Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School Parent Newsletter April 10, 2014

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Families, Please remember to mark your calendars for Parent Class-room Visitation Days on Thursday, May 8th and Wednesday, May 14th from 9:30- 10:30. These days are set aside for parents of children that will be moving to another level. For example Primary to Lower Elem., Lower Elem. to Upper El-em., and Upper Elem. to MS. During this time parents can visit individual classrooms of each level for 10 minute inter-vals. Parents are asked to rotate through the classrooms so they are able to see the differences in all classes. All parents will receive a Classroom Placement Feedback Form to com-plete. These forms can be picked up in the front office after the visitation. The form will ask for you to identify the char-acteristics of your child and the characteristics of a teacher. Your characteristic similarities will be considered along with teacher recommendation for your childs placement for next year. Please do not write the name of a specific teacher on the Classroom Placement Forms. Filling out this form does not guarantee you a placement in a specific teachers class-room. When your form is completed, please drop it off to the front office by the end of the day on Tuesday, May 20th. I would like to thank all of the parents, teachers and stu-dents that volunteered during the Open House yesterday. The success of this annual event would not be possible without the efforts of the Community Involvement Commit-tee and their chairperson, Jen Nichols. The Open House pro-vides an opportunity for our new families to visit the school and meet staff and parents at various grade levels. Have a wonderful weekend, Cita

MVMPCS ATTENDANCE YEAR TO DATE: 96.41%

MD STATE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: 94%

*Send absence notes to: Rose.Shapiro@fcps.org

MAKE-UP DAYS DUE TO SNOW DAYS:

Monday, April 14, Tuesday, April 15, Wednesday, April 16 and Monday, April 21

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS:

Wednesday, June 112 hour early dismissal

MVMPCS CALENDAR:

Fri., 4/11 Report Cards Issued, MVMPCS Swap, Sanctuary, 2:45 p.m. Sat., 4/12Bldg. & Grounds Spring Clean Up, 9:00 a.m. Mon., 4/14School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Tues., 4/15School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day; Ms. Zoes Class Field trip to Washington, DC, 9:15 a.m.3:30 p.m. Wed., 4/16School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Thurs., 4/17 Sun., 4/20 Spring Break Mon., 4/21School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Tues., 4/22MS Field Trip to Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum, VA; Ms. Venus class to Safeway, 10:30 a.m.12:00 p.m. Wed., 5/7Ms. Christines Class to Woodsboro Park, 9 a.m.2 p.m. Thurs., 5/8Parent Class Visitation for Students moving to new level; 9:3010:30 a.m. Fri., 5/92 Hour Early Dismissal for Students at 12:45 p.m. Mon., 5/12Ms. Venus Class to Safeway, 9:15 a.m.11:00 a.m. Wed., 5/14Parent Class Visitation for Students moving to new level; 9:3010:30 a.m. Thurs., 5/15Fri., 5/16Ms. Zoes class camping; leave MVMPCS Thurs., 9:15 a.m.; return Fri. 2:00 p.m. Fri., 5/16Mr. Martys Class to Brookside Gardents, 9 a.m.1:45 p.m. Tues, 5/209 a.m.3:15 p.m., Lower El to Natl. History Museum, D.C.; Chorus Concert, 6 p.m. Fri., 5/239:30 Panoramic Photo , Community Coffee, 2 hour early dis-missal for students at 12:45 p.m. Mon., 5/26Memorial Day Holiday, School is closed.

*****SPRING BREAK NEXT WEEK****

SCHOOL CLOSED:

THURSDAY, APRIL 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

MVMPCS SPRING CLEAN UP THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 14

Come help clean up the grounds (weeding, raking mulch and overall spring clean up) this Saturday, April 12th at 9:00 a.m. (weather permitting). Bring your metal rake and a brown lawn refuse bag.

Kids are welcome and we hope to have some jobs and tools for them. Coffee and donuts will help get you going as well! Contact building@mvmpcs.org with questions and to RSVP.

Thanks, Jen Waldo; building@mvmpcs.org

MVMPCS NEWSLETTER PAGE 2

COMMUNITY CUP COFFEE ORDERS DUE TOMORROW

Hi everyone,

I wanted to update you on the status of the Community Cup coffee fundraiser with Dublin Roasters.

Two things: 1. All money raised will go to MMCI effective January 2014. It no longer goes to the SAF at MVM. There are several benefits to funneling money through MMCI, so I encourage you to continue to purchase the coffee and raise the money for MMCI.

2. All orders must go through a group order (I coordinate) for us to get credit. It was too complicated for DR to keep track of call ins, walk ins and internet orders. So as a result, I am willing to place monthly orders where I deliver orders, checks and coffee back to you.

We have raised over $700 to date and there's no reason we can't keep that momentum going, so please considering ordering your organic fair trade coffee through us.

I will open the group order period from now until Friday, April 11th. We will work on updating forms so they reflect current fund-raiser parameters. Don't forget checks should be made payable to Dublin Roasters. The price remains $14 for a full pound bag and $5 goes to MMCI.

We will make forms available at school outside the office and the link will be provided online. Then it's as simple as you filling out forms and turning them in, with full payment, to me so I can help fulfill you order.

Thank you for your past and future participation in this fundraiser!!

Jen Nichols Community Outreach Committee

LOOK FOR THE MARYLAND SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT INVOLVEMENT SURVEY

Your Voice Can Make a Difference! You will soon have the opportunity to participate in the annual Maryland Special Edu-cation Parent Involvement Survey from the M.S.D.E., Division of Special Education/ Early Intervention Services. Your feed-back will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in your local school system. Your input is the best way to tell us how well your school is partnering with you and promoting your involvement in your childs education.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD! Its Easy to Get Involved! Look for the paper survey, which will be mailed to you in early April 2014. Simply fill it out and return it in the postage-paid envelope or complete the survey online, if you prefer. Look for details in your survey packet. For more information visit: www.mdparentsurvey.com or contact Nancy Feeley at (410) 767-0738; by email at: nfeeley@msde.state.md.us.

SPRING SWAPFRIDAY, APRIL 11

It's time to clean out your closets and bring those outgrown or no longer used items to the spring swap. The swap will be held in the sanctuary immediately after school on Friday, April 11. You can drop off your swap stuff that morning when you drop off your children for school. Please leave bags in the front rows of the pews in the sanctuary for volunteers to sort and set up during the day. What can be included in the swap?

Clothing, accessories, books, toys, art supplies, small household items. Items must be small enough to fit in a paper grocery bag, clean, and in good, working condition.

Even if you dont bring items to drop off, please feel free to shop the swap. There are usually plenty of items, and the more you take, the less we have to haul to Goodwill afterward. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help set up and/or clean up, please contact Jenny Woodall at jennywoodall@gmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE!

BRING A BROOM SATURDAY IS APRIL 26TH

MVMPCS students and families will be organizing a team to help clean up Market Street and downtown Frederick. MVMPCS will be caring for the 4th-6th Street blocks of Market Street! Sign up details coming soon....

DID YOU ORDER AN MVMPCS 2014 YEARBOOK? Its not too late to purchase and hold on to the memories that will last a lifetime! Pick up an order form outside the school office. The standard cost is $22 with a percentage of proceeds benefitting the stu-dent activity fund. Yearbooks will be delivered to students at the end of the school year.