Whether you participated in the ThroughPlay study earlier this year or not, MCS Parents have been invited to a re-presentation taking place on May 2nd. This presentation has been dramatically overhauled and, we think, improved! There is a greater use of the creative arts to complement our narrative about the importance of play for children and adults, including more film of parents and children in nature, better-designed slides, and more music.
During Spring Break, you may be thinking of some fun outings or play-dates to enjoy some quality time together exploring what the beautiful Wasatch Front has to offer this budding time of year.
Check out hands-on experiences by going to places like Color Me Mine, www.colormemine.com, Harmon’s Cooking School, www.harmonsgrocery.com/cooking-school/, and crafting classes at Michael’s stores.
Also, look at utah.com/hiking for some great hikes and information about certain trails.
Other great ideas are attending local pet stores to view and interact with the variety of animals, create a giving project for a friend, neighbor, or family member, check out the local swimming pool or ice-skating rink, and story times at various libraries.
One of my favorites is taking a drive to Utah’s own Gossner Cheese Factory in Logan, Ut and then hitting the various other factories in the area: Pepperidge Farm, Creamies, PJ Zone, etc.
The following are some other fun family options of great places to check out if you have never visited:
Memory Grove Park
375 North Canyon Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
www.slcparks.com
West Jordan Conservation Park
8275 South 1300 West
West Jordan, UT 84088
Great Salt Lake Nature Center
1700 West Glovers Lane (925 South)
Farmington, UT 84025
www.greatsaltlakenaturecenter.org
Gilgal Sculpture Garden
749 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
www.gilgalgarden.org
Clark Planetarium
110 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
www.clarkplanetarium.org
Discovery Gateway: The Children’s Museum of Utah
444 West 100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
www.childmuseum.org
Hill Aeropspace Museum
7961 Wardleigh Road
Hill Airforce Base, 84056
www.hill.af.mil/library/museum/index.asp
Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
www.nhmu.utah.edu
The Leonardo
209 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
www.theleonardo.org
Treehouse Children’s Museum
347 22nd Street
Ogden, UT 84401
www.treehousemuseum.org
Tracy Aviary
589 East 1300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
www.tracyaviary.org
Utah’s Hogle Zoo
2600 East Sunnyside Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
www.hoglezoo.org
Enjoy the week!
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
8:00 am – 5:30 pm
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
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.
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’s Music and Movement Classes Present their Performing Arts Showcase of:
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.
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
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
