Volume 5. No. 3

The annual Holiday Card Contest held by the Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office saw another year of phenomenal submissions from students across 12 different schools grouped into grade ranges K-2, 3-6, 7-8, and 9-12. Selected from each grade range for the schools that submitted entries, first-place winners received a $25 gift certificate, second-place winners received a $15 gift certificate and third-place winners received a $10 gift certificate “We love receiving these submissions each year, it is always so hard to pick the winners!” said Mariah Wanic, Director of the Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office, "The creativity the students put into their card designs never fails to put our office in the holiday spirit. Thank you to all the students who entered the contest.”    Congratulations to all of the winning participants whose designs were featured in our annual holiday card:  Noelle Hunt, Kindergartner from the Academy of Warren  Olivia Barclay Kindergartner from American Montessori Academy  Liam Nelson, Senior from the Battle Creek Area Learning Center Cara Schwartz, First Grader from Lake Superior Academy  Alexa Schwartz, Fourth Grader from Lake Superior Academy  Shanila Hemphill, Senior from Madison Academy Geneviere Doebler, Second Grader from Mount Clemens Montessori Academy  Nassim Mandou, Fifth Grader from Mount Clemens Montessori Academy  Raina Joseph, Sixth Grader from Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy  Alexa Vance, Seventh Grader from Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy  Evelyn Bordeau, Fifth Grader from Taylor Exemplar Academy  Elaine Mellon, Second Grader from Three Lakes Academy

The first half of the school year has brought forth uncharted challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but countless hours of hard work put in by the staff and student body of American Montessori Academy (AMA) in Wayne County, Michigan produced a remarkably impressive semester. Due to the continued exponential growth of COVID-19 cases statewide, the Wayne County Health Department strongly recommended that schools temporarily shift to a remote learning model until mid-January. In accordance with the health department's recommendation, all students, except for preschool, from both AMA campuses, the Lower Elementary located in Livonia, and the Upper Elementary located in Westland, are now learning remotely through Monday, January 18th.

In order to best prepare parents and guardians of students attending AMA for remote learning, the school launched its own Parent Academy at the end of November. Parents immersed themselves in a series of 10-45 minute virtual sessions and virtual classrooms to learn more about the tools and programs that AMA implemented into the curriculum. These programs are designed to support and sharpen the remote learning their children are experiencing on a daily basis. During the week-long academy, each day was focused on its own unique informational topic. On the first day, the Parent Academy gave the participants time to learn computer basics, such as how to navigate and use programs like Zoom and Google Drive, two integral pieces to the success of remote learning. Day two was focused on getting the participants comfortable with Google Classroom, one of the main tools that students at AMA use to complete their schoolwork. Parents and guardians were taught how to navigate the platform and then given the opportunity to participate in an authentic Google Classroom experience. The third-day parents gained familiarity with different programs and apps that are frequently used by their children at school. Similar to the Google Classroom experience, parents were able to participate and use different applications in real-time. The session on Day 4 presented different tips and strategies that the participants can utilize in order to effectively and efficiently manage the school schedules of their children while they learn at home. The final day of the Parent Academy gave parents tips and strategies on how they can continue to support their children and work collectively with the teachers through conference discussion. All five parent sessions hosted by the academy now exist on the AMA website and can be viewed here. AMA is a tuition-free public school academy for students from preschool through eighth grade. At AMA, the mission is to organically grow a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world. Authorized by Bay Mills in 2004 the academy begins by educating every student on how to be mindful and resolve conflicts through the use of peaceful techniques.

This unique Peace Education programming is built into each and every school day. Subsequently, students establish and exhibit intricate problem-solving skills at a young age. The meticulous, standards-based, academic program at AMA provides and produces purposeful choices for students as each child advances forward on their one-of-a-kind learning path.  Students at AMA are supplied with the necessary tools to learn and grasp concepts, practice what they learn, and employ their knowledge and education in applicable manners. After successful completion of the program, students come out as independent and flexible thinkers. In addition, they emerge with the ability to appropriately demonstrate empathy, kindness, and heightened emotional intelligence. The staff at AMA work ceaselessly to prepare and provide a healthy environment that promotes a child's natural ability to become a self-directed learner, flexible thinker, and creative problem solver. Learn more about American Montessori Academy by visiting their website:  https://www.americanmontessori.net/

About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools

Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257   Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.