River Jr./Sr. High Development Updates

“Life in the open air, in the sunshine, and a diet high in nutritional content coming from the produce of neighbouring fields improve the physical health, while the calm surroundings, the silence, the wonders of nature satisfy the need of the adolescent mind for reflection and meditation…Productive work and a wage that gives economic independence, or rather constitutes a first real attempt to achieve economic independence, could be made with advantage a general principle of social education for adolescents and young people."
                                                           ~Dr. Maria Montesssori (From Childhood to Adolescence)

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Updates:

• The Charter Renewal has been submitted to the Board of Directors at our authorizer Old Adobe Union School District (OAUSD). Our renewal hearing takes place at Sonoma Mountain Elementary School on December 6, 2018 at 6:15 PM.   Please plan on coming to show your support of our programs.
  
• One week subsequent to the hearing, the OAUSD Board of Directors will vote on our charter renewal on December 13, 2018. Place and time for this important vote is to be determined, and we will announce these details as soon as OAUSD communicates them. Please plan to attend to hear the results of the vote!
  
• Continued website enhancements. You will find FAQs, Testimonials, Videos, Articles, and more on our website under the “Programs” tab.
• RMCS parent Anita Pebbles has created the first of a series of videos highlighting our students, guides, parents and other community members. Look for it on our website. She and parent Allan Cecil are collaborating to continue creating these videos which may be utilized on our hearing, and as marketing tools for both RMCS and our Adolescent Program.
• We’re detailing the next stages of work to include two revisions to our charter once renewal is  approved; These revisions will address our adolescent program and a facilities needs assessment. Other stages will include the development of marketing and outreach plans, funding campaigns, and forming civic and higher education partnerships. Be sure to contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you would like to engage with us in any of this exciting and important work!
  

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How You Can Help:

• Attend the Hearing   Be sure to attend the RMCS hearing at the OAUSD Board Meeting at Sonoma Mountain Elementary School  at 6:15 PM on December 6, 2018.
  
• Write a Testimonial  Tell OAUSD and others why you want Montessori for your children, why you love RMCS, why you believe Petaluma needs a Montessori Jr. and Sr. High. This needn’t be perfectly written nor lengthy. Speak from your heart and support this effort. Email to: [email protected].
  
• Talk about Montessori  Talk to your friends, and coworkers about RMCS, invite them to our meetings, let us know if you know someone in the business, civic, and educational worlds
  

            Here is how you can learn how others talk about Montessori: check out these “Elevator Speeches” and develop
            your own response to the question: “Why Montessori?”
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De2QaqE4yO4
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzcUqDtO2yk
            https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=og3tamROnMY

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Please enjoy...another testimonial:
 
To Whom It May Concern,

A couple of years ago I had the daunting task (as many do) in finding a school that would be the right fit for both my sons. At the time my oldest was ready to attend Kindergarten. I went ahead and choose our nearby public school; not only for convenience, but its excellent test scores.  In his kindergarten year there was quite a bit of struggle. My son did not want to go, and each day it seemed to be far a different reason. Many of his issues were related to social encounters. He became very angry and would lash-out in different ways. Other times he said he was so bored and did not want to sit in class. I tried to make the homework more fun at home to get him through it, but he despised it all.  At this point I decided to look outside traditional public school.

A friend told me about River Montessori Charter School so I started doing some research on how Montessori was different.  Years ago, I was told by a teacher (non-Montessori) that Montessori teachings taught children subjects in a way that would be more interesting to the child, but lacked organization and structure, plus was extremely expensive.  After going to a few orientations of new school options, I choose River Montessori Charter School. Still knowing little about Montessori education, I choose this school because I loved the idea of each child excelling at their own pace, being able to move around, and learning independence while teaching each student peace and respect toward others.  

My son has now been attending RMCS for only two months in 1st grade.  He LOVES going to school every day. When an issue arises with another child, he goes to the “Peace table” and talks it through with them.  He is even using those social skills with his family at home. This has made him a better communicator and my tolerant with others. He now said he loves math.  Just last Sunday he asked me for a piece of paper, when I looked at it later it was a bunch of math problems with his answers. My son now does math problems for FUN! He was reading the other night and it shocked him that he knew so many words.  He said they were just coming out of his mouth. Other RMCS parents say that they cannot get their child to put the books down at home, which is what I want for both of my children. I want them to have a love and joy of learning and know that the sky's the limit.  I know they will get that at RMCS.

RMCS also helps the parents learn about the history of the Montessori Method and why their system works so well. The more I learn, the more I am absolutely blown away by the research involved in perfecting this way of education.  I feel confident my children will get the absolute best education, plus so much more, by attending RMCS.  As far as someone telling me that Montessori school is unorganized and unstructured, well that is far from the truth.  It may not look like it but the teachers have more control and organization then most others in their profession. In fact, because they take time to observe each student, the teachers know each one of their students so well and are able to guide them to their fullest potential. I look forward to seeing both my boys become more self-confident and enthusiastic about learning in the coming years.  It is my hope that they can continue their education past 6th year in the same loving and empowering environment that they will have become used to at RMCS’ Jr. and Sr. High.

Respectfully,
Heidi (parent of a lower-elementary student)