MMBDA Newsletter

Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS Celebrates the First 100 Days of School!

At Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School, we proudly celebrated the First 100 Days of Schoolwith joy, creativity, and meaningful learning experiences across our classrooms!

The 100th day marks an important milestone in the academic year. It is a time for our scholars and teachers to reflect on how much they have grown—academically, socially, and emotionally—since the first day of school. True to our IB Primary Years Programme spirit, the celebration blended inquiry, fun, and purposeful learning.

100 Days Wiser: Dress-Up Day

Students and teachers joined in the fun by dressing as if they were 100 years old! From gray wigs and suspenders to pearls, shawls, canes, and creative costumes, our hallways were filled with “centenarians” ready to show off their wisdom. The activity sparked laughter, imagination, and great conversations about aging, history, and life lessons.

A Special 100th Day Tea Party

Our younger scholars enjoyed a charming 100th Day Tea Party, where they practiced social skills, table manners, and community building. Students counted sets of 100 items, shared reflections about what they have learned so far this year, and celebrated their accomplishments together in a festive and elegant atmosphere.

100-Count Collections

One of the highlights of the celebration was our 100-Count Collection Display. Students brought creative collections of 100 items—from buttons and beads to LEGO pieces, pennies, stickers, and more! Scholars practiced counting by ones, fives, and tens, reinforcing foundational math skills while proudly presenting their collections to classmates.

This hands-on activity strengthened number sense, grouping strategies, and place value understanding, all while encouraging creativity and family engagement at home.

The First 100 Days celebration is more than just a fun tradition—it reflects our commitment to building strong academic foundations and fostering student agency. We are incredibly proud of our scholars’ growth and the dedication of our teachers who make learning engaging and joyful every day.

Here’s to the next 100 days of excellence, inquiry, and achievement at MMBDA!

We are excited to welcome our Literacy Lab Fellows to our Pre-K classrooms at Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy Public Charter School!

A new addition to our second semester is the inclusion of Literacy Lab partnership. Through our partnership with The Literacy Lab, Fellows will work alongside our Pre-K teachers every day to strengthen early literacy skills and provide additional individualized support to our youngest scholars.

What Do Literacy Lab Fellows Do?

Each Fellow is assigned to support one Pre-K classroom for the entire school year. Fellows are in the classroom five hours per day, every day, providing:

• One-on-one literacy instruction

• Small-group support

• Whole-group literacy activities

They implement a research-based literacy framework designed to build foundational skills such as:

• Letter recognition

• Vocabulary development

• Phonemic awareness

• Early reading readiness skills

Fellows work in close collaboration with classroom teachers to reinforce daily instruction and ensure students receive targeted, engaging literacy experiences.

High-Quality Training and Ongoing Support

Before entering the classroom, Fellows complete over 40 hours of intensive training led by literacy experts. During this training, they learn research-based instructional strategies and assessment tools to support early childhood literacy.

Throughout this semester, Fellows receive an additional 90+ hours of professional development, coaching, and formal observation to ensure high-quality instruction for students. They also participate in weekly Professional Learning Groups (PLGs) focused on educator development and career readiness in education.

This model not only supports our scholars’ literacy growth but also helps develop a strong, community-rooted pipeline of future educators.

We are proud to provide our Pre-K scholars with this additional layer of literacy support and look forward to the continued growth and success of our young readers!