We hope all were able to enjoy their Winter Break. It was lovely to see all the smiling faces and bodies in motion with a pep in their step. As we transition back into the swing of things, we wanted to discuss the importance of appropriate clothing for our outdoor classroom.

The outdoor classroom is a large part of the Montessori experience. Students are often taken outside to interact with Mother Nature for lessons, recess, and PE. In order for students to access the outdoors, they need to be prepared with the appropriate attire. Please guide your students to understand how to select the right items for any given day. Make checking the weather a priority with your students. Let them take on the job of being the meteorologist for the day and have a discussion about clothing items such as layering, warm shoes, water resistant clothing, hats, and gloves.

Our students go outside daily, unless we have a red air day or severe weather. Please help your students come prepared so that they can be one with nature and their peers.

"The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth"

-Maria Montessori

This past week, Utah State Board of Education (USBE) released school accountability data for last school year, 2017-18. You will not see a letter grade on this report, as in years past because the State Legislature has suspended this overall rating for one year. Instead, you will see more detailed information for each category used to calculate the overall letter grade. Please access the two documents below from USBE to learn more about the rating system and changes for this year. You can access MMA's data by clicking USBE School Report Card.

This data does not surprise MMA administrators and teachers as we have been analyzing student achievement on USBE standardized assessments in real time last spring. MMA has developed several school goals with input from teachers, the Board of Directors, and USBE. These goals were presented to MMA's Board at the June meeting. A mid-year report on the progress toward achieving these goals will be shared in the next two weeks.

Thank you all for taking the time to complete the Stakeholder Survey this fall. The family survey was open for about 6 weeks and had 77 responses, which is about 13% of 589 parent/guardian emails to which it was sent. The school staff survey results represent 100% of school staff.

November 2018 School Staff Survey Results

November 2018 Parents Survey Results

Please note that for the 2018-19 school year, the interventionist position did not exist.

Ms. Leigh's Erd Kinder class wrapped up the quarter by exploring MMA's own solar panels! Ms. Leigh walked the students through what a solar panel is made of all the way to how we use our energy. It was quite the field experience.

Maria Montessori Academy’s 2019-2020 school year Open Enrollment (OE) period will begin on January 21, 2019, at 8 am. The first lottery draw will be held on February 3, 2019.Please share this page with your friends who want to enroll at MMA: https://www.mariamontessoriacademy.org/?page_id=79.

The 2019-20 school year link will be active at 8am on January 21, 2019.

This is a friendly reminder that there is no school this Friday, January 11th, 2019 for professional development for our teachers and staff.

If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Nicoletta Householder at nhouseholder@mariamontessoriacademy.org. The Annual Science Fair is Wednesday, January 16 from 9:00am-12:00pm. You do not have to have a science background to be a judge.

MMA Gala

The Gala will be held at Snowbasin on March 23rd from 7:00-9:00pm. To order tickets, please purchase here. Tickets are $32 per person and will not be available for purchase at the door this year. More information regarding the Gala will come soon.

Gala Art: We need more help!

My name is Elene Hess and I am the gala art chair person. I have been volunteering with the gala art for 5 years now and have spear-headed many projects. I am new to this position and I need all the help I can get. I am in need of volunteers to head up our art projects for the live auction. If you've never been to the gala, each level (grade) creates an art project that gets auctioned off at a live auction. These art projects are so precious and special; they have value way beyond the materials and time. We need parent volunteers for each level to help coordinate the students and spear-head each project. You don't have to be an artist, you don't even have to be creative. All we need is those willing to take a little bit of time and show the kids what to do. I have many project ideas I can help you with or you can come up with your own and I can look it over and approve (we try to do different projects for each level). Each project has a $50.00 budget, but we try to get materials donated as much as possible.

If you are willing to help, please open the google sheet and put your name down for the level you would like and the idea you have or write "need ideas." We will have a meeting to discuss the deadlines and art right after our holiday break.

Please feel free to call me with any questions. 801-388-7002

Elene Hess

1/4/19 -- Intent to Return Opens

1/8/19 -- MMA Board of Directors Meeting, 5:30pm, MMA Library

1/10/19 --SCREENAGERS; Addition Commons 6-7:30pm

1/11/19 -- Legislative Professional Development (No School)

1/14-18/19 -- STEM Week (Whole School Events)

1/15/19 -- Redwoods Final Payments due

1/18/19 -- Intent to Return Closes

1/21/19 -- MLK Jr. Day (No School); Open Enrollment Opens

1/29/19 -- Chili Cook-off

1/31/19 -- Crow Canyon Final Payment due

2/1/19 -- MAPA Meeting 8:45am in the Main Conference Room

2/3/19 -- Open Enrollment Closes

2/13-15/19 -- Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Release); Book Fair

2/19/19 -- Classic Skating Spirit Night; 5:00-8:00pm

2/20/19 -- Box Top Store

2/26/19 -- School-wide Spelling Bee (more information to come)

MMA Website

MMA Facebook Page

MMA on Twitter

MAPA Facebook Page - MMA' s Parent Organization

Track It Forward - school events calendar and volunteer sign-ups

MMA's Jr High Blog

MMA Teacher Blogs

Email: info@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Website: www.mariamontessoriacademy.org
Location: 2505 N 200 E, North Ogden, UT, United States
Phone: 801.827.0150
Facebook: facebook.com/MMAofUT
Twitter: @MMAofUT