Skip to main content

Author: Alejandro Malespin

New Student/Family Orientation

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

New Student Orientation is Tuesday, August 24. Students and families who are new to FMSL or who are moving up to a new program are invited to meet with their teachers and visit the classroom prior to the first day of school.

We respectfully ask that families be mindful to follow all directions and requests in order for this event to be safe for everyone:

  • Please use the entrance/exit assigned on the map for your child’s class.
  • We can only accommodate the student and a maximum of 2 accompanying adults. Siblings may not attend.
  • All visitors are expected to wear a mask for the duration of the event and to maintain physical distancing to the best of their abilities.
  • We ask that you restrict your movements within the school to accessing only your child’s classroom.
  • Should you or your child feel sick in any way please do not attend.

Please help ensure a smooth event for all by adhering to the schedule noted below:

  • 8:30-9:30 am Oquirrh, Uinta & Wasatch
  • 9:30-10:30 am Moons, Sego Lily, Stars & Suns
  • 10:30-11:30 am Aspens, Magnolias, Sequoias & Willows

Looking forward to seeing you!

HEPA Filters

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog, Community News.

Thank you so much for stepping up and donating to this effort. We are just a few filters away from reaching our goal. Contributions can still be made.

1. You may make a financial donation via our sister organization, MEF, for a tax deductible write-off. The donation form will ask what class you want your donation to go toward, the amount, and if you want to remain anonymous.

2. You may choose to purchase a filter for a specific class by clicking the links in the tracking doc here. Please email filter@montessorief.org if you have purchased one of these units. Include the class you purchased it for, the arrival date, and if you prefer to donate anonymously in the email.

If you are donating an actual unit and you have not yet informed us, please do so today, as we will be placing an order so we can try and have them as soon as students are on site.

All donations may be in lieu of your parent volunteer hours if you choose.  In no way is a donation required; the school has been budgeting with the intention to purchase filters as soon as possible.

With gratitude,

– Jemmyn Buchanan

Where do I Drop-Off and Pick-Up From?

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

A very considerate 4th grade student graciously agreed to help orientate you! The following entrances are staffed during school day arrivals and departures:

Event Entrance

Event Entrance (parking lot/southwest corner of the gym)

  • Wasatch & Oquirrh (8:15-8:30am/3:00-3:15pm)
  • Willows & Aspens (8:30-8:45am/3:15-3:30pm)
Main Entrance

Main Entrance (parking lot)

  • Uinta (8:15-8:30am/3:00-3:15pm)
  • Sego Lily*, Magnolias & Sequoias (8:30-8:45am/3:15-3:30pm)​

* Sego Lily is our new infant class. Infants’ parents will be entering the school to drop-off and pick-up at the classroom. ​

1700 South Entrance

1700 South (street parking)

  • Suns, Moons & Stars* (8:30-8:45am/3:15-3:30pm)

* Returning Stars familes- please note this is a new entrance for you.​

​Extended Day arrivals and departures along with tardy arrivals will be facilitated at the Main entrance. Please ring the doorbell for entry and call the main office number – (801) 355-1555 for pick-ups.

We thank you in advance for your attention to these procedures. With your help, arrivals and departures will run smoothly. We ask our experienced students and familes to help support the newest members of our community learn the routine. ​
Thank you Zedah!

Tips to Ease the Transition into a New School Year

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Establish a new bed time

Ahead of time, start getting into the new routine so the night before school is a lot easier.

Involve your child in the preparation 

It’s always fun for the children to participate in the process. Having the lunchbox or pencilbox they picked can make a child feel excited about the start of the year.

Review the school routine

Establishing familiarity with the new routine is key. Talking about the routine before school starts, can help alleviate anxiety about new and untried things

Talk about your memories

Share your own school experiences with your child and try to focus on the positive and be optimistic. Talk about your favorite teacher, great friends you made or a fun assignment you remember working on.

Keep calm

Back-to-school season can get very anxious for families, as you’re all rushing to get things done. But try to avoid the chaos. If parents stay peaceful, there’s a greater chance the children will, too. ​

Get ready the night before

The night before school will be full of excitement, and it’s the perfect time to start getting ready for the big day. Lay out backpacks, clothes, and anything else needed in the morning to cut down on morning chaos. Once everything is set for the next day, focus on having a fun and relaxing evening.

Be on time

Once the big day has arrived, keep to the schedule, which will be easier if you prepared as much as possible. There’s nothing more anxiety-provoking than being rushed out the door or being the late to class.

Plan some fun

Brainstorm ideas with your child for things to do when school ends on the first day. Knowing this plan is in place will help get you and your child through the initial stressors of that first day.

Substitute Teacher Position – Part Time or Full Time

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog, Job Listings.

A well-established Montessori school in the Salt Lake City area is looking to hire substitute teachers for our toddler, early childhood and elementary classrooms. Experience working with children is preferred. You should be flexible, adaptable, and willing to learn.

The schedule varies. You can be called first thing in the morning and asked to substitute that day. School hours are 8:00-5:45 pm, Monday through Friday.

You will be required to pass a background check with CCL. First aid and CPR certification is required or must be acquired within 60 days after hire. The school can help you obtain these things if needed.

Apply using our new job board.

Gratitude from Brandi and Margaret

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

And here it is, the end of another school year.  Call it what you like – unprecedented, singular or done (phew),  this year has certainly been one for the books! Brandi and I want to thank our students, staff and parents for the support and patience shown these past 10 months. We had successes and some challenges, yet despite everything, our combined efforts ensured our community was safe and the school remained open.

Firstly, we want to thank our students for their contributions this year. They wore their masks, washed their hands and learned so many new procedures and routines it would make your head spin, yet they did them all! Over and over this year, they showed real grit when faced with obstacles and reached out with help and compassion when classmates or teachers needed support or encouragement. We are so proud of them for all their hard work.

We would like to thank our hard working and caring staff who have made a huge difference to our students and families. Their commitment is outstanding. We thank them for providing an amazing Montessori experience for our students, one that allows for wonder, fosters curiosity, and  promotes responsibility for self and others. For this, and a million other things, we are truly grateful.

And lastly, we are so very grateful to each family for your attention, dedication, and understanding. We are humbled by what you have done to support our students, staff, and us this year. Without your partnership, this year would not have been possible. If this is your last year at FMSL, we would like to thank you for your contributions and for the guidance that you have provided for your children. Our best wishes to you.  For those of you returning in the fall, we look forward to being together again this August for what we hope will be a return to more normal times.

In closing, we wish you all a very happy, safe and enjoyable summer.

Our heartfelt gratitude to everyone, ​

Brandi & Margaret

Looking Ahead to 2021-22

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

With the end of the 2020-21 school year in sight, we know many of you may be wondering about our plans for the fall. While predicting the future is beyond our grasp we assume that 2021-22 will still be affected by the pandemic. This past year, we learned a great deal from our successes and challenges while conducting in person school and have used this experience to begin drafting A Safe Return to School, 2021-22. We will look to make decisions that afford an abundance of caution while balancing the impact on individuals and doing what is necessary for the betterment of the whole community. The following are preliminary plans about a few key topics:

  • COVID mitigation efforts will remain steady for a good portion of the new school year.
  • Anticipate that masks may still need to be worn by students and non vaccinated staff except for mask breaks, lunch, naps and recess.
  • FMSL will focus on in-person learning. We shall not offer a remote learning option. Should a student need to miss school for an extended period due to COVID related sickness or quarantine we will work to accommodate some age appropriate synchronous learning opportunities. Teachers will work with elementary students and their families to get them caught up upon their return.
  • Class sizes will be larger than this year.
  • Anticipate that extended care hours may be extended to closer to pre-pandemic times.
  • Field trips and in-house presentations will resume. Decisions for specific destinations and presentations will be made with consideration of safety protocols in place by the vendors.
  • On-site parent volunteer and chaperone opportunities will be considered.
  • Anticipate continuing virtual observations, parent/teacher conferences and parent education opportunities. In-person events will be considered based on the state of COVID at the time and the community’s ability to adhere to the school’s policy and procedures.
  • Anticipate outside drop-off and pick-up procedures will continue.
  • It is possible that children ages 2-11 could potentially be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this fall. Vaccine requirements are yet to be determined. We will continue to monitor the guidance from state and federal entities in relation to this.

This update likely prompts numerous questions, some of which we cannot answer before further planning efforts. We will continue to assess the state of COVID over the summer so as to finalize our plans. The full details will be communicated, in early August, prior to the start of the next school year.

We thank you for your continued support.

Infant Program – Opening Fall 2021

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

FMSL is excited to announce the opening of our Infant Program. Parents will now have the opportunity to enroll their infants in a program specifically created for newborns through 18 months. Applications can be submitted starting June 1.

The Montessori approach to infant education honors each child and provides a safe, nurturing and consistent environment for them to grow in.

“All that we ourselves are has been made by the child, by the child we were in the first two years of our lives.”

by Dr. Maria Montessori

Each infant class will have 3-4 adults, one of whom will be the lead Montessori guide. The lead guides will have Montessori teaching credentials for infants through toddlers. The assistants will support the lead guides in the daily activities of the class, the preparation and cleanliness of the environment and the care of the infants. Though the infants will interact with all the adults in the classroom on a daily basis, the classroom’s lead guide will be the main point of contact for parent communication.

FMSL infant guides will be pediatric CPR and first aid certified.​

The guides in the infant classrooms will observe the children’s natural schedules and allow them to eat when they are hungry, nap when they are tired and explore when they are ready while providing a loving and safe environment. The guides will provide parents with a daily record of their child’s day that documents every time a child eats, sleeps, works, or has a bodily function.

 “Nido” the Italian word for nest

Nido, a term often used to identify a Montessori infant program, perfectly articulates Dr. Montessori’s vision of the prepared environment for infants. Just like a nest, the FMSL infant classroom will provide warmth, peace and safety to all infants in our care.

In its formative year, our Infant Program will be staffed by our very own Austin Bull and newly hired Emily Squadroni. Austin and Emily will collaborate to establish the program and prepare the classroom space to open in the fall. Look for Emily’s biography coming soon along with additional information about the Infant Program.

Fully established, the Infant Program at FMSL will have 2 classrooms. 2021-22 will see us opening the first classroom. We anticipate being able to open the second classroom in 2023-24. We are grateful to our staff and the greater Utah Montessori community for their support and encouragement in making this long desired dream a reality.

The infant program will offer school day and extended care hours, Monday thru Thursday or Friday. Admission inquiries can be submitted here. For additional information please contact Ramira Alamilla, Director of Admissions, at enroll@mcsslc.com.

Austin Bull
Emily Squadroni

Parent Education- Remember the Oxygen Mask Rule!

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

 Thank you for joining me in a discussion about mental health, specifically, topics related to nurturing yourself. I have compiled a document I hope is helpful as you continue to be curious about your mental health journey. Please reach out to me at cheriemockli@mcsslc.com if you have any questions or concerns.

I wanted to share the entire podcast episode, “The Agony of Pandemic Parenting“. It is from the New York Times and it is an extremely validating listen for those who have been parenting and/or providing childcare during the pandemic. I encourage you to pop it in your ears the next time you’re making dinner, going for a walk, or doing yard work.

Oxygen Mask Rule: Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own nose before assisting others.

Tara Brach is a mindfulness practitioner and teacher. She releases free, weekly meditations on her website tarabrach.com. I find her meditations to be very helpful in my personal life. I also used Tara Brach’s RAIN method during our conversation on the 27th. You can find out more about RAIN in her latest book, Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of RAIN.

If you are considering seeking professional therapeutic services, I encourage you to consult with your Primary Care Physician. You can also find a provider directly through psychologytoday.com. Psychology Today allows you to search for a therapist in/near your area code. You can also be specific about your mental health needs using filters. Another way of finding a provider is calling the number on the back of your insurance card. If you have insurance, a representative will be able to help you find a therapist in your area. I found my own therapist using the last method. Even therapists need therapists!

Lastly, if you/someone close to you is ever experiencing a crisis, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional. You can always call the Utah Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). For additional crisis services, please use this resource list provided by the Utah Psychological Association

Excerpt from Kindness, the most viewed poem online during the pandemic

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
You must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Welcome Maya Brewer

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Please join us in welcoming Maya to the FMSL community. Maya recently joined our staff and has spent the past few weeks familiarizing herself with our various systems and procedures to assume the responsibilities of bookkeeper, payroll and assorted HR tasks.  As of April 30, Maya will have fully transitioned into her position and will be ready to assist our families with any questions related to tuition and billing.

Maya was born and raised in Utah.  She attended the University of Utah and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. While this is Maya’s first time working in a school setting, her work history has provided her with a wealth of experiences from working in small family owned businesses to the corporate world.

Getting to know Maya: “I’d consider myself a homebody and love spending time with friends and family. I like the family type environment at FMSL and look forward to meeting everyone. I also like to spend time volunteering for worthy causes and learned some non-profit accounting through that.”

“I have two Russian Siberian fur babies, Kohshka (Russian for Cat) and Pushistyy (Russian for Fluffy), and tons of photos if you’re interested, or just want to hear me pronounce their names.”

“A little known fact about me: when I was about 5, I decided I needed a middle name (as I was the only one in the family that didn’t have one) and it should be “Action!” It stuck.”