Tuesday, December 19th: Junior High presentations in the library from 1-2:30pm

-Our class will be visiting these presentations in the afternoon.

Wednesday, December 20th: Upper Elementary presentations from 9-11am

-Our class will be visiting these presentations in the morning.

Thursday, December 21st: Lower Elementary presentations from 1-2:30pm

-Group 1: last names K-Z

• Present from 1:00-1:45pm
• Explore from 1:45-2:30pm

-Group 2: last names A-J

• Explore from 1:00-1:45pm
• Present from 1:45-2:30pm

Friday, December 22nd-Tuesday, January 2nd: NO SCHOOL; Holiday Break

Things to Remember/Know:

-your student is welcome to bring food from their state for our snack in the morning of the 21st. If your student is interested in doing this, please email LPas@mariamontessoriacademy.org, so that we are aware of what is going to be brought.

-If you are planning on joining us for our day, you will be responsible for your student and your student only. All other students will rotate with our class to explore other countries. If you are planning on joining us, please let us know at LPas@mariamontessoriacademy.org.

We have a half day tomorrow. Please pick-up your student at 1:00pm.

Dear Families,

State Projects are due in class next Thursday, December 14th, 2017.  The International Festival is scheduled to take place on December 19th ,20th, and 21st. This event is opened to everyone. Here is the projected schedule:

Tuesday, December 19th: Junior High presentations in the gym from 1-2:30pm

Wednesday, December 20th: Upper Elementary presentations from 9-11am

Thursday, December 21st: Lower Elementary presentations from 1-2:30pm

-Half of our class will stay in the classroom to present while the other half of the class goes and explores. We will then rotate.

Friday, December 22nd-Tuesday, January 2nd: : NO SCHOOL; Holiday Break Begins

State Report Notes

Things to Remember/Know:

-the template is a suggestion. Student’s can research anything from their state

-student’s need at least two resources. It was brought to our attention that the local libraries are closed.

-your student must have a tri-fold for their presentation

-your student will be presenting to other students and parents. Please practice!

-your student is welcome to bring food from their state for our snack in the morning of the 21st. If your student is interested in doing this, please email LPas@mariamontessoriacademy.org, so that we are aware of what is going to be brought.

-If you are planning on joining us for our day, you will be responsible for your student and your student only. All other students will rotate with our class to explore other countries. If you are planning on joining us, please let us know at LPas@mariamontessoriacademy.org.

We look forward to seeing each student’s report next Thursday, December 14th, 2017.

Happily,

Ms. Lana and Ms. Carolyn

Parent Survey Reminder from Administration

Please take 15 minutes to complete the AdvancED Parent Survey. We value your opinion and incorporating parent feedback is important for our school growth. Plus, we are required to analyze data from this survey to maintain our accreditation. Thank you for your time and effort!

http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/section/response/begin?surveyConfigId=738200

Maria Montessori Academy Parents Association (MAPA) is very excited to announce that effective December 1, 2017 we will be using Track it Forward to schedule and record volunteer hours.

We feel that using track it forward will help us provide the most positive experience possible when signing up for and recording volunteer hours. This program will allow families to track their hours on their own electronic devices, send out reminders for sign ups and help us become a more centralized Montessori family.

Families are asked to donate 40 volunteer hours a year per family to the school. As a member of MAPA (all parents are automatic members) the MAPA presidency is trying to provide as many opportunities to complete this act of service yearly and Track it Forward will allow families to sign up to volunteer.

In sending your children to a Montessori school you are taking the initiative towards bettering your children and families. MMA’s mission statement is “Education for a better world” and by volunteering you are providing opportunities to help make this a better world.

The reason I volunteer is to provide my children with opportunities they may not get at other schools. “Only a life lived for others is worth living.” — Albert Einstein. By volunteering you are giving of yourself to your children and the children of others. Volunteering does not have to be a big sacrifice of time away from the family or money spent, many teacher at the school offer opportunities to volunteer at home and MAPA has opportunities to volunteer where you can bring your children.

Ways you may be volunteering and not even know.

· Attending a MAPA meeting

· Room mom calls and asks you to cut something out or bring something to the class

· Coming into the school and reading with children

· Bringing in food for an activity

MAPA in cooperation with the MMA is trying to say “thank you” to those that have sacrificed time and volunteered this year by giving those families with 10 service hours completed an “act of service.” The details are still in the works but we want everyone to know that we appreciate and value all of those that have volunteered.

How Track it forward works:

You can sign up in one of two different ways. On the website https://www.trackitforward.com/site/mapa or email mapa@mariamontessoriacademy.orgwith your family’s last name and the names of your children and we will send you an invite. Once in you can track your family’s hours and sign up for volunteer hours.

Again we appreciate all that our wonderful MMA families do!!!

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” — Elizabeth Andrew

Reflection Sheet

Starting today, your student will be bringing home a reflection sheet. Each week your student will fill this sheet out and take it home to share with you. The idea is to have your student discuss with you what they worked on this week along with THEIR highlights of the week.

Updating Blog

We have decided, since your student will be bringing how their relfection sheet on Fridays, that our blog will be a spot for IMPORTANT information. Instead of a weekly recap, we will post, as we see fit, important information for you. Important information will consist of, but not be limited to, spelling, home projects, events, volunteers needed, etc.

If you have any questions regarding the changes or anything else, please feel free to email us as LPas@mariamontessoriacademy.org. We value your feedback.

Thank you,

Ms. Lana and Ms. Carolyn

Dear Families,

There will be NO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK. Please take this time to reflect on all of the things your family is thankful for as you celebrate Thanksgiving.

Highlights From the Week

• We finished our November Hone Projects! Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to learn about your family. We will keep these posters for our International Festival as we have a special project with these.
• Our Planet Parade was a huge success! Thank you to those families who joined us for this wonderful performance. Our students did a fabulous job with their parts!
• Habit #5: Seek First to Understand Then to be Understood
• Tech Sergeant Vega came into our classroom to talk about his experience in the Air Force. Ask your student what they learned.

Upcoming Events/Reminders

• December Home Project: If you haven’t already, please take a look at the December Home Project so you have adequate enough time for your student to complete this assignment.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break,

Ms. Lana and Ms. Carolyn

Dear Families,

Our December Home Project aligns with our International Festival. Although we are finishing our November Home Project, we wanted to give you enough time to work on this home project. The International Festival is a school wide event similar to a science fair, but for countries. Our students will be representing the North America, with a focus on the United States of America. For this project, we are requiring students to use a tri-fold poster for their presentation. The tri-folds will be on display for families to view within our classroom. We ask that the posters are done completely by your student. They can choose to type or write their information. We encourage the students to make their posters enticing to individuals. Projects are due in class , Thursday, December 14th, 2017.  The International Festival is scheduled to take place on December 19th ,20th, and 21st. This event is opened to everyone, so please mark your calendar. Below you will find a template for gathering information along with which state your student chose from a box of names. If your student was not present the day of the drawing, we selected a state for them.

State Report Notes

Adalyn: Minnesota
Megan: New Mexico
Zyan: South Dakota
Kaido: Oklahoma
Zach: New York
Brinlee: Arkansas
KateLyn: Utah
Addison: Colorado
Skye: Washington
Andrew: Kentucky
Johnathan: Massachusetts
Lilli: Vermont
Ariana: Virginia
Samantha: Pennsylvania
Celia: Idaho
Bridger: Missouri
Evee: California
Dash: Texas
Caenna: Iowa
Julian: Nevada
Gen:Maryland
Randi: Montana
Mary Jo: Oregon
Aysa: Wyoming
Isaiah: Arizona
Taige: Alaska
Emmy:Hawaii
Carsen: Florida
Madden: Alabama