MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | June 2021
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"Education is a work of self-organization by which man adapts himself to the conditions of life.” ~ Maria Montessori
Dear MMS families,
Wow -- we did it!
It's been a year like no other, and our school community has shown resilience, determination and care in ways we never could have imagined.
Thank you for your support this year -- for maintaining frequent communication with us, for understanding when our plans needed to change and shift, for trusting us with your children, and for taking care of and looking out for us and for each other. You all are amazing.
Thank you also to the incredible MMS staff. Together, we faced unique challenges and stayed strong while providing your children with as much "normal" as possible. Our educators developed excellent remote learning lessons when needed, and adapted in-person learning to meet safety standards while still providing an authentic Montessori experience for the children. Please join me in thanking them for their professionalism, dedication and tenacity.
Our Board of Directors and parent volunteers were also invaluable this year. The Board committees and our re-entry task force spent countless hours monitoring changing conditions and responding accordingly. Volunteers kept our fundraising efforts strong and provided much-needed work at our new Staunton Avenue campus -- painting, installing cabinets, moving furniture, repairing furniture, and refreshing several areas of our outdoor space and playground.
It truly has been an incredible year, filled with lessons that will last a lifetime and serve us well as we move literally and figuratively into an exciting new chapter of our school's history. We are honored to have you as a part of our MMS community. I look forward to the new school year with enthusiasm, gratitude, and pride.
Best wishes,
Jennifer
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BIG WORK UNDERWAY AT STAUNTON AVENUE
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Extensive work is well underway at Staunton Avenue to prepare indoor and outdoor learning spaces for our Primary through Middle School students in August. This new facility is the culmination of many years of hard work by our Board and Administration to locate our school at a campus with the classroom space, amenities (including a full size gymnasium, commercial kitchen and office/meeting rooms), and green space to accommodate both current and future program and enrollment growth.
The Staunton campus meets the important criteria our wish list -- and then some! -- and we are thrilled to be able to welcome your child to this wonderful facility in August!
Planned summer renovations include: converting six upstairs classrooms to four larger rooms to house our Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary programs; adding bathrooms and sinks to the former library and daycare rooms so they may serve as our Primary classrooms; adding rubber mulch and fencing to the playground, and more!
We extend our thanks to the many MMS parents with building project experience who have been advising on this major undertaking, and are especially indebted to Aric Margolis of Aric Margolis Architecture, who has contributed countless hours of expertise to our school over several years at three different facilities. Thank you, Aric!
MMS is grateful for the many enthusiastic parents who rolled up their sleeves on Volunteer Day in May to begin improvements on the outdoor environment at our new location (watch for future volunteer opportunities!). 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!
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THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!
It's a very exciting time at our school and we're looking for parents who want to be a part of it. One way to get involved is through service on the Board of Directors as a member and/or through a committee. There will be a few vacancies next fall as board terms expire and we hope to get new members involved soon as there is so much important work to be done. We have a need for members with a variety of backgrounds and experience, in particular, finance, marketing and fundraising. If you are interested, please contact Board President Clifton Clark at your earliest convenience.
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Congratulations to our eighth year graduates! We are so proud of them and of our adolescent program--the first of its kind in West Virginia. From its hopeful beginnings in 2014, MMMS anticipates full enrollment as it begins its seventh amazing year in August.
MMMS Class of 2021
Anahli Cordell
Soleil Gloss
Sam Kinsman
Tabitha Morris
Maddie Peyatte
Madeline Snyder
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END OF SCHOOL PICNIC
Whether it was the first or their fifteenth (or more!) time, the end of year picnic is always a very special event for our students, teachers, parents, alumni and friends. While there were a few changes this year due to health concerns, the cherished picnic traditions, including signing tie dye shirts, enjoying Ellen's Ice Cream, and exploring the woods, endured. It was wonderful to see all of our families come together for this happy send off to a year like no other. We look forward to seeing you at Campessori in the weeks ahead or on the first day of school in August at our new Staunton Avenue campus. Enjoy your summer, everyone! (See the MMS Facebook page for dozens of more photos of the picnic!)
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Lower Elementary celebrated the release of the classroom earthworms at the end of the school year with a special party and collaborative story writing illustrated with claymation!
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This is what a history lesson looks—and sounds—like at Mountaineer Montessori as Roger Rabalais shares his original song recounting the wild and wonderful (and true!) adventures of Captain Bill, a local river legend. The session was one of the highlights of our Middle School’s pedagogy of place downtown day.
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Mountaineer Montessori School
308 20th Street, Charleston, WV 25304
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