Trailblazer Pride

We hope this has been a great week for you and that you and your family. Many parents often ask how they can help their student at home. Over the next few weeks, some tips and articles will be included in the Trailblazer Pride to give some recommendations. Always feel free to reach out to your child's teacher for specific skills that would be helpful to reinforce at home.

In Partnership,

Andrea Curd, Early Elementary Principal

Melissa Lloyd, Upper Campus Principal

Kids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework — it shows kids that what they do is important.

Of course, helping with homework shouldn't mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break. And who knows? Parents might even learn a thing or two!

Here are some tips to guide the way:

1. Know the teachers — and what they're looking for.
2. Set up a homework-friendly area.
3. Schedule a regular study time.
4. Help them make a plan.
5. Keep distractions to a minimum.
6. Make sure kids do their own work.
7. Be a motivator and monitor.
8. Set a good example.
9. Praise their work and efforts.
10. If there are continuing problems with homework, get help.

Real the full article below!

Tuesday, September 22nd- Virtual Lunch & Learn at 11am, see details below!

Friday, September 25th- Food Service Staff Appreciation Day

Friday, October 2nd- Custodian Appreciation Day

Monday, October 5th- Picture Day, both campuses

Tuesday, October 6th- Kindergarten Field Trip to Blake's Orchard, South Lyon

Wednesday, October 7th- Count Day

Thursday, October 8th- AMFO Color Run 5:30pm Upper Campus

Tuesday, October 13th- Board Meeting 5pm, AMFO In Person Meeting 7pm

Wednesday, October 14th- Preschool Field Trip to Wiard's Orchard

Thursday, October 15th- Progress Reports sent home K-8

Friday, October 16th- NO SCHOOL, Staff Professional Development

Thursday, October 22nd- 1st grade Field Trip to Plymouth Orchard

Friday, October 23rd- Fall Festival 6-8pm at Upper

Our NWEA Fall Testing Window is Monday, September 14th through Friday, October 2nd. Classroom teachers will communicate specific days that their class is scheduled to test.

Dear AMA families,

As we enter cold and flu season, we want to take a moment to remind everyone of our school policies and procedures regarding cough drops. In order to prioritize the health and safety of all students and maintain a consistent approach to managing illness, we kindly ask that you refrain from sending cough drops with your child to school.

While we understand that cough drops are used to ease throat discomfort, they can pose a choking hazard, especially for younger children, and may contain ingredients that could trigger allergic reactions in some students.

Our policy regarding cough drops is as follows:

Cough drops are not permitted in school unless they are prescribed by a physician and documented with the school nurse. In these cases, a medical action plan must be completed by the physician and parent. Medication must be kept in the office and dispensed as directed. Per the State of Michigan: “Administration of OTC [over-the-counter] medication should be conducted in accordance with the guidelines for prescription medication.” Please see our General Medical Action Plan attached to this message if your child will need cough drops.

Please see the website for further information from the State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/2021/12/09/ADA_Medication_Administration_Considerations_9-2-21_final_pdf.pdf?rev=821b215cb09f4287b60fdaee981c9b8c

Our medication policies can be found in our Student Handbook on pages 47-49: https://www.americanmontessori.net/en-US/handbook-65c5dfac

Students experiencing cold or flu symptoms should remain at home to recover and avoid spreading illness to others. If a student has a sore throat or cold symptoms during the school day, the school nurse will provide guidance on appropriate care, including suggestions for how to manage discomfort.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping to maintain a healthy and safe school environment for all students. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by email: awalter@teach.americanmontessori.net, phone: 313-533-0000, or via SchoolStatus Connect.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Alexis Walter

BSN, RN, School nurse

October order forms are due TODAY to Ms. DeAnna! You can also opt to order on the All Year order form. See attachments below.

If you have any questions, please direct them to our Food Service Director, Ms. DeAnna Tyson-Mayo at dtyson-mayo@teach.americanmontessori.net.

Dear AMA Families,

We kindly ask all families to complete the Education Benefits Form, which helps support school funding for important programs and may also qualify your family for waived fees.

Once you’ve completed the form, please email it to our new food service director, Ms. DeAnna Tyson-Mayo at dtyson-mayo@teach.americanmontessori.net.

You can access and download the form by visiting the food service page of our website, linked here or downloading the attachment below.

Thank you for your time and support!

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has opened the nomination window for the 2027-28 Michigan Teacher of the Year.

Nominations for Michigan Teacher of the Year must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Click HERE to complete a Michigan Teacher of the Year Nomination Form!

Since 1952, one of Michigan's outstanding teachers has been named our state's Teacher of the Year. The Michigan Teacher of the Year serves as a representative and advocate for Michigan's more than 85,000 teachers, working with 9 fellow Regional Teachers of the Year as the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC) to share feedback and input on educational policies and initiatives with MDE and propose ways to enhance student learning. Each Regional Teacher of the Year brings recognition to the district he or she represents and has expanded opportunities for professional development at the state level and additional opportunities to share their experience and expertise.

Each month, the Michigan Teacher of the Year attends State Board of Education meetings as a non-voting member of the board and presents on issues of importance to teachers across the state with one of the Regional Teachers of the Year. In addition to meeting with state legislative and educational leadership, the Michigan Teacher of the Year can meet national leaders and work with their fellow state teachers of the year from other U.S. states and territories through programming arranged by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the organization which coordinates the National Teacher of the Year program. Each year's Michigan Teacher of the Year is Michigan's applicant for National Teacher of the Year.

As part of the CCSSO's programming for state teachers of the year, the Michigan Teacher of the Year attends four national conferences, including Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The recipient of the Michigan Teacher of the Year award is eligible to participate in the Ricard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership program at Walden University through a scholarship opportunity.

Thank you to the Meemic Foundation for its continued sponsorship and support of the Michigan Teacher of the Year, the Regional Teachers of the Year and the Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council (MTLAC).

Meeting minutes can be found on the AMFO page of AMA's website.

Positive reviews from awesome parents like you help others to feel confident about choosing American Montessori Academy. Could you take 60 seconds to go to the link below and share your happy experiences?

We will be forever grateful. Thank you in advance for helping us out!

At American Montessori Academy, we invite students to EXPLORE a Montessori environment through individualized, hands-on learning experiences. We ENGAGE students through a rigorous 21st-century curriculum. We EMPOWER students to collaborate by communicating effectively and solve problems peacefully.

Email: acurd@teach.americanmontessori.net
Website: americanmontessori.net
Location: 14800 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, MI 48154
Phone: 313-533-0000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/American-Montessori-Academy-732935756777469/
Twitter: @AMA_Montessori