Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School

Parent Newsletter
MVMPCS CALENDAR:
Thurs. & Fri., 4/3 & 4/4 - Drama Production Law & Order, 6 p.m. Fri., 4/4Class photos by Lifetouch, Inc. (a.m.) Wed., 4/9MVMPCS Open House, 6-8 p.m. Fri., 4/11 Report Cards Issued, MVMPCS Swap, Sanctuary, 2:45 p.m. Sat., 4/12Bldg. & Grounds Spring Clean Up, 9:00 a.m., weather permitting (see page 2 for more information). 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. Thurs., 5/8Parent Class Visitation for Students moving to new level; 9:3010:30 a.m. Mon., 5/12Ms. Venus Class to Safeway, 9:15 a.m.11:00 a.m. Fri., 5/92 Hour Early Dismissal for Students at 12:45 p.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 Thurs. 9:15; return Fri. 2:00 p.m.

April 3, 2014
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families, The community surrounding MVMPCS has brought to my attention that cars in the carline are still making a right turn from Elm St. into the alley way. When parents choose to turn right into the alley way, traffic becomes obstructed on Dill Ave. and Elm St. Please remember that we share the city streets with our neighboring community. When using the carline you will need to come down 5th St to Dill Ave. and then make a left into the alley way. By following this traffic pattern, we at MVMPCS are mindful of the neighbors in our community that need to get to their homes. Thanks for your understanding on this manner. The release of report cards is next Friday, April 11th. Please remember to check your childs back pack for their report card envelope. This is again a great time for you and your child to discuss the positive things and areas that need improvement. Students can then develop a plan for fourth term. Remember to sign the report card envelope and return it to the classroom teacher. Please mark your calendars for Parent Classroom 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 Elem., and Upper Elem. to MS. During this time parents can visit the individual classrooms of the level for 10 minutes intervals. Parents are asked to rotate through the classrooms, so they are able to see the differences in all classes.

CLASS PHOTOS TOMORROW, APRIL 4TH Tomorrow is classroom picture day. Photographers from Lifetouch, Inc. will be at MVMPCS in the morning. Extra order forms are available from the school office. A percentage of picture sales benefit the MVMPCS Student Activity Fund. JOIN US TONIGHT FOR THE MVMPCS SPRING 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADE PRODUCTION OF LAW AND ORDER: CRHYME AND PUN-ISHMENT

Tonight is the 20th MVMPCS Drama Production at 6:00 p.m. There are just a few tickets left for this evening. The Friday night performance is SOLD OUT!
Thank you for your support of our drama program and we look forward to seeing you at the show! MVMPCS ATTENDANCE YEAR TO DATE: 96.38% MD STATE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: 94% *Send absence notes to: [email protected] *****SPRING BREAK****

All parents will receive a Classroom Placement Feedback Form to complete. The form asks for you to identify the characteristics 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 classroom. When your form is completed, please drop it off at the front office by the end of the day on Tuesday, May 20th, so they can be given to the current classroom teacher before teams meet to make placement decisions.
Have a good weekend, Cita

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 AND FRIDAY, APRIL 18

MVMPCS NEWSLETTER
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 Education Parent Involvement Survey from the M.S.D.E., Division of Special Education/ Early Intervention Services. Your feedback 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: [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. Spring Clean Up Saturday, April 12th , 9:00 AM Your building and grounds committee would like your help to clean up the grounds (weeding, raking mulch and overall spring clean up) on Saturday, April 12th 9AM (weather permitting). Bring your rake! We also have some great ideas coming in for the front of the school play area, if anyone has special talents in sewing or small scale construction of outdoor games, please let me know. If dirt and mulch just arent your thing, come help plan and share ideas on how we can make our outdoor spaces better, contact [email protected] for dates of our next committee meeting and to RSVP for the CLEAN UP on April 12th! Thanks, Jen Waldo; [email protected]

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FCPS WANTS YOUR FEEDBACK! FCPS is conducting an online survey to obtain feedback from our schools certified and support staff, as well as parents. The survey focuses on Instructional Leadership, School Management, Interpersonal Relationships, Professional Responsibilities, School Climate and Bullying. I urge you to use the online link to take this important survey. It will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous.

The survey is open until tomorrow, April 4th and is only accessible via the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SPI2014
COMMUNITY CUP COFFEE ORDERS 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 April 11th. We will work on updating forms so they reflect current fundraiser 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 pr ovided 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