MMS Monthly E-Newsletter | Summer 2019
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Dear MMS Families,
Classes may be dismissed until August, but MMS is a busy community throughout the summer. Dozens of Primary and Elementary students are happily engaged in a wide array of enriching arts and science activities during seven weeks of
Campessori. FestivALL and other
Meet-Ups continue to be popular, connecting our families and friends throughout the summer. Teachers and staff are participating in Montessori training (see below) and other preparations to get ready for a new school year.
Summer is also the time for indoor and outdoor upgrades and building improvements. This summer's facilities enhancements include refinishing the floors and painting the four classrooms on the second floor of the elementary building. Our Lower Elementary and Plus rooms will receive new shelving and tables, built locally from West Virginia hardwoods by Mark Bolton. Primary classrooms will received new, updated curriculum materials, and the Middle School is partnering with Unity of Kanawha Valley to install technology and kitchen upgrades.
We are in need of your help with a few outdoor projects
! Our picnic tables are in need of a good scrubbing, application of weather sealer, and new top boards. We need help re-distributing the playground mulch so that it provides proper cushioning under the structures.
Please join me this
Thursday, July 18 between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. to take a look at these outdoor projects. Once we have a plan together for getting the work done, I will send out an online signup asking for more volunteers. If you are able to meet on Thursday at 5:00, please let me know via email,
jcarriger@mountaineermontessori.org. I hope to see you there!
Best wishes,
Jennifer
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FACULTY FOCUS
Each summer, MMS staff members fan out across the country to pursue Montessori training and other professional development coursework. This year, two of our teachers are going back to school during the summer months.
Alasha Al-Qudwah is pursuing Upper Elementary certification at the
Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative in Waltham, Mass. As part of the intensive two-year program, she will spend six weeks this summer, as well as fall and spring sessions, training with educators from across the country and around the world at the METTC campus outside of Boston. Alasha will lead one of our two Upper Elementary classrooms in the fall.
Learn more about Alasha's wonderful Montessori journey
here.
Alasha's studies are supported in part by a scholarship from the American Montessori Society (AMS) Joanne P. Hammes Scholarship Fund.
Alasha is one of a select group of educators nationwide, and the first in West Virginia, to be honored by the nation’s foremost Montessori organization with a scholarship towards specialized training.Congratulations, Alasha!
MMMS Lead Guide
Sarah Halstead
is dedicating her second summer to training for the
adolescent Montessori educator in Cincinnati, the "Mecca of Montessori", through the
Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program
(CMSTEP). "My Montessori training has been nothing short of transformative, and I continue to learn from inspiring, talented, dedicated people who put everything they’ve got into preparing courageous, informed, caring and responsible citizens, capable of creating the world we want, and know can be," Sarah says.
We are grateful to Alasha, Sarah and all of our staff for their unwavering commitment to professional excellence. Training programs connect our educators with the expertise and resources to create rich learning experiences and environments that optimize your child's intellectual, social and emotional growth at each stage of development. We also offer our thanks to the contributors to the MMS fundraising events and activities that generate support for teacher training.
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Sarah Halstead, second row on far right,
and CMSTEP 2019 Cohorts
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Like these photos? Then you'll love us on
Facebook
,
Instagram
and other social media. Photos and school news updates are posted nearly every day!
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Montessori Meet-Up: Kanawha State Forest Walk, Saturday, July 20, 10:00 a.m.
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Montessori Meet-Up: Live on the Levee, Friday, August 2, 6:30 p.m.
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Montessori Meet-Up: Coonskin Skate Park, Saturday, August 3, 10:00 a.m.
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Montessori Meet-Up: Downtown Streetfest, Saturday, August 10, 5:30-9:00 p.m.
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Middle School Orientation for new and returning students and parents: Thursday, August 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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New Student Visits, Friday, August 16
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Montessori Meet-Up: Back to School Pool Party, Sunday, August 18, 1:00 p.m.
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First Day of School-full day students only, Monday, August 19
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First Day of School-returning morning friends, Tuesday, August 20
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First Day of School-new morning friends, Wednesday, August 21
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Back to School Ice Cream Party, Thursday, August 22, Danner Meadow Park
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Back to School Night-Primary, Tuesday, August 27
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Back to School Night-Elementary, Thursday, August 29
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All School Parent Education Event/Annual Meeting & Report to Community, Monday, September 9
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Parent Conferences-no school, October 14-15
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Annual MMS Spring Gala, Saturday, March 28 - please save the date!
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The Cloaked Villain has kidnapped the superstar singer Amanda and Patches, her guinea pig, a famous jockey, a Mountaineer Montessori School teacher, and
even the Mayor of Charleston, West Virginia!
What is behind this villainous spree? Will she be stopped before she strikes again? And, can she be saved from herself? This original drama scripted by MMS Lower Elementary II third year students will have you in suspense as entire class joins in on the action to follow and end the reign of fear that The Cloaked Villain has brought to the town. They also learn that behind every villain is a story that can have a happy ending!
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Joyful Learning: A Year in MMS Primary II
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“A child who has become master of his acts through long and repeated exercises, and who has been encouraged by the pleasant and interesting activities in which he has been engaged, is a child filled with health and joy and remarkable for his calmness and discipline.” Maria Montessori, "The Discovery of the Child."
Enjoy this beautiful look back at a joyful 2018-19 school year in the Mountaineer Montessori Primary II classroom by Lead Guide Isabelle Bournigault.
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Thank you to the many parents and friends who have made special contributions to our school. Special thanks to:
- Spreading our Wings Gala Volunteers: Joe Jenkins, Diana Jacobs, Jennifer Preston, Mary Claire Davis, Salma Badawi, Hollie Hubbert, David Bailey, Tara and Nic Fought, Liz Stevens, Sarah Bailey, Marilee Hanemann, Sarah Halstead, Clifton Clark, Ami Smith Spangler, Kiran Faridi, JoEllen Zacks and more for helping to make our annual event a huge success - and lots of fun!
- Eric McEweun, Salma Badawi, Liz Stevens, Amy Tolliver, Alison Verey, and Mary Claire Davis for helping with our annual picnic, including set-up and clean up.
- Lilkeisha Smith, Amy Tolliver and Judi Malone for providing frozen fruit bars for our elementary end-of-year activities.
- Keeley Steele for working with our 7th year students to provide the 8th year graduation dinner.
- All the primary parents who provided assistance with our annual Beach Day.
- FestivALL volunteers Hollie Hubbert, Samantha Hicks, April Taylor, Salma Badawi, Jim and Carol Perry, and Ryan Pierson for assisting with our make and take art booth, and to Nancy Johnston for providing the creative idea and materials.
- Summer program students and staff for creating portable art for our students and families to carry in the FestivALL art parade.
- All the MMS families who joined us on the FestivALL Art Parade Route - and those who cheered us on!
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Mountaineer Montessori School
308 20th Street, Charleston, WV 25304
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