April 10,2016
The first week back from Spring Break- time to get back into the swing of things and remember what "normal" is. Who can believe that it was only a week that we had away?!? Now starts the final descent of the school year.....however, this does not mean that we can relax. There are projects to be done, tests to be taken and lessons to continue learning. Please support your
PLEASE SIGN - PETITION for NC Montessori Teacher Licensing Issues
Montessori teachers in the state of NC are having tremendous difficulty getting state licensure. There are teachers at all of the CMS Montessori primary schools (including Highland Mill Montessori) currently facing this issue who may lose their jobs if the state does not change the way they are licensing Montessori teachers. CMS has 4 Montessori schools in Mecklenburg County; these schools all need to be staffed with credentialed Montessori teachers in order to protect to the philosophy. Unfortunately, CMS and the State of North Carolina are not willing to recognize and license Montessori educated teachers to teach in our Montessori schools. Montessori Association of North Carolina (MANC) has made some progress with the Department of Child Development and Early Education. They plan to present to the dilemma facing these teachers to State Board of Education this dilemma. It would be great if we could present a unified front of parents, public Montessori Teachers, and advocacy members to the board. We as a community need to let our State Board of Education know that we value our public Montessori schools and are requesting that they acknowledge and protect our current program.
Please click on the link below to sign the petition and show your support for all of our Montessori teachers at Highland Mill!
https://www.change.org/p/the-montessori-association-of-nc-save-nc-public-montessori-teachers-and-tax-payer-dollars?recruiter=521796893&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink
Yearbooks on sale NOW!
A yearbook dedication is a photo and short message of love and support from families to their HMM student. This is a sweet way to give your child a little shout out to commemorate a fantastic school year! (see the bottom of the email for additional information) Dedications are ONLY $5.00 and must be received by May 1st to be in the HMM yearbook.
HMM PTA Advocacy Team
Testing.. It' might not be anyone's favorite subject - Families, Students, and Teachers alike : ) As part of CMS, Highland Mill Montessori participates in state required tests throughout the school year and our Teachers are certainly well versed and equipped for the various testing programs, One of those programs is the state's reading proficiency initiative entitled: READ TO ACHIEVE
As many of you may be aware this initiative was implemented following the state board of education's determination that ALL students should be able to read at or above grade level by the end of their 3rd grade year. The state board of education has implemented the Read to Achieve assessment program to help ensure that the reading proficiency of all 3rd grade students is measured during the school year. There are benchmarks and pathways within the Read to Achieve assessment process that allow for the determination of proficient or not proficient. Since the initial implementation of Read to Achieve students at HMM have consistently faired very well on the assessment. Our awesome Literacy team lead by Ms. Beth held a very helpful information session r last month to help Families gain an understanding of the Read to Achieve process. In case you were unable to attend that info-session; here are a couple links that may help shed some light on the process and what to expect (even if you don't yet have a 3rd grader).
http://elemedu.ccs.k12.nc.us/files/2015/01/Read-to-Achieve-Brochure.pdf
SLT (Student Leadership Team) Meetings
Join the SLT at their monthly meetings every 3rd Thursday at 8:00 am. The group gets together and discusses student/school decisions that are important to not only the school but our students as well. This is your opportunity to discover what is going on with the school and share concerns. All parents are urged to attend! The next meeting will be held on April 21st!! We have created a virtual option for parents who can’t attend as well: https://www.smore.com/0gcnm Please visit the virtual portal to get meeting minutes and become a part of the HMM community. CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED.
SECONDARY MONTESSORI NEW
RISING 7th GRADERS WHO PLAN ON ATTENDING SEDGEFIELD IN THE FALL:
There will be a mandatory Orientation to be held on April 28th from 6-7:30. See Link for details:
http://sedgefieldmontessori.com/2016/01/28/new-family-orientation-for-rising-7th-graders-april-28/?utm_source=Secondary+Montessori+Parents&utm_campaign=b0fdb80e71-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ad587ce9f-b0fdb80e71-72365929&mc_cid=b0fdb80e71&mc_eid=0e127e459b
SEDGEFIELD NAMED A MAGNET SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION
We are honored to announce that Magnet Schools of America named Sedgefield Montessori as a 2016 public “Magnet School of Distinction.” We are one of 258 schools/programs recognized for commitment to high academic standards, school diversity, specialized curricula and instruction, family engagement, and community partnerships.
Said MSA Executive Director, Todd Mann,“This is a way for our association to recognize the most accomplished magnet schools in the country. These schools are making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children. They are preparing them for the challenges of the future by providing them with unique learning experiences that give them the critical skills needed to be workforce and college ready.”
They like us! They really, really like us! Thanks to our entire Montessori community for supporting Sedgefield Montessori and toCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for making dreams come true. We are so excited to be expanding our program to 9th grade in 2016-17 and settling into our permanent home in 2017-2018. As soon as CMS determines a definite location, we will let you know!
http://sedgefieldmontessori.com/2016/03/07/sedgefield-montessori-awarded-magnet-school-of-distinction-by-magnet-schools-of-america/
Text Reminding from the PTA
Do you feel like you are forgetting important dates for HMM and the PTA? Days off? Deadlines? Events? YES???? Then join the HMM Text reminding! Just text 81010 with the message @hmmpta. or click this link! Just another way to join the HMM Community!
Spirit Rocks: BIRTHDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS, OR SHOW HMM PRIDE!
HMM has two Spirit Rocks available for painting! If you'd like to paint the Spirit Rock, you must first check to see if the date is available on the Spirit Rock calendar here. If your date is available, then please fill out this form and send in $10 to HMM PTA. Once the money is received, the PTA will reserve the date on the calendar. Can’t wait to see all your beautiful Spirit Rock creations!
Join the HMM Community
If you are interested in joining the PTA and helping support HMM please contact the PTA directly at [email protected]. If you have already expressed this interest, your committee chair should have contacted you-if they have not, please email us so that we can make sure the information we have is correct. REMEMBER- you do not have to be at the school to help! There is a role for everyone!. We look forward to growing the PTA family so that our children can have the best year yet!
Parent Education
Check out this Facebook Group where HMM parents are sharing Montessori information and resources. Also, take a look at and follow the parent-created HMM Pinterest Board for Montessori activities you can do at home!
Support our school by shopping on Amazon
Now you can support our school by shopping on Amazon! Make your purchases through this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-2052326 and our school will get back a percentage. You can use your existing Amazon username and password. It's super easy and just in time for the holiday shopping!!
Give Back to HMM by Shopping
There are several ways you can support our school, just by shopping. Link your Target REDcard, VIC Card (you can do this online if you have your card with you-it's easy!) or BiLo Bonus Card to our school and automatically donate a percentage of your purchases. Also, visit www.Shoparoo.com for another way to support our school each time you shop.
How Do I Keep in Touch with the PTA?
o Bookmark our website: www.highlandmillmontessoripta.weebly.com
o Friend us on Facebook: Highland Mill Montessori PTA
o Join Remind: Text 424.203.0478 with the message @hmmpta
Save the Date
April 20: EARLY RELEASE
April 21: SLT Meeting @ 8:00am
April 25: Snow Make-up Day- SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!
April 28: Sedgefield MANDATORY Open House: 6pm at Sedgefield
April 30: Girls on the Run 5k Event- Everyone is Welcome!
May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: Muffins with moms & Transition Open House @ HMM
The first week back from Spring Break- time to get back into the swing of things and remember what "normal" is. Who can believe that it was only a week that we had away?!? Now starts the final descent of the school year.....however, this does not mean that we can relax. There are projects to be done, tests to be taken and lessons to continue learning. Please support your
PLEASE SIGN - PETITION for NC Montessori Teacher Licensing Issues
Montessori teachers in the state of NC are having tremendous difficulty getting state licensure. There are teachers at all of the CMS Montessori primary schools (including Highland Mill Montessori) currently facing this issue who may lose their jobs if the state does not change the way they are licensing Montessori teachers. CMS has 4 Montessori schools in Mecklenburg County; these schools all need to be staffed with credentialed Montessori teachers in order to protect to the philosophy. Unfortunately, CMS and the State of North Carolina are not willing to recognize and license Montessori educated teachers to teach in our Montessori schools. Montessori Association of North Carolina (MANC) has made some progress with the Department of Child Development and Early Education. They plan to present to the dilemma facing these teachers to State Board of Education this dilemma. It would be great if we could present a unified front of parents, public Montessori Teachers, and advocacy members to the board. We as a community need to let our State Board of Education know that we value our public Montessori schools and are requesting that they acknowledge and protect our current program.
Please click on the link below to sign the petition and show your support for all of our Montessori teachers at Highland Mill!
https://www.change.org/p/the-montessori-association-of-nc-save-nc-public-montessori-teachers-and-tax-payer-dollars?recruiter=521796893&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink
Yearbooks on sale NOW!
- All yearbooks MUST be pre ordered online via the Picaboo website:
http://hmms2016yearbook.picaboo.com. - The cost of each yearbook is $15. EXTRA yearbooks will NOT be available, so be sure to PRE-ORDER to reserve your copy. Yearbooks will be delivered to classrooms & sent home in backpacks during the last week of the school year. Please email [email protected] with any questions.
A yearbook dedication is a photo and short message of love and support from families to their HMM student. This is a sweet way to give your child a little shout out to commemorate a fantastic school year! (see the bottom of the email for additional information) Dedications are ONLY $5.00 and must be received by May 1st to be in the HMM yearbook.
HMM PTA Advocacy Team
Testing.. It' might not be anyone's favorite subject - Families, Students, and Teachers alike : ) As part of CMS, Highland Mill Montessori participates in state required tests throughout the school year and our Teachers are certainly well versed and equipped for the various testing programs, One of those programs is the state's reading proficiency initiative entitled: READ TO ACHIEVE
As many of you may be aware this initiative was implemented following the state board of education's determination that ALL students should be able to read at or above grade level by the end of their 3rd grade year. The state board of education has implemented the Read to Achieve assessment program to help ensure that the reading proficiency of all 3rd grade students is measured during the school year. There are benchmarks and pathways within the Read to Achieve assessment process that allow for the determination of proficient or not proficient. Since the initial implementation of Read to Achieve students at HMM have consistently faired very well on the assessment. Our awesome Literacy team lead by Ms. Beth held a very helpful information session r last month to help Families gain an understanding of the Read to Achieve process. In case you were unable to attend that info-session; here are a couple links that may help shed some light on the process and what to expect (even if you don't yet have a 3rd grader).
http://elemedu.ccs.k12.nc.us/files/2015/01/Read-to-Achieve-Brochure.pdf
SLT (Student Leadership Team) Meetings
Join the SLT at their monthly meetings every 3rd Thursday at 8:00 am. The group gets together and discusses student/school decisions that are important to not only the school but our students as well. This is your opportunity to discover what is going on with the school and share concerns. All parents are urged to attend! The next meeting will be held on April 21st!! We have created a virtual option for parents who can’t attend as well: https://www.smore.com/0gcnm Please visit the virtual portal to get meeting minutes and become a part of the HMM community. CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED.
SECONDARY MONTESSORI NEW
RISING 7th GRADERS WHO PLAN ON ATTENDING SEDGEFIELD IN THE FALL:
There will be a mandatory Orientation to be held on April 28th from 6-7:30. See Link for details:
http://sedgefieldmontessori.com/2016/01/28/new-family-orientation-for-rising-7th-graders-april-28/?utm_source=Secondary+Montessori+Parents&utm_campaign=b0fdb80e71-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1ad587ce9f-b0fdb80e71-72365929&mc_cid=b0fdb80e71&mc_eid=0e127e459b
SEDGEFIELD NAMED A MAGNET SCHOOL OF DISTINCTION
We are honored to announce that Magnet Schools of America named Sedgefield Montessori as a 2016 public “Magnet School of Distinction.” We are one of 258 schools/programs recognized for commitment to high academic standards, school diversity, specialized curricula and instruction, family engagement, and community partnerships.
Said MSA Executive Director, Todd Mann,“This is a way for our association to recognize the most accomplished magnet schools in the country. These schools are making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children. They are preparing them for the challenges of the future by providing them with unique learning experiences that give them the critical skills needed to be workforce and college ready.”
They like us! They really, really like us! Thanks to our entire Montessori community for supporting Sedgefield Montessori and toCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for making dreams come true. We are so excited to be expanding our program to 9th grade in 2016-17 and settling into our permanent home in 2017-2018. As soon as CMS determines a definite location, we will let you know!
http://sedgefieldmontessori.com/2016/03/07/sedgefield-montessori-awarded-magnet-school-of-distinction-by-magnet-schools-of-america/
Text Reminding from the PTA
Do you feel like you are forgetting important dates for HMM and the PTA? Days off? Deadlines? Events? YES???? Then join the HMM Text reminding! Just text 81010 with the message @hmmpta. or click this link! Just another way to join the HMM Community!
Spirit Rocks: BIRTHDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS, OR SHOW HMM PRIDE!
HMM has two Spirit Rocks available for painting! If you'd like to paint the Spirit Rock, you must first check to see if the date is available on the Spirit Rock calendar here. If your date is available, then please fill out this form and send in $10 to HMM PTA. Once the money is received, the PTA will reserve the date on the calendar. Can’t wait to see all your beautiful Spirit Rock creations!
Join the HMM Community
If you are interested in joining the PTA and helping support HMM please contact the PTA directly at [email protected]. If you have already expressed this interest, your committee chair should have contacted you-if they have not, please email us so that we can make sure the information we have is correct. REMEMBER- you do not have to be at the school to help! There is a role for everyone!. We look forward to growing the PTA family so that our children can have the best year yet!
Parent Education
Check out this Facebook Group where HMM parents are sharing Montessori information and resources. Also, take a look at and follow the parent-created HMM Pinterest Board for Montessori activities you can do at home!
Support our school by shopping on Amazon
Now you can support our school by shopping on Amazon! Make your purchases through this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/56-2052326 and our school will get back a percentage. You can use your existing Amazon username and password. It's super easy and just in time for the holiday shopping!!
Give Back to HMM by Shopping
There are several ways you can support our school, just by shopping. Link your Target REDcard, VIC Card (you can do this online if you have your card with you-it's easy!) or BiLo Bonus Card to our school and automatically donate a percentage of your purchases. Also, visit www.Shoparoo.com for another way to support our school each time you shop.
How Do I Keep in Touch with the PTA?
o Bookmark our website: www.highlandmillmontessoripta.weebly.com
o Friend us on Facebook: Highland Mill Montessori PTA
o Join Remind: Text 424.203.0478 with the message @hmmpta
Save the Date
April 20: EARLY RELEASE
April 21: SLT Meeting @ 8:00am
April 25: Snow Make-up Day- SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!
April 28: Sedgefield MANDATORY Open House: 6pm at Sedgefield
April 30: Girls on the Run 5k Event- Everyone is Welcome!
May 2-6: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: Muffins with moms & Transition Open House @ HMM
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