MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | October 2021 |
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Dear MMS Families,
Thank you so much for working hand in hand with us to get our school year off to a successful start!
We have several important events coming up this month, including our fall Parent-Teacher conferences, student photo day, the launch of chess club and science club, and more!
Please read for details below, and as always, let me know if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Jennifer Carriger
Director
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HOME, SWEET HOME
After an intensive summer of knocking down and building up, packing and moving out and moving in, endless gallons of paint, and lots of elbow grease, we were thrilled to open our door to our Staunton Avenue campus on the first day of school.
Renovations included converting six standard classrooms to four larger rooms to house the Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary programs; installing bathrooms, sinks and flooring to the former library and daycare rooms to house our Primary classrooms; adding rubber mulch and fencing to the playground, and more. The new spaces were finally transformed into beautiful Montessori learning environments by our staff during the week before the start of school.
Work was also done indoors and outside at our 20th Street location to make it ready for the Toddler Program.
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We once again offer our deep gratitude to our Facilities Committee, chaired by Jennifer Preston; Aric Margolis of Aric Margolis Architecture; and to the many enthusiastic volunteers who answered every call for help. We also extend our deep gratitude to the supporters of our fundraising efforts throughout the year... your generosity helps make major projects like this possible!
Take a peek at our new classrooms:
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FALL PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS COMING UP
Toddler - Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch and Amanda Walker: Quest for Independence | October 26, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Primary I - Kathryn Rhoads and Angela Walker: Practical Life |October 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Primary II - Isabelle Bournigault and Stephanie Spradling: Montessori Math Curriculum | November 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Lower Elementary - Tara Fought and Becca Moore: The Elementary Cultural Curriculum | October 12, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Upper Elementary - Alasha Al-Qudwah and Emily Christian: Timeline of Humans | November 11, 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Middle School - Sarah Halstead, Emily Beal & students: Paideia Seminar | November 10, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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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!
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Their classrooms may have been closed, but it was back to school for four MMS educators who participated in training for Montessori credentials this summer:
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Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch attended AMS Infant-Toddler training at the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies in Richmond. Samantha, who also holds an AMS Early Childhood credential, is the Lead Guide of our new Toddler Program.
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Angela Walker also attended training at the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies as she nears completion of her Early Childhood credential. She is a teaching intern in Primary I.
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Emily Christian spent her second summer training with the Montessori Education Teacher Training Collaborative outside of Boston for her Montessori Elementary 9-12 credential.
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Dr. Emily Beal trained with CMSTEP in Milwaukee as she undertakes Montessori secondary education training. Emily is the co-teacher in our Middle School program.
MMS educators train at AMI/AMS affiliated programs, which are rigorous, time-intensive and all located out of state, requiring significant sacrifice on the part of our teachers and financial investment by our school. We are so grateful to all of our staff for their dedication to offering the best education possible for your children and as well as the generosity of our donors who enable us to offer the highest level training to our staff.
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Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch |
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Emily Christian, far right |
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PLUS REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SESSION TWO
Our Plus Program has gotten off to a great start! Session Two will begin on November 1, 2021 and will end on January 7, 2022.
Any family needing after school Plus (2:45-5:30 p.m.) for Session Two must register in advance. Please follow the links below to register:
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FALL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES |
Please use the link below to sign up for Parent-Teacher conferences. Our fall conferences will be held via Zoom this fall. You will receive the Zoom link from your child's lead teacher.
Be sure to note that Upper Elementary and Middle School students participate in conferences along with parents.
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Mike Hall from Photo-Graphix will back at MMS this fall for individual student photos.
Toddler photos will be taken on Thursday, October 7.
Staunton campus photos (Primary-Middle School) are scheduled for Tuesday, October 12.
We typically take individual photos outside, weather permitting. Photos may include "head to toe" shots.
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MMS is pleased to welcome several new members to the Board of Directors: Brad Barker, Molly Cassis, Enybe Diaz, Carolyn Head and Ashley Rine. All are current MMS parents and bring a rich range of professional and community backgrounds to our school leadership (bios on our website). Please watch for announcements for committee meetings and other volunteer opportunities to join them in supporting your child's school. |
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SHOP & SUPPORT MMS WITH KROGER AND AMAZON SMILE |
Your every day purchases can make a big difference to your child's school through the Kroger Cares and Amazon Smile programs, which donate a percentage of sales to MMS.
Kroger will give back 5 percent when you sign up here. Select "Mountaineer Montessori School" (school number 82464). Enrollment must be renewed annually--please sign up again if you have participated in previous years.
To activate Amazon donations, go to Smile.Amazon.com and select “Montessori, Etc.” as your designated charity–a portion of every purchase will be donated to MMS.
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SCIENCE AND CHESS CLUBS STARTING
We are excited to announce that Chess Club and Science Club will be starting at MMS during the week of October 11.
Chess Club is open to students in Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School.
Science Club is designed for students in grades 5-8.
Please watch your email for details and registration information.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
October 7| MMS Picture Day - Toddler Program | Individual student photos will be taken by Mike Hall
October 11 | No school | Professional Development Day
October 12 | MMS Picture Day - Staunton Avenue | Individual student photos will be taken by Mike Hall
October 12 | Parent Education-Lower Elementary I & II | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
October 19 | Parent Education-Primary I 5:30-6:30 p.m.
October 26 | Parent Education-Toddler I 6:00-7:00 p.m.
October 29 | End of Plus Session One
November 1 | Start of Plus Session Two
November 10 | Parent Education-Middle School | 11:00 a.m.-noon
November 11 | Parent Education-Upper Elementary I & II | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
November 15 | Parent Education-Primary II | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thanksgiving Break | November 22-26
Noon dismissal | December 22
New Year Break | December 23-January 2
MMS Annual Spring Gala | Saturday, April 30, 2022 | Woman's Club of Charleston
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Thank you for reading your "M" News!
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Mountaineer Montessori School
308 20th Street, Charleston, WV 25304
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