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Author: Alejandro Malespin

Effective Parent Teacher Conferences

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Friday, November 17th. There will be no school that day. Sign-up sheets for the conferences are on a table in the lobby, arranged by class, from Toddlers to Upper Elementary (please check the top of each page for the name of the class). As we do every year, we ask that you observe the following requests:

· Please sign up for one meeting time per child.
· Please be on time for your conference.
· Please help the teachers to stay on time.
· Please arrange for childcare during Parent/Teacher conferences.

We have had parents make requests for child care during the conferences. Unfortunately, as our staff is busy meeting with parents and all of our classrooms, along with some other spaces in the school, are being used we have not been able to accommodate this request. Please note that our playgrounds and our Outdoor Classroom are closed during conferences for safety and liability reasons. In order to accommodate parents who arrange to exchange child care during conferences we will make our lobby available and will provide coloring pages for the children.

We have included some additional tips that might be useful in having a successful Parent Teacher Conference:

  1. Write down questions or things you would like to discuss and email the teacher(s) with your questions/comments before the conference.
  2. Ask your child if there is anything they would like you to discuss with the teacher(s).
  3. Keep the conference focused on the child and the purpose of the conference-use your time carefully.
  4. Be open to suggestions from the teacher.
  5. Be prepared to share suggestions of your own. No one knows your child like you know him/her.
  6. If you are unclear about what the teacher is telling you about your child, ask for specific examples.
  7. Remember that you and the teacher(s) are a team and your main focus is meeting the needs of your child.
  8. Take notes so you can share information with your child after the meeting.
  9. Make sure the teachers have the best contact information for you and that you have a clear understanding of the communication protocol.
  10. Keep the teacher informed. Things happening at home often affect children’s behavior at school.
  11. At the end of your conference make sure that everyone understands what was talked about and what they can/have agreed to do to follow up.
  12. Follow up. If you have concerns that need to be followed up on, set up that time in advance.

We thank you for utilizing this opportunity to learn more about your child’s experience here at school and appreciate your time. Be sure visit your Montessori Compass account starting this Friday evening to view your child’s most recent Progress Report!

AED: Donation Success!

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

We are absolutely gushing with gratitude! An MCS parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, contributed a generous donation today to our AED fund that helped us reach our goal!

Now we will be able to purchase an AED (or Automated External Defibrillator) machine for our community, and have the ability to truly save lives.

 

For those who aren’t familiar with what an AED does, here are 7 reasons why it’s important to have one on site:

1. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the U.S. From schools to homes to public places, 7,000 to 16,000 children die from sudden cardiac arrest each year, often from undiscovered heart defects. For adults, 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur in the workplace every year.
2. CPR is not enough. While CPR is important, and all of our staff at MCS are CPR certified, only an electric shock can restore a normal heart rhythm when a person experiences ventricular fibrillation – the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest.
3. Paramedics are fast, but not fast enough. The average EMS response time in a typical community is nine minutes. In a sudden cardiac emergency, that’s too late.
4. Certain populations are at higher risk. Sudden cardiac arrest cases go up for men over age 45 and women over age 55. In addition, the probability a sudden cardiac arrest is higher for people who have cardiac risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity, or smoking.
5. There is a cost to doing nothing. The American Red Cross estimates that a sudden cardiac arrest fatality in the workplace can cost up to $1.3 million in direct and indirect costs.
6. Early treatment dramatically improves survival rates. When people properly use an AED and CPS on a victim within the first three to five minutes of a heart stopping, survival rates are as high as 60%.
7. Preparation for the unexpected matters. 34% of workplaces that have implemented an AED program have used their AED at least once in order to help save a life.

 

 

Thank you so much to each and every one of our community who helped us reach this incredible goal!

PSA Raises Funds for an AED for MCS!

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

Montessori Community School has recently been approved for a grant that will pay the majority of the cost for MCS to receive an AED. Our PSA have since been diligently working to raise the remainder of the funds necessary for the school to acquire the AED.  To date, we have raised just over $300and hope to raise the remaining $700 as soon as possible.

If you would like to support our fundraising efforts we invite you to donate directly in to the jar in the office. We are happy to accept any amount and encourage you to involve your child in the process. You might choose to have your child help gather change from all the family members on a regular basis and place it in the jar weekly.

We also encourage you to speak with your children about the function and importance of an AED and maybe keep a special container at home or in the car for them to add, hunt for, or gather change to contribute to the jar in the office.

We thank you and our PSA for this effort and support.

 

MCS’ 11th Annual Fun Run: Thursday, September 28th

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

“If salvation and help are to come, it is from the child, for the child is the constructor of man and so of society. The child is endowed with an inner power which can guide us to a more enlightened future.”

– Maria Montessori

Each year our students have the opportunity to raise pledges for our two Service Learning Projects:

The Children of Ethiopia Education Fund (COEEF)

Specifically, the COEEF program will give vital financial support so that the six girls our MCS students sponsor can attend school in Ethiopia. The Children of Ethiopia Education Fund exists to empower young girls from Ethiopia who are  living in impoverished circumstances to have a quality, private education through generous sponsors and donors. Without this assistance many of these girls would not have the opportunity to attend any school. We feel that supporting girls in this way will have such a far reaching effect:  “To educate a girl is to educate a village (nation).”

Adopt-a-Native Elder Program

For more than 20 years our school has been involved in the Adopt a Native Elder program. The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a Bridge of Hope between Native Americans and other cultures. It 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.

We originally adopted three grandmothers –  Grandmother Roseline Jackson who died two years ago. Grandmother Emma Bahe who died this year and Grandmother Elivira Horseherder to whom we are still committed. Recently we chose to adopt another grandmother whose name is Grandmother Anita Jackson, a relative of Grandmother Roseline. We are delighted to have this opportunity to become part of the life of Grandmother Anita. We anticipate having regular communication with her as we do with Grandmother Elvira.

The money raised by our students will be used to provide our adopted Navajo grandmothers with much-needed items, such as food, firewood, clothing, and gardening tools  as well as yarn to weave the beautiful rugs they sell to earn a living and also to our support our girls in Ethiopia.

Service Learning is an important component of our Montessori program, and teaches students about the joy and value of contributing to their community, society, and world. We encourage you to join with us in supporting your child in service learning. You can do this by:

  • Helping your child to set a goal to raise a certain amount or get pledges by how many laps they are able to complete on the obstacle course.
  • 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 event.
  • Helping your child actively participate. (For example, earning money by doing extra chores at home. Then, in turn making a payment on Youcaring.com and seeing how your donation helps us meet our goals.)
  • Attending the event (see the upcoming schedule for when your child’s class will be running) 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.

Please make your pledge via Youcaring.com and share with family and friends.

          

Our goal this year is to raise at least $7,000 total,

with 80% family participation.

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

Sincerely,

MCS Parent School Alliance

Pledge Form

Speech, Language, and Hearing Screenings

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

Montessori​ ​Community​ ​School​ ​will​ ​be​ ​holding​ ​speech,​ ​language,​ ​and​ ​hearing​ ​screenings​ ​on​ ​​Wednesday,​ ​September​ ​27th beginning around 9:15 am.​ ​

All Kindergarteners can participate in the screening for free if you turn in a form, attached below. If your student is not a Kindergartener and you would like your student to participate, please turn in a form and submit payment.

The​ ​screenings​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a​ ​general,​ ​brief​ ​measure​ ​of​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​speech,​ ​language,​ ​and​ ​hearing skills​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to determine​ ​if​ ​further​ ​speech​ ​and​ ​language​ ​evaluations​ ​are​ ​needed.​ ​​ ​Speech​ ​and​ ​Language​ ​screenings​ ​are​ ​appropriate for​ ​students​ ​of​ ​all​ ​ages​ ​while​ ​hearing​ ​screenings​ ​should​ ​be​ ​for​ ​students​ ​3​ ​1⁄2​ ​years​ ​or​ ​older.

The​ ​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,​ ​language,​ ​and​ ​hearing​ ​skills.​ ​​ ​A​ ​note​ ​will​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​home​ ​with​ ​your​ ​child regarding​ ​the​ ​results​ ​of​ ​the​ ​screening​ ​assessments​ ​and​ ​if​ ​further​ ​assessment​ ​is​ ​warranted.

Please​ ​indicate​ ​if​ ​you​ ​would​ ​like​ ​your​ ​child​ ​to​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​the​ ​free​ ​screening​ ​below.​ ​Please​ ​return​ the​ ​bottom​ ​half​ ​of​ ​the appropriate form ​to​ ​Montessori​ ​Community​ ​School​ ​before​ ​​Wednesday,​ ​September​ ​27th.

If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​questions​ ​about​ ​the​ ​screenings,​ ​please​ ​feel​ ​free​ ​to​ ​contact​ ​me​ ​at​ ​anytime.

Thank​ ​you,

Deon​ ​Mock,​ ​M.S.,​ ​CCC-SLP
Speech​ ​and​ ​Language​ ​Pathologist
Let’s​ ​Talk​ ​Speech​ ​and​ ​Language​ ​Services,​ ​LLC (435)​ ​705-3881
deon@letstalkspeech.com

Form for Screening

Kindergartener Form for Screening

Speech, Language, and Hearing Screenings

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

Montessori Community School will be holding speech, language, and hearing screenings on Wednesday, September 18th.All Kindergarteners will have the opportunity to participate in the screenings. If your student is a Kindergartener, please check their Take-Home Files for the Kindergarten Registration Form.

If your child is in another grade and you have concerns, please fill out the bottom portion of the form found in the office-lobby area and return to the MCS office by Tuesday, September 17th.

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. Please note that hearing screenings will be held at a different time.

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 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.
  • See www.letstalkspeech.com for more in depth information on speech and language delay warning signs.

Educate a Girl, Empower a Nation: A COEEF Event

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

Montessori Community School sponsors 4 girls through the Children of Ethiopia Education Fund, COEEF. We wanted to share an event you might be interested in! This is another way that we can lend our support to the organization that supports the education of many girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend school.

Friday, September 22, 2017, COEEF will be holding an event including Ethiopian food, memorabilia, music, and a huge silent auction.

This event will take place at the Holladay City Hall Pavilion from 6 – 9 pm.

Fun Run – September 28th

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

On Thursday September 28th, MCS students will be participating in our 11th annual Montessori Community School Fun Run! Our bouncy house obstacle course is becoming a fun tradition and we are excited to be bringing it back for this year’s Fun Run! Our returning families may notice the Fun Run is much earlier this year than in year’s past. Our PSA and administration agreed on an earlier date to help us ensure agreeable weather (spring time usually finds us considering alternative plans in case of rain) and because the Navajo Rug Show is coming up in early November! The Fun Run will coincide with a drive for supplies so keep checking back for more info about our drive and stay tuned to see how our fundraising efforts turn out! We look forward to sharing this fun opportunity with you.


What is the Fun Run and how can your family participate?

Each year our students have the opportunity to raise pledges for our two Service Learning Projects:

1) The Children of Ethiopia Education Fund (COEEF)
Specifically, the COEEF program will give vital financial support so the six girls our MCS students sponsor can attend school in Ethiopia. The Children of Ethiopia who are living in impoverished circumstances to have a quality, private education through generous sponsors and donors. Without this assistance many of these girls would not have the opportunity to attend any school. We feel that supporting girls in this way will have such a far reaching effect: “To educate a girl is to educate a village (nation).”

Check out this video from Bethlehem Eyob, one of the girls sponsored by MCS.

2) For more than 20 years our school has been involved in the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program. The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a bridge of hope between Native Americans and other cultures. It 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.

We originally adopted three grandmothers- Grandmother Roseline Jackson who died two years ago, Grandmother Emma Bahe who died this year, and Grandmother Elvira Horseherder to whom we are still committed. Recently we chose to adopt another grandmother whose name is Grandmother Anita Jackson, a relative of Grandmother Roseline. We are delighted to have this opportunity to become part of the life of Grandmother Anita. We anticipate having regular communication with her as we do with Grandmother Elvira.

The money raised by our students will be used to support our girls in Ethiopia and to provide our adopted Navajo Grandmothers with much-needed items such as food, firewood, clothing, and gardening tools as well as yarn to weave the beautiful rugs they sell to earn a living.

Service Learning is an important component of our Montessori program. It teaches students about the joy and value of contributing to their community, society, and world. We encourage you to join with us in supporting your child in service learning. You can do this by:

  1. Helping your child to set a goal to raise a certain amount.
  2. Helping your child talk to family and friends about the Fun Run. You would be surprised how many friends, neighbors, and grandparents are eager to support such a worthwhile event.
  3. Attending the event and join with them as they run their laps or cheer them on from the sidelines.
  4. Volunteering to help at the event. Please sign up in the lobby or email psa@mcsslc.com for details.

A YouCaring website will be established and emailed to families next week and donations can be made there or checks delivered to the MCS office. Please write all donations to MEF (Montessori Education Foundation.)

Our goal this year is to raise at least $7,000.00 total, with 80% family participation.

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

Sincerely,

MCS Parent School Alliance

2017 – 2018 MCS Parent School Alliance

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Montessori Community School Parent School Alliance
(PSA)

L-R: Gaea Rindflesh, Teresa Nelson, Jordan Stein, Jeannette Shaffer,
Dave Quisenberry, Jaymison Peterson and (below) Jen Zivkovic

The MCS Administration is delighted to introduce you to our 2017 – 2018 Parent Student Alliance (PSA). We are pleased to have a larger number of PSA representatives than ever before. We appreciate Jeannette, Dave, Jaymison and Jen for joining us again this year as our veteran PSA and we thank Gaea, Teresa, and Jordan for joining the team!

The PSA is already looking forward to and has a jumpstart on planning many PSA sponsored activities this year. We anticiapte seeing many of you at the upcoming Welcome Picnics where you can meet members of the PSA and will be introduced to the Community Builders from your child(ren)s class.

We are also looking forward to our first Coffee Thursday, this coming week September 7th, from 8:30am-9:30am in the lobby. Don’t forget to bring your cash because the Uinta (Upper Elementary) Class will be hosting their first Montessori Market of the year. Montessori Market is a quaint student-hosted event where hand made items are sold for reasonable prices. Baked goods are among the items you can expect to see at each market. All proceeds from the market go towards the Uinta class Adventure (read about last year’s adventure here.)

Along with your delicious baked goods, be sure to enjoy a complementary cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate while enjoying the company of fellow MCS parents. Coffee provided by Hub and Spoke Diner 1291 1100 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105.

Welcome to 2017-2018 from MCS Admin

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Dear Montessori Community  School Families,

Each year as we welcome back our returning students and families and welcome our new students and their families to our school community we feel such a sense of anticipation for all the experiences we will enjoy together during the academic year.
By the time that the children  arrive the teachers have worked tirelessly for 7 days to prepare their  beautiful environments for the arrival of their students. There is such a buzz of anticipation that is infectious. Everyone is so excited about all the possibilities of the new school year. And finally the children are here and the year begins. It is always such a special time for all of us.
As we move forward this year we want you all to know that we are grateful to all families who have entrusted their beautiful children into our care. We are dedicated to “following each child” to  best support their optimum growth emotionally, socially and academically. We look forward to building partnerships with each of you so as to afford your child/ren the best possible experience.
Please know that we will always make ourselves available to answer questions or respond to comments. Our doors are usually open and we invite you to stop in. We appreciate the opportunities to further develop our relationships.
Thanks to those of you who were able to join us for the New Student Orientation on Tuesday morning and the Back To School Night for Toddlers and Early Childhood families that evening.  We look forward to getting to know you better at such events as our Welcome Picnics and ongoing community events.
We are grateful for our dedicated and caring teachers and all of our families and look forward to an incredible year.
Best wishes,
Robyn, Ramira and Britney