Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School

Parent Newsletter
MVMPCS CALENDAR:
Fri., 1/10End of Term 2, Semester 1; 9:15 a.m. Prospective Parent Tour Mon., 1/13School Closed for Students Teacher Work Day Thurs., 1/16 MLK Celebration at Gov. TJ High, 7:00 p.m.MVMPCS Chorus is singing Mon., 1/20School ClosedDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance. Tues., 1/21GC Work Session, 7:009:00 p.m. Wed., 1/22 Parent Education Night, Montessori Outcomes, 6:30 p.m. Fri., 1/24Talent Show Rehearsal, 3:004:30 p.m., Sanctuary Tues., 1/28Report Cards Issued Fri., 1/31Talent Show Rehearsal, 3:00 4:30 p.m., Sanctuary Fri., 2/7Talent Show, 5:00 p.m.

January 9, 2014
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families, I hope that your winter break was enjoyable as well as relaxing. It is wonderful to finally get back to a regular schedule. You can only sleep in so many days before it becomes too much! I know that all of the children were happy to finally be back at school, as well as their parents. Heather and I would like to thank everyone in the school community for all the wonderful gifts and treats given to us for the holiday. Now that we are in the cold weather months, please remember to check the FCPS website, local news stations, radio stations, Find Out First, and Google groups when there are questions about school closing or delays. FCPS transportation office makes their decisions as early as 5:30 AM. Please remember that during a two-hour delay there is no Before Care. Pre-School and Pre-K at MVMPCS are cancelled when there is a two- or four-hour delay, even though the other PK programs for FCPS will meet on an abbreviated schedule. When school is closed early because of inclement weather, After Care will remain open but parents are encouraged to arrive as early as safely possible. Additionally, students will be outside for recess daily when the temperature and/or wind chill is above 20 degrees. Please encourage your child to dress appropriately for the cold temperatures. As a New Years resolution, lets strive to keep our attendance rate at or above 95%. Our weekly attendance rate is posted in the school newsletter. Please note that even excused absences are counted against our schools attendance rate. I encourage every family to make every effort to have their child(ren) in school daily. Consider having another parent as an emergency contact in order to transport well siblings to school, when one child in your family is sick. Additionally, if a child leaves school early because of sickness or arrives to school after 12:00, they cannot participate in after-school activities such as Drama or Chorus. Students that leave for a doctors appointment and return to school before the end of the day will be allowed to attend these after school activities with a doctors note. During the next four weeks many students in Grades 2 - 8 will be completing the mid-year Global Scholar Assessment in Math and Reading in the computer lab. A pre-test was given in September for all students in grades 2-8. Teachers will be using these results to discuss your childs growth in math and reading. Remember school is closed on January 13th for Teacher Work Day. Have a wonderful three-day weekend. Cita

SCHOOL IS CLOSED MONDAY, JANUARY 13

AS SCHEDULED IN THE FCPS CALENDAR, SCHOOL IS CLOSED TO STUDENTS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH FOR A TEACHER WORK DAY. MMCI DINNER/TALENT SHOW FEB. 7, 2014 5:00 P.M. Attention MVMPCS and CCMPCS Students: The MMCI Talent Show is now accepting sign-ups for student participation. Registration forms are due to school by January 17th. Additional copies are available in the literature rack outside the school office. All participants need to attend at least one of the rehearsals located at the MVMPCS Sanctuary. 1st Rehearsal : JANUARY 24 from 3-4:30 p.m. 2nd Rehearsal : JANUARY 31 from 3-4:30 p.m.

Details on dinner, venue and ticket sales will follow. For additional information, email dinakarakus@hotmail.com.

ANNOUNCING PARENT EDUCATION NIGHT WEDNESDAY, JAN. 226:30 P.M. WHO: MVMPCS PARENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND TOPIC: MONTESSORI OUTCOMES PRESENTERS: PRINCIPAL CITA KING AND MVMPCS TEAM LEADERS WHERE: MVMPCS PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION AND DISCOVER MORE ABOUT MONTESSORI OUTCOMES FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

RSVP TO: CITA.KING@FCPS.ORG

MVMPCS NEWSLETTER
ITS NOT TOO LATE TO VACCINATE YOUR CHILD AGAINST INFLUENZA

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ITS NOT TOO LATE TO PURCHASE MVMPCS MEMORABILIA!

The Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) continues to make available free flu vaccine for children 6 months through 17 years of age. This is made possible through a grant from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
It is not too late to vaccinate against influenza. Influenza illnesses peak during the months of January and February so it is important not to delay getting your child vaccinated against the flu. FCHD will host an influenza vaccination clinic on Monday, January 13, 2014 from 9am-11am and 1pm-4pm for children 6 months through 17 years of age. Both injectable flu shot and intranasal FluMist will be available. An appointment is required to receive a flu vaccination during this clinic. To schedule an appointment for your child call 301-600-3342. Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the flu and possible complications from flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever, headache, cough, fatigue, chills and body aches. FCHD will not have flu vaccine available this year for adults 18 years of age and older. Adults are advised to contact their healthcare provider or obtain a flu vaccine at one of the many locations in the community such as pharmacies and grocery stores. To learn more about flu please call our Flu Information Line, 301-600-3035, or visit our website at: www.frederickcountymd.gov/flu. Additional information about flu can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Overstock clearance! MVMPCS keepsakes are available for purchase in limited quantity. If youve been meaning to purchase any of the following items, now is your chance!

Vintage Blue School T-Shirts, $15available in sizes Youth X-Small, Youth Large and Adult SXL KidStuff Coupon Books 2013-14, $25 School Yearbooks 2012-13, $15 School Yearbooks 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2006-07, $10 School Panoramic Photo 2012-13, $15 Checks should be made payable to MVMPCS. See Debbie Miller in the school office to purchase any of the items. DO YOU HAVE MVMPCS LIBRARY QUESTIONS? If you have questions regarding lost books, replacement costs, or book donations please email Kelly Robertson at: kelly.robertson@fcps.org.
MVMPCS ENROLLMENT LOTTERY FOR NEW STUDENTS The application for enrollment in the 2014-15 lottery is now available at: http://www.mmcimd.org/enrollment for NEW students. Since last Friday, we have had almost 200 families apply for MVM and/or CCM with 256 children represented. Current students do not have to reapply. However, an enrollment intent form will be distributed to all current students in PK7th grade at the end of January. If you have a sibling that you would like to enroll next year, you must complete an online application prior to March 3rd. The lottery is the only way for siblings to enter the school. Also, mark your sibling priority for the correct school and indicate the name of the sibling currently enrolled. Then, you will get "sibling priority" in the lottery. If you need to use a computer or need assistance with completing the application, please contact the school office to make arrangements. Also please be aware that if you have "priority" at one school, you do not get priority at the other school. So, current MVM students applying to CCM will not get preference over any other general lottery applicant. CCM founders will not get preference in the MVM lottery. The two lotteries are run separately. Same application, different lotteries.

MVMPCS ATTENDANCE YEAR TO DATE: 96.32% MD STATE REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: 94%

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

FAREWELL TO PRIMARY TEACHER, MS. KIM COWLES Ms. Kim , Primary I teacher, has decided to return to her Media Specialist position at Spring Ridge Elementary. Her last day at MVMPCS will be Tuesday, January 14th. She will be missed at MVMPCS and we wish her well as she returns to Spring Ridge Elementary. The principal and Staffing Committee are currently working with FCPS to fill this vacancy with a long-term substitute who will serve in the classroom until a permanent replacement is found. An advertisement for the permanent full-time position will be posted by FCPS as soon as possible. In addition, we are sending information about the opening to schools with Montessori training programs. Once applications are processed by HR, the committee will be able to schedule interviews for qualified candidates.