MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | May 2021 |
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Dear MMS families,
Please take a moment to read through this newsletter - it's full of exciting information!
We look forward to many end-of-year activities, including the WV Scholastic Chess Tournament, Step Up Parent Education for new Primary parents, our Strings Recital, the first-ever MMS VOLUNTEER DAY, step-up day, our Annual Spring Gala, Tie Dye Day, 6th Year Presentations, 8th Year Graduation, and our all-school picnic!
I know I've said this before, but I don't feel it can be said enough - THANK YOU for doing your part to keep our community safe this year. It's been a wonderful year, even with the changes and challenges that have come our way. We have so much to be grateful for, and our MMS families are at the top of the list. You all have been amazingly supportive of us and of each other and we look forward to the 2021-2022 school year with great excitement!
Best wishes,
Jennifer
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Like these photos? Then you'll love MMS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Photos, Montessori news and school updates are posted nearly every day!.
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Roll up your sleeves! Saturday, May 22, is MMS Volunteer Day. We have a daunting list of tasks to be completed at our Staunton Avenue location as we proceed with the move of ALL STUDENTS to this wonderful new facility in August. Watch for sign up details.... we need and expect the help of all families to make this location "Montessori ready" indoors and out for your child in the new school year.
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END OF YEAR PICNIC TO BE HELD JUNE 11 |
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The annual MMS end of year picnic is back, to be held on the last day of school, Friday, June 11, at the Kanawha State Forest. Both campuses will begin dismissal at 11:50 a.m. Families are invited to drive directly to KSF shelters #3 and #4.
Due to health concerns, we are unable to present the annual pot luck this year. Families should bring their own food, beverages, utensils, cups, blankets and chairs so we can spread out. We are delighted to announce, however, that Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream is donating ice cream for everyone to celebrate the success of the 2021 Race for Education and look forward to seeing everyone there!
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The state championship-wining MMS Chess Team is back in play! This year's program, coordinated by Parent Samantha Hicks with Coach Rick Shaver, is on a very condensed scheduled due to the challenges of the pandemic.
Practices are now underway, with tournament play scheduled for May 15 (Elementary-K-5) and May 22 (Grades 6-12).
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SPRING GALA: PARTY ON THE PATIO! |
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Plans are well underway for What the World Needs Now, the MMS 2021 Spring Gala this year, which will be held Saturday, June 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m., on the patio of Edgewood Country Club.
Sponsorship sales are already brisk and individual reservations are available as of Friday, May 7. To RSVP or for more information, see the gala platform or text mmsgala to 76278.
Reservations will be STRICTLY LIMITED to meet safety guidelines.
This annual event provides a wonderful way to celebrate our very special school community with friends old and new and support education that nurtures what the world needs now. You can come with a group, come with a spouse or come on your own... our events are very welcoming and friendly!
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This year's event has been streamlined to meet CDC guidelines, while still offering an enjoyable opportunity for us to celebrate together. The Edgewood outdoor terrace provides a beautiful and ample space overlooking the city and can accommodate social distancing and other safety measures. In case of inclement weather, the party will be held in the spacious ballroom. Seating will not be assigned and tables are not reserved except for certain sponsors.
Guests will enjoy entertainment by Minor Swing and Vinyl Village; delicious passed hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks; and exciting auctions of student art and other exclusive items. Proceeds will support campus expansions and enhancements, financial aid, and teacher appreciation funds.
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In addition to sponsorship and ticket sales, we are seeking auction contributions... as soon as possible. If you (or a business friend) can donate a product, service, experience, handmade item/work of art, gift certificate, etc., please contact Erica Hoffman at your earliest convenience... or just enter your donation details on the gala platform home page. You will receive an immediate tax receipt for your contribution. The silent auction portion of the event will be conducted online once again, and all families and the public can get in on the fun and the action. We always have some amazing, unique and wonderful items at all price levels for everyone!
For more information, or to join the committee, please contact Erica, the MMS Staff Resource Development Coordinator. |
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BIG CHANGES COMING TO PLUS! |
Big and exciting plans are underway for the After School Plus Program next year!
All MMS families planning to participate in the Plus Program in 2021-22 are urgently requested to complete a Pre-Registration Form as soon as possible. Your responses will help us provide the staffing, resources and facilities for updated programming that you and your child will love. Stay tuned!
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Step Up Parent Education - Primary | Tuesday, May 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
MMS Strings Recital | May 19 | Via Zoom
Students studying with Bernard DiGregorio will participate in a virtual recital this spring, to be held May 19. Please watch for details.
VOLUNTEER DAY @ Staunton Campus | Saturday, May 22
Step Up Day for students moving up to LE, UE, and MS | May 28 | watch for details soon!
Memorial Day - | May 31
Standardized Testing (grades 3-8) | June 1-4
6th Year Project Presentations | June 3 | watch for details soon!
Tie Dye Day | June 7 | watch for details soon!
Tie Dye Day Rain Date | June 8
8th Year Graduation | June 10 | watch for details soon!
Last Day of School | Early Dismissal | Picnic | Friday, June 11
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CURRICULUM CORNER: MONTESSORI AND HANDWRITING |
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Handwriting is an important part of early education. Unfortunately, many schools have abandoned explicit handwriting instruction due to time constraints and a belief that handwriting/work with pencil and paper is not as important as it once was in our society.
A number of scientific studies point to the importance of handwriting, including this one which concluded that handwriting (as opposed to typing or tracing) guides preliterate children toward developing reading skills. This article highlights five of the important reasons we should not allow direct instruction in this area to go by the wayside. Not only does learning handwriting early help children develop skills needed for reading, evidence suggests it makes children better writers, spellers, and leads them towards future success in academics. When children are able to write fluently with proper and consistent letter formation, they are free to complete big work without having to stop and think about how to write the letters.
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In Montessori schools, handwriting is a critical component of children’s learning. As with so many other skills, our curriculum takes a spiraling approach, indirectly preparing children prior to direct instruction. Very young children develop the muscles necessary for a pincer grasp while they manipulate materials such as the knobbed cylinders, a Montessori favorite! |
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There are two other important materials in the Primary classroom that facilitate handwriting readiness: the metal insets and the sandpaper letters. The metal insets are wooden trays that hold a series of stencil-like shapes. Removable shapes are blue with a pink background. Some shapes have straight-lined sides while others are curved. Children trace the shapes with a pencil, giving their hands a chance to practice creating a variety of lines. Increasingly challenging activities encourage children to create different patterns with colored pencils while staying inside the original traced lines. At first glance, this may appear to be a fun art activity but its main intention is to prepare children for their upcoming work in handwriting.
Montessori sandpaper letters take the work a step further. Twenty-six wooden tiles are adorned with gritty, sand-textured letters of the alphabet. Children are given lessons on how to trace these letters with their fingers and say the sound. (As a side note, Montessori children are taught the sound of each letter in conjunction with its name, which makes much more sense for reading preparation.)
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Once children enter the elementary years in a Montessori school, they are required to write throughout the day. Typically, children work throughout the morning work period on a largely independent basis, unless they are receiving a direct, small-group lesson from the guide. During this independent work they record parts of their work in notebooks. Children also record their goals for the day in writing.
As part of our multi-year curriculum alignment work, we have identified end of level outcomes specific to handwriting. At MMS, Primary children are given direct instruction with manuscript (print) letters, starting with lowercase and moving into uppercase before the child transitions to Elementary. In Lower Elementary, the first-year students spend time fine-tuning the manuscript letter formations, and then move into cursive writing. By the time the children complete the third year of Lower Elementary, we expect that they will have mastered the formation of all cursive letters, lowercase and uppercase. When the children enter Upper Elementary, they spend some time fine-tuning cursive writing before learning keyboarding skills. When students leave Upper Elementary and transition to Middle School, we expect that they will be able to use manuscript writing, cursive writing, and keyboarding for written expression.
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SPECIALS SPOTLIGHT: PHYSICAL MOVEMENT
Maria Montessori was a pioneer in the establishment of the mind-body connection. "Watching a child makes it obvious he learns from movement," she observed.
MMS nurtures the child's need and drive to move through the preparation of the classroom, materials and lessons provided, arrangement of the outdoor environment, and organized creative movement and physical education/sports activities. Throughout the day, students have ample time to move indoors and out.
Fitness offerings expand at the upper levels. At the Middle School, for example, students participate in sessions led by faculty, students and specialty trainers and coaches, as well as frequent hikes and other other activities to keep them on the move, which takes on increasing importance in the adolescent years!
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"I'm going to sleep for week!" Middle School students are getting their fitness on with Grind Time Training. Thank you to Josh Lewis for these inspiring and empowering sessions... our students can't get enough!
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During a downtown Charleston pedagogy of place session, seventh- and eighth-year students tested their mettle at Grind Time Training. |
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Four Middle School students recently organized a three-session soccer workshop, planning and presenting the lessons to their classmates. There was enthusiastic participation from the entire class. Well done! |
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REMINDER: VIRTUAL LOST AND FOUND
Samantha Van DenBerghe-Lynch is spearheading a virtual lost and found to re-unite your children with misplaced items. Photos and descriptions of found items and instructions for retrieving them are posted on the private MMS parent FB group. Please take a few minutes to review the listings for your child's missing items.
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2021 SUMMER PROGRAM
Campessori, Mountaineer Montessori’s signature summer program, will return for 2021, with six weeks of awesome to be presented at our new consolidated campus at 4801 Staunton Avenue (former St. Agnes School). Sessions will be held June 21-July 30. Primary camp will run 8:00 a.m. to noon, with Plus available through 3:00 p.m. Elementary campers will attend from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Our summer program has been planned to meet health and safety guidelines while remaining true to our school mission. Attendance will be limited to provide social distancing, and admission will be restricted to current and incoming MMS students.
Many weeks are currently filled. To inquire about availability and/or be added to the waiting list, please contact Campessori Director Alasha Al-Qudwah.
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ADMISSIONS TOURS SCHEDULED
Have a friend, neighbor or family member who interested in MMS for their child next year or beyond? Encourage them to request a private admissions session at their earliest convenience. (They may start by completing this information request form.) We've been busy conducting virtual tours and information sessions since November and have added more dates through the end of May... with possible summer dates to be scheduled. We once again anticipate full enrollment in all classes at all levels next year.
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ANIMAL SHELTER SUPPLY DRIVE CONTINUES
A drive to collect supplies for the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association, initiated by Upper Elementary students, continues through June 4. MMS families are invited to drop off cat and dog food, litter supplies, etc. at the front doors of our Staunton Avenue campus from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
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Thank you for reading your "M" News!
Current and past newsletters are always available on our website.
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Mountaineer Montessori School
308 20th Street, Charleston, WV 25304
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