Welcome to 2019/2020! We have completed the first week of school and things are off to a great start! These first days set the tone for the whole year as we begin to settle into our routine - learning our schedules, remembering "class rules," and building that sense of community with returning friends and new friends. It is through moments like these of living and learning together that our connections are strengthened.

These connections extend beyond the students and beyond the campus though. To truly be a community, we must also strengthen the connections between parents, teachers, administration, and the board. This can only be done if we all make an effort to communicate and participate. To that end, MSA will be providing opportunities for families to learn more about the Montessori Method and philosophy and to just get to know one another and enjoy each other’s company.

On September 6, MSA is hosting a “Daddy - Daughter Dance” at the Anderson County Farmer’s Market. The first of our special MSA family nights, this event was organized by Ashley Nietzer, an MSA mom, and is being sponsored by Anderson Pediatric Dentistry and Brad Thomas of SC Attorneys at Law. We hope you join us and even invite other daddies and daughters. As stated on the event poster, “It is only one night, but the memories will last a lifetime.” Please see the ad included in this Montessori Matters for more details.

On October 8, MSA will be hosting an on-campus event, “Family, Food & Philosophy.” The goal for this evening is to share information about the Montessori approach in a more relaxed, informal manner. This will be an opportunity for parents of students at different levels to meet and share experiences. You will receive more details about this event in the coming weeks.

To keep you up-to-date on all of the happenings, we will be communicating in various ways. Each classroom will have a newsletter to share class or program-specific news. Be sure to check out Facebook, Instagram, and Montessori Matters, our weekly newsletter, for school-wide announcements and news. “Board Notes” from the Board of Trustees will be featured from time to time in Montessori Matters to provide updates on policies, actions, and long-range plans.

It is important that we hear from you as well, so watch for parent and student surveys during the year. This is a great way to give us feedback about governance, administration, programs, resources, etc. We also schedule conferences in the fall and spring to touch base with students and parents. Please take advantage of these opportunities to communicate with our faculty and board.

There will also be Open Houses, observation days, holiday gatherings, classroom celebrations and more. We understand that you may not be able to come to everything, but please come when you can. The more you participate, whether on campus or through communications, the more enriching your child(ren)’s Montessori experience will be! #MSATogether

Dr. Hill

Caleb Holland (Suttles) graduated from MSA in 2011 after attending for his Middle and High School years. Currently he is working as a commercial and documentary producer/director and cinematographer having graduated from The Savannah College of Art and Design. Those of us around during his high school years could see this talent being developed before our eyes. His gifts then and now are to translate ideas into images and bring them to life. Among his many accomplishments are the fact that he has created broadcast commercials and ads for billboards, print media, and the web. With his entrepreneurial skills, Caleb was asked to build a video department from the ground up, including sourcing and hiring staff, overseeing all video and film projects from concept to completion, directing and producing on set, etc. These skills were developing during his early years here as he learned to multitask and “think out of the box.”

Caleb’s appreciation of his days at MSA include: “the freedom to take on creative projects and to lead and execute these projects with the trust and support of the teaching staff. My work today is entirely project-based and grounded in creative work and collaboration. This freedom and creative resilience I learned at Montessori, gave me the toolset I needed to pursue my professional ambitions.”

What does Caleb recommend to current MSA students? “Capture what makes Montessori special – the hands-on approach, small intimate classrooms, a tight knit community and make the most of it!”

My guess is we will be hearing more from this talented young man in the future. Remember his name: Caleb Holland.

All students must have a South Carolina DHEC immunization record on file in the MSA Health Office within 30 days of admission or the first day of school. If you are a transfer student from out of state or country, all immunization records must be transferred to a SC DHEC Form at your physician's office or a South Carolina Health Department. If the student has received any additional immunizations in the last year, a new record must be submitted to MSA. Any student not in compliance with South Carolina's Immunization mandated guidelines must be excluded until a immunization record has been received. Please make every effort to meet this deadline so there is no interruption in your child's educational experience.

All students with health concerns should contact Nurse Merriman at 864-226-5344 ext. 201 to discuss the student's health and any emergency medications that need to be in place should the student need medical treatment. Supporting documentation from your healthcare provider will be discussed and a Emergency Care Plan developed for your child's needs.

Illness policy---All students must be 24 hour fever free (without medication), vomiting and diarrhea free before returning to school after illness.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

With healthy regards,

Susanna Merriman, RN