Amanda is a native Oregonian and grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. She was fortunate to work in the school district she attended as a child and focused on the area of Special Education for the Lake Oswego School district for 17 years, even working with some of her former teachers. Amanda, her husband and two children decided to change scenery and move to Utah in November 2020. As lovers of the outdoors, they are all thriving here. Going on family hikes, skiing, enjoying local farmers markets and exploring new places are their favorite things to do together. Amanda also enjoys photography, making jewelry and crafting. Amanda is inspired by the Montessori philosophy and is excited to be part of the Montessori team.
We are delighted to introduce you to Jennifer Taylor who has joined MCS as our school nurse.
Jennifer’s mother is a Montessori teacher, Jen was a Montessori student and her children also attended a Montessori school. She is a perfect fit for our school.
“I am a Louisiana native that has lived in Utah for 15 years. I am married with two children and three step children, four of which are all one year apart in age from each other. I’ve earned a double Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and in Nursing. I’ve known since a young age that my passion and purpose are with caring for others, and I have worked in multiple different aspects of health care from policy to bedside over the past 13 years. In my down time, I enjoy spending time with my family camping, hiking, and simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors.”
The school nurse position was made possible through a grant administered by the Utah Department of Health- To establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce within K-12 Schools to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
The MCS Annual Staff Community Service project was started in 2021. On that first Professional Development day of the 2021-22 academic year, staff participated in beautifying the gardens of MCS by planting approximately 100 spring blooming bulbs throughout the grounds.
This year staff were offered a choice of projects to participate in.
Garden Makeover – Design and plan for a do-over of 1700 south entry and driveway gardens to provide year round color and form.
Garden Love – Weed, prune, and tidy the existing gardens.
Flower Power – Plant spring flowering bulbs.
Project Linus – Make no-sew fleece blankets for children in crisis.
Each year we hold fundraisers, such as the Fun Run, in which our students participate, in order to earn money to go towards our Giving Projects. The funds are donated to Montessori Educational Foundation (M.E.F ), the non-profit arm of the school that currently is used exclusively for charitable purposes.
For many years we have sponsored two or three Navajo grandmothers. Currently our grandmothers are – Grandmother Elvira Horseherder and Grandmother AnitaJackson. Throughout the year we provide food (which is taken to the reservations during the twice yearly food runs), food certificates, yarn for weaving that are then sold at the Deer Valley Rug Show, Firewood or payments towards electrical bills, Walmart certificates for them to buy clothing, gardening tools and other basic needs.
The support of the sponsors make it possible for the elders to remain on the reservations where they are most happy, can continue to live their traditional lives and to enrich the lives of their families.
Prior to Covidwhen our grandmothers come to Deer Valley to sell their rugs we are able to take some of our students to meet them and attend the education programs. It was a wonderful opportunity. There were evening events also that families could attend. Over the last two years the Rug Sale has been virtual and this year it will be again. Perhaps next year there will be an in person event.
