goal is to have award determinations made by March 12. (Spring Break is March 15-26.) April 2 is the deadline to accept financial aid awards AND the deadline to submit re-enrollment contracts (for financial aid recipients only.)
While no financial aid procedure can be entirely equitable – there are simply too many individual factors and extenuating circumstances – this new process that has been selected should serve our school community well. Among its many features will be the ability to further secure your financial data, and maintain the high degree of confidentiality that past recipients most appreciated. For more information, please contact the Business Office.

December Trivia!
Last Month's Answer: prior to the construction of the gym, Ruffing classes would walk from Ruffing to the Heights Family YMCA on Lee Road for physical education classes (using both the pool and the gymnasium there).That space is now occupied by the CH-UH main library annex, which includes the new Dobama Theater. The winner, and recipient of a vintage Ruffing t-shirt, was parent Sarah Routh. There were about ten correct responses, but Sarah's was the first.

December Question: over the past 20 years, two Ruffing alumni - one male, class of 1988, and one female, class of 1996-have won state high school swimming championships. Both won their titles during their senior years (1992 and 2000, respectively). Name them.The first correct answer sent to Cary Seidman at carys@ruffingmontessori.net will win a 50th Anniversary Ruffing Logo T-shirt.

Season’s Greetings from the Parenting Toolbox Lecture Series!
We hope that each of you has a very joyous and special holiday season. We thought we would take a moment before winter break to remind you all of the exciting things coming in February on the parent education front at Ruffing. Raising Confident Kids in a Complex World with Certified Conscious Discipline Instructor and Loving Guidance Associate, Amy Speidel, will take place on February 17 and 24 at 7 pm in the Ruffing Middle School. This is a two-part talk aimed at giving parents strategic resources to help them parent their children in a conscious way. Look for more information when we return from break on this exciting series.

For those who are still interested, but just haven’t found the time to listen or review the notes, the podcast and summary notes for the Social Networking talk with Lisa Damour, PhD, can be found on the Parent Association website. Simply click on the following link pa.ruffingmontessori.net/Toolbox.cfm and you will find the podcast and summary notes there.

Finally, for those who might be interested in getting involved with the Parenting Toolbox Lecture Series committee, please contact Clare Ditchman at cmditchman@me.com. We will begin planning for the 2010-2011 series after winter break.

Middle School Geography Bee
Eighth grade student Kevin Griesser was the winner of the annual Middle School Geography Bee, sponsored by the National Geographic Society. He prevailed in a three player final round, which also included seventh grader Jessie Glenn and eighth grader Norbi Gratzl. As a school champion, Kevin will next take the state qualifying written test, and, if he scores among the 100 highest in Ohio he will be invited to take part in the state Geography Bee to be held in Mansfield in April.

Attention Middle School Runners!
Ruffing is exploring the formation of a cross-country team. Middle School students would compete in races of up to 2 miles (3200 meters) on trails, in the woods, over hills, through puddles and mud...anywhere there isn't pavement! We hope to begin practices in early August, with competition in the fall 2010.

We have two excellent parent volunteer coaches: Karen Johnson, mother of Gordon, Julia and Lucy, and Karl Norton, father of Maddie and Josie. Karen is well-known in the area running community, having run the Boston and New York Marathons, and recently won her half-marathon division in the Erie Marathon at Presque Isle. An experienced racer, she is also the co-director of the Virtual Runner program of the Epilepsy Association of Northeast Ohio. Karl, also a runner, is a teacher at Aurora High School with 13 years of coaching experience in cross-country and track and field at both middle school and varsity high school levels. He was the first coach of Aurora’s 7th and 8th grade cross-country program, beginning in 1996. He is eager to help build a new program here at Ruffing.

Any interested runner should contact Karen Johnson at 216-371-3592, or by email at pyshjohnson@earthlink.net. A full team requires at least 5 boys and 5 girls, but anyone who joins will compete. Once we have an idea of the level of interest, Karen and Karl will hold a meeting with all interested athletes and parents.

Winter Safety Tips
Even with the mild weather we've had (so far!), we want to share our annual winter safety tips. It won't be long before snow and ice are again part of our landscape. As always, our facilities services team continues to remove snow from the drive, clear sidewalks, and use Safe-Melt to reduce slip and fall hazards. But even when the most careful precautions are taken, icy conditions can be hazardous.

Because we are concerned for the safety and well-being of our entire school family, please remind your children about the importance of recognizing slippery walks and roadways and review the following suggestions with them.

• Wear boots or overshoes with rubber grip soles.
• Don't walk with your hands in your pockets. This reduces the ability to use your arms for balance if you do slip.
• Take short shuffling steps in very icy areas.
• Don't carry or swing heavy loads, such as large boxes, cases, or bags that may cause you to become off-balance.
• When walking, curl your toes under and walk as flat-footed as possible. Don't step on uneven surfaces. Avoid icy curbs.
• Place your full attention on walking. Digging in your pocketbook or backpack while walking on ice is dangerous.

AHA! Winter-Spring (2nd semester) flier is now online.
Please visit the Ruffing website to download a copy and register your child. If you registered this last fall and have not changed any contact info, you can bypass the paper registration and simply send an email request for your child(ren). julias@ruffingmontessori.net

Julia Sheehan, Director, AHA! & SRI

Parent Association
It's hard to believe that we are mid-way through the school year. We have shifted from sandals to snow boots, from shorts to sweaters, from idle curiosity to deep concentration. And along that path, our teachers have been there, helping our children maneuver the Montessori Journey on which each of our children have embarked. I know that I, for one, love seeing my children be "more Montessori" at home, and I am always amazed when I contemplate how they might be different under a different set of circumstances. As parents, we do what we can for our children, providing them the best that we can offer, and I get great comfort knowing that my children are becoming better people than they could become if all their "personal" learning came from just family.

But it is not just from the teachers and administration that our children learn to be citizens of the world; it is the community of parents as well - the whole Ruffing experience - that helps shapes them. Seeing parents around town - at the Book Fair at Joseph Beth Booksellers on Sunday, December 6, at Sandpaper Letters' Open Mic Night at Ruffing; or at countless other locations - and knowing how much each person cares about the school and is willing to give of their time, money, and efforts, is a special lesson I love to offer to my children. And now, without further ado, here is the list of all those people who have volunteered thus far. If your name is missing, please contact Doug Fleck to make sure your efforts are recognized, for we do appreciate all your efforts, and know that it is nice to be appreciated!

For those of you who supported the Book Fair on December 6th, you will be happy to learn that we raised $2,152.90 for the school, and parents contributed nearly $900 worth of In-Kind gifts for the Teacher Wish List items. Gordon's pajama-and-slipper-clad reading of 'Polar Express' and 'The Mitten', with pajama-clad youngsters huddled around him, was a precious sight, and something I know those youngsters won't soon forget.

Book Fair Chairperson extraordinaire Kari Greenfield asked me to pass on this message: "I offer my sincere thanks to the Middle School students and parent volunteers who staffed the children’s reading room so parents could shop, supervised the teacher wish list table, staffed the gift wrap area, and brought Franklin the Turtle to life at our Joseph-Beth book fair."

For those of you who haven't completed all your holiday shopping, if you would like to help the school while you shop, consider Montessori materials at forsmallhands.com and using school code 117893 at checkout. Or, as a reminder, register your Target credit card or Heinens rewards card to benefit Ruffing, and keep collecting those Box Tops! And be sure to support your fellow Ruffing parents by supporting their businesses (I'd love to list these businesses on the PA website, so if you'd like to be listed, contact me).

Finally, don't forget that when we return to school in January, the Ruffing PA will be hosting a Teacher/Staff/Faculty Appreciation Luncheon in the conference room, and we could certainly use your culinary contributions. If you are interested in helping (dropping off food, setting up, cleaning up), contact Doug Fleck at doug.fleck@gmail.com (or wait for his reminder email and respond to that). We've got a busy 2010 ahead - with Holi Ruffing! in March, Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Day and the Great Kids Race in May, and the Faculty Appreciation Dinner at the end of the school year. If you are interested in helping with any of these events, including potentially hosting the dinner at your home (we will rent tables, chairs, linens and come up with the food), please contact Doug Fleck

Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Nivi Engineer, PA President
niviengineer@gmail.com

Wintergreen Challenge
Ruffing Montessori School is partnering with the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes in the Wintergreen Challenge - an individual, group or family oriented three month-long friendly challenge opportunity, designed to encourage us all to live more sustainably. The Challenge will kick off at Ruffing on Tuesday, January 12, with two presentations to the students – one for the Children’s House and Lower Elementary classes, and another for the Upper Elementary and Middle School. The official launch will take place with an exciting event at the Nature Center on Friday, January 15, and the Challenge will culminate there on Saturday, April 24.

Each level, from the Toddler Community through the Middle School will engage in activities appropriate to their respective age-levels. All of the activities will be designed to support and build upon our existing green curriculum and to further our students’ awareness of and commitment to sustainable living practices. We are evaluating the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools certification program. We plan to engage in a clean-up of Horseshoe Lake and the Doan Brook between Eaton and Lee as a part of our Earth Day celebration.

In addition to the many activities in which our students will be engaged, our families are encouraged to attend the Nature Center’s kickoff event on January 15, and to participate in any of the many wonderful workshops and activities that will be offered throughout the Challenge at the Nature Center. For additional information, click here, or contact the Nature Center at 216-321-5935.

News from the Art Room
We are halfway through the school year, with winter break only a couple of days away, and the art room has been bustling with creative activity. We began the year with Art to Remember, a fundraiser for the school. Thank you to all the children for creating such fabulous art and to the families who participated!

The students are currently working on my different projects. The Children’s House students have just completed a project called Shape Creatures, in which the students were introduced to Joan Miro and geometric and organic shapes. Beginning in January, you may hear the phrase “When is a Hippo not a hippo?”, if you asked your child about art. The answer is when it is a sculpture. The students will be introduced to sculpture through the study of Ancient Egyptian art and create their own Hippo sculpture with clay.

The first grade students have completed crayon etchings of animals based on the work of John Audubon, a naturalist. They will also begin a unit on sculpture when we return from break, and specifically focus on paper sculpture and ceramic sculpture.

The second grade students are currently working on paper leaf quilts. We began the project by collecting leaves from around Ruffing and discussing American quilts. We discussed how quilts are both functional and aesthetic, and how the designs of the quilts were often influenced by the environment and culture of the artist.

The third grade students have been studying the contemporary work of Australian Aboriginal artists and have begun creating bark paintings. We have engaged in lively discussion about how Aboriginals create Dream Paintings, used to communicate to future generations about how to survive in Australia, as well as stories relating the rich cultural history of the Aborigines, one of the oldest cultures in the world.

The fourth grade students are working on Cubist still life projects. They began the project by discussing three of Pablo Picasso’s still life paintings. They were asked to draw one object from direct observation in three views. They then took all three views and cut and pasted them together to create a single object.

Fifth graders are completing a printmaking project. They began the assignment by illustrating a Japanese haiku. They then transferred their drawing to a foam printmaking plate.

After discussing the work of Paul Gauguin, the sixth graders have begun an exotic landscape painting.

The seventh graders are working on wire sculpture and gesture drawing. The students began the project by first learning a gesture drawing or a quick drawing done to show movement. They will then create a wire sculpture from their drawings.

Eighth graders are working on personal still life drawings. The students were asked to bring in at least five objects from home that they felt communicated something about themselves. They were then asked to draw the objects from observation.

The students have done excellent work this year and I look forward to see what they will accomplish after the break. Just a reminder Ruffing has an art show in May, so all of the students’ major projects are saved for display purposes until after the art show.

Erika Anderson