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MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | November 2023

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Dear MMS Families,

Happy Fall, everyone! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Parent Education sessions and classroom observation opportunities.

Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School families are encouraged to observe at least once during the school year. Be sure to use the link below to sign up for observations.

I hope you will also join us on Sunday, November 5 from 2:00-4:30 as we kick off our Strategic Planning process with a Community Visioning Meeting.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Best wishes,

Jennifer Carriger

Director

CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS NOW OPEN

What will you see on your visit to your child's classroom?

Registration is now open for classroom observations. Observations give you a chance to experience a bit of the Montessori magic for yourself and see the classrooms through the eyes of a child.

Observations sign-ups

UPCOMING EVENTS

Staff Meeting | October 26 | No Plus

Plus Program Session Two | October 30-January 19

Professional Development Day - No School | October 31

Parent Education | November 1| 3:30-4:15 p.m. | Lower Elementary

Parent Education | November 2 | 5:30-6:15 p.m. | Toddler, Upper Elementary

Strategic Planning/Visioning Session | November 5 | 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Parent Education | November 9 | 5:30-6:15 p.m. | Primary

Parent Education | November 16 | 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Middle School

Staff Meeting | November 16 | No Plus

MMS Coin Drive kick off/Annual Appeal soft launch | November 17

Thanksgiving Break/No School | November 20-24

Giving Tuesday | November 28

Staff Meeting | December 14 | No Plus

New Year's Break | December 20-11:45 a.m. dismissal for all students | Classes resume January 2

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

Download calendar

WHAT'S AROUND THE BEND FOR MMS?

As part of the AMS Accreditation process, MMS will be updating our strategic plan, starting with a visioning session on Sunday, November 5, 2:00-4:30 p.m. All MMS families are invited to participate.

RSVP here: Strategic Planning Session

Previous strategic plans have provided invaluable guidance to the board and staff, serving as a roadmap for continuing enhancement and elevation of programs and facilities. We invite you to join us to share ideas as we chart the path to our 50th anniversary!

CHESS IS BACK!

The MMS Chess Club is back!

The award-winning MMS chess program kicks off this month for 2023-24. Lower Elementary will begin Tuesday October 24. Then on Thursday, November 2nd Chess will begin for Upper Elementary/Middle School.

Thank you to Coach Evan, for leading our Chess Club and Chess Team, and best of luck to all our chess players this year!

FALL PARENT EDUCATION SESSIONS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Your child's guides are excited to see you soon for our Fall Parent Education Sessions. These sessions provide a window into

Wednesday, November 1 | 3:30-4:15 p.m.

Lower Elementary

Thursday, November 2 | 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Upper Elementary and Toddler Program

Thursday, November 9 | 5:30-6:15 .pm.

Primary

Thursday, November 16 | 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Middle School

Watch for more details very soon!

CURRICULUM CORNER: MIDDLE SCHOOL PAIDEIA SEMINAR

Hello Parents!

For this year's first Middle School "Parent Education" event, current and prospective Middle School parents and other intellectually curious people are invited to join our middle school students for a special Paideia Seminar session on Thursday, November 16, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m, and guests are welcome to have lunch with us as well.

Our students will walk you through a brief lesson on the value and goals of Paideia Seminar, and the process for preparing and actively participating in a model seminar session.

The seminar lesson will start promptly at 11:00 a.m., in the Confluence, Sirius and Polaris rooms. Guests are invited to eat lunch with our class from 12:10-12:40 p.m.

Parents, please bring your lunch, and shoes in which you could comfortably play soccer, flag football, four square, or toss a frisbee or engage in some other group activity immediately following lunch.

Kindly RSVP to Sarah Halstead if you're planning to attend: [email protected]

REGISTER FOR PLUS Q2

The first quarter of the Plus Program ends October 27.

Registration is now open for session two, which runs October 30-January 19. Registration closes October 26.

Primary Plus Registration

Elementary/MS Plus Registration

MONTESSORI MOMENTS

Mark Javins, a physician assistant at WVU Thomas Orthopedics, visited Upper Elementary human anatomy class to expand on their lessons on the skeletal and muscular systems. Thank you, Mark!

World music is off with a bang this year!

Primary World Music: Country Roads

Primary World Music: Whole World in Our Hands

The Plus Program welcomed some special visitors this month. MMS alumna Charisma Crouse, granddaughter of Plus Guide Susie Newhouse, and her snake, Lila, presented a hands-on lesson about reptiles to our excited after school students.

"Chore Charts" are a little different in a Montessori classroom as illustrated by this beautiful visual in Lower Elementary II!

At MMMS, the world is our classroom! The Fall 2023 Pedagogy of Place Study took our Middle Schoolers to West Virginia's Historic Midland Trail, which offers rich opportunities to explore history, geography and different cultures in a fun and engaging way. Studying this part of the Midland Trail allows us to appreciate and learn from our past, boost the local economy and make our community stronger and more connected. The fall field studies began with hiking on the boardwalk at Beartown, followed by a tour of The Greenbrier, and bonfire and overnight at Bechtel Summit Reserve. Day 2 included hiking the Endless Wall Trail and field study of Thurmond. The amazing trip wrapped up with hiking and rappelling in the New River Gorge area and stops in Anstead and Hawks Nest State Park on Day 3!

More photos here and here .

THANKSGIVING IS ON THE WAY!

As we head into the holiday season, don't forget that your grocery shopping can make a big difference to your child's school when you enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program. By designating Mountaineer Montessori School (HD981) as your beneficiary through Kroger Rewards, a percentage of your purchases will be donated back to MMS each quarter.

It's easy, it's free and it adds up!

Kroger sign-up

MORE MONTESSORI MOMENTS

“The mountains are calling and we must go.” For decades, an outdoor learning and leadership trip to Spruce Knob has been an integral component of the MMS Upper Elementary experience, and this year was no exception. Last week, our two UE classes explored the wild and wonderful of West Virginia with Experience Learning, with whom students gained greater understanding of our environment, themselves and each other. Thank you, Experience Learning!

More photos here.