As Montessori parents, we are giving our children a great gift that does not just start at 8:30am and end at 3pm.  This gift should be nurtured, honored and recognized at all times, particularly in the home. Donna Bryant Goertz wrote one of my favorite Montessori books about classroom management in the Lower Elementary classroom, 'Children Who are Not Yet Peaceful'. This book highlights the value of community and truly honoring and trusting each child to develop in their time, in their way, and in absolute authenticity.  It is powerful and inspiring for educators and parents and I highly recommend it to those of you who are raising Lower Elementary age children or who will be doing so in the near future. However, its values are appropriate for children, parents, and educators of all ages.

Basic Herbology & Practical Potionswith Donda Hartsfield, Outdoor Classroom & GO teacherWednesdays, 3:45 – 5:00, November 18th – January 27th (Elementary Only): Students are introduced to the joy and the science of herbal awareness and application through sensorial and practical experiences.  Students will encounter such herbs as Hawthorn, Dandelion, Yarrow, Calendula, Lavender, Elder, Marshmallow, Rosemary, Thyme, Ginger, Nettle, Rosehips, Mint and more.  Students will be preparing and taking herbal remedies home throughout the course.  Fees cover cost of supplies that go home, such as bottles, teas, glycerides, etc.  Full attendance is strongly recommended!  Register by Monday, November 16th! Wednesday, November 18th Introduction to Herbs and Herbal Teas – gathering and drying techniques, tasting exploration of herbal varieties including their medicinal properties, preparing custom tea blends Wednesday, December 2nd Glycerides and Vinegars – Herbal extractions through the use of glycerin and vinegar Wednesday, December 9th Decoctions – root extractions through simmering and reducing Wednesday, December 16th Salves...

MCS would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of the parents, grandparents and other community members who worked together to make our Halloween Carnival such a smashing success.  Thank you to those who came out to play and enjoy this great event with all of us. And, congratulations to the Uinta class on the success of their first Spook Alley.An Early Childhood Aspens class student smiles for the camera.As always, the reptiles and other creatures were a huge draw, exciting children and adults all throughout the night. Two families with students in the Magnolias class enjoy the trunk-or-treat in the parking lot. This Early Childhood student had a great time showing off her wings all night. We had a great time watching the magician.Hey Chris!    

Montessori Parents’ Guide to Snowbird Mountain School
February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, & March 2nd, 2016

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This year's Halloween Carnival is sure to be the best yet. There will be games, activities and a lot of fun and laughter! Tickets can be purchased from the MCS office.

Ticket Price: $5 in advanced / $6 at the door

Some of the activities are:

Trunk or Treat
Spook Alley
Kim's Cold Blooded Creatures
Pumpkin Pick & Paint
Dancing

Costumes are most welcomed and encouraged!

Enjoy this beautiful timeline of Maria Montessori.The History of Montessori Education by Giraffe Childcare

On Thursday, November 5^th our Lower Elementary, 3^rd Year students will have the opportunity to learn about the Navajo way of life at the Deer Valley Navajo Rug Show. For more than fifteen years, the Montessori Community School has sponsored our Navajo grandmothers through the Adopt-a-Native-Elder Program.  

This last month our Toddler and Early Childhood students participated in an in-house field trip where a local Fire Department spoke to the children about fire safety.

The Montessori math curriculum is quite unlike the traditional approach that each of us experienced.  It is based on developing a strong foundation through concrete experience and manipulation until the time a child reaches the age of abstraction, typically around nine years old. As they engage in the Cosmic Curriculum, children are given a basis for the interconnectedness of all things and encouraged to engage in the wonder and magic of mathematical concepts.  Various activities and materials develop the mathematical mind, preparing the child for their inevitable explosion in to abstraction and connection to the power of relationships. The following was written by Lower Elementary Spanish teacher, Diana Haro Reynolds.Mathematics is the study of quantity, form, and magnitude. We live among it. It is in the position of the sun and in the shell of a snail. We carry math in our pockets, in our devices. It is what makes our communication...

I choose a Montessori school for my son almost as an act of faith. At that time my knowledge of the method was null, besides having heard of small chairs and colored beads. But seeing my son happy day after day encouraged me to study and deepen the Montessori’s ideas. What I had discovered astonished me as a father and as a scientist. As a father, I found how children are really respected and prepared for the future. As a scientist, I found solid scientific foundations for everything Maria Montessori proposed.

In a Montessori classroom, order and creativity coexist. Animated conversation and silent observation work together in the same space. In the best environments, children of all races and cultures learn side by side.The Montessori approach offers children intentionally prepared environments that are full of beauty and order. Materials in the classroom are appealing and designed to meet the developmental needs of each child. Montessori-trained teachers are the bridge between the environment and the student, first through careful observation of each child, and then by providing appropriate instruction and guidance.This video was created as part of the documentary film project, Building the Pink Tower. "What if we were to set aside the noise of failing schools, teacher evaluations, test scores, achievement gaps, and funding issues — and ask, instead, what is the true goal of education?" 

Winter is just a season away. Please keep in mind that all students participating in the Winter Sports Program this year will be REQUIRED to have helmets and goggles and there will be no daily rentals at the resort. The PSA is working on potential discounts for MCS renters and will keep us updated. For now, please check out the list of Ski Swaps coming up.Click here to see a list of upcoming ski swaps.

Food and meal times are an important and essential part of every day life.  In a Montessori classroom we work to create a peaceful and healthful meal experience for our children as we place great value on both the experience and the consumption of food.

MCS was "rocking" on Friday evening, May 29th, as two high school bands from The Wasatch Music Coaching Academy performed for attendees at the "End of Year Carnival."  The young performers impressed young and old alike with their performances and several children really showed off their moves during an outstanding rendition of Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk."

Early this month the Uinta class (Upper Elementary, 9-12 year olds) embarked on a great adventure to Fremont Indian State Park as part of their Great Outdoors Expedition.  The students have spent time in the classroom studying the Fremont Indians and on GO they have given attention to human interaction with nature and so this was a great way to culminate their studies as they walked the trails and read the stories of the Fremont Indians while eating and sleeping in the out of doors. Students, teachers and parent chaperones worked together to create a comfortable camp space and prepare delicious meals to be shared.  

 Montessori Community School's PSA is playing off the school's green initiative and will be hosting a huge yard sale Saturday, June 13th beginning at 8:00 am and running through 12:00 pm. Proceeds from the sale will benefit a number of the school's special projects. For example, completing the fence around the Outdoor Classroom, funding a portion of the much needed school roof, new storage sheds, a new school van, and a number of other projects that are outside of the school's regular budget.If you have any items you are planning on donating or taking to other thrift stores, please bring them to the MCS gymnasium instead. You may drop off your items between June 1st and June 11th. We are specifically looking for the following items:FurnitureBikesSports EquipmentToysHousehold Items: dishes, working small appliances, lampsBooksCDs/ DVDsYard Equipment and Outdoor GearBaby ItemsUnused/ Unopened itemsClothing will not be accepted at this sale. Please hang onto those items...

“To consider the school as a place where instruction is given is one point of view.But to consider the school as preparation for life is another.  In the latter case the school must satisfy all the needs of life.”–      Maria Montessori  The mission of the Montessori Community School is to provide a rich, educational experience that guides and nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole individual and inspires a lifetime passion for learning and peace.The Montessori Community School has been established to encourage and promote the intellectual, physical and social development of children. The Montessori philosophy emphasizes the development of the child in a carefully prepared environment.  A prepared environment is one in which the child is able to develop freely at his or her own pace, unhindered in the spontaneous unfolding of his or her natural capacities. This occurs through the manipulation of a graded series of self-correcting materials designed to...

 For the 2014 - 2015 school year Montessori Community School is excited to work with our students in a Service-Learning project to once again support our COEEF girls and our Grandmothers through the Adopt-A-Native Elder program. MCS has supported COEEF for more than seven years and the Native American Grandmothers of Adopt-A-Native Elder for over 20 years! We are happy to report that our girls in Ethiopia and our Native American Grandmothers are very grateful for the continued support from the MCS community of families and friends over the years. In an effort to raise awareness about family preparedness, this year MCS is offering 72- hour kits as a fundraiser to replace the Fun Run that has been “running” for the past several years. Packets containing further information and order forms were sent home in every student's Take-Home File. Please share this information with your families and friends so they too, can be apart of this wonderful cause and...

 Based on our ecosystem outings this year, the GO (Great Outdoors) students have spent a lot of time researching different ecosystems of their choice. These nature cards are the result of their hard work, time, knowledge, and talents. Each card features a drawing of a particular ecosystem, and inside the cards are some interesting facts derived from their studies. This is a great opportunity to support the students' studies, interests, and art. It is also a great way to share these talents throughout the year with your friends, family, and co-workers. You may purchase these beautiful cards for $3.00 each or you may purchase 5 cards for $12.00. Cards will go on sale in the MCS lobby this Friday, May 1st.