November 2026 Edition
November 2026 Edition
We are incredibly proud to share that both our elementary and middle school programs have earned excellent report card ratings from the State Department of Education. Even more exciting, our middle school program has been recognized as the highest-rated middle school program in the state for the 2025–26 school year! This is an extraordinary accomplishment!
We were especially honored to welcome Superintendent Anita Huggins to MCS to celebrate these achievements with us. Her visit provided a wonderful opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of our school community and celebrate what our students and teachers have accomplished together.
Behind these outstanding results are our dedicated teachers, who are on the frontlines doing the heavy lifting every day. Their commitment to strong instruction is evident in every lesson they plan, every child they encourage, and every thoughtfully prepared Montessori environment they create. They work tirelessly to ensure our students are challenged, inspired, and supported in reaching their fullest potential.
Maria Montessori once wrote, "The teacher's task is not a small easy one! She has to prepare a huge amount of knowledge to satisfy the child's mental hunger." These words beautifully capture the depth of our teachers' work. Montessori education requires preparation, creativity, intentionality, and a deep understanding of each child's developmental journey. Our teachers embrace this responsibility with passion and purpose.
Our students deserve recognition, too! Their curiosity, perseverance, and commitment to learning are at the heart of these accomplishments. We are incredibly proud of their growth, hard work, and achievements.
Having worked with many wonderful educators throughout my career, I can say without hesitation that this team is among the finest groups of teachers I have ever worked with. Their expertise, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to children are truly exceptional.
These ratings reflect the collective efforts of our entire school community. Thank you to our teachers for their dedication and to our students for their hard work and enthusiasm for learning.
This achievement belongs to all of us, and I could not be prouder of our MCS community!
Following our successful first session, Lara D’Eugenio (LPC and certified Parent Talk facilitator) is coming back for Parent Talk #2 on Friday, Dec 4, from 7:30–8:30 AM. Open to all parents whether you came to session 1 or not!
Topic: How to Talk to Your Children in Language That Builds Self-Esteem and Encourages Responsibility
Learn practical ways to replace critical language with positive, respectful communication that strengthens your parent-child connection.
Details & Schedule:
7:00–7:30 AM: Optional Chick-fil-A Breakfast with your child
7:30–8:30 AM: Parent Talk presentation
As we enter the fall and winter months, we would like to remind families about the importance of providing documentation when a student is absent due to a confirmed illness.
If your child is diagnosed by a healthcare provider with influenza (flu), strep throat, or another contagious illness, please provide the school with a doctor's note or other appropriate medical documentation confirming the diagnosis and when your child returns to school. This information helps the school nurse and staff appropriately monitor student health, support your child's return to school, and take appropriate measures to help prevent the spread of illness within our school community.
When your child visits a healthcare provider for an illness, please request documentation that includes the date of the visit, diagnosis (when applicable), and any recommendations or restrictions related to returning to school.
We appreciate your partnership in keeping our students, staff, and school community healthy and safe. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy learning environment for everyone!
Day: Friday, November 20th
Time: 8-10:30 AM
All MCS Families are invited!
The Fall Festival is one of the biggest Montessori Community events of the year and we hope you'll join us.
Activities Include:
Sports clinics including First Tee Golf, Pickle Ball, Soccer and Basketball
Carnival Games
Jump Castles - partially sponsored by our PTO
Photo Ops
River Dogs and StingRays Mascots
Tug o' War
Snacks & Goodies for Purchase:
Famulari's will sell pizza by the slice on site
Travelin' Tom's Coffee
PTO Bake Sale
Lunch will be served as usual
This Spring we will be partnering with Bridges of Hope, a local nonprofit that supports students and families through grief journeys. Based on need and availability, a trained Bridges of Hope staff member will be facilitating small groups during the school day for approximately 6-8 weeks. If your student has experienced a significant loss and is experiencing grief, please fill out this interest form.
Again, groups will be assembled based on faciliator availability and number of students that express interest. Groups will be assembled in the Spring and information will be sent home for students we can accommodate.
In the event that we cannot provide in-school services for your student, please see the Bridges of Hope website for free/low-cost offerings outside of school hours.
iReady is a computer-adaptive test administered 3 times a year (fall, winter, and spring) to evaluate a student's skill levels. As the student answers questions, the test adapts—getting harder if they answer correctly and easier if they struggle—to find their exact instructional level. It is used for tracking academic growth. As we begin our winter assessment window, please review the dates below for upcoming testing.
Math: December 2–4
Reading: December 9–11
Math: Wednesday, December 2
Reading: Thursday, December 3
Reminders
A few small things help the days go smoothly:
Please make sure your child is at school on time.
A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast makes a big difference.
Thank you for your support as we move into the winter assessments. Please reach out to Ms. Nicki if you have any questions.
Next Meeting
Tuesday, November 10
2:40-3:25
Help Us Build Our Community Weaving Project! 🧵
As part of this year’s No Place for Hate theme, “Woven Together: Building Our Community,” we are expanding our focus from celebrating individual backgrounds to exploring how our unique experiences come together to shape our community. To bring this to life, we’re creating a collaborative art piece—and we need every MCS student, staff member, and family to participate!
What to do:
Bring: One strip of fabric or ribbon (approx. 2" × 12"). Old clothing, linens, or scraps are great!
Label: Write the participant’s first and last name on the strip.
Deadline: Send to school by Friday, November 14.
Students will assemble their pieces in art class, and adults are invited to join the weaving that week! Extra fabric donations are appreciated, but if you need a strip provided, just contact Ms. Taylor so everyone can participate.
Join the No Place for Hate Committee! Want to help plan future events? Join our next meeting on Tuesday, November 10!
Thank you for helping us create a village where every piece matters and everyone belongs.
— The MCS No Place for Hate Committee
Thank you to everyone who has supported us by attending our open meeting, spirit nights, and contributing to the snack carts.
Our next Spirit Night is at Famulari's on Wednesday, November 11th from 4-8pm
Just mention you are with the MCS PTO fundraiser and they'll give us back a percentage of the sales. The offer is good for eating-in, delivery or take-out.
The PTO is holding a bake sale at the Fall Festival. Money raised will go towards PTO projects in support of MCS. Come ready to buy some sweet treats and support our wonderful school.
November
Nov. 10-12 - UE Earthshine Field Trip
Nov. 10 - No Place for Hate Meeting, 2:45-3:25
Nov. 16-20 - Progress Reports Emailed
Nov. 20 - Fall Festival, Families are invited
Nov. 23-27* - Fall Break (*11/23 & 11/24 are weather makeup days if needed)
Nov. 26 - Thanksgiving
December
Dec. 1 - Rustic Muffin Coffee Truck (pre-order link)
Dec. 2-4 - Kindergarten iReady Math
Dec. 2 - Grades 1-8 iReady Math
Dec. 3 - Grades 1-8 iReady Reading
Dec. 4 - Parent Talk and Optional Breakfast
Dec. 9-11 - Kindergarten iReady Reading
Dec. 18 - Half Day, 10:25 Dismissal
Dec, 21-Jan. 4 - Winter Break
Daily Transportation Change Form
RevTrak - School Store
Parent Talk & Optional Breakfast RSVP