Montessori Peaks Academy

Dear MPA families,

What a beautiful September day! After such a hot summer, it is a welcome change for us all. I hope you and your family have plans to explore the Colorado outdoors this weekend. There is not a better time of year for it.

Thank you to our car line staff and Ms. Heather and her outstanding team of AM/PM car line volunteers who direct traffic and open car doors for students. Parent volunteers are the cornerstone of MPA's welcoming, safe, and efficient car line. Please make sure to thank these individuals, both verbally and by following their direction. Extending grace and courtesy to others is one of the most important lessons we as adults can model for our children.

Attendance

REMINDER: If your child will be absent, please make sure to call the MPA Attendance Line at (303) 972-2627 and leave the information communicated on the voice recording.

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and MPA joins Jeffco in elevating the topic of absenteeism, and its direct impact on student well-being. Across Colorado, one in four students were chronically absent last school year and the rate of chronic absenteeism is still higher than it was before the pandemic. Please time to review the Jeffco Absenteeism flyer which discusses the impact of student absences and why attendance matters.

Thank you for continued efforts to reduce tardies and absences. I wish you the best of weekends and hope you enjoy these fleeting summer days.

With grace and courtesy,

Ms. Robin

• Please click HERE for the 24-25 MPA Family Calendar.

September

17 - Dewey's Kick-Off

17 - MPA September BOD Meeting

20 - No school for students (Staff In-Service Day)

23 - MPA School Accountability Meeting; Virtual 4:00 PM

October

3 - PTA Meeting

10 - Primary Dewey's Dash

11 - Elementary Dewey's Dash

15 - Primary Dewey's Dash Rain Date

16 - Elementary Dewey's Dash Rain Date

17-18 - Fall Break (No school for students.)

26 - Trunk or Treat

All classrooms have been enjoying visits to the library over the past few weeks! If you want to know when your student has library, feel free to check the online library calendar, which can be found on the school website under Classrooms/Library/Schedule. All classes from Kindergarten through 6th grade have library on a weekly basis, and for those who miss their library time or need to return for any reason we have open library scheduled daily at various times so that every classroom should be able to make something work.

On that note, we will also be having a Parent and Preschool library time again, when preschoolers and their parents can come to the library and check out books together! Beginning this Thursday, Sept. 19th, we have two different times of the day in which preschoolers are welcome to bring their parents to the MPA Library to check out books:

• For the students who get picked up at 11:00, we have library from 11:00-11:30.

• For the full-day students, we have library from 3:00-3:30.
  
  

This is not a structured time, just time for parents (or grandparents, or other family members) to bring their preschooler down to the school library to pick out a few books to take home or read together here in our quiet space. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact Heather at Heather.Walter@jeffco.k12.co.us.

The meal order link for October is now open. Here is the link to the form that will close on Friday September 20, 2024 https://forms.gle/2xRXzmQ422aeLHL59

• Main building behind shed along playground fence.
• North building by pine tree along front sidewalk.

Ms. Shannon has a high need for volunteers in the MPA Servery.

Help with prep for Breakfast and/or help with Lunch Service. 10:15 - 12:30

Please contact Ms. Shannon at shannon.ennenga@jeffco.k12.co.us.

Please access this link to learn how to use Student Insights to access your 4th-8th grade student's 23-24 assessment results.

Currently seeking:

• Substitute teachers

If you are interested, please reach out to Jen Webb (Jen.Webb@jeffco.k12.co.us) for more details.

Maria Montessori's research summarizes four distinct planes of development that each individual progresses through to reach adulthood: birth-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24. In each of the planes, she believed that children and youth gravitate toward different skills and activities and make extraordinary progress if opportunities align with these preferred skills and activities.

The adolescent stage of development involves different educational needs than those of the Elementary stage, which is why MPA is very excited about the new Middle School program. Montessori Secondary Programs work with the developmental essence of adolescents to help them live full, vital lives.

Previously Shared Resources:

• The First Plane of Development: Birth to Age 6 - Montessori Philosophy
  
• The Second Plane of Development: Ages 6-12
  
• The Third Plane of Development: Ages 12-18 - Montessori Philosophy
  
• The Fourth Plane of Development: Ages 18-24 - Montessori Philosophy
  

We are in the process of updating our Spirit Wear options and we want to know what you think! Please see the attached form to submit your vote on what you’d like to see as available spirit wear options to purchase!

https://forms.gle/cx5QUgLMF38ViXoq7

Dewey’s Dash is launching next week! Watch for information to come home with you kiddo!

STEM Club still has space! If your child is interested please sign up below!

STEM club sessions are offered this fall semester on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 3-4:30 open to grades PK -8. Please sign up here and select which day your child will attend. https://forms.gle/ygXWoENhVFj1nAhD7

Next meeting: Friday, 10/3/24, North building, 8:30 AM

PTA STEM CLUB (STEM Club Flyer)

MPA PTA is a proud Sponsor of the MPA STEM Club. Individually or in teams, students explore STEM materials through coding, Lego building, games, and other STEM materials. We leverage parent coaches to help run the club and to help guide the students for an hour and a half each week.

STEM Club runs in two semesters. We offer a placement for up to 35 kids per session. Our fall semester runs September through December and spring semester runs from January to May.

Kids are signed up for the full semester, and cost is $75/month - you can pay in full or monthly.

STEM club sessions are offered this fall semester on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 3-4:30! Please sign up here and select which day your child will attend. https://forms.gle/ygXWoENhVFj1nAhD7

After you register, we will be contact you to make payment arrangements.

STEM club begins Sept 11th (Wed session) and Sept 12th (Thurs session)!

Questions? email STEMclub@mpeakspta.org

If your child would like to participate in STEM but the cost is prohibited, please email us at STEMclub@mpeakspta.org

PTA Volunteer Opportunity: We have lots of volunteer opportunities with the upcoming Dewey's Dash Fundraiser. Most of which can be done 100% from home! If you are interested please email president@mpeakspta.org

Resources:

• MPA PTA Website

• MPA Meeting Minutes

• MPA Volunteer Interest Form

• 24-25 Log Your Volunteer Hours

We continue to grieve for the loss of one of our students, Jillian Factor. Please reach out if your child is struggling with this loss. The school and district has numerous resources for support.

Updates and ways to help:

• Meal Train for the Factor family

Review the BOD Top Four from the 8/20/24 meeting:

1. In April, the BOD approved the 2024-2025 Strategic Plan. This 5 year plan outlines the BOD + School Leadership priorities and the direction we hope to take the school. Check out the 24-25 Strategic Plan below.
2. Are you a local community member who would like more input on what's happening at MPA? We are currently accepting applications for a BOD Community Member! Read the BOD Call for Applicants for more info.
3. To align with our goals of fiscal responsibility and increased cyber security, the BOD will be upgrading to Google Workspace.
4. The PTA has an awesome Playground Renovation planned. The BOD is excited to support their efforts in bringing a Natural Playscape to MPA.

Call for applicants: Community Member BOD position

The MPA Board of Directors invites applications for the open Community Member position. The Community Member Director position cannot be filled by a parent, staff, or spouse of staff. Grandparents, relatives, and former MPA parents would make great candidates! The term is one year. If interested, please send a Statement of Interest and Resume to emily.splitek.mpa@gmail.com by September 15, 2024. The Community Member will be appointed by the Board (no election necessary).

The next BOD meeting is 9/17 at 6:30 PM.

Resources:

• 24-25 MPA Strategic Plan
• 8/20/24 BOD Meeting Meetings
• BOD Website

MPA Family Calendar

MPA Family Student Handbook

Email: veronica.botcher@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: montessoripeaks.org
Location: 9904 West Capri Avenue, Littleton, CO, USA
Phone: 303-972-2627
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MontessoriPeaksAcademy