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Author: Alejandro Malespin

Join the MCS PSA!

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

MCS-Parent School Alliance T.E.A.M.
Together Everyone Achieves More!

Before I became involved in the PSA, I noticed for years that most of the burden fell on one or two people, and I thought that was just too much; especially when you are juggling kids, work and life. So when I was asked by the MCS Administration to get involved, I suggested a restructuring of the PSA to become a “Team” representing all the age groups but with an emphasis on the Toddler and Early Childhood groups since they are our meat and potatoes.  This PSA Team concept is now completing its second year with, I believe, great success on many levels.  First, the obvious, the 6 reps share the roles, no one person is working alone; second, we have more of a presence on campus as a team; and third, we actually enjoy each other and collectively want to generate excitement and enthusiasm within our community. Who doesn’t want to be involved in that?

Since my son is graduating this year from MCS, this is my last year with the MCS PSA and I want to encourage those interested to consider joining the PSA Team next school year.  We have such a unique, wonderful and supportive community of children, parents, teachers and staff that it makes it so much easier to be a part of the team.

If you are interested please email us at psa@mcsslc.com.

Thank you for your support,

Annie Guerrero
Uinta Parent

Spring Camp Registration 2017

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

Spring Camp Registration
Journey Under the Sea
April 10th, 2016 – April 14th, 2017

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

Registration will be done on a first come, first serve basis. Spaces are limited and fill quickly! Registration will end on Friday, March 31st unless unless the available spaces fill.

 

 

Registration Form must returned with payment in order to secure your student’s space.

All School Assembly – Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai Cultural Experience

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Our Second Annual All-school Assembly took place Wednesday morning at MCS! All of our staff and students, from toddlers to elementary, gathered for an incredible presentation. The Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai group shared a beautiful performance about their cultural Japanese heritage. They introduced us to Okinawan traditional music, dances, folk craft, and martial arts while briefly discussing the Japanese history associated in a fun and enlightening way.

A lot of our young toddler friends enjoyed singing and dancing throughout the assembly while our older friends were impressed by the costumes and instruments. In the traditional Okinawan dance, the Eisa, there is a closing song to end the performance. We were invited to join the dancers and dance together waving our hands to the beat of the music and drums. It was a great experience for all of our students to enjoy this cultural opportunity as a whole community.

Check our last year’s experience here.

By Paola Ramirez

The Gift of Adult Learning

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Today I was graced with the most lovely opportunity to observe a teacher intern in one of our classrooms.  MCS has the ongoing opportunity to support and host adult interns seeking Montessori certification at all levels.  The process of a teacher receiving Montessori training is as well developed a system as the Montessori method itself.  Following an intense period of study of Montessori theory, history, methodology, didactic training and classroom management, an intern spends 1-2 years engaged in a teaching practicum (internship).  During this initial experience as a teacher, with a wealth of newfound understanding and insight to the child and its environment, the teacher goes through the magical process of implementation under the direction of a master teacher.

Maria Montessori said “The teacher, when she begins to work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through the work. She must free herself from all preconceived ideas concerning the levels at which the children may be.” 

The process of having absolute faith in our little ones to develop in their own time, in their own way, and to their most authentic selves takes absolute faith.  We let go of our own egos to allow for the child’s great awakening. I will never forget my own hours of study…learning precisely how each material is to be presented, memorizing the sequence and curriculum, identifying sensitive periods in the children, writing lesson plans only to be erased and re-written, and discovering the meaning behind “preparation of the environment”.  Those hours paled in comparison to the spiritual awakening and rebirth of self that I am honored to experience on a daily basis at MCS.

And so today I applaud all those who have themselves engaged in this transformation process.  Hosting interns means that MCS is a place for adult learning, teacher collaboration and exposure to ongoing research. Additional kudos to those master teachers who commit themselves to the process of guiding these new interns; an ongoing process of renewal and one of the beautiful experiences that brings MCS together as community.

Winter Sports: A Group Experience

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

The intent behind our Winter Sports Program is that these lessons and experiences let our students have a real-life group driven experience where there is crossover between programs; where there are great opportunities for the students to practice the life skills they have been learning and practicing in such a safe environment here at MCS. It is an opportunity to let our students explore one of Utah’s greatest beauties- the mountains and our incredible snow.

Please keep in mind that these lessons are peer-oriented and group options are bound to contain a number of skill sets being presented, developed, and learned amongst the students. Some students are at the peak of that skill set and some are at the base of that skill set. However, those students are all within the same level. It can become very frustrating when friends ski/ board together on the weekends, but are grouped apart for the lessons. However, we ask that you place your trust in the ski program to group our students as they see fit and ask that you remind your children to do the same.

We really want to enforce that as these lessons continue on, it really is a collaboration as a group to learn and practice. Snowbird has hand-picked instructors specifically for our school, and instructors go through intense training on how to meet the needs of each student in the group.

A successful day may not be or mean that your student was the fastest, moved up a group, etc. A successful day should be evaluated on whether or not your student was safe, having fun, in an environment where they can learn without frustration, were able to communicate their feelings appropriately, follow instructions, and engage appropriately with their chaperones, instructors, and peers. Ultimately, when a student is feeling comfortable and safe, there will be more detailed, controlled progress. One of the reasons we appreciate Snowbirds Ski Program is that they take an approach to individualized instruction that is similar to our approach here at MCS.  However, their ability to separate every single skill level is limited by a number of factors.

Early Childhood Performing Arts Showcases

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

Early Childhood’s Music and Movement Classes Present their Performing Arts Showcase of:

The Napping House

 

Please have your students meet in the Dance Studio at
6:15 pm. Ensure your student is wearing their pajamas- but not some that might be slippery on a stage.

 

 

Sequoias and Magnolias will perform: Tuesday, February 21st

 

 

Willows and Aspens will perform: Tuesday, February 28th

We hope to see you there as this is an event you won’t want to miss out on.

Potential Winter Sports Program Chaperones

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Dear Potential Winter Sports Program Chaperones,

Please keep in mind, as we love to have your support and help during Winter Sports, we have found it is best if we can have consistency with our chaperones. The students do better seeing familiar faces. This helps the students have a greater sense of surrounding and comfort.

This will also help with consistent group support on the hillside and getting on and off the busses.

Please, only sign up if you are able to attend at least 4 out of the 5 weeks and note we need our hillside chaperones to be able to efficiently ski/board with the little one and help out with lift riding. We also need chaperones that are not skiing, but help out on the busses and with keeping track of and leading students to the correct places.

Thanks,

Admin

Holiday Giving Gratitude

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Dear Montessori Community School,

I want to say thank you on behalf of all of us here at Neighborhood House for your help with Giving Tree. You & everyone at Montessori PSA did so much to help make the holiday season bright for the children & families we serve. Attached is a thank you video & a few photos that you are welcome to share with your colleagues, friends, or family members who may have helped with Giving Tree gifts for kids in our programs. We look forward to partnering with you in the new year & so appreciate all you do to help make Neighborhood House & our community great!

 

We hope you & everyone at Montessori PSA have a very happy New Year!

All the best,

Becca

MCS’ Service Learning Helps with COEEF’s Student Success

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

MCS sponsors six girls through the COEEF Program. Each year we raise money for them through our annual Fun Run in the spring. Stay tuned for more information about our Fun Run this coming season.
Please read this amazing clip from COEEF’s January 2017 Newsletter:

STUDENTS’ SUCCESS
Great News! 

In the last nine years, 90 COEEF students have completed high school. Of these students. 83 (92.2%) joined different universities throughout Ethiopia.

Of the students who joined universities, seven of them have successfully completed their university education and started a career.

COEEF students attending universities are enrolled in the following disciplines: (Please note that the number shown in the following table doesn’t include the seven students who have completed their university education.)

 

Letters for Students

The girls love to receive letters and photographs from their sponsors! 

If you would like to send a letter or a small package to your student(s), please send them to COEEF’s P.O.BOX.

Deadline is April 20

Volunteers will take them to Ethiopia on our sponsor trip in May.

 We are happy to take letters or gifts under 16 oz. to your students.

Please send them to:

COEEF

P.O. Box 271545,

Salt Lake City, Ut 84604. 

Please put your girl’s name and ID number on the BACK or the bottom of the letter or package.

The deadline is April 20, 2017

Wild Utah at Montessori Community School

Written by Alejandro Malespin on . Posted in Blog.

Students and teachers at MCS had a wild time at camp this past month! Our summer camps allow children to explore other countries and cultures, so we decided to use this year’s winter camp as an opportunity to learn more about our local environment here on the Wasatch Front. Accompanied by real-life materials from mammals big and small, we learned about some of the animals which also call Utah home.

We started our journey with American black bears, letting our friends handle a black bear’s pelt, skull, and rubber footprints. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources lent us front and hind prints of a black bear and, for size comparison, they also lent us a print made from the Alaskan Kodiak bear, Bart (who used to live in Heber, Utah with his trainers). The children were very excited to see the size difference between black bear prints and a Kodiak bear print. After learning more about bears and hibernation, friends made their very own bear den craft with a sleeping bear inside.

Each day, we had a new set of animals to observe and study. We learned about migratory animals like elk, moose, mule deer and pronghorns. We handled antler sheds and talked about the differences between antlers and horns. Friends were especially excited to meet our bobcat and mountain lion pelts and to see the differences in size, color, and the texture of their fur. They made their own animal prints out of clay and we discussed how, unlike coyotes and foxes, Utah’s cats have retractable claws.

On the last day of camp, we learned about our high climbing animals, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. We were able to handle the skull of a male bighorn sheep and to handle the horns of both male and female sheep. We observed the horns and noted that they show growth rings for each year the sheep is alive. Friends made bighorn headbands of their own and spontaneously decided to put on a mountain goat puppet show.

 

With all of our materials from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, as well as some very kind MCS families, we were able to set up a mini-museum on the stage with a range of pelts, skulls, horns, sheds, and prints of Utah’s animals. Lower elementary students, Elyse and Anish, helped to organize the display and label our materials so that returning students could enjoy a piece of our Wild Utah winter camp.

We had a great time at camp this year and hope that you will have the opportunity to join us at one of our future camps!