Dear MMS families,

We've had a wonderful start to the school year - thank you for sharing your children with us!  I spent the last few mornings visiting classrooms and outside environments and have been able to catch glimpses of life at Mountaineer Montessori School.  In my travels, I heard children at work, discussing the work, asking questions, and supporting each other:

'An author might use a pseudonym if he is writing something that could be controversial.'  --- overheard during book group at the middle school, as the students discussed the preface and introduction of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

'I 've done some great work this morning!  I've got my lengthy paragraph ready and I'm going to work on a big poster now!' --- beaming Upper Elementary student leaving the computer lab with clipboard and pencil box in hand.

'Could you please give me the funnel lesson today?' --- Primary student arriving to the classroom for the day.

'Your mom will be here soon, and if she doesn't come you can go to my house' --- three-year old Primary morning friend comforting another morning friend at dismissal time.

'Hmmmnnnn......I'm going to need a dictionary!' --- Lower Elementary student exclaiming to herself while working on a Language lesson.

Once our classes have had time to settle in and normalize, we will be inviting each of you to come in to observe the classrooms at work.  Usually, we open up for observations after school has been in session for 6-8 weeks.  Meanwhile, thank you again for sharing your children with us --- it is a true pleasure to spend time with them each day!

Forbes Magazine - 'Montessori Schools Offer Big Lessons for Managers'

Thank you to the many parents and friends who have made special contributions to our school.  Special thanks to:

• The Whittington family, for taking such good care of our birds, Kiwi and Blueberry, and for providing their beautiful new home.
  
• The Best family, for taking excellent care of Hextor, our lizard, and Mittens, our Guinea pig.
• Alisa Abdalla, for volunteering in the office.
• Primary parents, for providing healthy and delicious snacks for the children.
• David and Kenley Hanna and John Auville for helping to put the church basement back in good order following Primary Back to School Night.
• Keeley Steele, for offering a space for our middle school students to sell their wares to the greater Charleston community.
• Evan Young and the folks at Appalachian Boarding Company for providing stand-up paddle board lessons to our middle school students as part of their physical expression curriculum.
• the Simmons family for donating free-time materials to Plus and sand tools for the playground.
• our intrepid Upper Elementary drivers to The Mountain Institute:  Kristy Huckaby, Jack Rogers, Suzie Loew, Alisa Abdalla, Margaret Leef, Troy Anderson, Harry Bell, Ziad Kahwash, Cary Charbonniez, and Scott Duffer.
  

Be sure to check out the MMSPO survey and MMS Volunteer Opportunities 2016-2017 here:

• MMSPO Survey
• MMS Volunteer Opportunities 2016

Thank you!