SUMMER READING activities

Weber County Library is doing summer reading.  They are also offering FREE summer reading tutoring this summer. 
 
There is also a state-wide reading program
 
Reading Rockets is also a great resource for parent and educators.
 
Thank you for all you do to help students learn and grow!
 
The Reading Team
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Last Week of School

Dear Parents-

It is hard to believe we are embarking on our last week of school for 2016-2017.  I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you for such a wonderful year and all of your support.  I truly cherish every day in the classroom spending the time with your children- THANK YOU.

Field day was a blast! IMG_1004  IMG_1001  IMG_1009  IMG_1011

This week:

  • Early out 1:00 everyday!
  • PTC Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  These are student led so please have your child join us.  If you have not signed up please do so: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/btlzg
  • Thursday:  6th grade graduation, 10:30 in the gymnasium.  Please come early (10:00 ) to find a place to sit.
  • Friday: Last day of school- yearbook signing and the annual 6th grade vs. Staff KICKBALL game.

Have a wonderful week,

Ms. Nicoletta

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Weekly Post

Dear Parents-

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all of you wonderful moms!

Yesterdays end of the year field trip to Crystal Hot Springs was a blast!  Thank you to the drivers and chaperones that helped make this happen, and thank you to the parents that came to spend a day of fun.

Projects– Monday everyones final projects are due for presentations in class (continent- level 4/5 or state- level 6.)

Monday is Moms and Muffins celebration at 1:00 please join us in the south kiva for a delightful afternoon.  https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/liexp

Tuesday is DARE graduation at 1:00 for level 6- parents please come to celebrate.

Wednesday is our last SAGE test- Science from 12-3

Wednesday– Upcoming 6th graders (level 5’s) parent/ student meeting 5:30 in the library- discuss committees and expectations for their 6th grade year.

Parent Teacher Conferences– please sign up for parent teacher conferences https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/btlzg

This week is spirit week:

Spirit Week
  • May 15 – Crazy Hair/Hat Day
  • May 16 – Crazy Sock Day
  • May 17 – Mix and Match Day
  • May 18 – PJ Day
  • May 19 – Dress Down Day (No Logos – Bring sunscreen and sun hats for field day) & Field Day
Final Week of School – Early Release 1:00pm all week long 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Ms. Nicoletta

 

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Weekly post

Dear Parents-

We are in the home stretch of the school year- three weeks!

The 6th grade field trip was AMAZING.  Lots of laughs, tears and stories- new friendships, new awakenings, new students.  Here is a brief snapshot:  IMG_0924  IMG_0834    IMG_0858    IMG_0751

Level 5 parents– there is a Parent/ Student meeting for your upcoming 6th graders (5th graders now) on May 18 at 5:30 in the library.  This meeting is to give an overview of expectations their 6th grade year and to give a snapshot of the Redwoods field trip.

Tomorrow is our Cinco De Mayo celebration where we make salsa, guacamole and tacos.  In order for this to happen we need food donations- please sign up https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/bawlk

Friday we have our last field trip to Crystal Hotsprings.  As of now we do not have enough drivers/ chaperones to attend.  Ms. Jen will be out of town- so please email me if you can drive/ chaperone and how many students including your child can fit in your vehicle.  This field trip is so much fun.  I will need to know by Wednesday if we need to cancel it.  nhouseholder@mariamontessoriacademy.org

SNACK– Victoria

Math Testing– Wednesday 12:00-3:00 please send your child with a good lunch and extra snack.

Parent Teacher Conferences– student led.  Please sign up at https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/btlzg

Celebration of Life– if your child has not had their Celebration of Life please sign up at: https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/nbdoz

Have a wonderful week,

Ms. Nicoletta

 

 

 

 

 

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Weekly Post

Dear Parents-

The Choir concert and Art show on Thursday were spectacular.  It was wonder to see the students perform- all of their hard work and practices really showed in the moment.

SNACK- we do not have anyone signed up for snack this week- if you can bring something in it would be appreciated.

Cinco De Mayo celebration- every year as a class, we make salsa, guacamole and tacos.  This year our celebration will be on Monday, May 8.  Donations are greatly accepted and appreciated- please see the wejoin  https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/bawlk

Updates:

6th grade REDWOODS Field Trip- be at the SLC translation 10:00 PM tonight (Sunday).  If you have any questions throughout the week you can contact the office.  I will be gone with the 6th graders all week.  Ms. Susan will be lead teacher, Ms. Jen and Ms. Autumn will be substitutes.

Teacher Appreciation Week- Beginning Monday 8- Friday 12

Tuesday, May 9- Level 5 Athens/ Sparta Debate 1:15-3:00 in the library (parents you are welcome to attend this event if you would like to watch)

Wednesday, May 10- math testing 12:00-3:00

Friday, May 12- Crystal Hotsprings Family FUNday Field trip (all day field trip)

Tuesday, May 16 6th grade DARE graduation 1:00 families are invited to come

Have a wonderful week,

Ms. Nicoletta

 

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weekly post

 

This week’s field trip to the Dinosaur Park was fabulous.  Thank you to the chaperones/ drivers who made this field trip happen.

IMG_0656 IMG_0657 IMG_0659

We have our next field trip, which I would really like to be more of an “End of the Year Family Day” will be at Crystal Hot Springs on Friday, May 12.  We will be looking for drivers/ chaperones to attend the field trip for those students whose parents will not be attending.  Ms. Jen, our room mom, will be sending out an email in regards to this day.  Again trying to have this be a “End of the Year Family Day”.  The cost for adults is $7.00, they open the pools/ slides up early for us this day.  It is a great day of relaxation and FUN!

Level 4 History Fair was a HUGE success, a museum of our beautiful state and our history!  Thank you so much for offering support and guidance of your child for this project.

Projects– All students should be working on their continent or state project at home.  They are doing research in class.  The 5 and 6’s have started their peer mentor presentations with the Ms. Marlene’s class and the students are loving them!  Please remember they do need to have a final presentation for the class.

Events coming up:

  • 6th grade Redwoods- leave this coming Sunday night April 30! Amtrak translation, SLC.
  • May 18, 5:30 – Level 5 parents mark your calendars there will be an informational meeting in regards to your students moving into 6th grade.  Expectations and commitments of 6th grade as well as the Redwoods field trip.
  • Testing dates reminder: May 10 math, May 17 science
  • Spring Choir Concert- this Thursday!
We are so excited to present to you the MMA Spring Choir Concert!  All of the students at MMA, 1st-6th level are performing at the MMA Gym on April 27th.  Mark your calendars!  It is not required that they come but highly encouraged.  All family members are invited to attend!   Kindergartners can stand up with the children, but I have not rehearsed these particular songs with them.   We have been working so hard to put this show on for you.  We’re going to have a great time! 
 
Because the student body is so large we need to separate the school by last name to perform at different times
All the students whose last name begins with M-Z will perform at 6 o’clock and need to arrive by 5:50pm to get into their places.
All the students whose last name begins with A-L perform at 7 o’clock and need to arrive at 6:50 to get into place.
This is slightly different from last year.  The honor choir will  also need to come at 5:45 and stay till 8pm for both performances.
 
The concert only lasts about 35 minutes.  Please only come to your allotted time.  If you have multiple children with different last names with different scheduled times please just choose one to attend.   There is not room to stay to see the other performance.  There are a lot of people that need to fit into the gym.  Please be mindful of the limits on space.  These performances are packed!  Strollers, or extra space takers are encouraged to be left home if possible.  The children will need to line up on the wall, therefore, we will request that the side walls be free from those that would like to stand.  Please stand in the back and not on the sides.   Please exit the performance quickly out the south gym doors to make room for the others that are coming in for the next performance. There will be signs indicating the flow of traffic.
 
Because this is a concert, I am requesting best dress for the performers. The attire does not have to be according to the schools dress code, just appropriate for the occasion.  You could dress them in beautiful dresses with covered shoulders and tights or leggings, or collared button up shirts with neck ties and slacks, or the cleanest and best clothes you have.    No costumes please.  This makes it a really special event!
 
Bonus!
The MMA Art show is being displayed in the Library that same night!  After your student performs, your family can gather in the library to view the art from the school.  There will be light refreshments!
 
If you have any questions about the concert you are welcome to email me at:     cstarks@mariamontessoriacademy.org    If you have any questions about the art show you are welcome to email Mrs. Trudy at:    tmalan@mariamontessoriacademy.org
 
We are looking forward to performing for you.  We hope we will see you there!
 
Thank You for the wonderful experience of teaching your children music!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Connie Starks, Elementary Music Specialist

 

 

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Weekly Post

Dear Parents-

This week was a very busy and fun week back.  We have started our shadow partners with Ms. Marlene’s class- we have two third graders shadow with a level 4 an 5.  We had a kick off of SAGE testing with our writing, easter egg hunt with figurative language and of course we had egg science fun in the class. Thank you for all of your donations for egg science.

Easter Egg Dying at home:

Egg tie dying- wrap the egg in the silk tie, with the shiny part wrapped on the egg shell.  Optional you can then wrap it again with a clear sheet (pillow case), put into hot water and white vinegar.  If you do a bunch at a time you can boil a pot of water, add vinegar and the wrapped eggs.  Let the eggs soak, then unwrap the egg and see the beautiful designs.

Shaving cream fun- this activity is super fun, but expect to get messy.  Put shaving cream in a pan and add colors- yesterday we only did two colors per student.  The more colors you have the better designs come out- the eggs come out with a marbled look to them.  The longer the shaving cream sits on the egg the darker the color will come out.  Then you wipe off the shaving cream.

SAGE Test– SAGE language test on Tuesday from 12:00-3:00.  Please make sure your child has a good breakfast and pack a hearty lunch.  We will eat lunch at 11 and have recess at 11:30.

Field trip– Wednesday is our field trip to the dinosaur park.  Student should come to school normal time, we will be leaving at 8:45 from North Shore and will return to school by 12:45 for afternoon work cycle.

Redwoods Meeting– Thursday at 6:30 in the library is the Redwoods meeting with students/ parents.  This is a necessary meeting for all students/ parents attending!

Level 4– Utah History projects due on Monday.  We will be displaying in the hall on Monday and Tuesday.  IMG_0626

Level 5/6– Continent and State reports, they begin their peer mentor lessons this week!

Talent Show–  School talent show- Wednesday, April 19 6:00-8:00 in the school gym.

Choir Concert

Spring Choir Concert
We are so excited to present to you the MMA Spring Choir Concert!  All of the students at MMA, 1st-6th level are performing at the MMA Gym on April 27th.  Mark your calendars!  It is not required that they come but highly encouraged.  All family members are invited to attend!   Kindergartners can stand up with the children, but I have not rehearsed these particular songs with them.   We have been working so hard to put this show on for you.  We’re going to have a great time! 
 
Because the student body is so large we need to separate the school by last name to perform at different times
All the students whose last name begins with M-Z will perform at 6 o’clock and need to arrive by 5:50pm to get into their places.
All the students whose last name begins with A-L perform at 7 o’clock and need to arrive at 6:50 to get into place.
This is slightly different from last year.  The honor choir will  also need to come at 5:45 and stay till 8pm for both performances.
 
The concert only lasts about 35 minutes.  Please only come to your allotted time.  If you have multiple children with different last names with different scheduled times please just choose one to attend.   There is not room to stay to see the other performance.  There are a lot of people that need to fit into the gym.  Please be mindful of the limits on space.  These performances are packed!  Strollers, or extra space takers are encouraged to be left home if possible.  The children will need to line up on the wall, therefore, we will request that the side walls be free from those that would like to stand.  Please stand in the back and not on the sides.   Please exit the performance quickly out the south gym doors to make room for the others that are coming in for the next performance. There will be signs indicating the flow of traffic.
 
Because this is a concert, I am requesting best dress for the performers. The attire does not have to be according to the schools dress code, just appropriate for the occasion.  You could dress them in beautiful dresses with covered shoulders and tights or leggings, or collared button up shirts with neck ties and slacks, or the cleanest and best clothes you have.    No costumes please.  This makes it a really special event!
 
Bonus!
The MMA Art show is being displayed in the Library that same night!  After your student performs, your family can gather in the library to view the art from the school.  There will be light refreshments!
 
If you have any questions about the concert you are welcome to email me at:     cstarks@mariamontessoriacademy.org    If you have any questions about the art show you are welcome to email Mrs. Trudy at:    tmalan@mariamontessoriacademy.org
 
We are looking forward to performing for you.  We hope we will see you there!
 
Thank You for the wonderful experience of teaching your children music!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Connie Starks, Elementary Music Specialist

 

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Welcome

Dear Parents-

Welcome back to the last weeks of school-literally there are seven Mondays left.  Yikes!  That is insane to know how fast this year has gone.  In these last spring weeks of school there is a lot of activities going on: SAGE testing, in class activities, and field trips.

SPRING FEVER– Students are physically and mentally changing and developing.  Embrace the change, take the time and opportunity to talk with your child about their changes- laugh at what does not seem funny to you but hilarious to them.  This is a pivotal time for all children to want to be noticed and accepted by peers, adults and most of all family members.  Invite them to make dinner with you- provide them ample opportunities to be leaders in the home- channeling the energy in a positive manner of responsibility.  Their emotions may seem very yin and yang, up and down, and really they have no idea or control of this phenomena.  Level 4’s are getting excited and anxious to no longer be the youngest in the class, level 5’s are excited and scared to be 6th graders and level 6’s are moving upward and onward to Junior High, which in general is an awkward stage of development for all children.  Emotions are high for all level of students from happiness to sadness in a split second.  It is okay and normal.

SCIENCE FRIDAY– On Friday I would like to do Easter Egg dying SCIENCE activities.  There are supplies that are necessary for the activities- please if you can sign up to donate, materials can be brought to the class throughout the week.  I would like materials brought by Thursday so I know if we can do the activities for Friday or not.  THANK YOU  https://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/mhywn

silk tie egg   shaving cream eggs

Field Trip– We have a field trip the following week to the Dinosaur Park.  It is an all day field trip learning about science.  We are looking for drivers/ chaperones- Jen will be sending an email out this week.  Thank you for all of the volunteers that help to support our field trip experiences!!

SAGE TESTING

SAGE TESTING 2017
Our annual summative testing begins after spring break.  With that in mind, it is important that your child rests well, eats healthy meals and comes to school on time in order to do his/her best.  These things are important for your child every day, but are particularly important during testing in order to eliminate anxiety that can come with taking an exam.  We have regular conversations in the classroom that this assessment is simply an opportunity for students to show what they know, and to demonstrate what they have been working so hard on all year.
Although SAGE is only one measure of your child’s progress, it is important to enter into the test with an attitude of working hard and doing their best.  (When would we ever encourage a child not to do their best?)  Students often reflect what has been discussed at home, if you model a positive attitude toward the test, your child is likely to do better when test time arrives.
  • Thursday April 13 – Writing
  • Tuesday April 18  – Language
  • Thursday May 10 – Math
  • Wednesday May 17 – Science
If you have any questions about testing, please contact the office.

Have a great week!

Ms. Nicoletta

 

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SAGE testing

 
SAGE TESTING 2017
Our annual summative testing begins after spring break.  With that in mind, it is important that your child rests well, eats healthy meals and comes to school on time in order to do his/her best.  These things are important for your child every day, but are particularly important during testing in order to eliminate anxiety that can come with taking an exam.  We have regular conversations in the classroom that this assessment is simply an opportunity for students to show what they know, and to demonstrate what they have been working so hard on all year.
Although SAGE is only one measure of your child’s progress, it is important to enter into the test with an attitude of working hard and doing their best.  (When would we ever encourage a child not to do their best?)  Students often reflect what has been discussed at home, if you model a positive attitude toward the test, your child is likely to do better when test time arrives.
  • Thursday April 13 – Writing
  • Tuesday April 18  – Language
  • Thursday May 10 – Math
  • Wednesday May 17 – Science
If you have any questions about testing, please let me know.
Ms. Nicoletta

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End of the YEAR projects

Dear Parents-

Students were given their End of the YEAR (continent or state-6 grade) rubrics on Monday.  Students were to bring home a white copy for home and they have a copy at school.

By Friday:

Level 4- turn in their choice of country/ continent- should not be the same continent of fall.

Level 5- turn in country/ continent- one they have not studies in 4th grade or fall, 3 topic choices for peer mentor lessons, schedule of day/ time to present

Level 6- turn in state choice, 3 topic choices for peer mentor lessons, schedule of day/ time to present

Please have them be doing research at home as well as at school and working on their projects at home.

**Please note- level 5/6 are doing peer mentor lessons as well as a final presentation and final paper.

I am going to excuse book reports for April unless by choice they want to do a book report along with their country/ continent and sate reports.

Attached are the rubrics.  Level 5_6 Continent and State timeline rubric   level 4 Continent- rubric

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