MMA Monday Montessori Moments
October 23, 2017
A Message from our Assistant Director, Kacee Weaver
Intersession and the Adolescent mind
In the Junior High program, we focus our work into 4 cycles. This year the cycles are:
· Change
· Force
· Power
· Connections
We use these “big picture” topics to create interdisciplinary (multiple content) units of study. For example, our Geography and English Language Arts (ELA) classes will collaborate with our Art classes to examine how the forces of art and artifacts make cultures unique and how our own culture is a force that acts upon us as individuals and as members of a community.
Between cycles we celebrate our learning with a weeklong Intersession. Dictionary.com describes Intersession as: a short period [usually] between university terms, sometimes used by students to engage in projects outside the normal academic program.
As we wrap up our first cycle of Change this week, we will be taking all 7th-9th grade students to Alta Ski Resort to study the Albion Basin in Cottonwood Canyon. Students will participate in surveying and classifying the life in the basin with a digital scientific organization called inaturalist. During this overnight trip, students will also be in charge of cooking their own meals and contributing to the community through service and group initiatives.
At the school, students will work together to make pumpkin pies as well as plan and prepare the much anticipated Haunted House for the Fall Festival. They’ll also participate in school service activities of winter garden preparation and linking art to math by making Hexaflexagons. We’ll also hear from a guest speaker and the changes she’s endured by fleeing war torn Sudan and being granted refugee status in the US. Intersession is a time full of real-life, hands-on learning that allows students to use the skills they’ve been learning outside the normal classrooms.
Thematic cycles and Intersession support the needs of the adolescent learner as outlined by the ASCD. These aspects assists students in building connections, providing relevant instruction and tapping into the community.
More information can be found : http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_update/eu200408_checkley.pdf
Montessori Academy Parents Association (M.A.P.A.)
Reminder about the Fall Festival
We also have lots of opportunities to volunteer at the festival. This is a fun and easy way to earn your volunteer hours. We cannot do it without you. Any games or rides without volunteers will be shut down during unattended times. This is one of our biggest nights of the year so please help us make it a success.
Remember MMA does not allow costumes to be worn on October 31, so this is the time for everyone to show off their best costume.
Adults can dress up too!
Lots of fun things to do!
Test your abilities!
MMA 2017 Red Ribbon Week Schedule
Monday October 23rd
Guest Speaker - Rob Eastman
Tuesday October 24th
Decorate your Wristband
Wednesday October 25th
Essay/Coloring Contest
Thursday October 26th
Tie Ribbons to the Fence
Friday October 27th
Door Decorating Contest
Original Works!
Original Works is an art fundraiser that benefits your child's classroom and turns your child's art into a number of keepsakes, such as: mouse pads, coasters, magnets, notebooks, tote bags, night lights, mugs, and much more. Keepsakes make great gifts for the whole family. Ordering information will be coming home Wednesday the 25th as a 'Dear Family' letter. MMA is participating in the online gallery again, which means you will be able to see your child's art virtually projected on dozens of different keepsakes. You have until November 13th to place your orders.
If, after you receive your 'Dear Family' letter, you discover your child didn't submit art (or you're not happy with the one they did), it's not too late. Manual order forms will be available in the front office. Your child's original art (no Copyright infringement, please) needs to be completed on an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper and submitted to the front office by November 3rd.
Once orders have been submitted, the keepsakes will arrive on Friday December 1st. Thank you for your support and please feel free to contact Rachael Bush at rachael.bush@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you!
Red Ribbon Week
Monday, Oct 23, 2017, 08:00 AM
MMA
Box Top Store
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2017, 11:00 AM
MMA Conference Room
Fall Festival
Friday, Oct 27, 2017, 04:00 PM
MMA
Hiking Club
Thursday, Oct 12, 2017, 04:00 PM
Check flyer for locations
Chess Club
Thursday, Oct 12, 2017, 03:00 PM
MMA South Kiva
Yearbook Orders
Don’t forget to order your yearbook!
Get yours for the early price of $20 (+2 if you want it personalized).
Order online:
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/. Yearbook ID is 13283718.
9th Grade Parents
We have extended the deadline!
Student Intent Forms and $50 deposit for the Crow Canyon Trip are due by Tuesday, October 31.
6th Grade Parents
Trip Fee for the California Redwoods of $260 is due November 16th.
Lego League
Sign up in the office. $25 includes T-shirt
Meets Tuesdays after school from 3:15 to 4:15 in the Library
From November through January for 12 weeks.
Open to kids in K-3rd grade
Any questions please contact Autumn Douglas 801-827-0150
Announcing MMA First Dodge ball 4th-6th Grade club
Wednesdays October 11-November 15 3:00-4:00
Requirements
- Recruit your own team of 8 players, 4 boys and 4 girls using 4th-6th graders
- Give Ms. Julia a list with your eight players signatures.
- You must have a signed parental permission slip to play.
- Each team must submit two students who will be trained to be officials and scorekeepers.
MMA Chess Club
3:15 - 4:45pm in the south Kiva.
Bring your chess board and pieces.
Available for Grades 3-6.
Beginners are welcome.
Job Shadow Hosts Needed!
Attention Business Owners!
Job Shadow Hosts Needed!
We are looking for employers who are interested in hosting a 7th or 8th-grade student for a day!
Benefits to our students include:
- Becoming informed consumers
- Meeting positive role models
- Discovering how classroom learning relates to the workplace
- Learning about career choices
- Understanding what skills are required to get a good job
- Career exploration
Benefits to Job Shadow Hosts
- Sharing a passion for your profession
- Informing students about potential careers
- Inspiring young minds
- Meeting incredible teens
- Supporting the next generation and their journey into the workforce.
Job shadow experiences will take place on November 16th or 17th, 2017.
If you are interested, please send your contact information and the number of students you are willing to host to Ms. Kacee.
Box Top Store
Overheard...
"I'm going to learn how to play the drums because I really like that boom-boom music"-girl, kindergarten
Teacher Spotlight! Ms. Holly Gladwell Lower Elementary
How long have you been a teacher? This will be my 8th year working as a lead teacher at Maria Montessori Academy.
What is your favorite thing about MMA? I’m very thankful I have the opportunity to be a teacher and learn from so many beautiful children and work with the most amazing faculty and staff.
Favorite Food? My favorite food is chocolate ice cream and sushi.
Favorite Color? My favorite color is blue.
Favorite Movie? My favorite movie is Queen Margot (French).
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? You may be surprised to know that I was born on Christmas day.
A message from our PE Teacher, Julia Gee (grades 1-9)
Here is a heads up for our PE Plans for this year.
- Run to the Moon Goal - the moon is approximately 250,000 miles from earth. The goal is to run 1 mile for every 10,000 miles to reach the "moon". Please keep track of your student's mileage on the forms that I provided them. Once they reach the required 25 required miles, please send a signed note so I can give them credit.
- Presidential Fitness Program - The Presidential Youth Fitness Program helps schools achieve excellence in physical education through quality fitness education and assessment practices by providing tools to: teach fitness concepts, assess fitness and understand results, plan for improvement or maintenance of fitness levels and empower students to be fit and active for life.
- Elks Club Hoop Shoot - The Elks Club hoop shoot will be offered to 8-11 year old students. This is a foul shooting competition. Students who are "in it to win it" should practice! The winning students will go on to compete at Bonneville High School on November 15th.
Let's keep our students healthy and active. Research has shown more active brain neurons in the brains of students who are physically active. If you have any questions please email me at jgee@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Thank you,
Julia Gee
Maria Montessori Academy
Email: info@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Website: www.mariamontessoriacademy.org
Location: 2505 N 200 E, North Ogden, UT, United States
Phone: 801.827.0150
Facebook: facebook.com/MMAofUT
Twitter: @MMAofUT