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MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | November 2015
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A note from the Co-Directors
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Thank you for coming in for our November Parent Education sessions. We hope that you were able to connect with other MMS families and learn more about Montessori philosophy and our school's mission.
It has been wonderful to see parents visiting the classrooms this month! Please be sure to call Beth to schedule your appointment if you have not done so already (Middle School parents, please contact Bridgett directly). As we mentioned during the Parent Education sessions, the observation process is as follows:
- Check in with Beth upon arrival to sign in and receive your clipboard and observation sheet.
- Proceed to the classroom, entering as quietly as possible.
- Sit in the observer's chair and take notes as desired. Be sure to jot down any questions you may have. While observing, please strive to be 'invisible'. If children ask why you are there, you may simply say, 'I'm just watching'.
- At the end of the observation, please check in with Beth. She will call us to meet briefly with you to discuss your observation and any questions you may have. If there are questions we can't answer, we will be sure to pass them along to your child's guide.
We've received a few questions about snack time and invite you to read through the descriptions below for a better understanding about the purposes and goals of snack time at Mountaineer Montessori School.
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Primary
Primary students are introduced to the snack table from the start of the year. Each week, a different family brings in enough snack for all the children. We encourage parents to take their children with them to buy the snack so that the child becomes part of the process. Children take pride in providing snack for their friends.
If at all possible, the child who contributed the snack for the week helps to prepare it in the morning.
Snack time is always a choice in the primary classroom. Snack tables have space for two children. The children watch for seats to become available, wash their hands and then serve themselves. A number tile is placed on the snack table to indicate the recommended serving size. When the children are finished eating snack, they clean their space so that it is ready for the next child.
We often observe children on the playground planning who they will eat with that day. Snack time promotes independence and good social etiquette. It also provides the children with opportunities to try foods they may not try at home.
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Lower Elementary
Snack time at the lower elementary level is similar to primary in that the children choose when to have snack and with whom. Again, space is limited to two, so children have the opportunity to practice patience. They plan when they will eat snack, and with whom they will share a short break.
During the morning work cycle, students notice when the snack table is available, place their lunchbox in a space, and then wash their hands.
After they have gotten their snack out and both children are ready to eat, they set the timer for five minutes. When they are finished with eating, they put their lunchbox away and clean the table and snack area, preparing it for the next pair of children.
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Upper Elementary
Students in the upper elementary environment have learned to better manage their work time and as such, are granted more freedoms when it comes to snack.
At any time during the normal work cycle, as long as they are not receiving a lesson, children may choose to have snack, either in the second room or outside.
Students decide who will be eating together and take a ten-minute timer with them to their designated snack area. They tell a teacher they will be having snack, and take care of cleaning their space when they are finished.
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The Montessori adolescent program allows for students to practice their hands at phasing into the adult world. They have classes and independent work times that look much like some adult work environments. Students are free to have their snack during breaks between lessons and normally scheduled work cycles, or eat quietly while they work independently.
In all cases, students are responsible for being respectful of the others who are working and taking care of the shared environment by cleaning up after eating.
Because cooking is a main component of the adolescent program, students sometimes cook or bake foods that can be shared during snack time.
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We'd like to give a huge MMS thank you to the many parents who have made special contributions to our school this month. Special thanks to:
- Zeina Hadar for coordinating delicious meals for our staff meetings.
- Diana Johnson for sponsoring snacks for staff development days
- David Bailey and Hollie Hubbert for sponsoring Montessori training.
- Melissa and Richard Wilbur for sponsoring Montessori training.
- Shelly and Brian Lutz for sponsoring Montessori training.
- Joe Jenkins and Susana Duarte for sponsoring Montessori training.
- David Boland and Sarah Halstead for sponsoring an education session with Three Rivers Avian Center.
- Johnsey Leef for presenting a lesson on the circulatory system to Upper Elementary.
- Randy Melton for presenting math lessons to the middle school students.
There are still items left on our Teacher Appreciation Giving Tree. Please consider sponsoring an item by stopping in and checking with Beth.
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Board meeting | Monday, November 16
, 2015 | 6:00pm
Everyone is welcome to attend.
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Photo Orders Due | Tuesday, November 17
, 2015
Please submit orders and payment to Beth.
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Photo Make Up Day | Tuesday, November 17
, 2015
Individual photos will be taken by Mike Hall. Please call or email Beth to reserve a session.
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Middle School Night @ Tricky Fish | Tuesday, November 17
, 2015 | 5-7pm
Please join us for dinner! Thank you to Jonathan and Keeley Steele for contributing 10% of proceeds to our school.
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Thanksgiving Break | November 25-29,
2015
No school on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Classes resume on Monday, Nov. 30.
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Annual Book and Bake Sale | December 2-3,
2015 | 11:00 am - 6pm
Sale will be located in our art room this year.
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Presentation by Three Rivers Avian Center | Friday, December 4,
2015 | 1:00
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- Thank you for your patience while we attempt to create a clearer invoicing statement for families. If you ever have a question about the billing, please contact Beth.
- We are looking for someone to help with building lunchbox shelves for upper elementary. Please contact Jennifer or Suzanne for details.
- We are looking for an oval rug to create a floor work space in the art room. If you have a gently used rug you can donate, please contact us.
- There will be no strings classes with Bernard on Friday, November 20.
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Mountaineer Montessori School
308 20th Street, Charleston, WV 25304
304.342.7870 |
Email
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Website
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