Description: Position entails building, vehicle, and grounds maintenance, some construction, doing repairs, completing random tasks as needed. Heavier cleaning; waxing and buffing, carpet cleaning, disinfecting, and other deep cleaning to be performed as needed. This is a part-time to full-time position Monday - Friday. Tools and supplies will be provided. Applicants must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs. Candidate must be able to communicate and work well with other janitorial and facilities staff. The school has a Facilities team plus a Janitorial team and depending on the candidate’s qualifications and performance, possibilities for upward mobility within the company may be available. Prerequisites: Must pass a full background check; be dependable, honest and trustworthy. Attendance is extremely important and candidate should have reliable transportation in all weather conditions, all seasons of the year. Hours:  20 - 40 Hours Per Week, Every Weekday and some Saturdays for deep cleaning....

Dear MCS Parents, With open arms and hearts, we welcome you to the 2018 - 2019 Academic year. I always love the energy of the new year and this one is no different. Our hallways are filled with excited students, parents and teachers greeting old friends or meeting new ones. Each material, even down to each individual pencil, has been intentionally placed with care. The floors, walls, materials, etc. are clean and ready to begin a collection of new memories of the year; filled with new adventures, friendships and accomplishments. For most of us, a new school year signifies creating and refreshing goals. We appreciate the support from our parent community as our administration has undergone some changes. We are hopeful the structure of our revised administrative team will bring about opportunity for growth as a school while we still each strive to protect Robyn and Bob's (MCS Founders and Owners)...

Below you will find a beautifully written article, written by Montessori advocate and author Catherine McTamaney, about how a Montessori classroom functions.  She so concisely sums up some of the most basic and important tenants of a Montessori classroom (including why there are so many kids in a classroom) to describe their place in our environment and, most importantly, their outcome!  Enjoy! Glance through some school brochures. You'll notice quite a bit of language in common: whole child, child-centered, low student-teacher ratios, individualized attention. If so many school settings agree that fewer children per teacher is something to brag about, why are Montessori classrooms so large? Remember the basic design principles of a Montessori classroom: multiage classrooms, specialized materials and extended time to explore them, professionally-prepared teachers and individualized curricula to match each child. The curriculum not only complements the first three factors size: it relies on it. Because Montessori...

The beginning of a new school year can bring many wonderful new things; new friends, new classroom works and new routines are just a few of our favorites.  Unfortunately, new illnesses tend to make an exuberant appearance as well.  While we understand that illness at home can impact schedules and routines (for both parents and children) we want to urge each of you to read up on and abide by our illness policy here at MCS.  We will do our part here at school to try to minimize the spread of illness by encouraging lots of hand washing and nose blowing (and then more hand washing) and by sending children and staff home when they are ill.  We ask that you each support us by following the illness policy set forth in our parent handbooks and as listed below so that we might minimize the spread of illness to our...

Dear 2017-2018 MCS Students, Once again, we have reached a crossroads. Some of you will return to our school next year and continue your experience as a part of our community while some of you will move on to new adventures and experiences. Regardless of where the next year finds you, we are honored to have spent this valuable time with you. We congratulate you for your hard work and for being engaged in our community. Montessori Community School's mission is to provide a rich, individualized educational experience, which guides and nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole individual and inspires a lifetime love of learning and peace. Education is a great gift and we feel honored with the opportunity to make peace such an important part of the experience we offer here at MCS. By honoring each individual student and supporting children in becoming their most authentic, passionate, courageous and...

Last week the Uinta class (Upper Elementary, 9-12 year olds) embarked on a great adventure to Fremont Indian State Park. There they enjoyed three days of outdoor fun, experiential learning, and life experiences.   This annual overnight camping adventure was the synthesis of their year’s studies.  As part of their cultural curriculum the students had studied the Fremont Indians while on GO. They explored relationships within and with nature so at Fremont Indian State Park they were able to see and experience first hand much of what they had read and learned about.                                            Students, teachers and parent chaperones worked together to create a comfortable camp space and prepare delicious meals to be shared. While there they participated in a facilitated ropes course. Team challenges such as “The Wall of...

Albert Einstein said, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." and, "The only source of knowledge is experience." 

Spring is such a bustling, fantastic time of learning, growth, and development.

(Elementary Only): Students are introduced to the joy and the science

Last week, our Elementary students creatively displayed their family’s roots at their Heritage Fair. The event showcased our students and families histories with unique displays throughout the gymnasium. After working on these histories for two months with the help of parents, grandparents, elders, teachers, and staff, the students were eager to share and present their gathered information as well as learn about their peers in a new way. Upper Elementary students also created timelines of many staff members. Upper Elementary students interviewed various staff and cleverly created beautiful displays highlighting these members of MCS. Prior to the fair, Upper Elementary also hosted a Pizza Parlor where students and families could enjoy a meal together before touring the displays in the gymnasium. This was a a great success and we thank all those families who participated in and supported our Upper Elementary students in this endeavor.  Many photos of this event can be found...

This year's Spring Camp brought students on an exciting adventure through the rainforest! Campers participated in a number of crafts and sensory learning activities that immersed them in the magical world of South America. On Monday, our students worked to answer the question, "What is the rainforest?" They studied the many layers and characteristics of the rainforest and created their own paper trees. Tuesday, we learned about the animals and insects that call the rainforest home. Early childhood and elementary students were able to create snakes galore with various fun materials, while the Toddlers finger painted their very own sloths and sang "Five Little Monkeys". Wednesday brought the exploration of the rainforest's native plants and birds. Campers created vibrant parrots out of paper plates and colored beautiful pictures of Toucans. Thursday was very special, as friends learned about food and products from the rainforest - and were able to participate in...

We recently had the privilege of hosting a Parent Education Event where a panel of experts prepared and presented information related to the use of screens in the home.  Below you can find some important take aways from that event.  Should you want further information from the event, you can find copies of the handouts on the Scholastic News table in the school lobby.   Current research indicates the use of screens and an investment in social media my be impacting children's ability to regulate emotion and the things kids are missing out on are worth taking a second look at as we establish the patterns around media in the home.  Dopamine, oxytocin and seratonin levels are impacted by screen use and in turn, other areas of the child and family are being impacted.  The argument that we live in a time that its impossible (or even difficult) to escape the use...

In the month of February our Early Childhood students had the opportunity to perform on stage for their parents and teachers! It was a lovely experience for all.  The purpose of the showcases is to give parents a glimpse of what their students are working on in class.  Showcases also allow children the chance to learn what it is like to be on stage. Although this is the first time many of our students have been on stage, their enthusiasm for performing for loved ones was contagious! During each showcase the students smiled & waved at the sight of family and friends.  As a Montessori program, we take pride in our Specialty classes as an opportunity to offer students experience in a variety of classes and skills.  Their experience in each of these classes is somewhat limited but the opportunity to learn more about their interests, along with skills taught about how to...

Each year we attempt to come together as an entire school at least twice per year.  We begin each year with a gathering for International Day of Peace, where we meet on the green space to sing together before walking the campus to see the prayer flags made by each student at MCS.  Typically, our second gathering is in the gym and consists of some kind of science or cultural presentation. This year was especially enjoyable! This morning we had the pleasure of hosting Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, a local Mexican Folk Dance group, for our 2018 All School Assembly.  The group presented a variety of dances, music and costumes, all of which were delightful! The first number was called Son Jarocho, is from Veracruz and is the main manifestation of the veracruzana party, whose origin is a mixture of Spanish airs influenced by African rhythms, executed with jarana, requinto and harp...

  Indoor composting can be a fun way to incorporate science into your family routines, particularly during the winter months. This article   from Cornell Composting shares some great tips for indoor composting with children! Happy Composting! Source: Jen Fong and Paula Hewitt  http://compost.css.corn ell.edu/worms/steps.html

Montessori Community School Toddler Teacher Montessori Community School of Salt Lake City seeks a full time certified and experienced Toddler Teacher or an experienced Toddler teacher who is interested in Montessori Training to co-teach in a classroom of approximately 18 children with the majority of the children aged 18 months through 3 years old.  MCS has 3 Toddler classrooms and the teachers in the program work closely together to plan and implement curriculum.   We seek a warm, imaginative, bright, flexible, and creative teacher who can effectively plan, problem solve and collaborate with a team of Toddler teachers.  The ability to understand and willingness to work with a range of learning styles is required. We expect our staff to be involved and active in our school community; participating in the ongoing development and refinement of our school’s curriculum, policy and procedures. Confidence, professionalism, and a sense of humor are important...

Early Childhood Classroom Assistant and Extended Day Teacher Montessori Community School of Salt Lake City seeks Early Childhood Assistant Teachers to work part-time on schedules ranging from 27 ½ to 36 hours per week; however, every position will end at 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. MCS has four Early Childhood classrooms and you will be working closely with the certified Montessori Teachers and also a team of Extended Support Teachers. We seek a warm, imaginative, flexible, bright and creative teacher who preferably has worked in a Montessori environment or at a minimum has experience working with children aged 3 - 6 years.  A respect for and love of children is essential. An understanding of the Montessori philosophy would be advantageous. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents and fellow staff members. Our preference would be for someone who is interested in a long- term commitment to MCS....

Last Wednesday, January 31 marked the ending of the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat—the Jewish New Year for trees. Tu B’Shevat is a celebration of trees and all the resources trees provide. The celebration of this holiday serves as reinvigoration of appreciation for these amazing lifeforms.     Trees provide a wonderful way to connect kids to their natural world. There are many ways to promote mindfulness about our environment by helping kids consider all the ways trees enrich our lives. Trees are important symbols of life and systems.     One fun idea for appreciating and understanding the changes and lifecycles of trees is to “adopt a tree”. To do this, locate a beloved tree in area that is visited often. Draw the tree, measure the tree, name the tree, recognize all the wonderful things about that tree. Keep a tree journal where reflections, drawings and data about that...

The 2018 Utah Legislative Session is underway! Need help following and better understanding some of the proposed legislation regarding environmental stewardship in Utah? Below are some links to helpful online bill trackers. Sierra Club Priority Bills *Provides an option to sign up for weekly 2018 Utah Legislative Updates HEAL Utah Bill Tracker *Provides an option to sign up for weekly 2018 Utah Legislative Updates Action Utah Bill Tracker *See the section on Environmental Stewardship

Dear MCS Families, This email contains the link to MCS Continuing Enrollment forms for the 2018 - 2019 Academic Year. Included with these forms, you will find the new tuition schedules.  The overall tuition increase this year is approximately 3.4%. The additional funds garnered by this increase will be earmarked in three different ways: paying the rising costs of ensuring health care coverage for our staff, providing modest raises for our teachers and staff, and covering general ongoing inflationary costs. We will be offering our Tuition Assurance Policy again this year. This optional program is designed to provide a measure of protection for both our families and the school in the case of student withdrawals during the school year. You will find more information enclosed within your packet. If you are considering the Extended Day option, we would encourage you to sign up sooner rather than later. We base our...

Montessori Community School Early Childhood Teacher for Dual Language Class   Montessori Community School of Salt Lake City seeks a full time certified and experienced Early Childhood Teacher who is a native Spanish speaker and fluent in both speaking and writing Spanish and English for one of our Dual Language classrooms.  MCS has four Early Childhood classrooms and the teachers in the program work closely together to plan and implement curriculum.   We seek a warm, imaginative, bright, flexible, and creative teacher who can effectively plan, problem solve and collaborate with the Early Childhood teachers.  The ability to understand and willingness to work with a range of learning styles is required.  We expect our staff to be involved and active in our school community and participating in the ongoing development and refinement of our school’s curriculum, policy and procedures.  Confidence, professionalism, and a sense of humor are important characteristics.  Candidates...