MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | March 2023 |
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Our Middle School is taking a big leap next year! |
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Dear MMS Families,
We are excited to announce that our Middle School program is growing!
MMS will welcome 25+ seventh- and eighth year students next year, and we are making plans to move our adolescent program to our original 20th Street building. The new Middle School space will have dedicated classrooms for Math/Science, Language Arts/History, Library/Seminar, Art/Spanish, and the MakerSpace. We will keep you posted on our progress!
Please take a moment to mark your calendars for our upcoming Spring events. I look forward to seeing you at Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences this week, the Pancake Breakfast and 6th Year Project Presentations in April, and Step-up Parent Education, ArtWalk and the Upper Elementary & Strings Spring Concert in May. Finally, we will gather for the Gala and All-School Picnic at Kanawha State Forest in June.
Thank you for being part of the Mountaineer Montessori community. We appreciate you!
Warmly,
Jennifer
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MMS DIFFERENCE
Registration for Campessori, Mountaineer Montessori's signature summer program, is now open with early bird pricing available through April 7. Don't wait--spaces fill quickly and special rates end soon.
Separate programming for Primary and Elementary students will be offered June 19-August 4. Children will enjoy Montessori-aligned arts, science/STEM and cultural enrichment activities led by MMS staff and alumni with special guest teachers and speakers. As always, the schedule includes ample outdoor time on our beautiful Staunton campus. Exciting theme weeks will be announced soon!
Space is limited. We can't wait to see you again for seven weeks of awesome with MMS!
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Children should register for the class they will be attending in the fall. Campessori is a wonderful opportunity for new students and those rising to a new level to experience what's ahead in the upcoming school year.
Camp hours:
- Primary Half Day (ages 3, 4, and 5): 8:00-11:45 a.m.
- Primary Full Day (ages 3, 4, and 5): 8:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
- Elementary: 8:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Children may attend one or more weeks of camp. Campers are responsible for bringing a snack, lunch, and water bottle for camp daily. Please complete a registration form for each child.
Early Bird Pricing: Valid through April 7
- Primary Half Day: $175 per week
- Primary Full Day: $300 per week
- Elementary: $250 per week
Regular pricing: Effective April 8
- Primary Half Day: $225 per week
- Primary Full Day: $350 per week
- Elementary: $300 per week
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UPCOMING EVENTS
March 16-17 | Parent Conferences-no school
March 30 | 2023-24 Financial aid applications due
April 1 | Pancake Breakfast
April 10-14 | Spring Break-school closed
April 19-20 | 6:00 p.m. | 6th year Project Presentations
May 9 5:30 p.m. | Step-Up Night for Primary
May 16 | 5:30 p.m. | Step-Up Night Lower Elementary
May 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Step-Up Night Upper Elementary
May 18 | Downtown Charleston ArtWalk | Gala class art projects on display
May 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Upper Elementary and Strings Spring Concert
May 22-26 | Standardized testing week
May 29 | Memorial Day-no school
June 3 | Annual Spring Gala | Edgewood Country Club
June 7 | Last day of school | 11:45 a.m. dismissal
June 7 | Annual MMS picnic | Kanawha State Forest
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Spring 2023 Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on March 16-17. Upper Elementary and Middle School students will attend conferences with parents. Primary and Lower Elementary students and MMS siblings may join the Plus program free of charge during their conference time. Please sign in and out with our Plus staff.
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CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS
What will you see during your visit to MMS?
The best way to understand Montessori is to experience Montessori! Classroom observations continue through May with a few slots still open. Sign up today via the link below and see for yourself!
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Hats off to the talented performers who entertained the crowd with acrobatics, song, comedy, magic, speed drawing and speed cubing at our annual Talent Show in February. Thank you for sharing your talent and energy with us. More photos and videos here.
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Like these photos? Then you'll love MMS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Photos, school updates and Montessori news are posted nearly every day!ke "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!" |
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Families had the opportunity to delve into their child's world during recent Parent Education events. |
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Upper Elementary students were excited to share their novel study projects during Parent Education events. More photos here.
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CURRICULUM CORNER: MATH
Congratulations to MMS students, teachers and alumni who participated in the 2023 Kanawha County Field Day. Representing our school at the elementary level were Finn Corelli and John Edward Auville, with Upper Elementary II Lead Guide Alasha Al-Qudwah. Middle School participants were Grayson Gosselink, Braelyn White and Penny Christian and MS Guide Dr. Emily Beal. Special kudos to recent alumna Ellie Hoblitzell, who placed third in the 9th grade competition! We are proud of all of you!
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MMS was thrilled to open a window into the world of Montessori with future educators at the University of Charleston Education Department in February. Director Jennifer Carriger shared a Montessori 101 introduction with students followed by a Journey Through Math presentation, demonstrating how the curriculum flows seamlessly from one level to the next, with Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch
(Toddler), Angela Walker (Primary), Denessa Rouse (Lower Elementary), and Emily Christian (Upper Elementary).
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STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
MMS is pleased to welcome new additions to and new duties for our growing team.
Joining our staff are Charlee Tidrick, Michelle Scarbrough and Zoey Bonwell.
Charlee will be with us in the mornings, working as an assistant in Upper Elementary I and providing support to MMS administration. Charlee brings 11 years of classroom instruction experience at the K-12 and university levels. Charlee has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in philosophy and is pursuing a PhD in political science. When her daughter joined MMS as a Primary friend in 2021, Charlee rekindled her interests in developmental psychology and educational practices. She is thrilled to be working with students for the first time since becoming a parent, and has put her PhD on hold to explore the exciting world of Montessori.
Michelle returns to MMS this spring, working mornings as a Primary II assistant and early bird Plus staff. She holds a bachelor's degree from WVSU and is a former member of our early childhood staff and Plus staff teams. Her son is a Primary II friend.
Zoey joined the Plus staff in December, working afternoons three days/week. She is a former Montessori student and aspires to become a lead teacher in the future. Her previous experience includes working with toddlers in a child care center.
Julia Carriger and Claire Hemme have transitioned to new roles. Julia is now an assistant in Primary I and Claire is working with students in the Wilson Reading program as part of our Learning Support Team.
Angela Walker is working in Plus one day/week in addition to serving as the Lead Guide for Primary II. Maria Leon Kershner is also working in Plus one day/week in addition to serving as the MMS Spanish teacher and Primary II Assistant.
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MONTESSORI EDUCATION AND SPIRIT WEEK |
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The entire MMS community enjoyed a wonderful week celebrating all things Montessori during this year's Montessori Education and Spirit Week activities. Thank you to the Student Life Committee and staff for presenting such a rich range of educational, social and fun activities for our students and families!
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More Montessori Week photos here.
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MMS Administrative Stephanie Spradling transformed the Staunton gym into a pop up coffee shop for Java with Jennifer. |
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Family game night at The Board Room |
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MMS was proud to highlight our school in the annual Charleston Gazette-Mail Education Outlook section once again as part of Montessori Education Week. |
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Helping plan this year's Montessori Education Week events were Director Jennifer Carriger, center, and parents from the Student Life Committee, including from left, Enybe Diaz, Hannah Copen, Samantha Gibbs and Hayley Bartow. |
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Montessori Education Week outreach highlighted the Montessori peace curriculum and community connections. The recent supply drive for the Bream Center, inspired by Arlo Bastress, was showcased during an interview on WSAZ Studio 3. Well done, Arlo and Alasha!
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Arlo with his parents, Rob Bastress and Blaire Malkin. |
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SPREAD A LITTLE KINDNESS
Primary II shared the Montessori peace philosophy with our community as part of MMS Montessori Education and Spirit Week. Throughout the entire month of February, the classroom focused on kindness and love, creating cards as part of a work cycle lesson. On Thoughtful Thursday, they created more works and had a group lesson about what it means to be an elderly friend. The heart-felt cards are now bringing smiles to neighbors served at a Stonerise Healthcare facility just blocks from our school!
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The Middle School's February field studies took them on the road to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and Nashville, where they enjoyed an insider's tour from MMS alumna Sara Beal, Director of Publishing, Still Working/Roy Orbison Productions. More photos here.
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We were pleased to welcome the West Virginia Youth Symphony to MMS for a special performance. Several of our own strings students perform with the WVYS. Bravo! More photos here.
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Thank you for reading your "M" News!
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Mountaineer Montessori School
4801 Staunton Avenue SE and 308 20th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
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