Ann’s Message – Welcome Back to a New School Year
July 24, 2015
July 24, 2015
Dear MSLF Families,
Something very special is going on here at the Montessori School of Lake Forest.
You can see it in our youngest students as well as our alumni. This summer, a record number of alumni work here as summer helpers alongside current students of all ages. This summer children are engaged in activities both inside and outside the classroom, from swimming and hiking, nature study and making s’mores, to reading, math and studying countries like Tanzania, India, Canada, and Germany. Their alumni helpers show their Montessori roots as they take everything in stride with optimism, good problem solving skills, and humor. And from youngest to oldest, students and alumni share the same traits of common sense, capability, and high spirits. If you want to know how adaptable and successful your children will be, come see for yourself!
As you can tell, Summer Splash is progressing splendidly, and the 2015-2016 school year is already off to a wonderful start. I’m eager to tell you about it. Throughout this year you’ll have plenty of chances to hear from Alumni . We’ll host them for a panel discussion and plenty of other related events.
- Outdoor Education is taking off! Younger children experience garden-to-table work which dovetails with the Adolescent students’ work on the Prairie Crossing Learning Farm. And students at both campuses will learn outdoor skills in the nature preserve areas of each campus. (MSLF is a good steward: the Laurel Drive Campus is certified by the National Wildlife Federation and is being vetted by Conserve Lake County, which has already certified our Blue House land!)
- Upper Elementary students will benefit from lessons with Adolescent Program faculty to learn Latin and ancient history, Spanish language and culture, art, physics, biology, childcare, architectural studies, and the history and practice of bread baking. Their class will also present a school play!
- Lower Elementary will function as a unit, collaborating on math, language, and research projects, solving school problems, planning events such as “lunch around the world” and enjoying recess and PE. Students will also visit Upper Elementary for extra lessons, and Adolescent Program teachers will offer special lessons.
- Elementary After School Club will be hosted by Jeff Daube, who has trained as an artist and at the Elementary level at Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, taught at Nature’s Classroom Institute and Montessori School and other schools, and is a partner in a kayaking company. Daube offers many skills and Elementary children will find that he will know how to help them get cool things done.
- Primary and Elementary Breakfast Club will meet in the Elementary Club Room with Adolescent Program teacher Danna Victor, who has wide experience with young children. This program is piloting now and it works well. In addition to breakfast, Clubbers will enjoy Ms. Victor’s sense of humor, her curiosity, and her desire to teach math and physics to everyone!
- Primary classes are filling up and we have a wait pool for our Toddler community!
- Children aren’t the only ones who get to learn at the Montessori School of Lake Forest! Parents will benefit from the Parent Education series and exciting range of workshops and activities. And as we enter our 49 th year (!!!), Parent Volunteer opportunities abound with variety and fun.
There is so much more to tell you, but I’ll wait to do that in person. Welcome back to another wonderful year at the Montessori School of Lake Forest. I can’t wait to see you!
Best Wishes,
Ann Jordahl
Executive Director
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Dear MSLF Community, After over 20 years of teaching Lower Elementary students at MSLF, Kathryn Jasinski has shared her plans to retire from teaching at the end of the current school year. There is no doubt about the impact Miss Jasinski has had on our school community during her long tenure here. Kathryn has been well known for her dedication to her students, to developing the whole child, and for her passion for Montessori education, always staying true to the core tenets of Montessori philosophy. Her legacy at MSLF will certainly live on in each of the students who have been lucky enough to have been in her class and in the many words of wisdom she has shared with her fellow colleagues, past and present. No doubt each one of her current or former students who receives a note from her in the mail instantly recognizes her perfect cursive writing and the thoughtful note inside. Kathryn’s care of her students extends well beyond their time in her classroom as she has kept in touch with dozens of her former students and has even welcomed some back to work alongside her as assistants. She has been a mentor to many, imparting her years of expertise on all those who have had the privilege of working with her. While we are sad to see her go, we know that she will enjoy her well-earned retirement, and we look forward to celebrating Kathryn’s legacy more this year. MSLF is pleased to announce that Laura Earls will be the new Lower Elementary lead teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Laura has been co-teaching in our Upper Elementary classroom since the beginning of the current school year. Laura Earls joined the MSLF team from Higher Ground Education where she was Regional Program Lead, working to elevate program quality in all Guidepost Montessori schools across the Chicago area. It was during this work that she realized how much she missed working directly with children in the Montessori classroom and decided to return to teaching. Laura received her BA in art history from the University of Dallas and completed graduate work at the University of Notre Dame. Soon after, Laura shifted her career to education and earned her AMI Elementary Montessori Certification (6-12 years old) at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee. She then taught in an Elementary classroom at Forest Bluff School, and her classroom was profiled in Paula Polk Lillard’s book, Montessori Today. After moving to Wisconsin to raise her three children, Laura received her AMI Primary Montessori Certification (3-6 years old) at the Midwest Montessori Institute. After that, she worked as a Primary Directress and Director of Admissions at a Montessori school in Wisconsin, as Head of School of Forest Bluff School, and as Senior Head of School at Guidepost Montessori. Laura has three grown children who all experienced Montessori education themselves and are thriving in college and beyond. Laura has lived and studied in both Paris and Rome and is an accomplished pianist. Laura is excited to make the transition to the Lower Elementary classroom and looks forward to working closely with current and new Lower Elementary families next year. She also looks forward to meeting families in the Lower Elementary classroom during the Open House on February 5. With Laura transitioning to the Lower Elementary classroom following the current school year, MSLF will be conducting a search for a new co-teacher to work alongside Debbie Lincoln in the Upper Elementary classroom for the 2025-26 school year. We are thankful to Laura for all the support she has offered the Upper Elementary community this year. Please join me in wishing Kathryn a peaceful and fulfilling retirement and in welcoming Laura to the Lower Elementary community. Sincerely, Hope Allegretti Head of School - Executive Director Montessori School of Lake Forest
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13700 West Laurel Drive
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045