October 25, 2015

Hope everyone had a great long weekend! Can you believe we are already entering the last week of October?!? The Holidays- All Holidays are quickly approaching and we will be in the season of school vacations. Please stay posted so that everyone is aware of what is coming. Don't forget to join the text messaging group (instructions later in the newsletter) or check us out on facebook to stay informed!

Advocacy Needed for Montessori Secondary Program. ACTION IS NEEDED!
It is time for us to make our HMM voices heard!  We all believe in Montessori and the benefits of a Montessori education.  It is now time to let CMS know just THAT.  Our children need us to step up and speak out in a big way!  I know we can do this.  The future of Montessori and our children depend on us.  Let’s show them that the sacrifices to attend a magnet school, like HMM, are not in vain.  We have their backs.
I’m counting on you to let CMS know this is important!  Not just me… More importantly, all the students at HMM are counting on you!

Stephanie Roberson
HMM PTA President

At last weeks’ School Board meeting, the CMS Administration made note of plans to expand the Montessori Secondary Program, but it remains on the “TBD” list. That means a fiscal year has a not been associated with the expansion. We know our voices were heard because the School Board pushed back with questions about the need for this expansion with a Montessori program that works! Board members stated that they have heard from parents so they want this expansion set in stone. Yay! 

So, MORE THAN EVER, we need all parents, teachers and staff to write/email/call School Board Members and CMS Executive Staff.  If we want this, WE HAVE TO ACT NOW! This is our chance to make this happen!!  Also, at the next open School Board meeting onTuesday, Oct 27th, 7pm, at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church – 3400 Beatties Ford Road the Board will discuss programs that they will vote on in November, including the Montessori expansion.  Highland Mill Montessori families need to SHOW UP and make sure our voice is heard! Show your HMM Spirit – wear your t-shirts, bring your children, make positive-message posters! We must show our unwavering commitment to the expansion of the Montessori Secondary Program!

CMS School Board members will vote on whether to approve the expansion of the Montessori Secondary Program at their Nov. 10th meeting.
ACTION ITEMS:   
1.     Cut and paste the following School Board email addresses and send an email supporting the expansion of secondary Montessori in 2016. Speak from your heart and let them know how a Montessori education has impacted your child(ren) in a meaningful way.  Let them know how important continuing on to a Montessori secondary school is so important to the children in the CMS Montessori community.  This is your opportunity to voice your support and let the School Board know that the expansion of secondary Montessori it what our children NEED! maryt.mccray@cms.k12.nc.us;tim.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us; ericka.ellis-stewart@cms.k12.nc.us;rhonda.lennon@cms.k12.nc.us; thelmab.bailey@cms.k12.nc.us;rubym.jones@cms.k12.nc.us; tom.tate@cms.k12.nc.us; ericc.davis@cms.k12.nc.us;paul1.bailey@cms.k12.nc.us

1. Schedule a face-to-face meeting or phone call with your representative. Full contact information for each Board member is included below. Use this guide to find your school board rep to express your support.
2. For more information about the program, please read the attached document - Introduction to the Secondary Montessori Program.  Also check out this great article about the need for the expansion here.
3. To get more information, THIS IS A MUST READ!:http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/education/your-schools-blog/article41205684.html
4. If you have other questions or ideas contact your Montessori Parent Advisory Group member Rachel Rodden.

RED RIBBON WEEK IS THIS WEEK!
Monday: "Sock It To Drugs"- everyone wears mismatched socks!
Tuesday: Pledge to be Drug Free- National Family Drug Free Pledge Day!
Wednesday: Team Up Against Drugs- Everyone wear a favorite team jersey
Thursday: Red Ribbon Day- Each class will hang a red ribbon on their classroom door
Friday: HMM is a drug free school- everyone wear red shirts!

SLT (Student Leadership Team) Meetings
Join the SLT at their monthly meetings every 3rd Thursday at 8am. The group gets together and discusses student/school decisions that are important to not only the school but our students as well. All parents are welcome! The next meeting is Thursday November 19th! Hope to see you there!

GREAT FUNDRAISER NEWS!
Great job to all HMM students and families for their participation in the annual fundraiser! Because we have exceeded our goal, all students will be able to enjoy a school wide pajama day on November 24th!  GREAT JOB!!!!

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!

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!

Join the HMM Community
If you are interested in joining the PTA and helping support HMM please contact the PTA directly at Highlandmillmontessoripta@gmail.com. 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 Boardfor 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
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Save the Date
October 26-30- Red Ribbon Week
November 7- FALL FESTIVAL/SILENT AUCTION/ANNUAL BBQ: 11am-3pm at HMM
November 11-NO SCHOOL
November 14- Parents' Night Out at Free Range Brewery
November 20- Donuts w/Dads: 8am-9am at HMM
November 24- JumpJam Spirit Night at Defy Gravity
November 24-PJ Day!
November 25-27- NO SCHOOL

I'm sure the last week has been full of talk about the "Garfields" and prizes students have been earning with the HMM Fundraisers! Now we eagerly await the goodies we all purchased to support our students and our school! Great Job to everyone for participating!




URGENT!!: Update on the Montessori Secondary Program (Grades 9-12) in CMS

Many parents wonder what is going on with Montessori education within CMS after the 8Th grade (Sedgefield Montessori currently consists of grades 7Th and 8Th). The talk of a Montessori "High School” has been tossed around for years. Now, through the hard work of a group of parents and the support of many teachers and CMS administrators, the reality of a full Montessori Secondary Program (7-12Th grades) is within reach. We are asking all community members (teachers, parents, grandparents, friends, etc) to show their support in the coming weeks as the CMS School Board will discuss the issue at it regular public meeting on October 13Th.

How Can I Help Make this Happen?

1.      Read this great background article that explains the importance and need for a FULL Montessori Secondary Program: click here.

2.      Use this information sheet  and guide  for how contact your school board rep to express your support.

3.      Use the attached template for ideas to CONTACT your school board representative. Voices need to be heard over the next 3 weeks!  

4.      Spread the word! For more information, please contact Montessori Parent Advisory Group members Rachel Rodden & Maribel Casas-Cortes athighlandmillmontessoripta@gmail.com




Full Montessori Secondary Program “within reach!" BOARD MEETING TUESDAY!!! SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Grassroots efforts through simple email messages, phone calls, blogposts, and now a spotlight in a recent article in The Charlotte Observer, has got CMS School Board members really thinking about a full Secondary Montessori Program (grades 7-12). Help seal the deal and attend the upcoming School Board Meeting, Tuesday, October 13Th, 6 pm at the Government Center, 600 East Fourth Street. Wear your HMM Spirit Wear to show you’re a proud member of the Montessori community. Citizens are given the opportunity to speak for 3 minutes to address the Board - you can sign up to speak by calling 980.343.5139, by 12pm on the meeting day.   In the meantime, continue to write/email/call (click here )CMS School Board representatives .




For more information, please read a great overview here  or contact your Montessori Parent Advisory Group member Rachel Rodden.


HMM Spirit Night - October 21st

Our first Spirit Night of the 2015-2016 school year will take place on Wednesday, October 21st at Hawthorne's Pizza at both the 7Th Street AND Highland Creek locations.  During Spirit Nights, teachers, faculty, staff and their families all visit a restaurant or entertainment establishment during a specified time.  In return, the establishment donates a percentage of those sales back to the school. So save the date--Wednesday, 10/21--and plan to come dine, fellowship and raise money with your fellow HMMers at one of the two Hawthorne's locations most convenient to you





2015 HMM SILENT AUCTION – HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP!!

The HMM Silent Auction will take place during the Fall Festival on Saturday, November 7Th.  We've already secured some great donations from area businesses and entertainment venues, but we can still use your help.  Here's how every HMM family can pitch in to make this year's auction a success:

• Solicit Silent Auction donations.  That's right!  Even though there's a committee working to solicit donations for the auction, we can still use your help. TIP:  Start with businesses YOU know!  Ask friends, family, owners of places you frequent or, make a services/goods donation yourself, especially if you own your own business or franchise.  Ideas of places to contact include:  restaurants and pubs, hotels, golf courses, jewelers, museums, sports teams; performing Arts; salons and spas, boutiques, etc.
  
  

No donation is too small and all proceeds from the festival silent auction will go directly to our school’s INVEST IN A CHILD CAMPAIGN, which goes towards the enrichment of every child’s education at HMM.  If you have questions, would like the solicitation letter with HMM Tax ID, or would like to make a donation, please contact the PTA events committee directly at HMMFamilyEvents@gmail.com with the subject:  2015 Silent Auction Donation.




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!


Join the HMM Community

If you are interested in joining the PTA and helping support HMM please contact the PTA directly at Highlandmillmontessoripta@gmail.com. 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!




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!


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 Boardfor 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

October 21- 1st SPIRIT NIGHT: Hawthorne's Pizza (7Th st location and Highland Creek Location)

October 23- NO SCHOOL

November 7- FALL FESTIVAL/SILENT AUCTION/ANNUAL BBQ: 11am-3pm at HMM

November 11-NO SCHOOL

November 20- Donuts w/Dads: 8am-9am at HMM

November 25-27- NO SCHOOL





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