MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | April 2022 |
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Some Kind of Wonderful... Just One Wish by John Ellison
at Mountaineer Montessori Middle School.
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Dear MMS Families,
If you had just one wish, what would it be? For blues legend John Ellison, who recently visited our Middle School, it would be a wish for peace, no more war, a world in which no one is judged by the color of his skin.
I imagine most of you would wish for the same. As parents, we all want a better world for our children. But sometimes, current events and daily challenges can make better a tomorrow seem like an impossibility
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It's at those times that we must look to the child. For as Maria Montessori reminds us, "Within the child lies the fate of the future." And that's why our school exists in the first place: to nurture each child's unique potential and lay the foundation for a better future for them -- and all of us. At MMS, we are creating the future, once child at a time.
I look forward to connecting with all of you at several upcoming events at MMS -- the MMS Talent Show, our Parent Education Step Up Nights, Sixth Year Presentations, Eighth Year Graduation, our annual School Picnic, and more!
As we head into the last weeks of school, let's all think about our own "just one wish" to make them some kind of wonderful!
Warmly,
Jennifer
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Flow of inquiry presentation with Jonathan Wolff. |
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Sneak peek at some of the new features coming to the 20th Street playground! |
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“A broken heart gives from scarcity, but a full heart gives from abundance.” Keynote speaker Ashley Judd reminded educators to take care of themselves first so that they can be equipped to serve their students. |
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MMS DIFFERENCE: AMS PATHWAYS
For 45 years, MMS has built a tradition excellence and innovation in education.
In 2016, that commitment to quality was raised to a whole new level when we began the American Montessori Society Pathways to Continuous School Improvement process. Pathways is a framework for AMS member schools to align curriculum and materials, teacher training and support, operations and facilities, and management and leadership on one main goal: the very best Montessori education for your child.
MMS is the only AMS Pathways school in the state.
The Pathways process at MMS has involved a range of ongoing activities, including curriculum alignment to ensure smooth a smooth and consistent transitions between levels, learner outcomes alignment, board development and training, operations and facilities initiatives, and parent education.
As highlighted frequently in our newsletter and social media, this important and multi-faceted continuous improvement project is supported through work with Montessori coaches, consultants and trainers who share observations and best practices to ensure our programs and operations meet the highest quality standards. Many of these advisors are among the most well-known and knowledgeable names in Montessori. Some visit on an ongoing basis, becoming valued extensions of our team. We are grateful for their perspective and guidance!
Meet some of them and see our Pathways work in action below:
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Katie Ibes and Peter Piche have been partnering with MMS in a number of areas along our Pathways journey. Katie has led several Parent Education events and is supporting the curriculum alignment process while Peter has provided expert counsel on governance and strategic planning. |
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As part of our curriculum initiative, MMS staff at all levels of training and experience spend a year spiraling through an entire subject continuum together, from early childhood through adolescence. Here, staff worked together to align and solidify the math sequence. In other years, they have worked through geometry, handwriting and social-emotional outcomes. |
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"Executive Function" was the focus of a well-attended MMS community event led by Katie at the University of Charleston |
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There are some things you can't do as well online--hands on Montessori training is one of them! That's why our guides attend on-campus certification programs affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) or Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Here, Upper Elementary I Lead Guide Emily Christian participates in a physics lesson during her summers with the Montessori Education Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC) in the Boston area (and yes, teachers are allowed to have pajama day too!). |
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Barb Scholz of the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program (CMSTEP), left, has observed and advised our Middle School program. |
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Michele Mohar, Director of the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies, is a familiar face in our early childhood classrooms. This week, she visited the Toddler Community. |
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Robin Brieman of METTC has been working with Lower Elementary this year, including LEI Lead Guide Tara Fought. |
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Katie Keller-Wood of CMSTEP visited MMS earlier this month as Dr. Emily Beal nears completion of AMS Montessori Adolescent I & II certification. |
Board members, volunteers and staff work together on projects such as facilities to ensure our learning environments align with Montessori standards. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April 18 | MMS Talent Show Auditions | 3:00-4:15 p.m.
April 20 | MMS Talent Show | 6:00-7:00 p.m.
April 21 | MMS Gala Art Project Preview @ Downtown ArtWalk | 5:00-8:00 p.m. | Rock City Cake Co., 205 Capitol Street
YWCA Race to End Racism | April 23 | watch for details on how to participate on the MMS team
April 27 | Guitar and Ukulele Concert-featuring after school students with Alasha Al-Qudwah
May 3 | Primary Step-Up Night | Parent Education
May 4 | Middle School Step-Up Night | Parent Education
May 5 | Lower and Upper Elementary Step-Up Night | Parent Education
May 9-13 | Middle School Pedagogy of Place trip
May 16-20 | Standardized testing for all students third grade and up
May 18 | MMS Spring Concert | 11:15 a.m. Primary | 6:00 p.m. Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Strings
May 25 | Sixth Year Project Presentations
May 30 | Memorial Day, no school
May 31 | Tie Dye Day-Staunton campus
June 1 | Tie Dye Day-20th Street campus
June 2 | Eighth Year Graduation
June 3 | Last day of school | Early dismissal | All-school picnic at Kanawha State Forest
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See what other parents have observed in our classroom this spring! |
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Engaged teachers-engaged students... Very child-friendly environment.... everybody seemed to know what to do.
Classroom observations have resumed and the reviews are in. Parents are delighted to be able to visit their child's classrooms for the first time (or once again) and see the Montessori magic for themselves. A few observation slots are still available for the remainder of the school year. Please sign up today...nothing compares to experiencing Montessori in person!
Click HERE to register for a classroom observation.
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“The world is full of dream killers. Don’t let anyone stop your dream.” That was the powerful message from blues legend John Ellison to our Middle School students during a recent visit. John shared his inspiring story of growing up Black in the WV coalfields, his love of music from an early age, and his journey to New York at age 17 with a one-way bus ticket and a guitar. John is an international performing artist and composer, collecting royalties on more than 300 songs, including “Some Kind of Wonderful," which has been recorded by 68 musicians, most recently by Rod Stewart. He was inducted into the WV Music Hall of Fame in 2015 and nominated for song of the year in the 2021 Pop Awards. Thank you for this very special “wake up call” John!
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There’s magic in a Montessori Morning! Enjoy a window into our four elementary classrooms during a March morning, as students work independently, collaboratively and in groups on a variety of lessons during an extended, uninterrupted work cycle.
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Getting it just right! A young child has a strong innate drive for order and the Montessori environment offers an array of developmentally-aligned materials to support this need, including practical life activities. Here, a toddler friend works diligently to ensure wash towels are folded and put away correctly.
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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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Fifth years wrote, directed and produced original dramatizations telling the story of the nitrogen cycle. Upper Elementary I staged a play while UEII produced an exciting video with great sound effects (watch here)!
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What's missing from this photo? If you look closely, you won't see any adults at this Upper Elementary II class circle. In this special time, students share ideas, issues and solutions and work together to create a strong community and a peaceful classroom. (Teachers are just off camera to offer guidance and support as needed.) Maria Montessori said character is not something to be gained from reading a book but by experiencing it within a community, and learning how to get along and work together is an important life skill that students can only learn by doing it themselves.
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Primary II wears stripes for Diffendoofer Day as they celebrate Dr. Seuss Week. |
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Learning to distinguish forte vs. piano, crescendo vs decrescendo in Kindermusik.
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Spring is a time of cultural traditions and celebrations. Nelly has been working diligently over the past weeks on her papier mache project, a Ramadan train, which she finished as we dismissed for break. Congratulations to Nelly and our art teacher, Sarah Galaska. |
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SPECIALS SPOTLIGHT: MUSIC
Students and teachers are excited to prepare for the Spring Concert, which will be held May 18. Primary students will perform at 11:15 a.m., with Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Strings hitting the stage at 6:00 p.m.
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What's my child doing in school all day?
That's one of the most frequent questions we receive from parents. To "open our doors" virtually and offer more information into the beautiful learning that happens every day at MMS, we are piloting a new tool, "Transparent Classroom," this year.
Created by Montessorians for Montessorians, "Transparent Classroom" is a platform that aids teachers in lesson planning and record keeping and helps keep parents up to date on their child's work. Activity reports and photos documenting daily progress create a visual diary for parents to follow throughout the year via an app (individual student information is private and can only be access by the child's parent).
Feedback from teachers and parents in the classrooms piloting Transparent Classroom has been very positive and we anticipate more classes will incorporate this tool in 2022-23.
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"Transparent Classroom" offers a window into the world of our students. |
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Montessori education nationwide, and here in West Virginia, is growing as parents seek high-quality options for their children. Thank you for visiting our school, WCHS-TV, and showing the community what makes MMS a wonderful choice for child-centered learning that empowers potential and inspires the future of our students, community and world! |
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SPRING GALA TICKET SALES OPEN-TEXT MMS45 to 76278 |
Individual ticket sales are are now open for "Creating the Future," the 2022 MMS Spring Gala. The big event is Friday, May 13, at Edgewood Country Club. The $95 early bird price ends April 22.
Thank to you to many generous sponsors who have already committed to support this major fundraiser--we're off to an amazing start!
But we've only just begun and it's not too late to sign up as a sponsor. The gala platform provides ticket details and sponsorship levels (starting at $250) and benefits.
Join us as we commemorate our 45 years of excellence and innovation in education and enjoy live entertainment (including Minor Swing with Alasha Al-Qudwah and Ray Singleton, Sonji Byers-Baldwin, and Stephanie Spradling) cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and bidding on amazing individual student and class art projects. Our MC will be everyone's favorite host, Jim Strawn.
The spring gala is always a fun evening and a great way to connect with other parents while supporting your child's school.
Volunteers for this major fundraiser are welcome and needed!
The committee also needs help with auction prizes.
ART PROJECT PREVIEW:
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Toddler friends gather for a demonstration as they begin their art project for the gala. |
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Toddler project in progress! |
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Primary II created this stunning mosaic collage depicting the New River Gorge Bridge. The work will be framed. |
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Sneak peek at one of two colorful quilts in progress in Lower Elementary II. |
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Celebrated West Virginia artist Ellie Schaul has donated a beautiful original watercolor painting to the gala auction. Ellie's work is the subject of a new exhibition at the Clay Center Juliet Art Museum: Ellie Schaul: Reimagining the Familiar.
“I am committed to capturing the significance and beauty of everyday life, always striving to work in a language that others understand,” Ellie says. We are grateful for her stunning donation! Bidding will start at $800. Watch for details.
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STUDENT ART TO BE SHOWCASED AT ARTWALK |
MMS Spring Gala art projects will be previewed at the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk on Thursday, April 21, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Rock City Cake Co., 205 Capitol Street. The children are always so proud and excited to present their creative work to the community... be sure to stop by so your child can share his work with you and to see some of the other incredible class contributions! |
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MMS BRINGS HOME THE BLING FROM STATE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP |
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Gagana Sidineni ended the season as the WV elementary state chess champion! |
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The MMS K-5 team placed third in the state tournament. |
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Also placing third was the MMS K-3 team. Congratulations! |
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Big congratulations to the MMS Chess Team, which finished the regular season with a very successful showing at the WV State Scholastic Chess Championship in Clarksburg on Saturday, April 2. The K-3 team took third place overall, with John Auville placing fourth and Andrew Barker finishing sixth in individual play. Our K-5 team of Christopher Hicks, Seth Margolis and Gagana Sidineni finished third in the state. Gagana emerged as top elementary player in the state and has been invited to represent West Virginia in the State v. State Tournament to be held in California this August. Congratulations, Gagana and all of our team players and supporters. It’s been a great season!
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A major road construction project will begin on April 11 that could affect your drive to school.
MacCorkle Avenue will be completely reconstructed over the next two years between CAMC Memorial Hospital and the Chuck Yeager Memorial Bridge. The roadway, sidewalks, medians, street lights and traffic lights will all be replaced.
The project aims to reduce traffic delays and impacts on businesses by doing most of the construction work at night between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. There will be narrow lanes and work zone speed limits in place during the day, but at least one lane in each direction will be open at all times.
We encourage our families to plan ahead, explore alternate streets and stay abreast of traffic alerts to minimize inconvenience.
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"Exploration is curiosity in action." ~Don Marsh
MMS students were greeted with a HUGE symbol of inspiration earlier this month with the installation of "Explorer" at our Staunton Avenue campus. "Explorer" is an 8' x 12' acrylic paneled mural by West Virginia artist Blake Wheeler.
"Explorer" is inspired by Blake's own childhood exploring the hills of West Virginia.
“Explorer” depicts a young boy who has discovered a large abandoned robot head in a surreal version of a West Virginia landscape. Climbing atop the head, the Explorer is able to get an expansive view to see where to explore next. The work highlights child-like exploration of imagination to keep the viewer exploring the painting and exploring their own imagination as well, with nods to Alice in Wonderland and WV icons, including the Mothman, hidden within.
Blake's work can be found throughout the area, including the "pirate ship" at the Haddad Park Sail Stage, a "secret" mural amidst the ivy on a wall at Bridge and Myrtle Roads, a pier under I-64, Luna Park signs and a trail mural project underway at Hurricane Park.
Special thanks to MMS alumni families and friends whose generous support brought this incredible work to MMS: Camilla and Frank Baer III, Sarah and Ben Bailey/Bailey & Glasser, Mary Buffington and Greg Jenkins, Dr. Brittain and Judith McJunkin, Michael and Janet Victorson, Liz and Louis Weisberg and family, and the Zacks Family/Elizabeth's Sketchbook.
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A Montessori education has influenced writers for generations, including Gabriel Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, diarist Anne Frank and Anthony Doerr, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for "All the Light We Cannot See." Doerr described Montessori as one of the strongest influences in his creative process:
"Of all the skills nine years of Montessori education gave me—critical thinking skills, social skills, kickball skills—the most lasting has been a sense of my place in deep geologic time... You’re six or seven years old and you’re being asked to measure the brief, warm, intensely complicated fingersnap of your life against the absolutely incomprehensible vastness of time.
The sense of luck that made me feel—to be here at all!—has never left me. It permeates my writing, my attitudes toward natural resources, and my relationship with my sons...
We all share this one big clump of iron and magnesium and nickel whirling around the sun and it is the one thing we will bequeath to our children. So why not be as deeply curious about it as we can? Why not try to understand what is happening to it in the pitifully brief time we’re here?
Looking back, I believe Montessori was one of the strongest influences in my life nudging me toward this kind of curiosity."
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The presentation of the long black strip is one of the most dramatic lessons in the Montessori cultural curriculum. As the 50-yard strip is unfolded, the guide tells the story of the timeline of the earth, leaving a lasting impression and appreciation of man's relatively brief existence on our planet. |
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Colorful Ramadan lanterns brighten the windows of Lower Elementary II |
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Middle School students recently explored "Seventeen Men: Portraits of African American Civil War Soldiers," a new exhibit at the Craik-Patton House. |
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More stripes for Diffendoofer Day! |
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Primary II created natural bird feeders, which attract feathered friends to the blossoming trees on our campus! |
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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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