Weekly Wave

Dear May Sands Montessori community,

We are thrilled to unveil the all-new and improved Weekly Wave, your go-to source for the latest happenings, achievements, and exciting updates from our beloved Montessori school in Key West. As we embark on this journey together, we are committed to fostering a sense of connection, celebration, and pride within our school community.

In this revamped edition, you can expect a vibrant blend of informative articles, heartwarming stories, and spotlights on the remarkable accomplishments of our students, teachers, and staff. The Weekly Wave is designed to be your window into the enriching world of Montessori education, bringing you closer to the dynamic learning experiences that shape the lives of our students each week.

Thank you for those who have taken the Rate My School Survey! This is a really helpful tool for us to make the school a better place for your child. Thank you so much for your honest responses and feedback. We appreciate you.

🌟 Diving into Learning with the Blue Tangs! 🐟

Greetings, May Sands Montessori community!

We are thrilled to welcome back our fantastic early secondary students, the Blue Tangs, who have been making waves with their enthusiasm for learning and exploration.

🌍 Unveiling the Secrets of Earth: The Plate Tectonics Odyssey

In their recent adventures, the Blue Tangs have delved into the captivating realm of plate tectonics. From understanding the dynamics of Earth's crust to exploring how plate movements shape our world, their journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Engaging in hands-on activities, discussions, and experiments, our students are gaining a profound understanding of the forces that shape our planet.

➕ Mastering Math in the Real World

Beyond the realm of geology, our Blue Tangs are diving into more challenging math concepts. What makes this journey even more exciting is their application of these mathematical skills to real-world scenarios. The classroom has become a hub of problem-solving and critical thinking as they tackle mathematical challenges with confidence.

👩‍🍳 Culinary Skills in Action: Morning Meals Mastery

Adding a dash of creativity to their curriculum, our Blue Tangs are mastering culinary skills. They've taken on the responsibility of preparing morning meals for the class, turning the kitchen into a place of collaboration and delicious learning. From measuring ingredients to perfecting cooking techniques, their culinary adventures are both educational and tasty!

🛍️ School Store & Field Experiences on the Horizon

Exciting times are ahead as we gear up to launch a school store and embark on weekly field experiences every Friday. The Blue Tangs are eager to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit and explore the world beyond the classroom. But, we need your support!

🤝 Join Us in Building the Future

We invite our incredible May Sands community to be a part of this journey. If you have a profession or skills you'd like to share, or if you have items that could be sold in our school store, we would love to hear from you! Your expertise and contributions will play a vital role in shaping the experiences of our Blue Tangs.

Please reach out to Brooke Dillon at brooke.dillon@keysschools.com to learn more about how you can support and enhance the educational journey of our students.

Thank you for being an essential part of our vibrant and supportive community!

You will see that all students will begin to have homework coming home with them. Why are we doing this now? Families have been wanting to understand what their child is working on at school and this is a great way to not only keep them informed, but allow the students to practice those skills at home as well.

Each program level will be sending home work that is to support learning that has already happened. If your child struggles with any of it, that is a good indicator that they need to practice that skill more at school. Do they need you to teach it to them? No! You can walk them through items you understand, but a note to the Lead Guide on that work would assist them even further to know that maybe another lesson and some one-on-one work is needed.

We thank you for your support and encouragement of your child as we embark on this new journey.

Our very own Art and ESE Teacher, Ms. Susan (or in the art community, Susanna Burque) won the Peoples Choice Award at the "Explore" exhibit in December at The Studios of Key West. Her piece "Guitar" (pictured with her here) was the winner!

If you didn't see it, you missed an amazing event and work of art!

Medium: Hand carved coated archival foam, sea glass, adhesive, and copper wire.

Beginning this Friday, all program levels will hold "Friday Field Experiences"! We are very excited to begin this tradition as it will truly bring our Montessori education to a full circle. "Going Outs" are a large part of the curriculum and this will encourage our students to see and experience the world and community around them.

These will be in the form of walking trips around town, exploring different historical sites or having community members or parents come in to talk to the students about their professions. If you would like to participate in these Friday Experiences, please reach out to your child's Lead Guide.

• Fuel the Future Funds available - if your family needs assistance in paying for school supplies, pizza Fridays, field trips or other school-related activities, please email Ms. Rachel at Rachel.Garcia@keysschools.com.
• If you or someone you know is interested in substitute teaching at our school, please contact Ms. Rachel at Rachel.Garcia@keysschools.com