Tag: 2023-24

A Book Club for Grownups…

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We are starting a book club! Purchase the book The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori and read each section before the scheduled date. Join us for a casual gathering as we discuss the book. No experience necessary. Grownups and Howe staff welcome!

Find a copy of the book:

First Meeting:
Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 8PM – 9:30PM
Discussing Part 1: Chapters 1-4

Location:
The Great Commoner
22001 Michigan Ave Suite 100
Dearborn MI

January Howe Happenings

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January Events:

Popcorn Friday – January 12th (send students to school with $1)

Howe PTA meeting – January 18th 6PM on ZOOM

No School – January 15th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Grade Level Spelling Bee 3rd – 5th grade – January 24th

Parent Partnership Meeting – January 29th 3:00-4:00

Book Club – January 31st 8-9:30PM at the Great Commoner

PTA Meeting Agenda

This month we will be discussing High Tech – High Touch and Literacy Month. Have something to contribute? We’d love to see you on the call!

Volunteer Opportunities

We need people to sign up for the PTA Bulletin Board (Dates still needed: March, April and May) and Popcorn Fridays (Dates still needed: Feb, March, April and May). Click the links below to access the Signup Genius.

PTA Bulletin Board
Popcorn Friday

BoxTops Mailbox – we are looking for a mildly handy individual to help repurpose the BoxTop Mailbox into a school-wide mailbox for all the students. Can you (or someone you know) lend us a hand? Email the PTA at howe.schoolpta@yahoo.com

Montessori Moment

Term to ponder – practical life skills

Practical life activities are applicable for all ages. They include self-care and care of the environment. They range from brushing their hair and making toast to something as complicated as making dessert, doing yard work or even developing a resume and making a business plan in the elementary or middle school years. Practicing these skills at home will foster confident, self-sufficient adults ready to tackle life’s bigger challenges.

From Maria Montessori herself…

“Repetition is the secret to perfection, and this is why the exercises are connected with the common activities of daily life. If a child does not set a table for a group of people who are really going to eat, if he does not have real brushes for cleaning, and real carpets to sweep whenever they are used, if he does not himself have to wash and dry dishes and glasses he will never attain any real ability. And if he does not live a social life based on proper education. He will never attain that graceful naturalness which is so attractive in our children. ”
The Discovery of the Child

Meet the Howe Team! – Phillips

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Each month we are highlighting professionals around the building and sharing what they do and a little about who they are. Read the post to learn more about Rosie Phillips! We are grateful to have resources in our school to support our little ones needs socially and emotionally. If you see Rosie, introduce yourself, say thank you and help make Howe a warm and inviting place to be.

Rosie Phillips

Rosie's school picture from 2022
School picture of Rosie Phillips, 2022.

Job Title: School Social Worker

Description of what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less: 

I work with the staff and students to help support them socially and emotionally. I service both the Montessori and the Special Education students in the building.

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have? 

This is my very first year at Howe and in the Dearborn Public Schools. Previously I worked as a school social worker for two years in a charter school. Prior to that I worked as a caseworker at an adoption agency for three years. 

Share with us a few of your favorite things… 

I enjoy reading (especially in the summer when I can do it in my hammock), spending time with my husband and cats, and traveling, baking, and being outdoors (usually in my garden or on a trail walk.)

What is your classroom like? 

My room is known as a calming and relaxing space, at least that is what those who stop by say. I keep string lights up and am not a fan of the overhead lighting and have plenty of games and activities to use with students!

Philips Family with their Cats, Cosmo and Marigold

Name something you look forward to each day you walk into Howe? Name something you look forward to the second you step into your home?  

Each day I look forward to seeing the students in the morning. It truly is my favorite way to start the day. I enjoy seeing them and getting them excited for their day ahead! At the end of each day I always look forward to my two cats greeting me at the front door the second I get home.

Phillips Family with cats Cosmo and Marigold

What’s the day-to-day of your role like? 

My day to day is always different– that is the life of a social worker! I always like to start my day greeting the students when they arrive, letting them in the building, then I make my rounds to different classrooms to do morning check-ins with students. The rest of the day varies with meetings, seeing students, finding new things to do with students, etc. I always enjoy that no day is the same and I love the outlook that every day is a new day!

This is me on my honeymoon when my husband and I hiked at Acadia National Park.
Rosie on her honeymoon with husband during hiked at Acadia National Park.

Reminder – No PTA Meeting this Month

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Enjoy a little Holiday break! No meeting this month. Here are some dates to remember for the future…

2024 Meeting:

  • We meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month.
  • Half in person; half virtual.
    • 1/18 – 6PM – On ZOOM
    • 2/15 – 4PM – In Person – school cafeteria 
    • 3/21 – 6PM – On ZOOM
    • 4/18 – 4PM – In Person – school cafeteria
    • 5/16 – 6PM – On ZOOM

*Dates are also posted on the blog on our Calendar page.

Meet the Howe Team! – Adams, Gail and Sisoy

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This round we are featuring a special group of ladies who all work in the same classroom. They refer to themselves as the Adams & Company. What an amazing group of ladies dedicated to our students for such a long time! Show them kindness with a thoughtful word of encouragement or pop your head into their classroom to wave hello! Read more about them here…

Full Name: 

Kathleen Adams   Gail Sosnitza   Leslie Sisoy

Job Title:  The Education Team for Room 107

Description of what you do for Dearborn Schools in 3 sentences or less: 

Mrs Adams is the teacher and Ms. Gail and Ms. Sisoy are the para educators 

What Elementary School did you attend? 

Mrs. Adams went to Perrinville in Livonia. 

Ms. Gail went to Madison in Dearborn Heights.  

Ms. Sisoy went to elementary school in Detroit.

How long have you been at Howe and how many years of professional work experience do you have? 

Mrs. Adams has worked for DPS for 35 years.

Ms. Gail for 25 years.  

Ms. Sisoy for 25 years.  

We have worked together as Adams & Company for over 22 years.  Most of our time was spent at Snow School until we moved here. We absolutely love our new school.

What is your greatest achievement? 

We all agree that our greatest achievement is our families.  

What is your classroom like? Our classroom is warm and nurturing.  Everyone is welcome in our classroom.  

We expect great things from our children and they never disappoint!  They work so hard in school to be the very best they can be.

What’s the day-to-day of your role like? 

Room 107 is a busy place.  We work on independent living skills, like eating, dressing, using the bathroom, walking, and communicating.  These skills are practiced throughout the day while working on academics.  We have language arts and math everyday and alternate monthly between science and social studies.