Please read for important information and announcements. Thank you! | | MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | May 2025 | | |
Dear MMS Families,
Happy Spring to all of you! I am writing to you from the road....just finishing a week-long trip with our Middle School students to Shenandoah National Park and Washington, D.C. It's been a wonderful week full of learning and fun, including hiking/rock scrambling, museum and monument tours, a trip to the National Zoo, hands-on workshops at the Museum of Natural History and the National Portrait Gallery, and more!
Spring is a busy time all around the school. Be sure to mark your calendars for our many upcoming events - Spring Facilities Day, Step Up Days, the MMS Gala, FestivALL events (including the Children's Art Fair), Sixth Year Project Presentations, Music Program Concerts, Tie Dye Days, Eighth Year graduation, and the end of the year picnic.
Please see the detailed calendar towards the end of this newsletter for details and to sign up for the many fun volunteer opportunities that are available.
I look forward to enjoying these special end-of-year traditions with your family!
Best wishes,
Jennifer
Jennifer Carriger, MA
Head of School
| | | | Wrangling a snake, scrambling down rocks, dissecting animal pellets or visiting the US Capitol...all in a day's work for our intrepid Head of School Jennifer Carriger as she supports students and teachers wherever their learning takes them! | |
IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING
At MMS, the classroom extends beyond the building walls, and we'd love your help in our annual volunteer spring refresh of the outdoor environments at both campuses on Sunday, May 4, 8:00 a.m.-noon.
The Board Facilities Committee and MMS Administrative staff invite you to lend a hand with a variety of tasks to spruce up the grounds for the children at our Staunton and 20th Street campuses.
These these enhancements will make a real difference to the learning experience for all students.
The spring is packed with a variety of ways to support your child's school in addition to Facilities Day, including Tie Dye Day, the Spring Concert, Annual Picnic, and FestivALL.
Follow the link for details and to sign up. We love our special school community!
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCH ON MAY 9
The MMS School Life Committee is planning five days of activities next week to say we feel about our amazing all year 'round--THANK YOU.
The week will culminate with an all-staff luncheon on Friday, May 9. Volunteers are needed to provide classroom coverage to allow our guides, administrators and staff to enjoy a tasty meal together and relax for a few minutes. Please follow the link below to sign up.
Contributions are still being gratefully accepted to cover expenses for treats, surprises and symbols of appreciation that staff will enjoy all week long. GIfts of all sizes are welcome! Please send your donation to MMS Parent Susana Duarte via PayPal.
| | | RISE TO THE OCCASION FOR EDUCATION ON MAY 16 | | |
MMS students and teacher are hard at work putting their lessons, hearts and imagination into action creating magnificent class art projects to be auctioned at "Lighting the Way," the 2025 MMS Spring Gala on May 16.
Above is a sneak peek at a wonderful work-in-progress by Lower Elementary III showcasing the moths of West Virginia. We can’t wait to see the final product! Stay tuned as we roll out all of the incredible contributions by our amazing young artists in coming days.
You can also follow the action and bid on our gala platform—text mmsgala to 76278.
The big night is rapdily approaching! Please plan to join friends old and new Friday, May 16, at Edgewood Country Club, for a really fun evening that generates essential funding for teacher training and appreciation, facilities, and financial aid--more than $35,000 to local families in 2024-25 alone!
Sponsorships start at $250 and individual tickets are $115.
Please text mmsgala to 76278 or visit the gala platform for details.
We can't wait to celebrate with you!
| | Wow! Thank you to the shining stars who are aligning in a big way to Light the Way for Education on May 16–we are so grateful for everyone’s generous participation in this very special event spotlighting our students, teachers and programs. | | |
STEP UP NIGHTS: MAY 8 & 22
It's time to get ready for 2025-26 at MMS!
Step Up nights help families prepare for a new class level in the fall, giving parents the opportunity to:
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Meet your child's future teachers
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Enjoy a peek at the classrooms where your child will work next year
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Learn about the developmentally-based curriculum and specialty programming for your child's new level
Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend!
Primary: Thursday, May 8: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Parents of new Primary students and children rising from Toddler to Primary should attend. This event will be held in our Primary classrooms at the Staunton Avenue campus.
Lower Elementary: Thursday, May 8, 6:30- 7:30 p.m.
Parents of new Lower Elementary students and children rising from Primary to Lower Elementary should attend. This event will be held in our Lower Elementary classrooms at the Staunton Avenue campus.
Upper Elementary: Thursday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Parents of new Upper Elementary students and students rising from Lower Elementary to Upper Elementary should attend. This event will be held in our Upper Elementary classrooms at the Staunton Avenue campus.
Toddler: Thursday, May 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Parents of new Toddler students should attend. This event will be held in our Toddler classroom at the 20th Street campus
Our Toddler, Primary, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary Step up Family Education sessions are for parents/adult caregivers only. We are not able to offer childcare during Step Up nights.
Congratulations to our students and their families who are "moving on up!"
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PAINT & PLAY MAY 9
MMS After Hours is ramping up the creativity next Friday, May 9, with art-inspired fun for Lower and Upper Elementary students.
Attendees will will enjoy painting a canvas to take home, free time, dinner, and a showing of Monsters, Inc.
Arrival will be from 5:30-5:45 p.m., with dismissal from 7:45-8:00 p.m. Fee is $50/child; $25/sibling, payable through FACTS.
Look for registration details in the next Monday Memo!
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Students are excitedly anticipating Campessori 2025, with many children letting us know they can't wait to start their seven weeks of awesome this year!
Enriching programming for Primary and Elementary students will be offered June 16-August 1 at our beautiful Staunton campus.
Our summer program is a wonderful opportunity for new students and those rising to a new level to experience what's ahead in the upcoming school year.
Our guides and staff have put together an incredible line up of Montessori-aligned programming for campers (see chart below).
Primary friends will explore a new theme each week while Elementary campers experience two topics per week! Elementary students will be in two groups, based on age, and each group will spend half the day with each lead teacher, transitioning at lunchtime to the other lead teacher/theme.
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“Calm.” “Productive.” “Inspiring.”
Those were among the many observations from recent parent visits to our classrooms. We love offering our community the chance to see the MMS learning environments through the eyes of child and experience a bit of the Montessori magic themselves. Enjoy this quick peek into our school to see why these parents left “impressed,” “thrilled” and delighted that “it’s everything I hoped for.”
| | | | To explore how the wheel evolved in travel and trade in ancient civilizations, Upper Elementary II students engineered their own wheels with various levels of spikes. Hands on learning supports deep understanding and is a lot of fun! | | Montessori is timeless education that prepares students for the challenges of today! | | Did you know that Spanish at the Middle School level may qualify for high school credit? | | Upper Elementary gave our Montessori Education Week community service drive big lift by collecting and transporting donations for the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. The facility is filled with adorable cats and dogs looking for a forever home and one of the best ways you can support KCHA is adding one of their four-footed friends to your family! | | A funny thing happened on the way to the Grand Canyon... The majesty of Mother Nature met the magic of Montessori as the Beal/Spitz and Patel families ran into each other by chance (or was it?) during their spring break adventures to the Grand Canyon. The ultimate Montessori Meet-Up! | |
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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Our school community carried on its tradition as a “total education experience” with wonderful events connecting our families with fun--and each other this spring. In April, it was “student night in” at three MMS After Hours and in late March, we hit the ice at the South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena Official. More photos here.
| | The smiles were as bright as the art when MMS parents came together in April for a creative Meet-Up at the Los Angeled Gallery! Be sure to watch for announcements for future opportunities to connect and have fun with our amazing school community! | | MMS was thrilled to offer a window into the world of Montessori with future educators at the University of Charleston Education Department in April. Head of School Jennifer Carriger shared a Montessori 101 introduction with students followed by a Journey Through Language 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). We love sharing the Montessori magic! | |
HELP OUR CITY BECOME A WORK OF ART
MMS can't wait to join with artists, community groups, businesses and families from throughout the region in helping our city become a work of art during FestivALL 2025.
We will once again sponsor a hole in the Downtown Open, which starts on May 29 and runs through June 22. MMS Art Teacher Elea Paybins is preparing our our MMS "golf course" this year as well as creating a make-and-take activity for our table at the FestivALL Children's Art Fair on May 31. MMS students will also have their work featured in the Art-for-All Juried Art Exhibition, on display at the Clay Center from May 28-June 7.
We still need a few volunteers for the Children's Art Fair Make and Take booth. It's so much fun! If you are interested, just follow the link below to signup.
| | | WIN A $15,000 529 FUND FOR YOUR CHILD! | | |
The SMART529 Education Savings Program is offering West Virginia residents who are 17 years of age or younger a chance to win $15,000 deposited directly into a SMART529 account.
To be eligible to enter the Fund the Future Sweepstakes, a child must be age 17 years of age or younger as of May 16, 2025.
The deadline to enter is May 16, 2025. Please see the WV Treasurer's website for official rules and entry information. Good luck!
Reminder: June 15 is the last day to apply for the Hope Scholarship to receive 100 percent of funding for the new school year. Please visit the WV Hope Scholarship webpage for details.
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BUILDING MONTESSORI AT HOME & A 'HAVEN OF LEARNING'
As part of our association with AMS, MMS families have access to a rich library of resources and information, including a monthly newsletter.
The AMS Family Connection includes articles on topics such as Montessori philosophy, Montessori tips for the home, a peek inside the classroom, and more.
The latest issues explore the concept of the "prepared environment" and how it supports development at each level and building Montessori at home-it starts with respect.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
May
May 4 | Annual Spring Facilities Volunteer Day | both campuses | 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Sign up |NEW
Teacher Appreciation Week | May 5-9
Step-Up Night | May 8 | Primary-5:30-6:30 p.m. | Lower and Upper Elementary-6:30-7:30 p.m. | Toddler Step-Up moved to May 22
MMS After Hours Paint & Play | May 9 | watch for details in Monday Memo | NEW
MMS Board Meeting | May 12 | noon | email Board Secretary Brad Holliday for link and details
Upper Elementary Standardized Testing Week | May 12-16 | NEW DATE
Sixth Year Project Presentations | May 13 | NEW
Staff Meeting | May 15 | NO PLUS
Annual Spring Gala | May 16 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Edgewood Country Club
Toddler Step-Up Night | May 22 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | NEW DATE
Standardized Testing Week | May 19-23 | Grades 3 and 7-8
Memorial Day | May 26 | NO SCHOOL
Staunton Campus Tie Dye Day | May 30 | Volunteer | NEW
FestivALL Children's Art Fair | May 31 | Capitol Street | Volunteer | NEW
June
20th Street Tie Dye Day | June 2 | Volunteer | NEW
Primary and Elementary Spring Concerts | June 4 | Volunteer | NEW
Middle School Graduation | June 4
Last Day of School/Early Dismissal/Annual Picnic | June 5 | Little Creek Park | Volunteer | NEW LOCATION
Hope Scholarship application deadline for full 2025-26 scholarship | June 15
Campessori | June 16-August 1
| | Look good while supporting your school by visiting the MMS swagshop and ordering your M Gear. MMS receives a certain percentage of all the proceeds. Come check out all the fun gear! | | MMS after school programming extends and enhances our rich academic and arts curriculum. This spring, students have taken their learning to new dimensions through ukulele and guitar classes with Alasha Al-Qudwah and computer classes with Beth George. | | | UE II fourth years recently created their own eukaryotic cells as they learned the organelles and their functions. What a fun and memorable hands on biology lesson! More photos here. | | "Try everything" could be the motto of the Montessori adolescent program, which introduces students to a wide variety of avenues to learn, grow and express themselves. The Middle School recently added the art and craft of letterpress to their repertoire during fun sessions at Base Camp Printing in Charleston's Elk City district. Thank you, Base Camp Printing Co. for this wonderful opportunity! More photos here. | | | Emily Calandrelli, a West Virginia native and the 100th woman in space, inspired a group of Primary friends to reach for the stars during her recent keynote presentation to the WV Construction & Design Expo at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Emily encouraged the children--and all in attendance--to keep their eyes on the goal no matter the path or how long it takes to get there. After her remarks, she commented on the decorum and engagement of our students, and was surprised they were only ages 5-6! What an impactful opportunity for these future leaders and community builders! | | |
Thank you for reading your "M" News!
Current and past newsletters are always available on your virtual newstand.
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Mountaineer Montessori School
4801 Staunton Avenue | 308 20th Street | Charleston, WV 25304
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