Science is defined as the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. It is so important to motivate elementary-aged students with science. A Montessori philosophy advocates that children between the ages of six through eleven are in a sensitive period for learning and testing new academic skills. They are looking at the world by assessing their own abilities and accomplishments by making comparisons between themselves and others.They are also learning about social relationships beyond the family through interaction with friends and fellow students.  A Science Fair creates a model of this idea, process, and system beginning with instruction as to the what the scientific method is (a systematic process for experimentation that is used to explore observations). A science fair cues and peaks an elementary-aged student's hunger for testing and comparing in a social setting. At the beginning of...

Our Upper Elementary class have been studying poetry and in the process of searching for inspiration for a Haiku poem, one of our 5th year students wrote the below poem, free-verse style. Sevilla told us that Free-Verse is her favorite style of poetry because it doesn't put any limitations on the writer and allows for more creativity than other types of poetry.  Please enjoy. For more inspiring work by our Uinta students (9-12 year olds), be sure to visit the lower level east hallway (near the dance studio).  Earth Day Inspiration Our world will soon be ashes, So dreamers listen up. Our world will be a graveyard, As humans raise their cup. Our world will be a ghost town, Before you can even blink. Because even the sturdiest swimmer, Eventually will sink. So dreamers, find your wild side, So explorers find your earth, So workers find your forest, And wanderers find your...

Please enjoy this beautiful newsletter about our Native Elders. Also, to learn more about the Adopt-A-Native Elder Program and how to get involved, please visit  http://anelder.org/ .    Download PDF File Here

https://www.netnanny.com/assets/giveaway/summerscreenrules.pdf

In March we had the pleasure of hosting Montessori parent of 3, Michelle Vo, MD, for our Parent Education Event.  Michelle presented on the subject of Positive Parenting; a method that focuses on developing a strong relationship between parent and child and which is based on mutual respect and communication.  It's purpose? To create strong emotional connections between parent and child.   Positive Parenting aligns beautifully with Montessori in that it meets a child where they are at developmentally and the adults are considered guides. This is different from some more traditional approaches where the parent is the disciplinarian.   Michelle spoke to us about parent self-regulation, with reminders to take care of our selves so that we could remain emotionally available and feel successful as parents.  As parents, we are our children's safe space and approaching this task mindfully and intentionally is crucial to creating a safe and secure space in which...

We received letters from our two girls we sponsor through the COEEF Program: Mariana Dereje, 1st Grade  and Bethehem Eyob Shenkute, 12th Grade. We also received cards from two of the young women whom we sponsored that graduated from 12th Grade and the COEEF Program last year! They hadn't had a chance to update us with photos and news of their final graduation year. It has been fun to follow these beautiful young women from the time of being young girls beginning the program. It is also so encouraging to read of their plans to continue their education and begin college. The letters are on display in the school entry way, available to admire. We hope that you will enjoy reading them! If you would like to write letters or draw pictures with your own students to send back to our girls, please feel free to do so! You may bring your letters...

In April, the Great Outdoor Program (GO) finishes their Nature Cards and sells them at the annual Nature Card Sale . This sale will take place Friday, April 19th before and after school.   Please mark your calendars for this special day in which students get to share their studies and art work as it relates to the students' In-Depth Studies based on the theme of the year, Utah Native Plants! Students have worked hard and taken their time to create unique and beautiful works of art to share with the community. The schedule for the sale will take place as follows in the lobby of the school: 8:15am-9:15am- Upper Elementary's Spruce Group 2:45pm - 3:45pm- Upper Elementary's Pine Group Please also note that we will only accept cash during this card sale, Thank you!

Due to the MEPI Conference dates and the changes made to the previous Academic calendar, please find the new 2018---2019-Academic-Year-Calendar  here. 

Our children are making a stand to put and hold todays leaders accountable. Last Friday, March 15th, 2019 children gathered at the Utah State Capitol to add pressure to their message: time is running out to protect our planet from a climate crisis. We hope the words from our youth will nudge leaders along to stop dragging their feet on such critical issues.  This event did not just take place in Utah but worldwide protests and strikes took place with the important message geared directly toward leaders and lawmakers. Their message is loud and clear, changes must be made. Our children are raising their voices and it is time adults start listening. 

Within this academic year our full staff has been offered the opportunity to attend two annual Montessori conferences that are hosted in Utah by the Utah Montessori Council. In addition, two weeks ago, twenty-two of our teachers and Administration team flew to Kiahwah Island, South Carolina to attend a national conference being hosted by M.E.P.I. (Montessori Educational Programs International). The conference offered many classes for all program levels as well as Administration. Some examples of classes were - Common Sense Parenting, Preparation of the Environment, Cosmic Education, Labyrinths for Beginners, Celebrating International Diversity through United Nations, and Peace off the Table. Please see details of the wonderful Keynote Speaker, Barbara Coloroso. Our staff always come away from the conferences inspired and excited to implement their new knowledge into their curriculum. We all stayed in two beautiful houses on Kiawah Island that were located beside each other overlooking a pond in which lived...

Yes! The first two weeks of MCS’ Winter Sports Ski and Snowboard lessons have gone well. Thank you to all those staff and parent volunteers who are making this program so successful and organized. Why skiing and snowboarding, you wonder? It has always been a goal to be able to give each elementary student the opportunity to explore the sports as part of our great Wasatch Front, and world-renowned mountain slopes. Transporting eighty plus students, with gear, snacks, and equipment is no small feat. There is a lot of preparation, practice, and patience involved. There is nothing quite like the panic of missing snow-pants, a broken clasp on a helmet, or the confusion of 4 sets of skis that all look alike and the label has rubbed off. However, and whatever the new challenge is, the buzz and nervous excitement of the students makes it all worth it. Our students are...

Schools should plan for the rare possibility of an intruder as part of a comprehensive crisis/emergency preparedness effort; however, the nature and extent of those preparedness activities should be based upon a risk assessment of the crisis events a given school is most likely to confront. A Lock Down Drill is scheduled for February 12, 2019 .  This emergency procedure at MCS involves staff - Sweeping and clearing hallways Turning off classroom lights Locking doors Sheltering with children in our agreed upon secure areas Taking roll Waiting for the all clear We recognize that this drill in particular can sometimes cause anxiety and concern for parents and guardians, students, and educators too. For the adults, being familiar the procedure and ones responsibilities within that process can bring assurance and comfort. Practicing can prepare and be of comfort to the children with the fact that their teachers, parents and guardians, and the...

We are already making plans for activities for Summer Camp 2019 for your children. We know that people's plans do change and this is a reminder of the withdrawal policy for Summer Camp.  It is as follows:   After January 31, 2019, you will be responsible for 100% of the school Summer Camp  tuition if you chose to withdraw your student. There is also a $75.00 schedule fee that is required for administrative costs to initiate the withdrawal from the program and FACTS management system.   Please respond to this email or contact the Business Manager no later than January 31st, by email request, should you need to withdraw from the Summer Camp 2019.   Please give a call so we can address any questions or concerns.

We are waist deep in raising teenagers at our house so conversation about bodies, puberty, consent, respect for others, and sex are fairly common. But the conversations didn’t start yesterday. We’ve been talking in age appropriate terms since my children were toddlers. We've kept a variety of age appropriate books laying around the house to allow the boys to do their own research, as needed. My personal philosophy is that the more I talk openly, even during the stages or about topics that have been slightly uncomfortable for my kids, the more they will see me as a resource when their questions arise. There are too many resources at their fingertips that aren’t necessarily trustworthy and I believe sex and body shame are two of the most avoided topics in homes.   Sometimes, especially when my kids were upper elementary and middle school age, they would tell me that the topic was...

Thank you so much to all those who participated in our annual Holiday Gift Giving, particularly our PSA for helping to put the whole thing together and our elementary students for helping to carry and load so many of the gifted items. This year we donated to three different organizations; The INN Between, International Rescue Center (IRC), and The Neighborhood House. We were able to fill every request because of the amazing and generous support of our community. We received a wonderful thank you note from the INN Between House, whose mission is to end the tragic history of vulnerable people dying on the streets of our community by providing a supportive and safe haven for individuals who have nowhere else to go in time of medical crisis. Our School Director, Britney Peterson, and her family were able to deliver the gifts to the family assigned to MCS from the IRC who needed a little help...

The MCS Silent Journey and Discovery is an event dedicated to parents to provide the meaningful experience of visiting each of our programs, from Toddlers through Upper Elementary. We invite you to experience for yourself the magic of the Montessori materials and discover how the lessons learned in our early programs set the tone and lay an important foundation to prepare students for higher academics and critical thinking skills in the upper programs. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain a sense of how the Montessori Curriculum unfolds through the eyes of a child to guide and nurture the natural unfolding of the whole child to inspire a lifetime love of learning and peace.  Who: All MCS Parents Invited When: Saturday, January 26, 2019 @ 9:00am - 1:00pm Where: Meet in the MCS lobby Cost: Attendance is free of charge Child Care: Child care will be provided to those who sign up...

Montessori Community School will be hosting an Admissions Information Meeting for all adults interested in learning about any of our programs for 2019 - 2020 Admissions.  Parents are invited to join us for a presentation about Montessori method, curriculum and philosophy and how they are implemented in our program to educate the whole child.  Parents will have the opportunity to visit our classrooms and meet our Montessori teaching staff. RSVP on our Facebook Event Application Packets will be available.  Meeting starts promptly at 6:00 pm  Adults only - sorry, no child care provided Bring a friend! 

Montessori Community School offers an authentic Montessori education while supporting a charming and safe community for our students and their families. Choosing the right school can be a difficult task as increasing numbers in research show the impact of early education on the growing brain. So, beyond why a parent might choose a Montessori education for their child, I would like to answer some common questions about what sets Montessori Community School apart and how you will know if it is the right fit for your family. Tour, Admissions Meetings and Observation:  Inquiring parents are required to visit our facility prior to acceptance of their child. This allows parents to “get a feel” for our campus and to learn specifics about each program from a knowledgeable member of our staff. Following attendance at a tour or an admissions meeting, parents are invited to observe in one of our classrooms. While an...

Thanks to your generosity during our Fun Run Drive this past Fall to our non-profit Montessori Education Foundation (MEF). We were able to send or order the following items to our sponsored Navajo Grandmothers this week through the Adopt-a-Native Elder Program. Mothers Day Box-  Spring Delivery only and delivered during the Spring food run. This gift box fills a need to provide personal care items that are not contained in any other gift option. It contains Cottenelle wipes, Kleenex, a wash cloth, bath towel, vent brush, bobby pins, Vaseline, shampoo, sanitizer, emery boards, and a bandana.   Grandmother Box -  This box contains 3 yards of Panne fabric and 4 yards of cotton fabric for making a skirt and blouse. Also included are safety pins, socks, scarf, thread, yarn, and a hygiene kit. The price of this item includes a credit card charge.   Food Certificates that can be used at all...

All around the world little free libraries are popping up. These libraries are helping to bring communities together by providing a peaceful meeting place where everyone is welcome to share in the joy of reading, imagination, education, sharing, and creativity. Maria Montessori defined joy by saying, "Joy, feeling one's own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul." She taught that the development of language is part of the development of the personality and that words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people. Montessori philosophy teaches that careful preparation of the space and materials is key to a successful classroom and learning environment.  It is our hope that by having a Little Free Library we will help bridge the gap between the development of language and personality, creating that space where all...