The Monthly Mustang
October 2021
Compassion I Community I Kindness I Respect I Courage I Citizenship I Integrity
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A note from the Head of School, Ms. Maike |
Dear Mission Families,
Mission Montessori has been working diligently on developing a sense of Community with the students in each classroom and on campus as a whole. Community is a very important part in growing students to be independent and self assured individuals. Our parent community is a valued part of this process, and fortunately, Mission has a wonderfully supportive parent community. Prior to COVID, the family events have always been cherished occasions bringing our families together, and we all felt the loss of connection having had to forgo all community events last school year. This school year we want to safely and slowly start to bring back a few outdoor community events. We are excited to share with you our first school wide community event of the 2021-22 school year will be our Mission Montessori Family Picnic at Rio Montana Park. Save the Date of Nov 6, 2021 and look out for a flyer with more details soon.
We are also thrilled to share the parent teacher conferences Oct. 27, 28 & 29 will be held in person with safety protocols in place. Look for a SignUp Genius link that will be sent out by your child’s teacher within the next few weeks. Details surrounding the Winter Concerts, small campus gatherings and Movie Night will be sent out soon.
Fall break is coming up next week and we hope everyone gets the much needed rest and relaxation they deserve. Please be aware of potential exposures to COVID if you are traveling or attending large events. If you travel, please do a COVID test before you return to campus and watch closely for symptoms of illness. We are so happy our students are able to remain in school in person for the most optimal learning experience.
Thank you, as always, to our entire community for your support as we continue to make decisions that allow us to move forward with our dynamic, uninterrupted, in-person educational experience. We wish everyone a wonderful Fall Break, and look forward to being in touch regarding our upcoming events.
"There are no extra pieces of the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle (of life)."
-Deepak Chopra
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Ms. Maike
Head of Schools
Mission Montessori Schools
Mission Montessori Academy
Mission Montessori Academy's Middle Years Program
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Academics in the Classrooms |
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Middle Years Program 6th-8th Grades |
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As Cycle 1 draws to a close, The Middle Years Program (MYP) students are fully engaged in their academic subjects and their Mission community. The students have pursued mathematics, literature, microbiology and global conflicts. They have been exposed to Sustainable Systems, Spanish, Music Theory and Art. They have worked together to put the Mustang Code into daily practice. As a community, we celebrated the life and accomplishments of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman Supreme Court Justice. Students have completed their first Theme Testing Week and are now involved with sharing their group work, digital presentations and group projects.
In English Language Arts (ELA), students analyzed the poem, “The New Colossus” which led to writing their own literary analysis. In addition, the ELA students are reading “Animal Farm” by George Orwell which is a study of society, social class and power. In Natural World, students have delved into microbiology while increasing their scientific vocabulary and gaining insight into how mathematical formulas are used to quantify our living world. In Global Studies, the students have participated in class discussions on conflict and are researching regional tensions and conflicts. They have collected data, identified root causes of conflict and are deep researching those causes as they look for solutions. Their final project includes a Know, What and Learn organizer which they will use as the basis for their presentations. The eighth grade students are following the same path but have worked to create beautiful and informative digital presentations of their conflict as well as completing their Heartbreak project, a study of the issue in the world that breaks your heart. This project will continue and be a year-long endeavor. Students are also beginning preparations to participate in Project C.U.R.E and the “Welcome to America Project.”
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Elementary Years Program 4th-5th Grades |
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We are so proud of our Elementary Years Program (EYP) students who have successfully completed their first 8-week academic cycle. They have mastered the new schedules and classroom routines, have adjusted to challenging course work, multiple teachers and academic assistants. In addition, they have taken math theme tests and presently are finishing their Galileo Benchmark testing.
EYP students have learned elements of literature while creating LapBooks for their choice novel and completing Writing About Reading strategies. Natural World ended with personal presentations about organisms and have now begun the study of Plant Cells and cell theory. Global studies has culminated with the completion of student’s personal project on Mathematicians in history as well as studying the classification of Invertebrates and Chordates. All students have completed Set 1 & Set 2 of TimeLine of Life Vocabulary as well as their group Mural Projects on the Eons, Eras and Periods of the Phanerozoic Eon.
In addition, EYP students have explored how to implement the Mustang Code into their school life. They are immersed in their Spanish classes, Physical Education activities, Vocal Music classes, Sustainable Systems and Visual Arts projects. In a few weeks, the fifth graders will travel to Catalina Island, CA to participate in the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) Biology program. Most importantly, these EYP students have been building a collaborative community focused on academic goals and citizenship. We are all looking forward to fall break and the work of Cycle 2.
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Elementary Years Program 1st-3rd Grades |
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Ms. Wisley giving a lesson on the Golden Beads |
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A student working on the Stamp Game |
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A student working on handwriting |
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Art Project
Paint your own Pumpkin
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Celebrating Justice Sandra Day O' Connor |
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The student body at 96th St. campus started the day out by gathering on the sport court to sing the National Anthem, recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and listen to students share notable accomplishments held by Arizona's own first woman Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O' Connor. Throughout the day students made booklets, created presentations and learned about her history. Students in 4th-8th grades were able to present their research to the 1st-3rd grade students. What a wonderful way to unite the student body. |
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As the weather cools the Primary campuses are using the Outdoor Environments for morning work periods and lunch, the children and adults are lifted and energized by the weather and the surrounding natural world.
We celebrated the International Day of Peace by reading, singing and discussing how we can do our part to create peace. The children then had the opportunity to make a wish of peace for the world which was written and hung on "trees of peace" on each campus.
Primary students observed Sandra Day O' Connor Day by practicing the Pledge of Allegiance, learning about our flag and what it means to be a good citizen. Along with this, we began our study of the continent of North America learning about animals, people and culture of the various countries. We look forward to expanding our knowledge with our International Day celebration at the end of October.
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Important Dates in October |
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- Oct. 4-8 Galileo Benchmark Testing
- Oct. 11-15 Fall Break
- Oct. 27-29. Parent Conferences
- Oct. 27-29. Early Release Days
- Oct. 31- Nov. 3 5th & 6th Grade Catalina Island Marine Institute Learning Expedition
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Reminders & Updates
- P.M. Car line for early release days - if your pick up is 3:00, it will be 12:00 - if your pick up is 3:15, it will be 12:15.
- There is no drop in for After Care on early release days
- Please go to the HUB on our website for information regarding handbooks, uniform policy, calendars and events
- Weekly Pooled COVID Testing: If you would like to sign your child up for this program please follow this link: https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent
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Access Code: 5AU731
- Please do not send toys, personal items or trading cards to school
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Organic Farm to Table Hot Lunch Program
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Order nutritious hot lunch for your child. Many child approved items. A'La Carte items available, smoothies, vegan and vegetarian dishes. Order online at https://missionmontessori.boonli.com.
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Weekly COVID Cases Dashboard |
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Please visit our Covid-19 page for our weekly updated dashboard for the 21/22 school year which will be updated every Thursday evening with the week's COVID data for our campuses.
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Need to Update your family contact information?
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