Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School

Parent Newsletter
MVMPCS CALENDAR:
Thurs & Fri., 2/272/286th Grade Family Life Mon., 3/3Mon., 3/10/14MSA testingGet a good nights rest and eat a nutritious breakfast!! Mon., 3/35th Grade Disease Prevention, MVMPCS Lottery deadline Thurs., 3/65th Grade Disease Prevention Mon., 3/17L.E. Bag Pipe Demo, 9:3010:30 a.m. Fri., 3/21School in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Thurs. & Fri., 4/3 & 4/4 - Drama Production Law & Order, 6 p.m. Fri., 4/4Class photos by Lifetouch, Inc. (a.m.) Mon., 4/14School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Tues., 4/15School is in Session, Snow Make-Up Day Wed., 4/164/21* - Spring Break (Monday, 4/21pending make-up day) Tues., 4/22MS Field Trip to Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum, VA.

February 27, 2014

FROM THE GC
Dear Families, What is the Governing Council (GC)? Our school is different from typical public schools. As a charter school, we are run by a nonprofit and governed by the GC. The GC is the policy-making body of MVMPCS and functions as the school improvement team. We are made up of 4 parents of current students, 2 teachers/staff members, the MVMPCS principal, and 2 members of the community at large (called Friends of Education). Who is the GC Chair? The chair is a volunteer parent representative elected by the entire GC. This persons children attend MVMPCS. This person represents all MVMPCS parents and looks out for the interests of parents, students and staff with respect to school policy, curriculum, budgets and spending, committee planning, and more. The chair meets with the principal regularly and also meets with teacher team leaders monthly. Why should I care about the GC and attend its meetings? Our school was started by a small group of passionate parents and staff more than 11 years ago. They sought a unique Montessori educational experience for children in a public school setting. They worked tirelessly to help our school come into existence. And it is because of them that our children can attend our unique and special school today. The GC exists to represent parents, staff members, and students interests. If you have a question or concern about how our school operates or what kinds of classes are offered or how the building is maintained or how our budget is used or a whole host of other topics, then talk to the GC! Who are the current members of the GC? Molly Fellin Spence: GC Chair Cita King: Principal Nichol Dailey: Parent Representative Susan Bartlett: Staff Representative Deb Korth: Parent Representative Janet Robertson: Staff Representative Sean Mitchell: Parent Representative Beverley Tuggle: Friend of Education Mindy Patton: Friend of Education How can I contact members of the GC? Stop any of us in the hallways at school to chat or attend public meetings on the first Monday of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Email the entire GC at gc@mvmpcs.org. Contact the GC Chair directly at gcchair@mvmpcs.org

MVMPCS ATTENDANCE YEAR TO DATE: 96.45% MD STATE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: 94%

*Send absence notes to: Rose.Shapiro@fcps.org

REMINDER MSA TESTING BEGINS MONDAY MSA testing begins Mon., March 3 through Mon., March 11. Testing begins at 9:15 a.m. Any students arriving after 9:15 a.m. will remain in the office and will complete the missed test during a make-up day. Typically, MSA week is our best attendance week. All children should have a good nights sleep and breakfast in the morning. Students are allowed to bring in water and a nutritious snack. DONT DELAY! MAKE THE APPOINTMENT TODAY! We do not want to exclude your child from school in August! State vaccination requirements for students entering 7th grade for school year 2014-2015 have been revised. Your 7th grade student must have the following: Single dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine* Single dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MCV) *Tdap is not the same as the other Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis vaccines called DPT or DTaP. Even if your child has received these vaccines in the past, they will still need a single dose of Tdap. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing proof of Tdap and MCV vaccination regardless of previous vaccination records provided to your childs school. If you have any questions about the new vaccination requirements, please contact your childs health care provider or the school health room. Make your childs appointment now and avoid the rush. Bring the vaccination documentation to school as soon as possible.