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Mill Falls News
December 8, 2017
IN THIS ISSUE

Ongoing: 
  • Winter Coat Drive
  • Food Drive for the MFCS Food Pantry

12/11
Lower Elementary Chorus
3-4pm

12/12
Upper Elementary Chorus
3-4pm

12/13
Early Release at 11:15am

12/14
Arts & Crafts Club
3-4:15pm

12/15
Read-In: Denali & Olympic
8:15-8:45am

12/18
Lower Elementary Chorus
3-4pm

12/19
Lower & Upper Elementary Chorus FIELD TRIP!
3-4:15/4:30pm

12/22
Early Release at 11:15am

Please click here for our online Google calendar.


Proud moment by Denali friends, after completing the
Puzzle Map of Africa.
CORPORATE SPONSORS

We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing contributions from the following corporate partners: 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is Near...
Nearly all of the leaves have now fallen, and so we know winter's true arrival must just around the corner. With that, a few important reminders...

Weather-Related Closings & Delays:
In the event of a weather-related closing or delay, we will post information on WMUR. You can see that on the TV or online at
  wmur.com/weather/closings . You can also download the app on your phone or tablet. Generally, we follow the Manchester School District's weather-related decisions because so many of
our students depend on busing to get to and from school. In the unusual event that weather conditions require that we close or delay, even if Manchester has not decided   to, we will send out an all-school alert via ALMA. You can check your alert settings by logging in to ALMA (it can send a text and/or automated call).

Dressing for Winter:  As the cold weather approaches, we remind you to send your children to school with appropriate clothing. Coats, boots, gloves, and hats are key to enjoying recess and outdoor fitness time safely. The children and staff go out every day unless the 'feels like' temperature is below 20 degrees or there is rain or snow.   

Winter Illnesses: Flu and cold season is already upon us, even though the real weather of the season has not begun. Please remind your children to   wash their hands regularly, cover their mouths when coughing/noses when sneezing, and there is no sharing of chapstick (yes, we see that here sometimes),   and we will do that same!  

Please DO NOT send your child to school if he/she has:
  • Fever of 100.3 or greater (Temperature should be normal for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Please keep in mind that often times temperatures are lower in the morning but rise in the afternoon)
  • Vomiting within the past 24 hours
  • Diarrhea within the past 8 hours 
  • Rash not previously diagnosed by your child's doctor and determined not to be contagious
  • Severe cold or cough 
  • Conjunctivitis with drainage from the eye (child may return after 24 hrs. of antibiotic treatment) 
  • Impetigo (may return after 24 hrs. of antibiotics) 
  • Strep throat (may return after 24 hrs. of antibiotics) 
  • Any acute illness that does not allow them to fully participate in school activities
If symptoms persist or are severe you should check with your child's health care provider. 

Please remember to let us know if your child is sick by calling or emailing the front office and your child's teacher. 
Thank you! 
Two Early Release Dates in December!

December 13th:
Teacher Professional Development Afternoon

Dismissal: All students will be dismissed at 11:15am. 

Need childcare? Please contact Susanne to reserve your spot. 


Luncheon for Our Teachers...Want to Share a Dish?  MFCS Parent, Hind Bashir, is once again leading the Parent Hospitality Committee and has organized a Staff Luncheon for the December 13th Early Release Day . If you'd like to send in a yummy dish or treat, please click here to find out more about the menu she has organized. Thank you!

* * *


December 22nd: 
School Closes at 11:15am for the start of the December Vacation!

Please note, there will be no Child Care Programming the day other than BeforeCare.


After School Clubs

Rolling  Out the MFCS Lower Elementary Drama Club:
 Join Ms. Becca and Ms. Christine at the MFCS Lower Elementary Drama Club. The club will offer students an introduction to theater skills and etiquette, utilizing games and activities to build student confidence and understanding of the components of performance. All experience levels are welcome!  Please click here to view the flyer that went home in backpacks today.

* * *


The Lower & Upper Elementary Choruses,  led by Ms. Tana and Ms. Kristen, are in full swing! Our talented singers have been practicing tunes for their upcoming field trip to St. Teresa's Rehabilitation & Nursing Facility. 

If your child is in  Lower or Upper Elementary Chorus , please be sure to send in their permission slip so they can attend this fun & exciting event!
 
** We need 5 chaperones and/or drivers for this field trip! 
Please email 
Ms. Tana or the 
front office if you're able to help! **


Art Club Creations
The Art Club is in full swing! Working with incredible focus on Thursday afternoon, Club members created decorative wreaths.

End of Year Donations & Monthly Giving...
Please Consider A Year End Gift to Mill Falls

As the calendar year comes to a close, we hope that you will consider making a meaningful donation in support of our School. Donations of every size are needed and MUCH appreciated.

Year-end giving is a great time to make a tax-deductable donation in support of NH's first Public Montessori School.

Our school program is offered tuition-free like any other public school, but we receive less than half of the public dollars that are provided to neighborhood schools across our state. 

Your Generosity = Educational Success! 

Please click here to learn more about donating, and don't forget that many companies will match your donation with a Matching Donation of their own! You can ask your HR department about that.  We LOVE corporate matching and hope to connect with more businesses large  and small this year to grow our corporate match partnerships. Please help  be part of that effort! Inquire with your employer today to find out if  they will match your donations. If you have any questions,  please  send Meryl an email . Thank you!!

Earlier this week, MFCS dad, Albert Drouart, completed work on updating our website to include a direct link to  Monthly Giving. You can become part of the Monthly Giving Circle today! It's a great way to 'set it and forget it' - you simply decide the donation amount you can give monthly, and then have that donation automatically made either by check from your bank, or via PayPal. Please click here to learn more and join us in thanking Albert for sharing his technical wisdom!
 

Construction Update

 

Outdoor work is expected to continue into next week as the crew continues to work on the drainage issue. There will also be some upcoming paving and movement of the fencing. During this time, we are utilizing other green spaces on the property.

Annual Coat Drive

Our Annual Coat Drive closes on
Wednesday, December 13th. If you've not yet donated, please consider sharing: gently used coats (any size or type), hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and or sweaters.

We will be donating collected clothing to Families in Transition,  which recently merged with New Horizons . Together they work with individuals and families in need of food, clothes, 
home goods and housing. 

Thank you in advance for sharing what you can with those in need.
To view the flyer for our Coat Drive, 
Brain Busters
Week of December 4th:
 
Winner: Mogtaba, 3rd Year, Denali
Calling All Skiers... 


Register Today for Ski Club!

Time is running out to sign up for the 
McIntyre Ski Program. We only have
6 MFCS students signed up so far and unless more families sign up, the bussing from School to the Mountain will  not be feasible. The sooner we get more sign ups the sooner we can figure out bussing!

  Register online with McIntyre before December 18th 
 to avoid late fees. 

Please note: We will need chaperones for all Ski & Snowboard Club dates. Please  the front desk  if you are interested.
MFCS Food Pantry: 
We Are Accepting  Food Donations!

Your donations are continuing to make it possible for us to to send food home multiple times each week with children whose families are in need. 


With the Holidays & Winter Break coming up, please keep our Food Pantry in mind as we like to send these families home with extra food over school breaks.

*Click  here to view a list of suggested donation items*
SWOT Survey
Don't forget to take our SWOT Analysis Survey!

In early 2018, the MFCS Board of Trustees will be engaging in Strategic Planning -  a time of visioning our school's next 3-5 years. 

One of the tools being used to prepare for that work is the SWOT Analysis Tool. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.  This tool will provide an opportunity for everyone in our community to share his or her voice with the Board in advance of the Strategic Planning process.

Please click here to take the survey which is available only until December 15th!
Montessori Moments...

 
Above: Caring for class pets, Lizzie and Ginger (left) and learning to
Do the Twist in Music Class (right).

Below: Another fun read in with family and friends.