Month: December 2018

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Field trip tomorrow and Biztown volunteers/chaperones

Dear parents,

Thank you for signing up to chaperone for the field trip tomorrow; we now have enough drivers! I will meet the students in the classroom, and then at 8:40 we will head over to North Shore to drive to the Aerospace Museum.  Normally, I allow students to wear a Friday dress code (jeans), but as we are returning to school in the afternoon, this will not be possible. We will be eating lunch at school on our return, as there is no assigned space available at the museum for food and beverages.

We are still looking for one more chaperone/volunteer for JA Biztown. Typically, this is a parent of a 5th grade student, but it can be open to all parents. You will be driving the students to JA Biztown (located in the Discovery Gateway Museum) and then helping in one of the businesses there. You will be able to see and hang out with your child at times, but usually, you will not be assigned to the same business as your child. Please contact me by email if you are interested.

Thank you!

John

 

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Field trip next week – two more drivers required

Dear parents,

Thank you to everyone who contributed to and attended the Christmas brunch. We had a lovely time and a big THANK YOU to Ms. Alisha for organizing it all.

We’re still looking for two more drivers/chaperones to take us to the Aerospace Museum at Hill AFB. We’re meeting at 8:45 at North Shore Parking Lot and leaving promptly. We have a workshop at 9:30 and then a self-guided tour of the museum and scavenger hunt for the students. We aim to leave around 12:10 to get back for lunch and then recess. You will only be driving/chaperoning for the morning.

You can sign up through: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/448689 and/or contacting Ms. Alisha via email at: eventhair@yahoo.com.

Thank you everybody!

John

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Stakeholder survey

Dear Families,

The school has asked that you please take a few moments to complete this anonymous Stakeholder Survey before it closes on December 14th. We need your feedback as change only comes when we know where we can improve.

The survey link is https://goo.gl/forms/crazDfVKIu8ENemv2.

If you would like to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card, please take a screenshot of the last page of the completed survey and send it to info@mariamontessoriacademy.org.

Thanks – John

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STARBASE transportation information for 6th grade parents only

Dear parents,
I know several of you have been asking about transportation arrangements in getting the students to the STARBASE camp. Things have become more complicated recently, due to increased security on Base (of course this is a good thing). In order to facilitate this process, the organizers of STARBASE sent us the following information. They will be providing a bus for us to escort the students and teachers onto Base:
After speaking with you I feel like we have a good plan to set in place for Maria Montessori’s transportation while at STARBASE. I will attach a document that provides the address and map to the Hill Aerospace Museum. It will also have some instructions for the drivers of where to park and what the contingency plan is if the bus is not an option.
I will need a list of all the drivers and passengers 16 years or older that will need to get on base. Please have them fill out the form “Transportation for base access” attached to this email. I will need this information by January 2nd. Please make parents aware once that information is turned over to security forces we will not be able to add any drivers.
One last thing, I can not press upon you enough to relay to your parents driving students not to be late dropping off or picking up. The use of the base bus is a courtesy that has been extended to STARBASE and we do not want to keep them waiting; especially if they have other routes. 
I will be sending out the documents, that are referred to in the information above, at the beginning of next week. Again if you could return any pertinent ones to me ASAP that would be really appreciated!
Thank you for supporting our students in their science education!
John
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Christmas brunch, 6th grade field trip to The Planetarium, Aerospace museum and JA Biztown

Dear parents,

Firstly, just a reminder that there is an early out this Monday December 10th. Please arrange to collect your children at 1 pm.

On Tuesday 11th we are having our Christmas brunch from 10-11. I believe that Ms. Alisha has emailed everyone asking for help and donations. Here is the link on ‘trackitforward:” https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/446054 to sign up for donations. If you could bring your food at least 30 minutes before the event, or if possible, and even better, the day before, that would be great!

On Wednesday, the 6th graders are going to The Planetarium. Here is the information about times (I apologize, I put the time out for the return from the previous years. This is the correct schedule:)

Arrive at Ogden Frontrunner at 7:20 a.m.  Leave Ogden Frontrunner Station at 7:37 a.m.  Arrive at Salt Lake Central at 8:36 a.m. Take the blue line Trax at 8:43 a.m. Arrive at Clark Planetarium at 8:47 a.m.

Leave Clark Planetarium at 2:00 p.m. Take the blue line Trax at 2:12 p.m. Arrive at Salt Lake Central at 2:17 p.m.  Get on the frontrunner at 2:25 p.m. Arrive at Ogden Frontrunner Station at 3:24 p.m.

Please make arrangements to have your child picked up at the Frontrunner Station no later than 3:25 p.m.  

Ms. Alisha has also put a link for the field trip to the Aerospace Museum on Tuesday December 18th: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/389525/event/448689. Please sign up if you can volunteer to chaperone for that day. We are leaving from North Shore parking lot at 8:45, spending the morning there, and then returning around midday to MMA.

5th grade parents! If you are interested in chaperoning for the JA Biztown trip on January 18th, then please email me. Ideally, we are looking for two parents, but if more choose to volunteer, then that is fantastic for helping with the whole trip. If you haven’t sent back your permission slips for this field trip, please do so ASAP.

Thank you everybody for all your support! I realize there is a lot of things going on at the moment, so please email me if you have any questions! There will be a separate post for 6th grade parents regarding STARBASE after this one.

Thanks again – John

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Information and dates for all parents. Then 6th grade parents only.

Dear parents,

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving Break and now we are looking ahead to the Christmas Holiday Break. We are presently doing some art work for the Hallway display called “agamographs.” Here is a quick 20 second YouTube clip, which shows what an agamograph is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNmVsB0W01w. Our theme is Christmas in countries around the world.

We are also planning a Christmas feast on Tuesday December 11th in the morning from 10-11 am. This will be in the form of a brunch and Ms. Alisha is organizing the food. Here is a list of ideas for the food. Please contact Alisha at to help: eventhair@yahoo.com.

  • Quiche
  • Fruit
    Bagels and cream cheese
    Donuts or cinnamon rolls
    Bacon or sausage
  • Hashbrowns or potatoes
  • Waffles or pancakes
  • Milk
    Choc milk
    Orange juice
  • Salt and pepper
    Ketchup
    Hot sauce
    Butter
    Cups
    Utensils
    Plates
    Bowls
    Napkins
On Thursday December 6th there is a parent education evening from 5:30-6:30. Here is the information about the evening:
Mark your calendars for an exciting, educational evening. Our teachers have heard you and understand that you would like more knowledge about what Montessori looks, sounds, and feels like, how it can benefit you and your child, and a better connection to some of its vocabulary. We will host a night with two prime topics being featured: Grace and Courtesy (Communication, Independence, Movement, and Self-Discipline) and The Benefits of Montessori (how it differs from traditional schooling). After a short introduction together in the small gym, we will break out into groups to discuss the two topics. We look forward to seeing you all there! Any questions can be directed to sellis@mariamontessoriacademy.org or jhall@mariamontessoriacademy.org. 
On Monday December 10th there is a professional development afternoon for teachers, meaning this day is an early out. Please ensure that your child is picked up at 1 pm.
On Tuesday December 18th we have our last field trip for the year. It will be to the Aerospace Museum at Hill Airforce Base. I sent the permission slips home with the children this week, please return these as soon as you can. We meet at North Shore Parking Lot at 8:45, have a workshop at 9:30 and will leave the museum at 12:10. Please email Ms. Alisha (eventhair@yahoo.com) to volunteer for car pooling/chaperoning.
Finally, dates for the holiday break: the last day of school is Friday December 21st. We return to school on Thursday January 3rd.
This is all the information for all parents. The following is for 6th grade only. 4th and 5th grade parents, there is no more information for you, but any questions, please email me.
Important dates for 6th grade parents:
Monday December 10th: we are showing a science fair movie at 10 am. Please sign the permission slip giving permission for your child to see the movie.
Wednesday December 12th: field trip to the Clark Planetarium. Meet at Ogden Frontrunner station at 7:20 am. Train returns at 2:50 pm. All permission slips have been returned for this field trip.
Monday January 7th, Tuesday January 15th, Wednesday January 23rd, Wednesday January 30th, and Wednesday February 6th: these are dates for the STARBASE Camp at Hill Air Force Base that we are running to supplement the 6th grade science curriculum. There are two permission slips to complete, one for the school and one for STARBASE Camp. Information about the camp can be found at: http://www.starbasehill.com. This was run for two 6th grade classes last year and was so popular that we decided to roll it out for all 6th graders. More information about transportation options will follow.
Again, any questions, please email me.
Thank you – John