Upcoming Dates to Remember January 21 -- NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day January 22 - K-3 Assessment Day / Regular Day for 4-8 January 22 -- MAP Testing Grades 4-8 January 23 and 30 -- Parent Information Sessions January 24 and 31 -- School Tours Thursday, January 31 -- Confirmation of Continued Enrollment and Intent to Enroll forms for SY 19/20 due

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K-3 Assessment Day Tuesday, January 22 The K-3 Assessment Day is Tuesday, January 22, right after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This will not be a typical school day for grades K-3. Instead, please bring your K-3 children to school only in their assessment time slot. Sign up with your class teacher. For more information, click here. Click for more information

Grades 4-8 MAP Assessments January 14 - 22, 2019 The middle-of-year MAP Growth assessments will be administered in grades 4 through 8 between Monday, January 14 and Tuesday, January 22. Click for more information

Parent Information Sessions and School Tours Are you interested, or know someone who is interested, in enrolling children in Mountain Song Community School? This month we are offering Parent Information Sessions and School Tours so families can learn more about our unique school and approach to education. Click here for more information.

Middle School Enrollment: K-8 Schools Are Better for Kids than 6-8 Schools The research is clear: kids in grades 6-8 do better in a K-8 environment than in a 6-8 middle school environment. A number of studies, highlighted in the article linked below, demonstrate that children fare better in terms of academics, social/emotional health, and high school completion when they attend sixth grade in a K-8 “elemiddle” school than in a 6-8 middle school. “As it turns out, what children this age need is stability and a secure and familiar environment from which to comfortably challenge themselves academically and socially.” Please consider Mountain Song Community School as a healthy choice for your children in middle school, offering them an advantage in their ongoing education and life journey. To read the full article, click here

Media and the Developing Brain

During our 5th and 6th Grade Parent Meeting Wednesday evening, I discussed the impacts of media on brain development. I mentioned a TED Talk and some other research that I promised to share. Here are links to two important videos that can help you consider how to manage screen time in your home. -- Dr. Woods

TEDxRainier - Dimitri Christakis - Media and Children

The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain

100 Years of Waldorf Education Learn to Change the World - Part 2

All over the world, people connected to Waldorf schools are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Waldorf school. Here is Part 2 of a video project describing this world-wide educational movement. After the great success of Waldorf 100’s film, “Learn to Change the World,” they released a second part (below) that highlights encounters across social, religious, and ethnic barriers in Waldorf schools.  Read more here .

Board Meeting Schedule Changes Due to the break, the MSCS Board of Directors will have a modified meeting schedule in January. Meeting dates will vary from the normal schedule of meeting the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The meetings, still scheduled from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., will meet on the following dates: January 8, 2019 January 22, 2019 In February, board meetings will return to their normal schedule of first and third Tuesdays of the month.

5th Grade Aspen Class Fundraiser Delicious savory baked goods will be sold by the 5th Grade Aspen Class after school on Friday, January 25th from 2:40 to 3:00. See you there!

New Food Pantry The MSCS Parent Council is starting a Food Pantry for our school! We have a need for accessible nutritional food for our students, and with your help, we can fill that need. . Click here for more information

Volunteers Needed for Cooking Arts Class Volunteers are critically important for the Cooking Arts class! Volunteering in the Cooking Arts class is a great way to learn new recipes and experience what your child is learning at Mountain Song!   Sign up for Cooking Arts class volunteer opportunities on our volunteer page

Notes from the Farm Notes from The Farm Please consider volunteering on the farm! For more information and sign-up list click here

Traffic Monitor Volunteers Needed We are looking for volunteers to help keep traffic moving during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Please use the link below to sign up. Thank you! Sign-up genius volunteer sign-up  For more information go here

2018-2019 Mountain Song School Event Calendar Mark your calendar with these important Mountain Song Community School dates. Link to Event Calendar

Mountain Song Community School | 2904 West Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

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