Welcome to the Head of School's Letter
Joanna DeStefanis
I believe that communication is vital to the success of every organization. ASM is no exception! I write to our families frequently to inform them on a variety of topics that I consider important. These letters will give you a glimpse of who we are as a school community, what I value as a school leader, and the direction in which ASM is headed.
As most of you know, I very much look forward to our Science Fair every year. I recognize and appreciate the tremendous amount of work that goes into each project. From selecting the topic, to testing hypotheses, documenting and presenting, there are many steps along the way. Setbacks and challenges are sure to occur and […]
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The halls at ASM are brimming with excitement and anticipation! After many weeks of hard work, our students are eager to share the results of their science fair projects with you! Throughout this endeavor, students acquire a myriad of sophisticated skills beginning with managing their time over the course of several weeks. They conduct research […]
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March is Science Fair time! The Science Fair is an integral component of our curriculum for elementary and middle school students and optional for first years. Science Fair promotes inquiry-based learning through the use of hands-on projects which are natural to our Montessori environment. Next Thursday, students will be setting up their projects with great anticipation! Students […]
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One of my favorite pastimes as a child was visiting the public library with my mom, brothers and sister. I treasured the time I spent pouring through books and selecting the precious few to take home. When my children were young, I continued this tradition, and we spent countless hours reading together. I am delighted […]
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Last week, I had the pleasure of observing the final session of our next-level collaborative projects. Over the past four weeks, our kindergarteners have worked alongside our first and second years to learn about the scientific method by observing parts of nature with the human eye, a magnifying glass and through the powerful lens of […]
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We are passionate about the education we provide at ASM and we know you are too! Parents of Montessori students value a holistic view of education that provides real world skills in every program from Children’s House to Middle School. The Montessori philosophy encompasses so much more than reading, writing and arithmetic. Many aspects of […]
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Interdisciplinary projects are a natural component of an ASM education. When students are able to make connections between different subject areas, they develop a broad and deep understanding of how the world is interconnected. Their approach to problem solving becomes more effective because they learn that multiple perspectives can inform their point of view. Interdisciplinary learning provides […]
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Re-enrollment season is upon us and at ASM, we understand your children’s concerns as they move from grade-to-grade and program-to-program. We are intentional in our effort to introduce your child to their new environment and do so in a variety of ways. Next-level collaborative projects, all-day visits and field trips with future classmates are planned […]
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On Thursday, February 3, Middle School and 6th year students became genetic researchers for the day! ASM students made a trip to the Biogen Community Lab where they engaged in a hands-on laboratory, Chances Are, studying sickle cell anemia. They were introduced to genetics and the relationship between DNA and proteins. The goal of our genetic researchers was to find out the chances […]
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ASM is hosting its fourth American Red Cross Blood Drive today from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in the American Room. I am delighted that ASM is able to assist the Red Cross in its efforts to save lives. Hosting a blood drive is supportive of our mission, philosophy and sense of who we are as a community. […]
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