Nuts & Bolts
December 9, 2019
Thank you!
Thank you all for working hard to get the Acadience reading middle of year testing completed. Jamie and Kim are rockstars!
I have been doing tours a few every week, which means we have new students starting on a rolling basis. Again, we sometimes have little to no notice when a child's first day at MMA will be. We thank you for your patience and for welcoming the student and their entire family if/when you get a new student.
Thank you for all that you do every day to support each other and our students. We have a beautiful team and I am thankful that you all choose to be a part of this MMA family. I am so very proud of the work we do and also proud of each one of you and your part that you contribute to our work.
Have a gentle week filled with love,
René
Holiday Party
Professional Learning Follow Up
NCMPS Visit Follow Up
Seth had wonderful feedback for us in our journey to be a public Montessori school that focuses on the whole child. He said, "I am impressed with your school's work." He said that there was a great and positive feel in our school and he could tell that we have been working on building relationships - and actually stayed hours longer than he was originally scheduled. He had valuable feedback for us and provided us with even more resources to continue our work.
Thank you for being your normal, awesome selves because we purposely did not tell you that anyone important was visiting us. We wanted Seth to see us in a normal day.
Lockdown Drill Thursday
This Week's Events
Monday - Elementary Concert and Art Show, 5:30pm
Jessica, Mikaela, and Karen are signed up to support this event. The concert starts at 5:30pm and LE students are asked to report at 5:15pm to get set up. Jessica, Mikaela, and Karen should arrive no later than 5:10pm to assist students and families getting in the school and in their places. The UE students arrive at 6:45pm for a 7pm start. Staff should stay until the end of the concert.
Tuesday - Box Top Store
Cancelled this week.
Tuesday - Elementary Play
Cancelled. Originally listed in the year at a glance, this was cancelled as students are working all year for the spring play.
Tuesday - Board Meeting, 5:30pm
This was not on the original schedule and I found out about this on Friday. The agenda will be posted sometime Monday.
Wednesday - JH Concert, 5:30pm
Colton is signed up to support this event and should arrive no later than 5:10pm and stay through the end.
Thursday - JH Play, 5:30pm
Andria and Giuseppe are signed up to support this event and should arrive no later than 5:10pm and stay through the end.
Monday December 16th - Elementary Progress Reports Due
Please put hard copies in René's box or office, clearly labeled with the child and teacher's name
Other Change of Dates
STEM Week, Science Fair, and the Science Expo were previously slated for the week of January 13th. To allow time to develop these projects well, these events have been changed to:
- MMA STEM Week -February 3-7 (details to come)
- Science Fair for 6th/8th graders Thursday, February 6
- Parent Education Science Expo- Thursday, February 6 5:30-7:00
Professional Development Schedule Update
MMA Full Day PDs:
December 20, Jan. 10, March 13, April 17 & May 22-27 (no assistants)
Kim facilitating LETRS training for EC, LE, UE teachers in December, April, and May
Nicoletta facilitating LETRS training for EC, LE, UE teachers in January, March, April, and May
Rene facilitating JH professional learning (Final topics TBD) in December, January, March, April, and May
Nicoletta facilitating Montessori Foundations training in December and April for assistants
Andrea facilitating Emotional Awareness in January and March for assistants
EC, LE and UE teachers getting reading for LETRS training, please view this 10 minute power point prior to the December training: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qvB6gZdV8u3eLeU4gOSAk_X1KEliBK7w/view?usp=sharing
Microscopes
We wanted to remind you all that MMA has microscopes that can be checked out of the Curriculum Office. First, you need to schedule a class lesson with Ms. Rene to give the class a lesson of how to use a microscope. This is a great resource that we have; please make your request!
Elementary and Early Childhood Parent Teacher Conferences
A reminder that all teachers should have time slots set up on Track it Forward and available until 6:45 (if you are providing 15 minute time slots) so all conferences end by 7:00pm. If you do not have conferences scheduled until 7pm - this is fine, but please stay until at least 4:00pm. Please check in with René if you need clarification.
Utah women were the first in America to cast ballots under a women’s suffrage law, and that’s worth celebrating! Join Better Days 2020 in commemorating the 150th anniversary of that first female vote by schoolteacher Seraph Young, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment ratification, which extended women’s voting rights across the country, and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting laws.
Become a Utah HERitage School or Classroom
Our new school or classroom toolkit will give you the materials you need to amplify these anniversaries in your school or classroom. Additionally, if you agree to teach this history in 2019-2020, we will provide Utah HERitage swag for your classroom or school that will bring your celebration to life. There are a limited number of free kits, so apply for one today! Additional kits will be available at a cost. More details can be found HERE.
Lesson Plans & Materials
A curriculum website focused on Utah women’s history that provides high-quality, interactive lessons and resources tied to the Utah Standards with extensions and adaptations. Visit utahwomenshistory.org
All lessons are centered on primary sources and have connections to social studies, English language arts, and the arts. A sample of lesson topics and outcomes:
Developing a statue or memorial honoring Utah women’s suffrage
Creating a “Get Out the Vote” campaign using the tactics and strategies of suffragists as models
Analyzing the arguments of abolitionists and suffragists in their speeches
Performing a readers’ theater of the Utah women’s suffrage and staging a suffrage rally
Professional Learning Opportunities
Complimentary professional learning opportunities tailored to your school's or district's needs provide educators with more in-depth knowledge and ideas for application in the classroom. We also have limited monies to cover substitute costs, so contact us ASAP to schedule a training.
Naomi Watkins, Ph.D.
Director of Education
Better Days 2020
December
9 Elementary Concert & Schoolwide Art Show @ 5:30pm
10 PLC Meetings (Mandatory for full-time staff)
10 Box Top Store (11:00am-1:00pm) - CANCELED!
11 Junior High Concert @ 5:30pm
12 Lockdown Drill
12 Junior High Play @ 5:30pm
16 Elementary Progress Report Due (hardcopy to Lana and parents)
16 Advisory Meeting
17-19 Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences; Early Release
17-19 Book Fair/ PTC Meals provided for teachers/staff
17 Junior High PLC (Mandatory for full-time staff)
20 Professional Development; No School
23-31 Winter Break; No School
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