WHEN "THE END" IS JUST THE BEGINNING

Reading The Hundred Dresses wasn’t enough for the girls at Countryside Montessori School. After completing the story, the girls analyzed the story by identifying the theme, plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist, conflict, climax and resolution. Had they had enough then? NO!

They next decided to scour the text for all the information that helped them to learn about the characters. They then took that information and created representations of what each of the girls imagined the characters looked like. Job well done.

But wait… Mrs. Calise, their teacher, mentioned to the girls that a play based on the book was showing at The Royal George Theater. So the girls organized a trip down to see the show last Friday. They used the Internet to find out the times and ticket prices, found some parents willing to accompany them to the show, got driving directions, explored parking options, and off they went.

They are finally satisfied. But, who knows where the next book will lead.

Published in TribLocal

Elementary Overnight

Elementary class (1 - 6 graders) at Countryside Montessori School enjoys their annual school overnight. The overnight starts on Thursday afternoon and continues until Friday afternoon. The kids play together, have pizza, sleep in the gymnasium, and then walk to the Village Green Park. Countryside believes that a school is only as strong as its sense of community. The overnight is offered so that the first grade children joining elementary get to know and be more comfortable with those who have already been in the class. Further fostering a sense of community is the responsibility of the older children. They rode school bicycles to Sunset Foods to buy the fixings for a sack lunch to bring along to the park. They also set up a sandwich making station and supervised the younger children as all 47 of them made a lunch to take on the road.

Posted on TribLocal.com

GRADUATION AND AWARDS ASSEMBLY AT COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL IN NORTHBROOK

At the 42nd commencement ceremony at Countryside Montessori School on June 10th, Elizabeth Shank, Jackie Cortopassi, Austin Doughty, Riley Delaney and Alex Alwan, received certificates attesting to their successful complettion of the Montessori elementary program.

Also honored at the ceremony, were Corianna Jensen, who received the Eleanor Jordan award given to the student making the most progress in physical education, and Alena Alwan, who received the Petrea Coelho award for sportsmanship.

Internationally Renowned Conductor Honors Countryside Montessori Elementary Students

Students present funds raised for Venezuelan Music Program, El Sistema

NORTHBROOK, Illinois - April 2009 - The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela conducted by renowned Maestro Dudamel ended it's U.S. Tour with a sold out concert at Chicago's Symphony Center and surprise award ceremony for Countryside Montessori students. Elementary children from Countryside Montessori had attended the night-before open rehearsal, in the hopes that they would have the opportunity to present someone in the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra organization with funds they had raised to support El Sistema, a Venezuelan music-education program.

Unforgettable Experience
Following the open rehearsal, after the crowd of fans had dispersed, the students approached the stage to tell of the funds they had raised. They then had the opportunity to present their donation to both Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu (founder of El Sistema) and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel (a product of El Sistema and world renowned conductor). Touched by such generous and unexpected consideration of the El Sistema organization, Dr. Abreu invited the students back to Symphony Center the following day where they were individually honored by Dr. Abreu, Mo. Dudamel and Jesus Rodrigues, Consul General of Venezuela and invited to attend the sold-out evening performance of the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.

Dr. Abreu, founder of El Sistema, praised the students contribution as "this is a sample of the great thing which is the United States and of how to achieve the objectives of music in the children. For that reason we invite, the students to Venezuela, where they will be received with honors."

Inspired to Help Others
The Countryside elementary students were inspired to support the El Sistema program in Venezuela after watching an informative episode aired on CBS 60 Minutes. Learning that the core idea of El Sistema consists of the formation of community-based youth orchestras by providing free instruments and tuition to children living in dangerous, poverty-stricken areas and children with disabilities, Countryside students wanted to reach out and help those children by raising money to buy instruments for them.

Starting in 2008, through a series of student planned and organized bake sales, pancake breakfasts, and school movie nights, to date, they have raised $2,512.

The story does not end here, however. A family in Caracas, Venezuela saw a story about Countryside Montessori's donation in their local Venezuelan newspaper, and immediately recognized the name of the school - both of their children had attended Countryside when the family lived in the Chicago area. This family has offered additional help for the Countryside students' efforts.

What began as a heartfelt fundraising for children thousands of miles away has brought the Countryside Montessori students closer than they ever thought they would be to this organization they sought to help. The final chapter of this story is perhaps yet to be written.

About El Sistema
El Sistema is a publicly financed voluntary sector music-education program in Venezuela, originally called Social Action for Music. In 1975, Venezuelan economist and amateur musician Jose Antonio Abreu founded Social Action for Music and became its director. He received the National Music Prize for this work in 1979.

The purpose of El Sistema is to use music for the protection of childhood through training, rehabilitation and prevention of criminal behavior. The program is known for rescuing young people in extremely impoverished circumstances from the environment of drug abuse and crime into which they would likely otherwise be drawn.

About Countryside Montessori School
Founded in 1967, Countryside Montessori (Northbrook, Illinois) has been teaching children 16 months old through 6th grade respect, responsibility and resourcefulness. Countryside's elementary curriculum includes traditional course selections designed to spark the child's imagination with awe and wonder and inspire him to learn more.

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Countryside Montessori Makes International News

El Nacional (Venezuelan Newspaper article) Analitica (Venezuelan Newspaper article)

More about El Sistema and Gustavo Dudamel

Official Site - El Sistema MAESTRO DUDAMEL, VENEZUELAN SOFT POWER AND LESSONS FOR AMERICA Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, The Economist (Jan 15th 2009)