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Hello Montessori School of Flagstaff families!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering distance learning beginning August 17. Please continue to check your email for updates from teachers and administration regarding the details of the distance learning plan.
Thank you for your flexibility, understanding and support as we navigate this together!
Our Sunnyside and Westside Campuses celebrated their students' hard work and progress this year with a spring semester Back to School Night.
By: Shaniya, Sixth Year Student, B-1
"On November 7th, 2018, the class of B-1 hiked the trail behind the school to pick up some litter. Since littering is horrible for the environment, the class of B-1 took bags of trash bags and picked up loads of trash. We also found some homeless peoples' places so we stayed away from those areas. Some kids climbed rocks to pick up some trash. Some of the items were small, but some items were huge. For example, we once found a Tidepod box and an old tire! We filled about three to four trashbags! When we were walking down the walkway, we traveled off the trail a few times to discover more trash. Probably the best memory of this "trip" was the idea that we helped the planet a little. The worst memory would be the cacti, hands down the worst thing to run into while walking. Overall, we all had a great time and it was fun for all!"
"The A3 lower elementary students did a lesson on the election process to decide which seeds to sprout in a windowsill garden. Students queued, signed their names on our voter registration record, and voted in our private voting booth. We first had a primary election to narrow choices down to three.
Last week, the Westside Campus culminated a month-long study about world cultures with a UNICEF Day celebration. The students participated in a morning of fun crafts and activities representing cultures from around the globe.
Each October, the elementary students from the Switzer Mesa Campus undertake a top secret task: they must learn all they can about an individual of their choosing, only to be revealed on October 31st! This is the annual Mystery History celebration, where students research a historical figure and become that person for a day.
By: Ms. Kristen, A1, Switzer Mesa
There is a lot to say about traditions, but in my opinion there are little other places like a Montessori classroom in which traditions build community. Take for instance the first writer's workshop lesson I do each year with first grade students. Each year we begin with "small moment" stories by writing about a shared event. And each year I create a small moment by (shh) "accidentally" spilling a bucketful of markers right before the lesson. Each and every year the older students giggle and say the same thing. "Ms. Kristen, how come you always spill the markers?"
Each semester, the Primary and Young Children's classrooms at both the Westside and Sunnyside Campuses host a very special Back to School Night for families. Students proudly bring their parents, siblings and even grandparents into their classrooms and become the presenters of their lessons. Parents enjoy seeing what their children work on during the Montessori work cycle, and students seem to be especially focused and careful with their materials. Even the youngest students at 18 months old take pride in sharing their classroom work with their families. We had a great turnout this year at both campuses and look forward to showing families how much students have grown and progressed at the next Back to School Night in the spring.
The kindergarten students from Westside were invited by the Northern Arizona University Athletic Department to tour the NAU Walkup Dome. The students bundled up for their mile walk from school to the Dome and set off first thing in the morning. They were greeted by Mr. Carlos, the head equipment manager for all of the sports teams at NAU.
The Montessori Philosophy encourages children to develop their observation skills through activities that use the five senses, kinetic movement, spatial refinement, small and gross motor skill coordination, and concrete knowledge that leads to later abstraction.
The 2015 Arizona School Tax Credit lets your donation go directly to a public school of your choice! A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax liability. Any Arizona taxpayer may contribute, regardless of whether your child is attending school.
To meet the needs of working parents, we offer a before- and after-school program designed for children 18 months–12 years. The older children can sign up for the many special classes offered after school such as drama, art classes, and music lessons.