The Mata Memo
January 19, 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Mata families,
Yesterday, Americans honored the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many of you have read his work and watched him speak, and you know his messages are a call to action. Like Dr. Montessori, he was an advocate for peace, respect, and harmony for mankind.
Below is a quote from one of my favorite excerpts from “The Purpose of Education,” which he wrote for the February 1947 edition of the Morehouse College student newspaper. Although he never mentions Montessori education in his work, as you read, think about our student's experiences at our Montessori School, and think of how similarities to Dr. King’s vision of education and Maria Montessori’s are so similar.
It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.
Education must also train one for quick, resolute, and effective thinking. To think incisively and to think for one’s self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half-truths, prejudices, and propaganda. At this point, I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose. A great majority of the so-called educated people do not think logically and scientifically. Even the press, the classroom, the platform, and the pulpit in many instances do not give us objective and unbiased truths. To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.
The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals…
We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated experience of social living.
Please have a wonderful week!
Please read the memo carefully for information regarding:
- Calendar at a Glance
- The Middle School Broadcast
- Career Day Live
- 5th Grade Poetry Slam
- MOY MAP testing for 1st-2nd Grade
- Change of Learning Requests
- Mata Application Window
- High School Choice Awareness Week
- January Dress Pass
- Parent Conferences
- Congratulations to Winter Scholar Give-Away Winners
- Attendance Counts
- Dallas Collaborative Autism Project
- EdPlan Connect for Sped Students
- Covid Updates
- Mata's Virtual Career Day videos
- And much, much more!
We look forward to another great week of teaching and learning!
Tomeka Williams
Principal
Calendar at A Glance
- Jan. 20 MOY MAP testing for 1st and 2nd Grade
Jan. 20 Virtual Open House for Prospective Families
- Jan. 22 Virtual Career Day
- Jan. 23 Tech Fest 2020
- Jan. 29 Second nine weeks ends
- Jan. 29 Dress Pass Friday
- Feb 3rd 5th Grade Poetry Slam
- Feb. 7 New Student Application Deadline for Mata's 21/22 School Year Lottery
Feb. 12 Virtual Sweetheart Read
- Feb 22-26th Parent Conferences
Mata Middle School Broadcast
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NH7npltPQ4Zmii0K2FMGwFhDbMdS-0E8/view
Middle of the Year MAP Testing for 1st and 2nd Grade
On Wednesday, January 20th we will administer the middle of the year MAP test in reading and math to our 1st and 2nd grade students. NWEA MAP Growth provides teachers with accurate and actionable evidence to help target instruction for each student or groups of students.
Distance learning students can come to campus for the administration of the MOY assessment. To allow for physical distancing, students will test in the new wing of the building in one of the large science lab classrooms. Testing will begin at 8:30 a.m. and students will contact their parent upon completion of testing to be picked up from campus.
Distance learning students who are unable to participate on-campus setting will assess remotely.
Please take a moment to complete the Google form sent by your child’s teacher so that we may plan accordingly.
El miércoles 20 de enero administraremos la prueba MAP de mitad de año en lectura y matemáticas a nuestros estudiantes del 1º y 2º grado. NWEA MAP Growth proporciona a los maestros evidencia precisa y procesable para ayudar a orientar la instrucción para cada estudiante o grupos de estudiantes.
Los estudiantes de educaciĂłn de distancia pueden venir a la escuela para la administraciĂłn de la evaluaciĂłn de medio ano. Para permitir el distanciamiento fĂsico, los estudiantes tomarán la prueba en uno de los laboratorios de ciencias que esta en el edificio nuevo. Las pruebas comenzarán a las 8:30 a.m. y los estudiantes se comunicarán con sus padres una vez que completen la prueba para que los recojan de la escuela.
Los estudiantes de educación a distancia que no pueden participar en el entorno del campus evaluarán de forma remota.
TĂłmese un momento para completar el formulario de Google enviado por el maestro de su hijo/a para que podamos planificar.
Mata Montessori- Distance Learning /On-Campus Learning Model Change Request
https://forms.gle/WGd6vG46BZ7twDqn6
Have a child that wants to come to Mata next school year?
If you have a sibling, you must complete the application prior to January 31st. Please reach out to Ms. Leija or Ms. Sosa for more information!
High School Choice Awareness Week
January Dress Pass!
January’s Dress Pass!!!
It’s time to sign up and sponsor a class for January’s Dress Pass. This month it is Friday the 29th. Get with others in your class and do a joint sponsor or you can sponsor yourself. Let’s work together to make sure that no class/student gets left out of this FUN DAY!
Dress Pass Rules
No open toe shoes, flip-flops, or heels
All shirts, dresses, and shorts must be at least fingertip length
No spaghetti straps, spandex, PJ's, or jeans with holes or rips.
Let Mimi Bowen know if you have any questions (mbowen75@yahoo.com)
Pase de vestir de enero !!!
Es hora de inscribirse y patrocinar una clase para el Dress Pass de enero. Este mes es viernes 29. Reúnete con otros en tu clase y haz un patrocinio conjunto o puedes patrocinarte tú mismo. ¡Trabajemos juntos para asegurarnos de que ninguna clase / estudiante se quede fuera de este DÍA DIVERTIDO!
Reglas del pase de vestimenta
No zapatos abiertos, chanclas ni tacones.
Todas las camisas, vestidos y pantalones cortos deben tener al menos la punta de los dedos.
Sin correas de espagueti, spandex, PJ's o jeans con agujeros o rasgaduras.
Hágale saber a Mimi Bowen si tiene alguna pregunta (mbowen75@yahoo.com)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090544A4AE23A46-january
Congratulations to our Winter Scholar Give Away Winners!
For the Life of You Foundation held a giveaway for our students. Students from the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades were invited to participate!
They wrote an essay on: "What effect has Covid-19 had on you as a student? What lessons have you learned?" I
We are proud to announce that the following students are our campus winners:
Jocelyn Pena, Baxter Brown, Zeus Sandoval, Judith Guthrie, and Natalie Reyes.
They won a choice of a student work desk with chair, a Chromebook, or a lap desk. They each also received headsets with mics.
Congratulations students!
Attendance Counts! - Build the Habit of Good Attendance
The safety of our students and staff remains our first priority. Contact tracing occurs and if anyone is identified as close contact, they will be notified by the school and required to quarantine. To learn about the positive cases at Mata or in the district, you may visit the dashboard which is updated daily at 5 PM. COVID Dashboard Please see the most updated picture below.
We remain committed to following extensive safety protocols, which include social distancing in classrooms, hallways, offices, and elevators; masks are required for every staff member and student throughout the day; hand washing practices are regular parts of everyone’s day; thorough cleanings are scheduled, and contact tracing measures are in place and being followed.
Construction Update
Construction for Mata is still underway!
Check out some of the latest updates to construction!
Tile installation at new freezer/cooler
Pavers and tree well at upper courtyard
Compass area on south side
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Subscribe to the Dallas ISD weekly parents newsletter. It is available in Spanish and English!
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: @mata_school