Parties
Parties (birthdays, feast day, you name it) are welcome at school.  However, please give prior notice so as not to
conflict with other occasions.  Children may bring cupcakes, dried fruit, raisins, cookies, etc.  Photographs, baby
books and other paraphernalia depicting your child's growth are welcome.  If your child does not have a Birthday
during the school year, he/she may celebrate an UN-birthday.  The staff does not mind taking pictures for you.  
Please bring simple, easy to operate cameras.  If your child would like to give a special gift to the class for a present
on his/her birthday, we will keep it in our library with the dedication from your child.  Please refrain from handing
out birthday invitations at school.  These must be mailed.  Refer to your class list for addresses.

Celebrations
Celebrations at Camas Montessori School may include Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day,
Easter, Mother's Day, Kindergarten graduation and the last day of school.  Each teacher will choose their own way
of celebrating these holidays.

Open House
Open house for parents of Montessori students will be held once each year, usually in late winter.  This is the
chance for your child to show you the actual work he/she is doing.  This is held in the evenings, and we
encourage parents to plan on being a part of their child's learning in this way.

Parent Conferences
The rapport a teacher has between herself and the parents of her students is extremely important.  Remember, to
them you are their translator of environment and monitor for the child's physical, emotional and social growth and
well being.  Please always try to put yourself in the teacher's position when trying to respond to a situation.  Twice
a year the staff sets aside time to discuss with parents the social, academic and emotional growth and well being
of their students.  The first parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for October.  These are fifteen minute oral
conferences.  The second conference in March is a written assessment of your child's achievements during the
school year.  These are thirty minutes long.  Children do not attend school on these days.

Other Communication
In addition to these two scheduled conference periods, the teachers and parents are encouraged to contact one
another whenever the situation calls for it.  Our school encourages communication between parents and staff.  If
the parent feels it necessary to talk to the teacher, a staff person may pass the message along to the teacher so a
time can be arranged.  If a parent feels it necessary to talk immediately to the teacher or staff person and school is
in session, please wait patiently outside the classroom until the teacher invites you in.  The working atmosphere of
the classroom is to be protected from unscheduled visitors, strangers, loud discussions and discussions involving
the children.  Please arrange a time that is appropriate for discussing your child.  Parents are encouraged to
observe their child anytime.  
Observation rules must be met:
1.  Enter the room quietly and sit in a designated chair.
2.  Try not to interact with your child or others in a way that disturbs the working atmosphere of the classroom.
3.  Keep your voices low.
4.  Do not walk around the room, following your child.  Stay seated and only move if a better view is needed.
The school would like to encourage parents to take advantage of observation times.  Ordinarily, a class requires six
to eight weeks to settle in.  For this reason, the school asks that observations begin in November.

Monthly newsletters are published to keep everyone informed of upcoming events, board news, fundraising and
volunteer opportunities, what's been happening in your child's classroom and informative articles regarding
children and Montessori philosophy.  
Camas Montessori School
Parent Handbook - Section II