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Author: Alejandro Malespin

Fun Run – September 25, 2019

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Community News, Get Involved (P.S.A).

13th Annual Fun Run 2019

Wednesday – September 25, 2019

Our students have the unique opportunity to raise pledges for Service Learning Projects:

  1. The Children of Ethiopia Education Fund (COEEF) – Specifically, the COEEF program sponsors girls in Ethiopia so they can attend school.
  2. Adopt-a-Native Elder Program – Allows us to reach out to one another, share our gifts, and mend the broken circle of our relationship with the Land and the Native Americans who hold it in sacred trust.
  3. MEF Growth & Education – Continuing to grow the Montessori Educational Foundation nonprofit though grassroots Montessori advocacy and support

Make a bigger impact by

  • Helping your child to set a goal to raise a certain amount.
  • Helping your child tell family and friends about the Fun Run. You would be surprised how many friends, neighbors and grandparents are eager to support such a worthwhile cause.
  • Helping your child actively participate. (For example, earning money by doing extra chores at home. Then, in turn donating to this charitable event.)
  • Attending the event and join with them as they run or cheer them on from the sidelines.
  • Volunteering to help at the event. Please email psa@mcsslc.com for details.
  • Our goal this year is to raise at least $7,000 total, with 80% family participation. Help us beat exceed our previous goal.

We look forward to this exciting Service Learning experience and hope all of our families will participate with enthusiasm.

“We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.”
– Maria Montessori

Community Emergency Preparedness Committee Meetings

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Our Emergency Preparedness Committee would like to invite interested parents to join in creating action plans around the items listed below.  We would be happy to share our preliminary plans of action with you; if interested please contact Britney or Brandi. We will be hosting committee meetings during the following times:

  • September 20 @ 3:00pm: Educating the Community on Best Practices for Health & Safety Measures (contact brandiallen@mcsslc.com)

If you are unable to attend these meetings and are interested in being part of the committee or have contributions for this discussion, please contact Britney, Brandi or Margaret. A Town Hall where we will apprise the community of work to date is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 at 6:00pm (childcare provided). More info to come.

 

Parenting Connection – Using Questions as a Teaching Tool

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Questions are one of the most powerful teachers in existence. How else do we really know where someone else is coming from? And how can we possibly meet them where they are at without that information? Asking questions gives kids a chance to think critically, use their language, and reason and decide. It’s in the presence of their trusted adults they will do the most learning. Might as well use a method that involves them! Enjoy reading about how to use questions to help a child work through a mistake or problem.

 

Speech and Language Screenings, 2019

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Speech, language, and hearing screenings will be taking place Wednesday, September 18th. Let’s Talk Speech will be coming in to implement those screenings.

If your student is a kindergartener, they can be screened for free as long as the proper form (above) is filled out and turned into the office by the morning of the 18th.

If you would like your student screened and they are NOT a kindergartener, it will be $20 for a speech and language screening. Note that hearing screenings will be held on a different day.

Dear Parents,

Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake will be holding speech and language screenings on Wednesday, September 18th. All Kindergarteners will have the opportunity to participate in the screenings. If your child is in another grade and you have concerns, please fill out the bottom portion of this letter. The screenings will be a general, brief measure of your child’s speech and language skills in order to determine if further speech and language evaluations are needed. Screenings are appropriate for students of all ages.

The speech and language screenings will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. After the completion of the screening, Let’s Talk will identify if there are concerns regarding your child’s speech and language skills. A note will be sent home with your child regarding the results of the screening assessments and if further assessment is warranted.

You might consider having your child’s speech and language screened if your child shows one or more of the following:

●  Has had chronic ear infections.
●  You and others have a hard time understanding your child’s speech
●  Speech is less intelligible than their peers
●  Does not combine 2-5 words in their speech
●  You suspect your child may have a fluency disorder: stuttering
●  Has difficulty asking and answering “wh” questions
●  Becomes easily frustrated when trying to tell you something
●  Has a difficult time learning and using new concepts and vocabulary

Please return your payment and the bottom portion of this letter to Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake by the morning of September 18th. Checks can be made payable to Let’s Talk Speech and Language Services. Please call or email with any questions regarding the screenings.

Deon Mock, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
Let’s Talk Speech and Language Services, LLC

Parenting Connection – Letting Toddlers Help

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

One of the key tenets for the Toddler department at FMSL is to foster independence. There are many ways that we help guide our students through their exploration and discovery of their environment. Toddlers love to learn by doing even when it does not look as clean and concise as we might like it to. This article from Psychology Today speaks to the idea of letting our toddlers help in a variety of ways to grow their sense of independence.

VACCINATION POLICY & DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake’s current policy on immunizations states that we must have up-to-date immunization records or a completed and signed Utah Department of Health exemption (for medical, religious or personal reasons) on file before each child’s first day of attendance.

It is the intention of FMSL to require a student who has claimed an exemption to all vaccines or to one vaccine to stay home from school if there is good cause to believe that:

  • The student has a vaccine preventable disease,
  • Has been exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease,
  • Or will be exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease as a result of school attendance.

An excluded student may not attend school until the local health officer is satisfied that a student is no longer at risk of contracting or transmitting a vaccine-preventable disease.

Our records for this academic year indicate that we currently have less than 1% of our total enrollment with a status of exempt. Families with a student in a classroom that has an exempted student will be contacted directly. We recognize that this information is important to all in our community. We encourage you to reach out to us should you have questions or concerns. We also encourage you to speak to your doctor for advice should you have reason to take extra precautions for loved ones.

Please note that our policy on immunization is currently under review. In addition, we are working toward organizing committees to (1) review best practices in regards to limiting the spread of infectious diseases in the school setting and (2) establish opportunities for the education of our staff and families regarding important health and safety measures. A town hall forum is being planned for early October to appraise our community of the work-to-date in these matters as well as allow our stakeholders an opportunity to give input. Should you wish to be involved in either of these committees, or weigh in on the review of the policy, please contact Robyn, Brandi or Britney directly. We would be happy to share our preliminary plans of action with you and include you in the planning and scheduling of the committees.

Parenting Connection – The Partnership between Parents and Teachers

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

The partnership between teachers and parents is the best way to support your child’s educational experience. Nurturing that partnership is important on both ends! Relationships where both parties take equal accountability are the most successful. Give and take, along with clear, consistent communication are crucial to ensuring the most success possible. This short article, from Primary at Montessorium, gives some cool tips for nurturing your parent-teacher relationship!

Please note that Montessori Compass, our weekly email newsletter, classroom calendars, email and teachers office hours are a few of the ways we communicate with parents.  Our doors are always open and we invite you to contact us with any questions.

FACTS Family Portal

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Parents Web from FACTS is a private and secure parents’ portal that will allow parents to view information specific to their children while protecting their children’s information from others.

Here’s how to access our easy-to-use FACTS Family Portal:

In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer go to www.factsmgt.com and click Parent Login, then select FACTS Family Portal.

Type the school’s District Code mcs-ut – Use the same Username and Password that you chose when you went through the application process. If you can not remember your username or password click the link on the login screen which says Forgot User Name/Password

More information about functions inside FACTS Family Portal

Questions? Contact the the office: info@mcsslc.com or 801-355-1555

Assistant Toddler Teachers (Closed)

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

We are seeking Assistant Toddler Teachers, both full and part-time, on schedules ranging from 15-40 hours per week Monday through Friday. You will be working closely with certified Montessori teachers and other assistant teachers.

We seek a warm, imaginative, bright, flexible, and creative teacher who can effectively plan, problem solve and collaborate with our team of teachers. We expect our staff to be involved and active in our school community. Confidence, professionalism, and a sense of humor are important characteristics. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with parents, students, and staff. A strong respect for and love of children are essential. An understanding of the Montessori philosophy would be advantageous.

Candidates must have First Aid and CPR Certification or will be expected to complete First Aid and CPR Certification or be able to obtain certification 60 days after hire. Candidate must also be able to pass a background check and TB test.

This position is for the 2019 – 2020 Academic year, beginning August 12th, 2019. There will be a strong possibility of the job extending through the Summer 2020 and continuing on for the next Academic year. Compensation is based on experience and background.

Resumes and Letters of Interest should be sent to jobs@mcsslc.com.

Elementary Extended Day Teacher (3:00 pm – 6:00 pm) (Closed)

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake seeks Extended Day Teachers to co-teach a class of approximately 40 elementary students (6 – 12 years), Monday – Friday, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

We seek warm, imaginative, bright, flexible, and creative teachers who can effectively plan, problem solve, and collaborate with other Extended Day Teachers. We expect our staff to be involved and active in our school community. Confidence, professionalism, and a sense of humor are important characteristics. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with parents, students, and staff. A strong respect for and love of children are essential.

Candidates must have First Aid and CPR Certification or will be expected to complete First Aid and CPR Certification or be able to obtain certification 60 days after hire. Candidates must also be able to pass a background check and TB test.

These positions are for the 2019 – 2020 Academic year, beginning August 12th with the possibility of continuing through the Summer 2020 and/or subsequent academic year. Compensation will be based on education and experience.

Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake opened in 1985 with a current enrollment of approximately 220 students, Toddlers through Sixth grade. We offer a uniquely authentic Montessori curriculum. Foothill Montessori of Salt Lake’s mission is to provide a rich, individualized educational experience, which guides and nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole individual and inspires a lifetime love of learning and peace. Please see our website, www.mcsslc.com, for more information about our school.

Resumes and Letters of Interest should be sent to jobs@mcsslc.com.