MMA Montessori Moments
August 14, 2018
A Message from our Director, René Baker
Welcome Back!
Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! I hope that everyone got a chance to rest, love, and learn this summer. I was able to rest in the ocean, love the family I visited, love my babies and husband, and reflect on all that I learned this past school year. I learned that we have an amazing, inclusive, supportive, and loving community of teachers, students, and families.
Thank you for committing to MMA and to each other. Please continue to support each other by welcoming new families and reintroducing yourselves to returning families. Thank you for supporting MMA financially, through volunteering, and by spreading positive words about us throughout the community. I am grateful to serve such dedicated families and to be surrounded by an excellent team of professional, intelligent, passionate, and caring individuals.
There is much to look forward to this school year, including: inhabiting our new, beautiful addition; playing in a huge, green field; climbing on a cool new play structure; getting to know new staff members; working with familiar faces in new roles; implementing revised curriculum; and, meeting new families.
Thank you for entrusting your children with us. As always, please contact me with your questions, concerns, and comments. I look forward to working with each of you this school year. See you soon!
Back to School Schedule
The front doors open to students at 8:15am and students are expected to be in class and ready to learn by 8:30am. Junior High students should enter through the double doors of the addition. The Junior High door will lock promptly at 8:30am, which means any Junior High student entering the building after that will need to enter through the main building and be marked as tardy in the front office.
Staffing Updates
Ms. Jodi will not be returning for the 2018-19 school year. We appreciate her contribution to MMA and wish her the best moving forward.
Click the ICYMI (in case you missed it) link at the bottom to review the last newsletter, which also contains staffing updates.
Thank you!
Construction Update
Our addition is ready for teachers and students! As you may have seen, the parking lot paving began today.
The playground equipment has been delivered and should be assembled this week. We ran into a snafu and hit a water pipe earlier and another pipe today during installation that may delay the completion date. Keep your fingers crossed that the playground will be ready for the first day of school!
If the playground is not ready, we will be happy playing in the large field and have way more room than we had during construction last winter and spring.
Check out the ribbon cutting ceremony details below!
Carpool
If you are headed northbound when exiting the school, please follow the red route on the MMA Traffic Trifold and remind your students to stand in the red area for pick-up. If you are headed southbound, please follow the blue route on the MMA Traffic Trifold. City officials want to prevent traffic from turning north (left) at Taco Time.
We will have crossing guards at critical points to protect student safety and expect drivers to be hyper vigilant as well. Please refrain from using your cell phone during carpool. Please follow the crossing guards' direction and always pull forward.
Drop Off
For next week’s (and all) drop-off procedures and as part of building independence in all our children, please refrain from walking your child into the building. Next week all 1st through 6th grade teachers will be out front holding a sign with their name where children will gather. The week after, beginning August 27th, early childhood teachers will be holding signs and will guide our youngest students into the building. Early childhood teachers will also escort their students out to drop off.
Join MAPA on Facebook
The Montessori Academy Parent Association (MAPA) is the Parent-Teacher Organization for Maria Montessori Academy. This organization is used to facilitate communication and involvement between parents and teachers. MAPA is currently seeking volunteers who are interested in joining this organization to ensure that the needs of Maria Montessori Academy’s student body are being fulfilled.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Pool Party!
**The pool party was advertised for a few days on social media to start at 6pm - and this is incorrect. The pool party follows the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house and begins at 7pm. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.**
MAPA will have a table set-up and will be happy to discuss ways that you can contribute to our school's success.
Sneak a Peek
You are invited to our Sneak A Peak event on Monday, August 20th from 1:30-3:30pm. On the half hour, beginning at 1:30pm, then again at 2pm, 2:30pm, and 3pm - each teacher and assistant will greet families, give an overview of the classroom and expectations. There will be time for families to ask questions and meet each other.
Ms. Lana and Ms. René will be in the library for you to meet the administrators from 1:30-3:30pm - please stop by to say hi.
There is no RSVP; just show up at a time that is most convenient for you. With four time slots, families with multiple children attending MMA have time to visit all their teachers. Please be on time and honor the half hour time frames to allow everyone an opportunity to visit.
Building Closure
Elementary Class lists
René emailed all families who had registered students a few weeks ago to inform everyone of their 2018-19 teacher assignment. Teachers are encouraged to touch base with families before they return to school on August 14th but not required as we want to honor their summer break.
Please check out the teachers' blogs for school supply lists. If you have not heard from us regarding which class your students is in, please email info@mariamontessoriacademy.org or call the office at 801-827-0150.
Stay In the Know
Please subscribe to MMA’s Main Blog in addition to subscribing to your child(ren)’s Teacher Blogs – accessible by clicking the “website” link under the teacher’s picture.
School supply lists are posted on each teacher’s blog.
Student Dress Code
There are no changes to the school’s Dress Code Policy, Dress Code Guidelines, or Dress Code Samples. School spirit t-shirts and other accessories are able for purchase. Remember that school spirit t-shirts that say MMA are appropriate to wear and meet the dress code policy.
In the past it has been acceptable and considered school spirit to wear a t-shirt from an MMA sponsored field trip, like JA Biztown, the Redwoods or Crow Canyon. Moving into next school year for consistency and clarity, we ask that students only wear these special trip shirts (that do not say MMA) within a week of their attending the trip. Since these shirts signify a milestone, we ask that siblings not wear these shirts until they, too, have experienced these trips and wear the shirt within a week of them having the experience.
We want to both celebrate our students' experiences on these unique MMA field trips and also be consistent with our dress code policy and how that is communicated to students and their families.
Hoodies may only be worn as outerwear outside of the school and should have a school spirit t-shirt or collared shirt underneath. Students will be asked to remove their hoodies and other outerwear while inside the building. Students have time in the morning and during scheduled transitions to put these items in their lockers and still be on time for class.
Junior high students no longer have to walk outside to get to all of their classes. This means that there are no excuses for why hoodies need to be worn during the school day.
Junior High Schedules & Fees
Parents can log onto Aspire using these directions to view their students' class schedules. Junior High students will be provided a hard copy of their class schedules during the first week of school.
The Junior High School supply list can be found on the Junior High blog. Class-specific supplies are listed on each teacher's blogs, accessible by clicking "website" under each teacher's name on the faculty page of our website.
5K and Pancake Breakfast
There are many ways to get involved and opportunities vary in terms of time and effort commitment. Examples include: participating in the race, assisting in race set-up, assisting in race breakdown, and obtaining race sponsors/swag.
The more successful we make the 5K and Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, the less little fundraisers we will have to host overall and I think we can all agree that is a good thing. All fundraisers benefit the experiential field trips enjoyed by ALL students at MMA.
School Spirit Gear
Coming Soon!
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