Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School

Parent Newsletter
MVMPCS CALENDAR:
Fri, 3/28 Community Coffee Morning Work Time , 9:30-10:30 Fri., 3/282 Hour Early Dismissal at 12:45, Teacher Work Session, 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. Mon., 4/14School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Tues., 4/15School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day 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 Fri., 5/92 Hour Early Dismissal for Students at 12:45 p.m. Fri,., 5/16Panoramic School Photo, 9:30 am

March 27, 2014

FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families, The tickets are going fast! Law and Order is on Thursday, April 3rd or Friday, April 4th. Have you gotten your tickets? Each night the show begins at 6:00PM. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are on sale before school and at dismissal, in the lunch alcove. Tickets will not be on sale before either show. Just a reminder of the changes of the FCPS school calendar because make up for all of the snow days this year. FCPS schools will now be open on Monday, April 14th, Tuesday, April 15th, Wednesday, April 16th and Monday, April 21st. We are only closed for Spring Break on Thursday, April 17th and Friday, April 18th. If you had Spring Break vacation plans, rest assured that all students absent on these days will be documented as excused. Please send an email or note to Ms. Rose Ann, in the front office, if your child will not be here on the days list above. I know warmer weather is coming! I hope it comes in the month of April. So, as we prepare for the warmer months, the heating system is being changed over to AC during our two day spring break. In the past, there have been times the temperatures in April are unpredictable, we are encouraging children to layer clothing. Once we switch to AC, we will not be able to return to heat if the temperature outside becomes chilly. On March 28th, the Community Outreach Committee will be hosting their monthly Community Coffee in the PE room at 9:15AM. All parents are invited to attend. This month we will be doing a Parent Education for the first hour. The topic will be: Conversations with our classroom teachers. Parents will learn why many of your teachers decided to become Montessori teachers. You will also be able to ask questions about Montessori education. The presenting teachers are asking parents to complete a survey for future topics of interest. Please take the time to complete the survey at the end of the coffee. Cita

2 HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL TOMORROW FRIDAY, 3/28/14 AT 12:45 P.M. Students will be dismissed at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, 3/28/14 for a teacher work session. Lunches will be served on an early schedule and there will be no After Care. This early dismissal date was rescheduled due to last weeks snow make-up day.

CLASS PHOTOS NEXT FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH Mark your calendars for classroom picture day on Friday, April 4th. Photographers from Lifetouch, Inc. will be at MVMPCS in the morning. Order forms were sent home in last weeks Thursday folder and extra forms are available from the school office. A percentage of picture sales benefit the MVMPCS Student Activity Fund. TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE MVMPCS SPRING 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADE PRODUCTION OF LAW AND ORDER: CRHYME AND PUN-ISHMENT Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue are in therapy? Simple Simon has a rap sheet a mile long? Humpty Dumpty gets shattered? The C-Rhyme has been committed and two detectives have to find the perpetrator amidst the pranks and hilarity that ensues! Join us for the 20th MVMPCS Drama Production, Thursday, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th at 6 pm. Tickets cost $6 per child and $8 per adult. There is limited seating. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the show! *****SPRING BREAK****

SNOW MAKE-UP DAYS: , Monday, April 14, Tuesday, April 15, Wednesday, April 16 and Monday, April 21 MVMPCS ATTENDANCE YEAR TO DATE: 96.37% MD STATE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: 94% *Send absence notes to: Rose.Shapiro@fcps.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 AND FRIDAY, APRIL 18

MVMPCS NEWSLETTER
LOOK FOR THE MARYLAND SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT INVOLVEMENT SURVEY

PAGE 2
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.

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 Maryland State Department of Education, 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: nfeeley@msde.state.md.us . COMMUNITY COFFEE AT MVMPCS TOMORROW!

The survey is open from March 24th to 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.

Parents, join us for our monthly MVMPCS Community Coffee meeting tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. Sign in at the office and head to the Multi-Purpose Room (PE Room, Before/After Care Room).

Feel free to bring something to share to go along with the coffee. I am looking forward to seeing you as we approach the last 2+ months of school!
Jen Nichols Community Outreach Committee

ORDER MVMPCS SPIRIT WEAR !

The much anticipated MVMPCS spirit wear with our new school logo is now available to order. Orders along with payment will be accepted until March 31. Allow 3 weeks for delivery after the order is placed. Checks are to be made payable to: MMCI with MVM Spirit-Wear written in the memo line. Check out the new option to order a Family Pack and save up to $16. It includes 2 short -sleeve t-shirts, 2 longsleeve t-shirts, 1 zip hoodie, 2 cinch sacks and 2 car magnets !

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