FACULTY FOCUS

We are pleased to introduce our 2023-24 staff, who will provide a wonderful Montessori foundation for your children. (Please see our website for staff bios, with continuing updates to follow.)        

TODDLER

Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch will return to lead our Toddler classroom this year, assisted by Tiffany Reynolds. Nasrin Chbarek will return as our 20th Street Administrator and coordinator of the Toddler snack and lunch program. We are excited to welcome a new group of toddler children in August!

PRIMARY

Our Primary program will consist of two classrooms this year, with students guided by Sara Lloyd (Primary I) and Angela Walker (Primary II). Sara will be assisted by Julia Carriger. Leah Towler returns to Primary I this year to coordinate the outdoor environment lessons for that community. In Primary II, Kalyn Ellison will continue as the classroom assistant. Michelle Scarbrough will coordinate the morning outdoor environment for Primary II and Maria León Kershner will support our Primary II friends in the afternoons.

ELEMENTARY

This year, Tara Fought, our long-time Lower Elementary guide, will transition in to a new role this year as our Reading and Learning Specialist. Tara will provide reading and learning support to our elementary children, and she will remain on the Lower Elementary team to provide support and mentoring to that community.

Our Lower Elementary program will consist of two classrooms. Denessa Rouse will lead Lower Elementary I, assisted by Sonji Baldwin. Our Lower Elementary II classroom will be led by Shannon Bradley, who will be assisted by Tiffany Martin. Tiffany comes to MMS this year with a background in childcare and has a wealth of experience with children of all ages through other community organizations.

Upper Elementary will continue in two classrooms this year, led by Alasha Al-Qudwah and Emily Christian. Emily will be assisted by Charlee Tidrick and Karen Kelly, and Alasha will be assisted by Brittany Javins.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our Middle School Program will be led by Sarah Halstead (humanities, language arts, micro economy) and Dr. Emily Beal (science and math). They will be joined by specialists Elea Paybins (creative expression), Evan Young (physical expression) and Maria León Kershner (Spanish).

SPECIALISTS AND PLUS PROGRAM

Curriculum specialists this year will include Maria León Kershner, Spanish teacher; Evan Young, physical education instructor; and Elea Paybins, who will lead art classes for Lower and Upper Elementary. Tara Fought, Darlene Spangler, and Ray Singleton will provide Reading and Learning Support services. Brittany Javins will continue to coordinate our student support teams. Bernard DiGregorio will once again offer private-pay strings lessons to elementary-age students on Fridays.

Karen Kelly returns to lead Montessori Plus this year. Karen will be joined by Susie Newhouse, Evan Young, and Elea Paybins.



ADMINISTRATION AND FACILITIES

This year, our admin team will include Jennifer Carriger, MMS Director, Beth George, MMS Assistant Director, and administrative team members Stephanie Spradling and Nasrin Chbarek. We are pleased to have our Staunton Avenue custodian John Elswick on staff as well.

FACTS FAMILY PORTAL/REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT

Be sure to check your family demographic form in FACTS/ParentsWeb before school starts so that we have your current contact information.

The following forms should have been completed during the enrollment/re-enrollment process:

• Student medical form
• Custodial parent form(s)
• Transportation form
• Consent for use of student images form

We need the following for ALL STUDENTS AGES 2-12 before the first day of school:



• Emergency Information/Permission Form for Children in Childcare Settings We need two signed copies of this form for each child ages 2-12.This form does not need to be notarized. (If you completed this form for Campessori 2023 you do not need to complete it again for this school year.) Please do not email or fax these forms. We must receive hard copies. You may drop the forms off at school anytime M-F between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and you may also place them in the school's mailbox on the front of the building on either campus. Thank you!
• A copy of the child's most recent physical/well-child report or a completed copy of this form: Child Health Assessment . Make sure the report states whether the child has any allergies.

We need the following from ALL FAMILIES before the first day of school:

• Signed acknowledgement of receipt of our 2023-2024 Student-Parent Handbook. Older students (grades 4 and up) may also sign the acknowledgement. We only need one signed acknowledgement per family. The 2023-2024 Student-Parent Handbook will be available in your FACTS Family Portal by July 15.

The FACTS Family Portal contains the following resource documents:

• 2023-2024 MMS Student/Parent Handbook - This document contains important information including arrival/dismissal procedures, medication administration policies and forms, lunch and snack information, and more. Please read the handbook carefully and complete the acknowledgement page before the first day of school.
• 2023-24 MMS Handbook Quick Guide
• Classroom supplies lists
• WV Department of Health and Human Resources immunization requirements.  A complete and up-to-date immunization record must be signed by your physician and filed at school on or before August 10. 
• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures for each campus
• Summer Assignments (Upper Elementary and Middle School) 
• In lieu of transportation form (ages 5 and up)
• Medication administration form (required for Epi-Pens and any other medication that must be kept for administration at school)
• Sunscreen/Bug spray application form
• 2023-2024 School Calendar
• Child Health Assessment (required for all students ages 2-12 before school begins)
• Emergency Information/Permission Form (required for all students ages 2-12 before school begins)

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL

Arrival for all students begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 8:15 a.m.

Morning Friends will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. 

Dismissal for full day students (Toddler through Middle School) will be from 2:45-3:00 p.m. daily, once their full-day schedule begins. See the chart above for start dates.

In preparation for a smooth and efficient dismissal, we ask that each family prepare a car sign to hang from the rear-view mirror. Please provide a car sign for anyone who will be dropping off or picking up your child. Please also be aware that we will check for identification if anyone 'new to us' comes to pick up your child from school.

Please be prepared to allow for some extra time for arrival and dismissal during the first few weeks of school, as these processes typically take longer until the students have adjusted to their new routines. Thank you in advance for your patience!

Upper Elementary students enjoyed a wild and wonderful trip to Ace Adventure Camp for their spring trip. More photos here.

MMS families and students came together in a big way to say "thank you" to our wonderful staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. With the generosity of our community, teachers enjoyed daily celebrations, including ThankYouGrams. (Middle School students worked with Primary friends on their notes!)

SPRING GALA RIGHT IN TUNE

Wonderful performances by our talented staff, an exciting auction of class art projects and great company made for another unforgettable Spring Gala held June 3 at Edgewood Country Club. Please join us in applauding the hard working gala committee co-chaired by Suzette Ashley and Becca Stevenson, MC Jim Strawn, our generous sponsors and guests, and all who contributed to its success! (See the gala program for more!)

More photos here.

Thank you to Jim Strawn, our gala auctioneer and host with the host!

Alasha Al-Qudwah, Julia Carriger, Sonji Byers-Baldwin and Stephanie Spradling brought down the house with their incredible performances!

MONTESSORI MOMENTS-END OF YEAR TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS

The Middle School Spring Pedagogy of Place trip focused on the MidAtlantic region around us, including Washington, DC, the Potomac Highlands and the Eastern Panhandle. Experiential learning at its best! More photos here.

Our school community gathered for a wonderful afternoon of food, friends and family at the last day of school picnic at the Kanawha State Forest. We loved seeing all of your beautiful smiles! More photos here.

Lower Elementary students had a "blast" during their visit to the South Charleston Fire Department. More photos here.

Third year students marked the end of Lower Elementary with a very special overnight at the Staunton campus. More photos here.

Twenty-four years and brighter than ever... our annual all-school tie-dye day was amazing! More photos here.

FESTIVALL 2023

Thanks to everyone who helped our community become a work of art during this year's FestivALL!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Montessori Meet-Up | Parents Night Out | Short Story Brewing | 6:30 p.m. | July 12

Montessori Meet-Up | Kids Gone Fishing | Coonskin Park Herscher Lake | 4:00 p.m. | July 15

Montessori Meet-Up | Alice B. Knight Trail Hike | Coonskin Park | 2:00 p.m. | July 16

Montessori Meet-Up | Fleetwood Macked @ Live on the Levee | 6:30 p.m. | July 21

Montessori Meet-Up | Staunton campus Playground Playdate | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | July 22

Montessori Meet-Up | Kanawha State Forest Spotted Salamander Trail Hike | 10:00 a.m. | July 29

Montessori Meet-Up | Parents Night Out | Short Story Brewing | 6:30 p.m. | August 2

Montessori Meet-Up | Ride the Charleston Loop Trolley | August 5 | details TBA

Teacher Preparation Begins | August 9

Back to School Night | August 17 | mandatory for all class levels, parents new and returning students

New Student Orientation-Primary through Upper Elementary | August 18

Watch for sign up information to be emailed on Thursday, August 10.

Montessori Meet-Up | Staunton campus Playground Playdate | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | August 20

Toddler Phase-in Days | August 21-23 | watch your email

First Day of School: Primary 5-year-olds, all Lower and Upper Elementary and Middle School students | August 21 (see chart earlier in this newsletter for exact hours during the first week of school)

First Day of School: Returning Primary 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds | August 22 | 11:45 dismissal

First Day of School: New Primary 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds | August 23 | 11:45 dismissal

Ice Cream Social | August 24 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Kanawha State Forest shelters #8 and #9

Plus Program Begins | August 28 | Pre-Registration is required. Watch your August email for details.

All-School Annual Meeting | September 11

Parent-Teacher Conferences | October 9-10

2023-24 MMS School Calendar | Please note that dates are subject to exigent circumstances

SPECIALS SPOTLIGHT: CAMPESSORI 2023

Campessori is in full swing, with students exploring everything from gardening, to Appalachian culture to all things French. Watch our social media accounts for updates on all of the fun!

Congratulations to Penny Christian, who is moving on to high school in the fall. We are so proud of how far you have come and can't wait to see what's next!

As part of their Writer's Workshop this year, Upper Elementary II students created and published an original book. More details and photos here.

Thank you for reading your "M" News!



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