Maria Montessori Academy

Hello Families!

We’re wrapping up the month of October with Red Ribbon Week and Halloween activities next week!

Our character theme for October is Patience, an important skill that helps children develop self-regulation, perseverance, empathy, and respect for others. Throughout the month, students have been learning that patience means giving ourselves and others the time and space needed to learn, grow, and overcome challenges.

Red Ribbon Week is a nationwide campaign focused on promoting healthy, safe, and drug-free lifestyles. Throughout the week, students will participate in fun, engaging activities that encourage positive decision-making, personal responsibility, and healthy choices.

Join us for Neptune Skate Night on Wednesday, October 28, from 5:00–8:30 p.m.! Admission is FREE for all MMA families and friends. Please note that this is a family event, and MMA staff will not be providing supervision. We ask that parents and guardians stay with their children and supervise them throughout the evening. We hope you have a fun night skating together!

As we celebrate Halloween and enjoy the excitement of the season, we encourage students to practice patience, demonstrate kindness, and make thoughtful choices. We look forward to a fun-filled week of learning, celebration, and community! Students are welcome to wear costumes to school on Friday. We will have a schoolwide costume parade from beginning at 9am in the parking lot! Please review the Halloween costume guidelines and reach out to your child’s teacher if you have questions.

Also happening Friday is our annual Haunted House and Trunk or Treat! We’re so excited to see your family and enjoy this fun activity together! Sign up here for the Trunk or Treat if you’d like. All funds raised will support the 6th and 9th spring grade field experiences!

Thank you to those of you who attended the Adult HOPE Squad this week! We’re grateful to Ms. Nicoletta, Ms. Mikala, Ms. Tiffany and Ms. Ezzy for providing this opportunity for our community! If you want to join, please email Ms. Nicoletta at Nhouseholder@mmautah.org

Our 17th Annual International festival will take place on November 20th. If you’d like to participate by sharing food from your culture, please sign up below. https://forms.gle/bvwkRrnUMHFzKkVH7

Lastly, as we approach the November midterm elections, I want to take a moment to encourage every eligible member of our school community to exercise one of our most important civic responsibilities: voting.

The individuals elected to local, state, and federal offices make decisions that directly impact our daily lives, including decisions about public education, school funding, community resources, and policies that affect our children.

As educators, we work every day to help students develop independence, critical thinking, personal responsibility, and an understanding of their role in a larger community. These same principles are at the heart of civic participation.

Voting is an opportunity to model these values for our children. When young people see adults taking the time to learn about issues, consider different perspectives, and participate in elections, they begin to understand that democracy requires thoughtful and active participation.

Regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs, I encourage you to research the candidates and issues on your ballot, engage in respectful conversations, and make your voice heard.

Our school community is strengthened by diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to the well-being of children. Although we may not always agree on the best path forward, we can agree that informed participation matters.

I encourage you to make a plan to vote and remind your family and friends of the importance of participating. Thank you for being engaged members of our school community and for helping us raise the next generation of thoughtful, responsible citizens.

Much love,

Kacee Weaver

Executive Director

Our Special education director, Ms. Brigette shares some simple ways to support reading and math at home for all grade levels this week!

Elementary: Read together for 10 minutes and talk about the story. Have your child retell the beginning, middle, and end of a story.

Practice basic math facts using dice, cards, or quick games. Practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division during everyday routines.

Junior High: Encourage your student to read something they enjoy for 15 minutes—a novel, graphic novel, sports article, news story, or magazine. Ask your student to summarize something they read or watched. What was the main idea? What evidence supports it? Discuss a current event, article, or book together. Ask questions and encourage your student to explain their thinking.

Practice multiplication and division facts for a few minutes to build confidence with more advanced math. Practice mental math with percentages, fractions, decimals, and integers. For example, “What is 20% off a $40 item?” Use real-life math! Compare prices while shopping, calculate a tip, estimate a grocery total, or figure out a sale discount.

All Ages: Read signs, recipes, instructions, or other everyday materials. Play a quick game, solve a daily math challenge, or practice skills while cooking or shopping.