FACULTY FOCUS

We are pleased to introduce our 2024-25 staff, who will provide a wonderful Montessori foundation for your children. (Please see our website for staff bios, with continuing updates to follow.)        

TODDLER

Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch will return to lead our Toddler classroom this year, assisted by Tiffany Reynolds. Nasrin Chbarek will return as the 20th Street Administrator and coordinator of the Toddler snack and lunch program. We are excited to welcome a new group of toddler children in August!

PRIMARY

Our Primary program will consist of two classrooms this year, with students guided by Sara Lloyd (Primary I) and Angela Walker (Primary II). Sara will be assisted by Julia Carriger and Kyra Zamora. Sutton Higginbotham joins our MMS team as an assistant in Primary II, with Stevie Palenchar coordinating the morning outdoor environment and Maria León Kershner supporting our Primary II friends in the afternoons.

ELEMENTARY

Our Lower Elementary program will expand to three classrooms this year. Denessa Rouse will lead Lower Elementary I, assisted by Sonji Baldwin. Our Lower Elementary II classroom will be led by Shannon Bradley, who will be assisted by Tiffany Martin.

Ashley Benson will lead our new third LE classroom, with Jen Preston joining the staff as the LE III assistant.

Upper Elementary will continue in two classrooms, led by Alasha Al-Qudwah and Emily Christian. Emily will be assisted by Elea Paybins and Karen Kelly, and Alasha will be assisted by Leah Towler, formerly of Primary I.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Middle School Program will be led by Dr. Emily Beal (science and math). MS Guide Sarah Halstead will transition to a consulting role this year as we recruit a second Lead Guide to teach language arts and humanities. They will be joined by specialists Elea Paybins (creative expression), Evan Young (physical expression) and Maria León Kershner (Spanish).

SPECIALISTS AND PLUS PROGRAM

Curriculum specialists this year will include Maria León Kershner, Spanish teacher; Evan Young, physical education instructor; and Elea Paybins, who will lead art classes for Lower and Upper Elementary. Tara Fought and Ray Singleton will provide Reading and Learning Support services.

Stephanie Spradling (Primary) and Naphtali ReBrook (Elementary) will teach world music and Bernard DiGregorio will once again offer private-pay strings lessons to Elementary-age students on Fridays.

Karen Kelly returns to lead Montessori Plus this year. Karen will be joined by Susie Newhouse, Evan Young, and Naphtali ReBrook.

ADMINISTRATION AND FACILITIES

This year, our admin team will include Jennifer Carriger, MMS Head of School, Beth George, MMS Director of Operations, and administrative team members Stephanie Spradling and Nasrin Chbarek. We are pleased to have our Staunton Avenue custodian John Elswick on staff as well.

FACTS FAMILY PORTAL/REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT

Be sure to check your family demographic form in FACTS/ParentsWeb before school starts so that we have your current contact information.

The following forms should have been completed during the enrollment/re-enrollment process:

• Student medical form
• Custodial parent form(s)
• Transportation form
• Consent for use of student images form

We need the following for ALL STUDENTS AGES 2-12 before the first day of school:



• Emergency Information/Permission Form for Children in Childcare Settings We need two signed copies of this form for each child ages 2-12.This form does not need to be notarized. (If you completed this form for Campessori 2024 you do not need to complete it again for this school year.) Please do not email or fax these forms. We must receive hard copies. You may drop the forms off at school anytime M-F between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and you may also place them in the school's mailbox on the front of the building on either campus. Thank you!
• A copy of the child's most recent physical/well-child report or a completed copy of this form: Child Health Assessment . Make sure the report states whether the child has any allergies.

We need the following from ALL FAMILIES before the first day of school:

• Signed acknowledgement of receipt of our Student-Parent Handbook. Older students (grades 4 and up) may also sign the acknowledgement. We only need one signed acknowledgement per family.

The FACTS Family Portal contains the following resource documents

• MMS Student/Parent Handbook - This document contains important information including arrival/dismissal procedures, medication administration policies and forms, lunch and snack information, and more. Please read the handbook carefully and complete the acknowledgement page before the first day of school.
• MMS Handbook Quick Guide
• Classroom supplies lists and entry/readiness checklists
• WV Department of Health and Human Resources immunization requirements.  A complete and up-to-date immunization record must be signed by your physician and filed at school on or before August 10. 
• Arrival/Dismissal Procedures for each campus
• Summer Assignments (Upper Elementary and Middle School) 
• In lieu of transportation form (ages 5 and up)
• Medication administration form (required for Epi-Pens and any other medication that must be kept for administration at school)
• Sunscreen/Bug spray application form
• 2024-2025 School Calendar
• Child Health Assessment (required for all students ages 2-12 before school begins)
• Emergency Information/Permission Form (required for all students ages 2-12 before school begins)

ORIENTATION AND BACK TO SCHOOL DATES

Please read and familiarize yourself with back to school information and dates.

PLEASE START PLANNING NOW FOR BACK TO SCHOOL - We can't wait to see you!

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL

Arrival for all students begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 8:15 a.m.

Morning Friends will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. 

Dismissal for full day students (Toddler through Middle School) will be from 2:45-3:00 p.m. daily, once their full-day schedule begins. See the chart above for start dates.

In preparation for a smooth and efficient dismissal, we ask that each family prepare a car sign to hang from the rear-view mirror. Please provide a car sign for anyone who will be dropping off or picking up your child. Please also be aware that we will check for identification if anyone 'new to us' comes to pick up your child from school.

Please be prepared to allow for some extra time for arrival and dismissal during the first few weeks of school, as these processes typically take longer until the students have adjusted to their new routines. Thank you in advance for your patience!

EIGHTH YEAR GRADUATION

"I may be leaving Montessori, but Montessori will never leave me." ~ Luke Holliday

Luke summed up what we all were feeling as we celebrated our eighth year students upon their completion of their time with us. Congratulations to Luke Holliday, Eliza Clark, Braelyn White, Tyler Lindsey and Ava Synder... we are so very proud of all you and know you will continue to amaze us with your determination, creativity, kindness and passion for learning. You will always be a part of MMS as MMS will always be a part of you!

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

MMS families and students came together in a big way to say "thank you" to our wonderful staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. With the generosity of our community, teachers enjoyed daily celebrations. More photos here.

SPRING GALA & GOLF

Wonderful performances by our talented staff, an exciting auction of class art projects and great company made for another unforgettable MMS spring fundraiser, which this year added a golf outing to the festivities. Please join us in applauding the hard working gala committee, co-chaired by Suzette Ashley and Becca Stevenson, Golf Committee, co-chaired by Ryan Donovan, Bethany Hall and Brett Kemerer, our generous sponsors and guests, and all who contributed to its success!

More photos here.

Click to see article.

Thank you to the MMS JARSS (Julia Carriger, Alasha Al-Qudwah, Ray Singleton, Sonji Byers-Baldwin and Stephanie Spradling) who brought down the house with their incredible performances!

Click to see article.

MONTESSORI MOMENTS-END OF YEAR TRADITIONS AND CELEBRATIONS

"It's when we start working together that the real healing takes place." ~David Hume

This year’s final pedagogy of place study for MMMS took students to South Carolina for a rich heritage- and culture-filled five days this month. During this incredible trip, students gained understanding of both the historical events and natural environment that shaped this beautiful area of our country and influenced American history as a whole. Students experienced Freedom Park in Charlotte, N.C. on their way to Beaufort, where the itinerary included a tour of St. Helena Island (the center of Gullah culture), neighborhood study of downtown Beaufort, sea kayaking and waterfront historical study, and a low country boil! Next, it was on to Charleston, S.C. for visits to Fort Sumter, Patriots Point, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon (also known as The Custom House), the Exchange and Slave Mart, and Charleston Tea Plantation. On Thursday, students toured the Old Sheldon Church and explored Hunting Island State Beach. On their way home, they enjoyed lunch at Congaree National Park and returned to Charleston, W.V., excited to share all they learned. In addition to these amazing educational experiences, there were ample opportunities for team- and life skill building activities. Thank you to our wonderful guides who curated this powerful experience for our lucky students!



More photos here.

Our school community gathered for a wonderful afternoon of food, friends and family at the last day of school picnic at the Kanawha State Forest. We loved seeing all of your beautiful smiles! More photos here..

Upper Elementary experienced American history where it happened during their spring trip to Virginia with visits to Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg. What an unforgettable trip! More photos here.

Twenty-five years and brighter than ever... our annual all-school tie-dye day(s) created vivid lifetime memories! More photos here.

Primary II friends started a butterfly habitat in a butterfly garden created by our Upper Elementary students. As part of the project, children studied the life cycle of the butterfly. In early May, they released all five butterflies from the classroom into our beautiful garden area. Experiential education and mixed age learning at its best!

The spring semester brings with ample opportunities for community as classroom learning In Upper El, as their West Virginia studies took them to the WV Music Hall of Fame, Claudie L. Workman Wildlife Education Center at Forks of Coal State Natural Area, and Blenko Glass.

Students rising to Lower and Upper Elementary next year (and their parents) enjoyed previews of what’s ahead during Step Up events this spring. Congratulations to all who is moving on up!

Three years of Primary and six of Elementary all come together at a very special annual event at MMS: presentations of individual research projects by sixth year students. The multi-faceted projects involve a lengthy research and writing process, completion of a formal paper, creation of trifolds for displays to share with families and school mates, and digital presentations. We are so proud of the creative and insightful work showcased by the 2024 sixth years, grateful for guidance of our UE Lead Guides Alasha Al-Qudwah and Emily Christian and Assistants Karen Kelly, Brittany Javins and Charlee Tidrick, and thankful for our supportive families. Congratulations, all!

Middle School students shared their science projects with Lower and Upper El in an inspiring and engaging showcase held at the Staunton campus in May. Well done!

FESTIVALL 2024

Congratulations to the six MMS students whose art works received special recognition at the FestivALL Art-for-Al Children's Art Show as well as all of our artists included in the 2024 exhibition!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Teacher Preparation Begins | August 9

Back to School Night | August 15 | mandatory for all class levels, parents new and returning students

New Student Orientation-Primary through Upper Elementary | August 16

Watch for sign up information to be emailed in August

Toddler Phase-in Days | August 21-23 | watch your email

First Day of School-August 19: Primary 5-year-olds, all Lower and Upper Elementary and Middle School students | see chart earlier in this newsletter for exact hours during the first week of school

First Day of School-August 20: Returning Primary 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds | 11:45 dismissal

First Day of School-August 21: New Primary 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds | 11:45 dismissal

Ice Cream Social | August 29 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Staunton Ave. Campus

Plus Program Begins | August 26 | Pre-Registration is required | Primary Registration, Elementary Registration

Labor Day | September 2 | No school

All-School Annual Meeting | September 9

Parent-Teacher Conferences | October 7-8 | No school

SPECIALS SPOTLIGHT: CAMPESSORI 2024

Campessori is in full swing, with students exploring everything from botany, to Appalachian culture to all things Japanese. Watch our social media accounts for updates on all of the fun here (Primary) and here (Elementary).

MMMS kicked off summer with an intensive and entertaining one-day science lab. Students explored electricity and magnetism, learning about static electricity, circuits, conductors and insulators, magnetic fields, electromagnets and simple motors with hands on fun!

ALUMNI UPDATE

Congratulations to our 2024 MMS graduating high school students, who were celebrated with a Senior Walk at both campuses yesterday. We couldn’t be prouder and more excited for you as you take your next steps on the journey of a lifetime! Please stay in touch—an MMS friend is a friend forever!

MORE MONTESSORI MOMENTS

Science came to life for Upper El when fifth year students staged a dramatic presentation of the nitrogen cycle.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Upper Elementary was honored to welcome several guest speakers this spring, including Dr. Farhad Bafakih (MMS parent); Delegate Mike Pushkin; City Councll Representative Joe Jenkins and attorney Arie Spitz (MMS parents); Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Tera Salango and 11th Family Court Judge Brittany Ranson Stonestreet (MMS parent).

Dr. Farhad Bafakih

Delegate Mike Pushkin

City Council Representative Joe Jenkins and Arie Spitz

Judges Tera Salango and Brittany Ranson Stonestreet

Thank you for reading your "M" News!



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