The Mata Memo
March 1, 2023
Principal's Message
Dear Mata family,
This past week our Mata community showed up and showed out! There was a lot of hard work put in this week. I just want to let you know that I am proud of the tireless efforts that everyone has shown in ensuring that our students receive the best possible education and experiences!
This week's Memo has lots of new information. Please take some time to read it thoroughly as there are so many things going on!
Some action items include parent surveys, safety surveys, middle school meetings, picture days, career days, and so much more!
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Tomeka Williams
Principal
P.S. School Choice Acceptance letters came out today! Siblings and 8th graders, don't forget to check your email if you applied.
Calendar at A Glance
District-Wide Calendar - Click Here
- Feb 27- Mar. 3rd- Public Schools Week
- Mar. 1st- Evaluation and Modification Committee Meeting 5:00
- Mar. 1st- Lower goes to the Perot Museum
Mar. 2nd-3rd- Legally Blonde Jr. Performance
Mar. 2nd - Upper Goes to the Perot Museum
Mar. 4th - MATA Gras PTA Auction
Mar. 6-10th - National Breakfast Week
Mar. 6th - Class Picture Day
Mar. 6th- Mata Middle School Parent Meeting - Cell Phone Policy 5:00- Via Zoom
Mar. 7th- Parent U with Dr. Lopez 8:30 AM
Mar. 7th - Primary Goes to the Arboretum
Mar 8th - Reading Common Assessment - 3rd-8th Grade
Mar. 10th- Career Day
Mar. 13-17th- Spring Break!
PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK FEB. 27- MAR. 3RD
Public Schools Week—Feb. 27-March 3—brings together families, educators, and community
members to shine a light on local public schools and share the stories of the positive things
happening in our schools.
The work that takes place in our classrooms and campuses positively impacts students and
families, their neighborhoods, and the communities where they live. They prepare the generations of
tomorrow to face our nation’s future. Through a commitment to equity, creativity, and critical
thinking, Dallas ISD team members continue to provide welcoming and engaging learning
opportunities for our children.
Parent Survey 2023
This important survey will obtain feedback to help improve schools in the district.
This week the parent survey was emailed to parents whose addresses are available in PowerSchool. Many of you have already received the parent survey, and I encourage you to fill it out. As you can see from our Mata Memo each week, we have many ways for you to be active in our school. Whether it's PTA, SBDM, or our many community events, we encourage you to be involved. Your voice and participation matter and makes Mata Montessori a stronger community and a better environment for your children.
Also, please know that the survey impacts our ability to recruit new families, and selecting anything other than "strongly agree" or "agree" takes away from our positive response percentage.
Thank you for completing the survey and for your continued support of Mata Montessori!
Please help Mata Montessori reach our goal of 300 parents to take the survey.
Mata's Safety Meeting
As you all know the safety of Mata students and staff is of utmost importance. We appreciate everyone who had the opportunity to attend the Safety meeting last week. It is important for us to keep open lines of communication. We would like your input on some things that we are considering for Mata. These suggestions are available to us and do not necessarily come from a result of one particular incident.
We would like to know your thoughts on whether or not we should include several increased measures on our campus such as security hand wands, metal detectors for 6th-8th, and clear backbacks for elementary students.
If you have not done so already, please answer the following survey:
Mata Montessori Safety Suggestions/ Sugerencias de seguridad de Mata Montessori
You may also view the slide deck below that was presented at the meeting.
As always, we appreciate your continued support of Mata Montessori. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the main office at (972) 749-7500.
Mata Closet Needs!
Parents, the Mata Closet needs donations! Items we need most are:
- New boy and girl underwear in sizes 3T, 4T and 5T
- Boy and girl uniform pants in sizes 10 and above
- Girl uniform skirts/skorts (and privacy shorts) in sizes 10 and above
- Uniform shirts in sizes 12 and above
Please make sure your donations are free of stains and tears, with intact buttons and zippers. Donations can be dropped off at the main office. Thank you!
SBDM Evaluation and Modification Subcommittee Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4913287959?pwd=o6WoWsgabfZytmJcnQ1KsZOrUrKDQf.1
Meeting ID: 491 328 7959
Passcode: Mata
You do not have to have attended the previous meeting to attend this one. If you plan on attending please also sign up at the link to confirm attendance and so that the necessary documents can be sent to you in advance. ALL welcome!
Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d4aaba92aaa8-evaluation
Letter from PTA about MATA GRAS
Dear Mata Families,
We can barely contain our excitement about this Saturday’s Mata Gras, our first in-person fundraiser party since 2020! Before I dive into all the great things we have planned for the night, I want to pause and say that Mata Gras is for all of you, our wonderful caregivers, and community members who are devoted to the children at this school. Mata Gras is also for the students; so many of them worked together to create one-of-a-kind artworks, and they feel true pride in knowing their work will live in your homes. And, Mata Gras is for the teachers and staff; the money raised will fund classroom materials, field trips, and other enrichments that support a Montessori environment.
Inclusivity was at the heart of our planning goals. We did not want the ticket price to be a barrier for folks who want to attend, so we worked hard to find a venue and vendors that would help us keep our ticket price low. We love that FOE is just a stone’s throw from Mata and is already home to great memories for many in our community. We hope everyone feels welcome at this gathering of friends, old and new!
The evening will be full of fun experiences beginning with a rousing performance at 7:00 by the Woodrow Wildcat Jazz Band, followed by music courtesy of Mata dad Wesley Garratt aka DJ Dapow. A delicious crawfish boil and vegetarian jambalaya will be spearheaded by Mata dad Drew Huerter, and Mata grandmother Margo Kelly is baking sweet treats. FOE will provide a cash bar along with non-alcoholic beverages. The weather forecast looks promising, and we can play cornhole on the heated outdoor patio.
Wondering what to wear? At Mata Gras, anything goes as long as it’s purple, green, or gold (or anything, we really just want to see you there!). Dress as fancy or as casual as you like. Feathers and sparkles are a bonus! Artist Carolyn Marco will be at the party to help you make your own Mata Gras mask.
We hope to see many of your bright and shining faces on Saturday! If you cannot attend but want to support the school, please consider buying a ticket that we may gift to a teacher or fellow Mata community member.
Last but not least, the auction takes place online, so you can bid on items regardless of whether you are able to attend in person. Bidding on auction items closes at 9:00. Parent-sponsored parties are treated differently – those spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you’re eyeing that Backyard Movie Night or Kids Karaoke, act sooner rather than later!
Visit https://matamontessoripta.membershiptoolkit.com to purchase tickets. You must be registered with an account to bid on items. Auction items will be available for a sneak peek later this week! If you have any questions, please email pta@matamontessori.com.
Sincerely,
Melissa Gonzales
Mata PTA VP of Programs
Kids Heart Challenge
National School Breakfast Week to “Get Your Day in Gear with a Healthy School Breakfast” Activities March 6-10.
Los estudiantes pueden usar los colores indicados con sus pantalones de uniforme.
Interested in Participating In Career Day?
Career Day March 10th between 9:00- 12:00 PM? It would be for 2 - 20 minute presentions to Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary or Middle School.
All of our presentations will be in person.
If you can help, please reach out to Ms. Quiroz at rquirozfahey@dallasisd.org.
Missed Last Week's Community Coffee?
Passcode: yz16Fj#!
What's Happening Around Mata Montessori?
Inspirational Instructors
Lower Elementary
Ms. Salorio
Ms. Boling
4TH GRADE GOES TO THE CAPITOL!
Mr. Ibarra's students works on Physics (Friction, Force, and Motion)
Students from Ms. Paredes' class tasted pupusas for the first time from El Salvador!
Destination Imagination!
CHECK OUT SOME OF THE GREAT DESTINATION IMAGINATION PICTURES!
Congratulations to Ms. Manske's 4th grade Team Smartiez for winning first place! They are moving to the next level!
Congratulations to Ms. B. Vazquez's upper el team and the 2nd grade teams! You all rock!
THE MYTHICAL BEASTS WON FIRST PLACE!
The Middle School team won first place in the Fine Arts Challenge Saturday at the Regional DI competition.
Team name: The Mythical Beasts
Team members: Elliana Mitchell, Judith Guthrie, Zarley Bobosky, Atticus Garrett, Grecia Renteria, and Gabriel Hernandez.
Congratulations!!! Thank you Ms. Osborne for your Sponsorship!
MIDDLE SCHOOL UIL COMPETITORS HELD AT BARACK OBAMA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
Congratulations!
6th Grade Students: Ethan Gomez, Elian Romero, Diego Garcia, Jackson Barbeau
7th Grade Students: Zabdiel Morales-Yepez, Jayden Oliver, Lily Perez
8th Grade Students: Bruce Gomez, Yamileth Hernandez
Thank you Mrs. Pettigrew and Mrs. B. Vazquez for your sponsorship. and thank you to Mrs. Gomez and Mrs. Yepez for supporting the team.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL!
International Festival was A-Mazing. The projects, the food, and the performers were wonderful. The families were in awe and the students loved sharing their projects, sampling foods, and stamping their passports. There wasn't an official count, but we believe there were about 500 people in attendance!
Thank you for making it a Great Day at Mata. A few short video clips are attached.
Great job PTA, homeroom teachers, and students for making this event a success!
Woodrow Wilson HS Presents Disney's Frozen!
After School Carpool Reminders
All cars will proceed down LaVista Dr. to the furthest entry past the school building. You will make a right turn into the drive nearest the apartments. You will remain in your car and show your sign to the Mata staff. We will call for your child as you drive around the wraparound drive. Please pull up as far as possible. Keep your child's tag showing until your child(ren) is brought to your car. When leaving the drive, turn left to circle under the bridge and proceed to the traffic light.
Please do not park in the NO Parking Zones, as this is a safety concern, and you can be ticketed.
Also, please do not walk through the lanes of the carpool. Please use the sidewalks when walking.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe.
PTA Upcoming Events
We have lots of fun spring events coming up, International Festival, Garden Days, School Dances, End of year celebrations, We need you! Want to take the lead? Plan, Volunteer and Chaperone
Friendly Office Reminders
- Always bring an ID to the office for all student pick-ups.
- Cut off time for early student pick up is 2:30 PM.
- Parents must complete VOLY every school year in order to volunteer at our campus.
- No cupcakes or snacks high in sugar are permitted for Celebration of Life. Please bring healthy snacks the whole class can enjoy.
- No fast-food deliveries for students.
- Doors for students to enter the building every morning open at 7:30 AM.
- School starts at 8:00 AM and tardies are distributed after this time.
- If a student arrives after 8:20 AM this counts as a partial absence (T99).
- Always submit an excuse note anytime your student is absent.
- Please have your student adhere to the uniform policy.
Buy your spirit wear from the Eagle Wagon!
Spirit wear may be worn with jeans on Fridays
Thank you for your patience while we organize our current on hand inventory.
For new shirts, more colors, expanded sizing and embroidered options plus delivery to your home see our PTA’s online fundraising store https://matamontessori.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Join PTA!
Check out your PTA membership perks and if you’re not a member you can join online:
Action for Happiness Calendar
Mata Montessori School's Vision and Mission
Vision Statement: To provide an academic foundation which allows our students to be successful life-long learners.
Mission Statement: To provide an authentic Montessori education by focusing on educating the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally for all children.
Mata Montessori School's Key Actions
- Maintain a climate and culture that fosters academic excellence.
- Improve quality of instruction and student achievement through an aligned Montessori curriculum.
- Actively engage parents in education in meaningful and relevant ways.
Eduardo Mata Montessori School
Email: matamontessori@dallasisd.org
Website: http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/2376
Location: 7420 La Vista Drive, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: (972)749-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MataMontessori/?fref=ts
Twitter: @montessorimata