MMA Monday Montessori Moments
April 16, 2018
A message from our Instructional Coach, Nicoletta Householder
Springtime AWARENESS
Spring is a time for milestones in children of all ages. Children experience changes - physically, emotionally, developmentally, and academically. Their comfortable state is, or will be, disrupted.
It is this time of year that students transition from one grade level to the next. In a Montessori school, this transition takes on a larger role, specifically for grades kindergarten, 3, 6, and 9. These are the times when students move into new to classrooms or schools and away from the teachers and friends they have known for the past three years. These are milestone transitions, especially for 9th graders moving into high school.
Children are going through changes that they may not understand or be aware of. Sometimes we may think that something seems abnormal with the child; however, the change we witness may actually be in consistent with their developmental growth patterns. Opening our sensitivity and mindfulness for the children and being alert and conscious of their developmental changes will help to support the children and ourselves through these transitions and to the new.
Check out these quick resources about developmental milestones:
Developmental Milestones Chart, Developed by The Institute for Human Services for The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (0 months – adolescent)
Child Developmental Stages and Growth Chart, Longstreet Clinic (0 months to 5 years)
The Ages and Stages of Child Development, Child Development Institute (0 months to 18 years)
Ages and Stages of Middle Childhood, YMCA Ontario (6-12 years)
MMA Yearbook
The yearbook portal was inadvertently closed this weekend. Lifetouch customer service is currently working on the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The portal will reopen today, Monday, April 16th through Wednesday April 18th for last minute yearbook orders.
School ID 13283718
Please remember that the school will not have additional yearbooks for purchase after this date.
Hope Week (MMA Junior High)
Junior High students are sponsoring mental health and well-being activities April 16th -20th for HOPE Week. Activities are below.
Monday
Where is HOPE Squad? HOPE Squad members will be wearing their HOPE shirts. Students who have conversations with HOPE squad will get a HOPE squad bracelet.
The Make-a-Wish Penny War Kick-Off Assembly will happen from 2:15-3:00. We will be sponsoring a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish. This organization has helped many families in our community, including our MMA community. We will have a speaker from Make-a-Wish and two families who have been affected by the organization. If you would like to donate, Jr. High advisories are collecting or you can leave a donation with the office.
Tuesday
Christmas in April: 8th and 9th grade students will choose a 7th grade angel from the tree. Students will be paired together throughout the week to build bonds between younger and older students and increase positive community interactions.
Wednesday
We will write positive messages on our sidewalks and parking lot with chalk during lunch and advisory. Also, friendship bracelets will be available to make during lunch and advisory
Thursday
Students will create compliment cards and clothespins, which is a fun activity for students to spread positive messages and compliments.
Friday
On this early release day, yoga and stress relief activities will be practiced during extended lunch and advisory. There will be a celebration for HOPE squad members only from 1-2pm.
Monday-Thursday – OPEN LUNCH
Students will choose a classroom with their angel and stay in this classroom for lunch. Students may stay in the same lunch all week or choose somewhere different each day.
2018-2019 Calendar
You are invited!
Helping Your Child with Handwriting Skills Parent Workshop
You are invited to attend a free handwriting training provided by our occupational therapist. This training will provide ways to improve your child's handwriting skills this summer. Join us on May 10th in the MMA Library from 4:30 until 6:30pm.
Field Day from MAPA
Field day is coming up! We are excited to get to celebrate a great school year with your wonderful kids. We need some help to make sure everyone is having a fun time and staying safe. Please sign up to send a snack, run an activity, or help set up or clean up.
Here is the sign up for lower and upper el:
https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/410685
The Jr. High is also in need of some help for Field Day. Here is the Jr. High sign up:
https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/410684
If you click on these links and it won’t let you sign up, it is because you have not yet signed up with track it forward. Here is a link to get signed up:
https://www.trackitforward.com/site/mapa
Both Jr. High and Lower and Upper El Field Days will be on Friday May 18th.
If you have any questions or concerns please let me know at heidibradley81@gmail.com.
Preventing Child Abuse
In accordance with Utah’s Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Law (HB286), we invite you to take a 30 minute online parent education course that can be accessed: https://pcautah.org/programs/school-based.php.
Prevent Child Abuse Utah (PCAU) prevention programs educate children to recognize abuse, engage children to learn safety strategies and empower children to report abuse. PCAU programs teach adult community members how to prevent child abuse, how to identify signs of possible abuse, and how to report abuse.
Supplies Needed!
We are seeking donations for objects to serve to collect change. Please send in your coffee cans, formula cans, hot cocoa cans, and the like for our “Penny Wars” fundraiser that benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Spring concert-This Friday!
Coming in 2018-2019
MMA Before School Orchestra Program
MMA's Tardy Procedure
We wish to stress the importance of our students arriving on time. We strongly encourage parents drop their children off to start their school day no later than 8:25 am. This will give students enough time to stop at their lockers to change their shoes, put away backpacks and lunch boxes, and walk into class ready to start their day.
We appreciate your help in ensuring our classes start on time and without interruption. If you have any questions regarding your child's attendance, please contact the front office at 801.827.0150.
Enrollment is now open!
Do you know anyone who would be interested in sending their children to Maria Montessori Academy? The Montessori method is the most widely and longest practiced form of education in the World. There are more than 22,000 schools in 110 countries worldwide. Current brain and educational research supports many of the practices perfected by Montessori teachers over the last 110 years.
Enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year is open! Don't wait any longer to educate your child for a better world! Enroll now.
We must be the change we wish to see.
You can learn more by visiting our website or call and schedule a tour to see this incredible method in action.
Your opinion is important to us!
MAPA Information
Did you know?
Did you know that donating items counts towards your hours? Have you ever donated a book from the book fair? Or provided items to your child's classroom for snack or a class party?
That all goes toward your hours. You count the time it took to drive to and from the school and the time it took for you to make or buy the item!
Also anything donated for the Gala, gratitude feast, teacher appreciation dinners or the fall festival.
So please go to your track it forward account and log in your hours!We need you!
MAPA is our school's parent organization. Because of MAPA, we do not have to rely on monthly fundraisers- like wrapping paper and chocolates. School-wide functions like Skate Night, Fall Festival, Gratitude Feast, Field Day and the Gala all happen because of MAPA. We do not want to lose out on these events.
Wanted: Parents interested in helping with fundraising for 2018-2019
We are in need of a Chair and Co-chair to organize our fundraising for the 2018-2019 school year. Committee members are also welcome! Funds raised will go towards all grade levels. We have streamlined things quite a bit so that there are only 4 major fundraising events throughout the year, instead of one per month. We have had an incredible community response in donations to these events. The skeleton is in place- we just need parents to take it and run! If you are interested, please contact Ms. Rene at rbaker@mariamontessoriacademy.org .
We would like to meet with volunteers as soon as possible so that dates can be set and assignments can be given to give the committee a head start for next year. If you have questions, please contact Jenna Beers at 801-695-5864.
MMA Teacher Spotlight- Ms. Jamie (Reading Specialist)
How did you find out about Montessori Education? I have been aware of Montessori since the 1990's, when my sons were toddlers. I always wanted to place my sons in a Montessori school, but due to the financial cost and being a single mother at the time in California - my sons were went to public school. When our daughter was four, we became aware of Maria Montessori Academy being built and that it was a Charter School. We signed our daughter up and crossed our fingers that she would be selected. It was been a great fit.
How long have you been at MMA? Seven years as a parent and five years as an employee.
What is your favorite thing about MMA? That the teacher is a co-partner for three years in the child’s education for lower and upper elementary, the work cycle and freedom to choose the subjects the student wants to work on, grace and courtesy…..some of the many things we LOVE.
What is your favorite food? Mediterranean
What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite movie? Uncle Buck
What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I sing little songs to my pets and grandchildren, such as nursery rhymes.
Calendar Of Events
HOPE Week
Monday, Apr 16, 2018, 08:30 AM
MMA
9th grade Formal
Saturday, Apr 21, 2018, 06:00 PM
MMA Gym
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