11/10
Veteran's Day Observed, NO School
11/14
FLL Team Meeting
3-4:30pm
11/16
Parent/Teacher Conferences
NO School
11/17
Read-In: Denali & Olympic
8:15-8:45am
11/22-11/24
Thanksgiving Break
NO School
11/30
Arts & Crafts Club
3-4:15pm
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CORPORATE SPONSORS
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We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing contributions from the following corporate partners:
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Short but Busy Week
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 It was a short but busy week at school. There was some great
Science going on here, among other things! Our Kinder students spent a bit more time with their Upper Elementary mentors finishing up their Pumpkin Study; and all kinds of cool experiments were conducted by our Lower and Upper Elementary Students. Please enjoy some of these moments included in photographs throughout this Newsletter.
In other significant news, our staff has completed the November Progress Reports in preparation for next week's Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 16th. Families will be sent an email notification from ALMA. You may view the reports by logging in to your ALMA account.
Our Progress Reports provide MFCS Parents/Guardians with an in-depth analysis of their children's work at school. The reports explore both the students' academic progress as well as their social and emotional health. They take into account, and weave together, the Common Core Standards and our Montessori approach. Please take some time to review your child's report BEFORE your conference so that you can maximize your time with your child's Teachers.
 A HUGE thanks to our partner in banking - the Bank of New Hampshire - for supporting our recent funding request to help us expand our Wellness & Meditation Program this year. We are thrilled to announce their support in the form of $2550, which will make it possible for us to extend our work with our Yoga/Meditation Instructor, Roseann Latona of White Swan Studios, and to integrate some other resources into the growing program. Thank you Ellen Soucy and your team at the Bank of NH!
Earlier this week we learned that our
Music Teacher, Karina Bertrand
,
will not be able to complete the year with us. Please join us in thanking her for her time with us, and wishing her and her family our best. This week we were visited by an old friend - Mr. John - who subbed. We hope to fill this position soon and will share that news once we have some!
Simultaneous to the construction work being done on the grounds here at 100 William Loeb Drive
(please see below) , our group of
Student-Leaders who attended the Student Leadership Summit a few weeks back are hard at work on their project - improving our recess options! They are deeply engaged in their Summit follow up work and are currently gathering responses to the student survey they designed. In the next phase, they will be teaching other MFCS students new and exciting games to play at recess. This will be one component of the vision and plans for the future of our outdoor space.
Finally, As we head into our three day weekend, designed around our observance of
Veterans Day, please join us
in remembering and honoring the sacrifices made my our military, so that we could have a safer life.
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Important Facility Update...
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As most of you are aware, our school building at 100 William Loeb Drive was recently sold by the Union Leader to a new owner. The new landlord, Peter Levine, has extensive plans to overhaul many aspect of the building and to create more distinct/defined tenant areas.
There are still a lot of moving parts to this process, and communication has been less than timely. Our aim is to continue our work on behalf school's needs and to notify our School Community as we learn more.
The following is what we know at this point:
- All of our rights under our lease remain in effect.
- The green play space will be relocated - the details of this are still under discussion with the new landlord.
- The staff of the Union Leader will remain in the building as tenants, but will be moving their offices to the rear of the building.
- It is expected that MC2, another NH charter school, will be moving into the front portion of the building sometime in early 2018.
- The lower level of the building will continue to be leased by the current tenant - a warehouse company.
- Pickup and drop off will remain the same for now.
Demolition and some construction has already begun inside the building in the new Union Leader office area, and we have been told to expect that work to continue through the next several months as they prepare all the new spaces. The MFCS Administration, along with members of our School Board's Facility Committee, have been meeting with Mr. Levine and his team to discuss options and finalize the changes that impact us.
This week marked the arrival of trucks and the removal of some trees, as the team began exterior work.
The schedule for the outdoor work was not shared with us, so unfortunately we were not prepared for the changes that came on Monday and have continued through today. As a result, we were not able to talk with the children in advance of the start of the work or work as a staff to plan accordingly before the week began.
The outdoor construction includes the creation of a new entry for the Union Leader and a circular driveway with some guest parking for the newspaper's offices. It appears that the new driveway/parking area will be located on much of the large field we have been allowed to use over the years.
Going Forward we will:
- Continue our efforts to secure as much outdoor space as the new plans and new landlord will make available.
- Continue to work with Mr. Levine's team to minimize the impact of the construction on our daily functions.
- Share updates with our Mill Falls Community as they develop.
As tenants at 100 William Loeb Drive, we anticipate having to work around construction challenges and ask for your continued patience and understanding. Additionally, we thank you in advance for your support as we navigate through this period.
As always, Laura and Meryl are available to talk with you individually about this and other topics.
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Parent/Teacher Conferences
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Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences.
There is
NO SCHOOL for students that day,
however, we will provide
child care
ONLY DURING
your conference time
for $5 per child.
How to Sign Up for Conferences: You should have received an email from your child's Lead Teacher directing your to sign up for Conference times. If you have any further questions please contact your student's teacher to reserve your conference time.
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Important Dates
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Please keep in mind that we have
some important upcoming dates:
Friday, Nov. 10th: Veteran's Day
MFCS is CLOSED in observance.
Wednesday, Nov. 15th: Picture Retake Day
Thursday, Nov. 16th: Parent/Teacher Conference Day
NO School for the Students
Child Care available during your Conference ONLY (see below).
Wednesday, Nov 22 Thanksgiving Day Break Begins!
MFCS is CLOSED and reopens Monday, Nov 27th.
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Welcoming Donations
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We Are Now Accepting
Food Donations!
Thank you to the many families who have already responded to our call for food donations in support of our MFCS Food Pantry. Your donations are helping to make it possible for to to send food home each week with children whose families are in need. Although we partner with the NH Food Bank to stock our Pantry, shopping for food items is not without cost.
We will be accepting food for our pantry throughout the year, and thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness!
*Click here to view a list of suggested donation items*
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Kicking Off Our Annual
MFCS Fall Coat Drive
Starting Monday, November 20th, we will be collecting gently used or new hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and winter coats. Again our thanks for your generosity. We will be donated 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.
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After School Activities
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Kinder Families: To read more about the Kindergarten Program, please click
here
.
Lower & Upper Elementary Families: To learn more about 1st-6th grade program click
here
. If enough students sign up for the 1st-6th Program, Mill Falls will be able to provide bussing from the school to the Mountain at an extra cost!
Want to Sign Up for the Ski Program?
Please note: We will need chaperones for all Ski & Snowboard Club dates. Please
contact the front desk if you are interested.
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Art Enrichment Program
Today marked the first day of the Upper Elementary After School Art Club led by Ms. Shannon & Ms. Kristin.
Stay tuned for some examples of the club's creations!
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Montessori Moments...
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Below left, the end of the Pumpkin Study; below right the 4th Year study of
the power of proton and electron charges in water and alcohol.
We love our birthday walks!!!
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