use this link to the Donation Page (now also automatic monthly donations)

Our Annual Pennies for Patients drive starts next week! Please check your child's communication folders this weekend for a collection box and more information.

Lottery Begins February 6th.

MRGC's lottery dates are Feb. 6 - 17th!  If you are a current MRGC Family, please click here to read our Intent to Return Letter.

NEW PIZZA DAYS!

TAPAS has changed the way our school does pizza days. You can now order online. There are pizza forms in the office as well. For more information, click here.

What's happening?

View monthly calendar

Download a printable Year-At-A-Glance Calendar.

Ms. Bonnie receiving a check from the Friends of Montessori for $70.000 for already collected donations on June 3, 2011.

---

Please visit often to stay current about your children's school. In our effort to save trees we are sending home less paper.  

Bonnie's January Newsletter:

Marie Montessori stated in From Childhood to Adolescence, "My vision of the future is no longer people taking exams and proceeding then on that certification....but of individuals passing from one stage of independence to a higher (one), by means of their own activity through their own effort of will, which constitutes the inner evolution of the individual."

The educational community is all abuzz about the preliminary grades assigned to schools. In schools across the city statements of pride are heard because their schools received an "A" or "B" or comments of anger and feelings of humiliation because their schools received a "D" or "F." I believe that neither one of these responses is helpful to the school community or to the individual students attending our schools. What we should be asking is, "Is a single assessment, at one point in time, a fair assessment of how students are performing in our schools?" Then, if you believe that grading schools in this manner is not helpful to your understanding of how your child and your school are performing, what can you do about it?

You can use the power of the pen and let your own voice, your own story, be expressed to your state Representative and Senator. You could also write to Governor Martinez and Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera. You could write to our Governance Council letting them know how you believe your child's education is more than just a test score.

As an educator, of too many years to count, I want each and every student to be at grade level in reading, problem solving, and expressive/receptive communication. I also expect students to have opportunities to explore and understand the world of science, culture, and the fine arts. Experiences, those that widen students' knowledge and broaden their own understanding of their world, are critical to our future success as a nation. If we get too focused on how our students perform on a single test, we lose our Montessori focus of the cosmic curriculum. We will continue to strive to support all students at their level.

We do spend time on teaching test prep to our students in grades 3-6. We include a short cycle assessment that is similar to the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment (NMSBA). The information from the test is used by teachers to help inform their instruction. Students will be given this practice test for a second time at the end of January. We want our students to do the best that they can when they are given the NMSBA each spring, but we will not compromise the Montessori work cycle.

Now, if you believe that your child needs a classroom where all students are taught at the same time with the same daily lessons in reading, math, and writing, this is probably not the school for you. As you know, we expect students to engage with the Montessori materials after receiving lessons from their teachers. We expect students to develop their individual work plans for the day with guidance from the teacher and to develop some independence in meeting their daily goals.

So if you think MRGC is the right place for your child, then we expect that each of you support our mission through your own daily Montessori practice. Our Instructional Coach, Miss Debbie, offers parent education classes that you need to attend. We ask that parents volunteer in a variety of ways for our school and yet we know that many of you are not putting in your monthly time. In order to offer a true Montessori education through the public schools we need financial support from our parents. We do ask that you participate in the Parent Stimulus Fund Drive by donating $500/child so that we can continue to have two adults in all Casa and Lower Elementary class and only 20 students in the Upper Elementary classes.

In addition, student wellness is important to us. Students at our school have two days a week for physical activity and wellness lessons. That is why we want your child to be eating foods that support their growth, not empty calories from junk foods. Mr. Todd will begin his nutrition lessons, which will include upper elementary students keeping a food journal. Lower elementary classes will be examining food labels and the food pyramid.

We are also excited to have added this January, a new music program for our students in the Casa program. Ms. Olga, an accomplished musician and music teacher, is here every Thursday morning teaching and stimulating our students through music. We hope that we can add additional days for our other students next school year.

I will continue to hold our teachers to a high standard of quality of instruction. I will continue to greet your children each day and remind them to keep their eye on the prize - an exceptional education.

Please save the date and join us for a Montessori celebration on February 28th beginning at 6:00. More information will be provided at a later date, keep a look out from the Foundation and TAPAS.

In partnership for children, thank you for your support and selecting Montessori of the Rio Grande Charter School for your child/children.

Ms. Bonnie's December Newsletter 

It's December, that time of year when families become immersed in the holiday season.  You each have your own celebrations based on your traditions and what you value.  At Montessori of the Rio Grande Charter we have a diverse student population where many different holidays are observed.  Out of respect for all celebrations, we have a tradition here that focuses on the giving and exchanging of books.  Students bring in slightly used or new books to be wrapped with paper they design and then parent volunteers deliver the books to local charities, (see TAPAS newsletter for more information.)  In each classroom, students also bring in a new or slightly used book to exchange with each other.  Teachers set up an afternoon on the last day before the winter break for sharing good foods, books, and games.  Students in some classrooms share their family's traditions and in other classrooms students may study holiday celebrations around the world.  We strive to maintain, as much as possible, a calm setting during what is almost always a hectic and stressful time for both students and parents.

So how do we do that, when student's emotions are flying in anticipation of the holidays and time away from school?  Well, we work on maintaining some consistency with routines.  We continue to expect grace and courtesy as we engage with each other and our materials.  We hold students accountable for their work tasks, behaviors, and comments to each other.  We do believe that nice matters!  We also understand that this is a very emotional time for students so we listen more intently and intervene hopefully before any conflicts arise.

I hope my 38 years as an educator and parent qualifies me to share with you some words of wisdom during this holiday season.  As so, as my "gift" to you as parents, remember:

1. Children need your presence in their lives more than they need the newest toy or electronics.
2. Children need you to provide structure and expectations in their daily lives.
3. Children need you to be the rock they can lean upon, without the rock falling over.
4. Children need you to be able to say no when you mean no, and stick with it even though they may be kicking and screaming, and making life a bit unpleasant.  It won't last long, but hold to your values and expectations.
5. Children need you to say yes when you can.
6. Children at a young age need you to put them first, and then you can have your time when they are in school or in bed!  And put them to bed early.
7. Children need healthy foods, a good night sleep, and a great big hug each day.  Moms and Dads, this works for you too!
8. Talk with your children about what's important to you, share those values through your actions and words.
9. Help your family create a safe, fair, and caring home.
10. And lastly, have fun with your child/children in ways that make you both giggle with delight.

Hope your holiday season is filled with peace, joy, and love,  Ms. Bonnie

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ms. Bonnie’s November Newsletter

We have just completed our first quarter of the school year! Observations,

conferences, and surveys have been the buzz words around MRGC. Most parents

observed their child’s classroom and posted observations for feedback to teachers.

Student led conferences were informative and the survey parents provided will be

reviewed to determine what went well and what could we do better for the next time. If

you have not had your conference due to scheduling problems, please make sure you

touch base with your child’s teacher so you can be informed of your child’s progress.

As you know we are now identified as a School in Need of Improvement by the

Public Education Department. We are now creating our required Educational Plan for

Student Success based on results of the parent, student, and staff surveys and data from

the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment, Reading A-Z, and DIBELS (k-1). Thank

you all for returning your forms so promptly. There were 132 parent forms returned,

that’s 73% of our families! The top four areas of strength that you identified were:

1. 92% Great at ensuring the school has a culturally respectful environment.

2. 93% Great at having positive, respectful relationships with parents.

3. 95% Great at ensuring the school is safe and orderly place that promotes

learning.

4. 95% Great at having positive, respectful relationships with children.

Three areas you identified as needing improvement were:

1. 12% Fair at offering students many different ways to show what they have

learned.

2. 14% Fair at communication often and well with parents.

3. 14% Fair at stressing the importance of student achievement.

We had all of our upper elementary students complete a student survey. The top

four areas of strength they identified were:

1. 65% Great at providing specific feedback after I turn my work in and

helps me to improve my work.

2. 67% Great at positive, respectful relationships with students.

3. 72% Great at ensuring the school is a safe and orderly place that promotes

learning.

4. 75% Great at teaching and helping me to learn.

Four areas identified as needing improvement were:

1. 33% Fair at ensuring all the students in our class are pretty well behaved.

2. 33% Fair at treating all students well no matter what their background.

3. 40% Fair at re-teaching things to us when we do not do well on our tests.

4. 44% Fair at letting students set goals for our classroom.

Now what do we do with this information? I will be holding focus groups

with parents and students to develop strategies to improve the areas that were

identified as fair, especially the importance of student achievement. I will be

sending invitations out this month, so please watch for it!

The landscaping committee, headed by Lisa Marchese, met last month and we

now have champions for projects taking place around the school. I’m sure you

have noticed the pavers that have been placed in front of the school along with a

path from the sidewalk. Steve Chavez and Dane Myers are the champions of this

project. We had ten families, along with past MRGC students help with this

project. Amanda Snow took on the responsibility of creating a flower bed in front

of our music room, look how beautiful it is! Look for new signs requesting more

help as we prepare the soil for a re-seeding, (Lara Lovell, Champion) and

beautification projects for the grounds, and the wetlands. Remember we need

your support through your volunteering. We expect everyone to put in about

three hours each month.

Last week, all of you should have received the update of our

Parent Stimulus Fund Drive.

As you know, we could not be offering the Montessori education as

you have come to appreciate without the support of all of our families. I know

how difficult it is during these economic stressful times to put funds away in your

“piggy bank”, but that is just what I am requesting you to do. For those of you

who have graciously given your donation for this school year thank you very

much. Those of you pledging a monthly contribution, I send you many thanks.

Now is the time to begin to think about your contribution for the 2012-13 school

year, so we do not have the budget crisis that we did last year. If you submit it to

the Foundation before Dec. 31st

you can receive another tax deduction! On behalf

of all of the faculty and students at MRGC we give our thanks for your financial

support.

In Partnership for Children, 

Bonnie M. Dodge, Ed. D.

Principal

DID YOU READ THE PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK?  

WE ALSO HAVE THE HANDBOOK AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE AT MS. CARMELA'S DESK.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES!

SCHOOL DOORS OPEN AT 8:15 STUDENTS ARE TO BE IN CLASS BY 8:30!

MONTESSORI OF THE RIO GRANDE CHARTER SCHOOL

COMPARISON OF READING PROFICENCY RATES FOR ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD

COMPARISON OF MATHEMATICS PROFICENCY RATES FOR ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS (AYP) FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD

TIME FRAME FOR PHASE ONE OF THE NEW FACILITY AT

MONTESSORI OF THE RIO GRANDE CHARTER SCHOOL

• Design committee met from October 2010 through March 2011
• Schematic Design will be presented to the APS Capital Outlay Committee in June 2011
• Financing of Project – Funding from the 2010 Bond should be available by July 2011
• Design and Development –August 2011
• Construction Documents  - September 2011 –October 2011
• Bidding and Permits – November -January 2012
• Construction – January 2012- December 2012
• Move In Time -  January 2013

ARE YOU READING our instructional coach's posts? Click here and let Ms. Debbie know.

Click here to download Subway lunch forms. Please put completed forms, with payment, in the black Subway Box in the office, by the Thursday prior to the Monday you want your child to receive a sandwich. For all questions related to your order, please call Subway directly and ask for Chris: 944-5646.  

What will you do for your child's school during the new year? Please volunteer! We need parents experienced in art, music and science!

Please contact Ms. Carmela or Ms. Bonnie if you are uncertain as to how you can fulfill your volunteer hours at the school: 842-5993.

Casa painting class taught by volunteer parent Mark Beck.

Volunteer parent Scott St. John shares his many years of knowledge in the field of geology with a lower elementary class.

Reminder: Please sign in at the office when you come for a volunteer activity!

Maria Montessori Quote from her book "The Absorbent Mind":

"Each period (of development) is basically different from the others, nevertheless each lays the foundation for the one following it. To develop normally in the second period a person must have developed well in the first. In the same way, the caterpillar and the butterfly are two creatures very different to look at and in the way they behave, yet the beauty of the butterfly comes from its life in the larval form, and not through any efforts it may make to imitate another butterfly. We serve the future by protecting the present. The more fully the needs of one period are met, the greater will be the success of the next."