December 13, 2015

This past Thursday, I- along with the parents, family and friends of HMM- were privileged to attend the HMM Holiday Performance. This was organized, directed and executed by the students of HMM. Great Job to all! The 5th and 6th graders did a great job leading and directing the students so that an amazing performance could be enjoyed by all! Please take the time over the next week or so to congratulate the students and staff for the great job they did!

7 DAYS of Joy
The 4th annual 7 Days of Joy IS GOING ON NOW and will continue through the final school day of the year (Friday, December 18th).  Treats can be store bought or homemade.  All we ask is that each family bring in some kind of treat to share with the teachers ON THE MORNING of your class giving day OR SOONER (if it’s not a perishable item).  Treats should be dropped off in the PTA Room and we’ll get everything set up.  There does NOT need to be enough to feed every teacher & staff member.  Just bring a little something to share – a batch of cookies, chips & dip, a dozen cupcakes, etc. – anything goes J.  With two classes bringing treats each day, there is plenty for everyone!  See flyer below for additional details.

HMM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
HMM is participating in a Community outreach program:
       * LOAVES & FISHES FOOD DRIVE: please bring non perishable foods to be donated to the Loaves & Fishes food bank. ENDS DECEMBER 17!
COLLECTION BINS ARE IN THE ENTRANCE-WAY OF HMM


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 will be held on DECEMBER 17th!

Spring Dance
The HMM Spring Dance is scheduled for March 13th. Only 225 tickets will be sold. Keep an eye out in 2016 for more info on how to purchase your tickets!

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[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
DECEMBER 10-18- 7 Days of Joy
DECEMBER 17 8am- SLT meeting at HMM- everyone is invited!
DECEMBER 21- January 2- NO SCHOOL

December 6, 2015

The time has come where we are in the full swing of the holiday season! Hanukkah, Ramadan, Christmas, Kwanzaa....it is all upon us. However, it is not a time to relax. Projects are coming due, tests are being taken and learning is still occurring. Please continue to talk to students about what is going on at school. Talk to them about the books they are reading. Talk to them about what the holidays mean to them and their community. Remember- not all learning occurs in the classroom!

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Its that time! The Scholastic Book Fair is here- December 7-11th at HMM. Come out and get some holiday shopping done and support your school in the process! Volunteers needed! contact [email protected] if you are available any time!

HMM HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE
The HMM holiday performance is December 10, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Students need to arrive no later than 6:15 p.m. and report to their teacher's classroom. If students are getting make-up that night, they should start arriving around 5:30 p.m. Costume information is in the announcement. Also, we need cheap headbands (Dollar Store) to make bear ears (300 headbands--one for each student). This will be a great time for both students and families!

7 DAYS of Joy
The 4th annual 7 Days of Joy kicks off on Thursday, December 10th and goes through the final school day of the year (Friday, December 18th).  Treats can be store bought or homemade.  All we ask is that each family bring in some kind of treat to share with the teachers ON THE MORNING of your class giving day OR SOONER (if it’s not a perishable item).  Treats should be dropped off in the PTA Room and we’ll get everything set up.  There does NOT need to be enough to feed every teacher & staff member.  Just bring a little something to share – a batch of cookies, chips & dip, a dozen cupcakes, etc. – anything goes J.  With two classes bringing treats each day, there is plenty for everyone!  See flyer below for additional details.

HMM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
HMM is participating in a Community outreach program:
       * LOAVES & FISHES FOOD DRIVE: please bring non perishable foods to be donated to the Loaves & Fishes food bank. ENDS DECEMBER 17!
COLLECTION BINS ARE IN THE ENTRANCE-WAY OF HMM


SECONDARY MONTESSORI NEWS
We continue to hear from board members and CMS staff alike that our letters and phone calls are being heard- as a result, progress is being made!
Please continue to contact and follow up with board members and CMS staff to urge them to:
·         Commit to adding 9th grade in 2016
·         Make the 2017 location a priority for the capital needs assessment that begins this December
The more we speak up, the more they listen. Let’s keep at it!


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 will be held on DECEMBER 17th!

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[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
DECEMBER 7-11- Scholastic Book Fair
DECEMBER 10- Holiday Performance
DECEMBER 10-18- 7 Days of Joy
DECEMBER 11- Spirit Day
DECEMBER 21- January 2- NO SCHOOL