Happy Friday MCS Community!
A Note of Gratitude:
One of my favorite parts of my job here at MCS is giving school tours to parents of prospective students. Of course I love to show off this dreamy little island school, but the real gift of giving tours is getting to bear witness to adults “discovering” Montessori education. We place prospective parents in a classroom for 15 minutes to observe what we do here, and when they emerge I am often bringing a different person out of that classroom than I brought in. Whether they are seeing a new and better way for their children, or perhaps also – like me when I first observed – hit with the realization of what they themselves never had in an educational setting. Sometimes huge smiles, sometimes tears, sometimes goose bumps – but almost always a sense of wonder and curiosity about what we are doing here.
I thought once I moved from the parent to employee role I would lose that myself, but the truth is the more I have learned about this place and the people who make it real, my sense of wonder has only grown. I witness children struggling to separate from their parents at drop off move through their emotions with the support of patient and loving people (I call them “Samurai Goddesses”, but you can call them our staff) until one day they walk in proudly on their own. I watch Toddlers carried up in diapers magically start talking, dressing themselves, and confidently toileting with a great sense of independence. I see First years in Elementary who struggle to read given the space to patiently approach the skill at their pace, until one day I find them in the bean bag at the back of the classroom with a novel. I interact with kind and gentle Upper Elementary kids who are still sweet, even in the double digit ages we are told to fear. I see our children build focus and practical life skills and discover what lights their fires individually, without pressure to compete or meet some set of arbitrary standards for their age. I watch our kids learn to love learning.
And since our front office also sometimes serves as our teachers lounge, I get to witness the deep care and concern of the people making it all happen – who spend hours observing and making notes and brainstorming about our children out of nothing other than love and a very real desire to pour into these small humans. Sure, there are many ways to raise children, but for me, now that I am here, I could not have it any other way.
I’ll never be able to express my gratitude for this place, but on behalf of parents and staff (since I happen to be both) I’ll just open my arms and say: wow, we are so lucky to be here. We are so lucky this exists. Let’s take good care of it.
Wishing you and yours a nice break/holiday/time together – and see you when we get back, to keep doing this great thing, together. – With so much love, Ms. Alex
This Week @ MCS
Pictured:
1 A helpful Banyan friend sweeps up a friend’s mess.
2. Cocoplum (Upper Elementary) headed to the Botanical Garden for this week’s Learning Expedition.
3. Our beloved Elementary Aftercare Guide, Ms. Harsha, is welcomed back from leave with a big hug.
Upcoming Events (more info on each below)…
PRO TIP: Click the date to save the event to your personal calendar on your phone!
TODAY! Friday, November 22nd: Half Day Dismissal @ 12PM & Potluck on Front Lawn
Monday, November 25-Friday, November 29th: NO SCHOOL, FALL BREAK
Monday, November 25-Wednesday, November 27th: Fall Camp 8AM-3:30PM Toddler & Primary Only
Sunday, December 8th: Montessori 5K Race & Kids Fun Run @ 8AM, Truman Waterfront Park
Thursday, December 12th: Holiday Light Conch Tour Train @ 6PM, Front Lawn
Gratitude Potluck TODAY @ Noon
Today is a half day of school – we dismiss at 12:00 for all programs. Please plan to pick your children up from their classrooms. We will host a Potluck lunch on the front lawn for the entire community at 12, with special guest DJ Jimmy Jamz hosting a great kick off to the holiday season! Bring your picnic blanket and a dish to share, hang out and enjoy an afternoon of gratitude for our community and our dreamy little school on this wonderful island.
Fall Break Camp
Over our Fall Break next week, Camp is available for Toddler & Primary. Camp will be 8AM-3:30PM and the cost is $65/day. Please text 305-294-5302 for last minute availability if you still need it.
Elementary families – we recommend KWAHS Camp for over this break week should you need a camp. Fall ArtCamp! | Depicting the Everglades | Key West Art & Historical Society
Montessori Key West 5K Race & Kids Fun Runs
Register today for our annual Montessori Key West 5K Race & Kids Fun Run! This is an event for all fitness levels – runners, walkers, strollers – the goal is to “WALK THE WALK” (metaphorically & literally) and show our kids healthy living is fun for everyone. Montessori Key West 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run
Not up for the race? We need volunteers! We will need 15 more Course Marshalls (stand along the route and direct runners), registration help, donations of all kinds of items, and of course CHEERING! Sign up here: Sign Up to Volunteer for the Race These earn the coveted fundraising work/pay hours…
The Holiday Lights Conch Train – Montessori Edition
Please mark your calendars for one of our favorite nights of the year! Thursday, December 12th at 6PM – we’ll meet on the Front Lawn for treats and board the trains on Varela St. Wear your holiday gear (pajamas encouraged!) Tickets are $15 per student & $20 per guest (grown ups and non-student children.) We reserved an extra train this year, so we are happy to be able to invite grandparents and other family & friends in addition to immediate family. The more the merrier!! This year is also a “Half Tour” – meaning the ride will be 45 mins (instead of 90) to accommodate our younger age group.
Email office@montessorikeywest.com to reserve your spot.
Weekly Miracle Makers
Oftentimes it feels like our school is powered by Miracles. Miracles large and small happen each week to pull off all that we do here. Those miracles appear in acts of love and kindness and service by parents, children, staff, alumni, community members, and more, and each week we highlight a special one here.
This week’s Miracle Maker is Jeremy Ray, Dad of Apollo and Oona, who re-hung our sun shades in the Toddler playground to help protect the Toddlers from the glaring sun. In addition to caring for our campus needs, Jeremy recently treated some of our staff to a much-needed boat day on one of his charter boats with Oceans Edge Powersports. The Ray gang always showers us with such love and generosity and we are grateful for them!!
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