A Quick Look Ahead…
1st Annual International Day was SO MUCH FUN!! Thank you to the parents & teachers who so thoughtfully put together a booth and/or did a performance – it was so much fun learning about different cultures and sampling delicious snacks. Thank you to all the families who joined us to celebrate; it was a wonderful day and fun to see so many families participate. A special shout out to board member, Hila, for spearheading this inaugural event. We look forward to the 2nd Annual International Day sometime in early 2025. Stay tuned for more details! The PA is excited to sponsor the second annual Robotics Series for the upper school! Students will be using Edison Robots to explore introductory programming skills. If you are interested in helping with this event, please keep an eye out for volunteer signups via ParentSquare, and save the date: March 19 & 21: Cascara - Tuesday/Thursday (10:00-11:00) March 26 & 28: Sitka Spruce - Tuesday/Wednesday (9:30-10:30) April 1 & 2: Horsetail - Monday/Tuesday (9:30-10:30) April 16 & 18: Red Alder - Tuesday/Thursday (9:30-10:30) Get ready! Next week is when we will collect items that your family has outgrown during drop off/pick up. Simply pass your bag of goods (see instructions below) to staff who will be there to collect them. All items must be collected at school prior to the event. Items that will be accepted for this year’s swap:
Gently used, recently washed, great condition items for infants through teens are welcome. Items don't need to be folded but should be in a paper bag (preferred over plastic) and labeled with the age or age range on the outside. Please be sure to pair any socks and ensure there are no holes, and please secure pairs of shoes together either with zip ties or the shoelaces. Then join us to pick out items: Sunday, March 24th, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club Even if you don’t drop off any items, you are still welcome to come and pick out items. Any items that are left over will be donated to KidVantage. The Spring Swap will be jointly held with a family game day, so everyone can play games while you pick out new items to take home (feel free to bring your family’s favorite board or card game). There will also be some fun dancing for those that are interested! Let’s Go Camping! Spots are filling up quickly… Back by popular demand, we have made a group reservation at the Tolt-MacDonald Campsite from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June. Located near Carnation, on the beautiful Snoqualmie River, this campsite is only 15mins drive east of the school, yet feels sufficiently outdoorsy to keep all campers happy! Packed with fun activities, games, nature walks, and group cook-outs, this weekend will fill-up fast! The PA has reserved space for 100 people, on a first-come basis. There are two categories of camping available:
For more campsite details, click here. For campsite location, click here. Help Us Pick a PA Sponsored Enrichment Specialist/Program This year, the PA will sponsor one enrichment specialist to visit the school for an engaging, hands-on experience for the kids (and staff!). So, we’d love to hear from you, which extracurricular activity do you think would excite your kids the most? And if you have a different recommendation, please let us know that too! https://forms.office.com/r/tTXJ2Uk7sQ National Staff Appreciation Week (SAW)is Coming in May… On April 15th, the PA will be kicking off a special campaign to raise funds for this special week. More news to come on the amazing plans we have in the works, but we’ll be showering the MCH staff with love, gratitude and food, thanks to your generous donations. To get into the spirit of appreciation, the PA surprised staff with a pop up snack cart loaded with fun treats last week… Join the MCH PA Board! Do you enjoy coming to Parent Association Sponsored events? Do you have something you’re passionate about that you want to bring to the community? Then the Parent Association is looking for you to join us on the board! See our page at https://www.mch-pa.org/board-recruiting.html for more information on what joining the board entails. Have questions? Then speak to any one of the current board members or email us at pa@mch-pa.org. Applications will be due Friday, May 3rd.
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President’s Letter Hope everyone had a great Valentine’s day last week! I know my kids certainly did with the pizza party as well as the bag of goodies and cards they brought home. It’s always so great to see the community come together in creating beautiful things for the kids to share. We’re doing a lot of firsts this year for the Parent Association. We sponsored a pizza day honoring International Pizza Day and Valentine’s Day, hosted a bonfire party, are having our first ever International Day, and are creating a community cookbook. This, on top of community favorites such as family nature walks, camping, spring swap, and parent workshops. All this is only possible through the volunteer work of dedicated members of the board and community. If you have something you’re passionate about and want to share with the community, please consider becoming a Parent Association board member. More information will be coming in March on what it entails and how to sign up. We hope you all had a wonderful mid-winter break! Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association We hope your kids loved the Pizza Party last week! We enjoyed seeing their happy faces during the delivery and we even heard one class shouting “pizza party” as they were getting ready for lunch. We’re hopeful that we can do it again sometime in the future! Mark your calendars for International Day, where we'll celebrate the traditions that enrich our MCH community. There are a few great ways to participate – the more representation we have, the better! Volunteer for a Table/Booth Teach others about your country through food, a poster, clothing – the options are endless. We're thrilled to announce that we already have people volunteering for a diverse selection of booths representing Iraq, Samoa, Vietnam, India, Israel, Brazil, Argentina, and Korea. But our global map is far from complete! Sign Up for a Performance Express your culture through the language of movement and music! Whether it's a traditional folk dance or a contemporary interpretation, your performance enriches our celebration! Share it with us. We already have India and Israel performing, and we would love to see more kids and adults representing other traditions. Sign up to volunteer by February 22nd at https://forms.office.com/r/30a7gmRbz0. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Hila at hila@mch-pa.org. RSVP to Attend the Event The event will take place on March 3rd from 2:30 - 4:30 PM at the Boys and Girls club in Sammamish – we’d love to see you there! The excitement is already contagious, with RSVPs pouring in! To help us prepare for this incredible journey, please RSVP through the Parent Square post. We can't wait to celebrate with you! LAST CHANCE to contribute your favorite family recipe(s)! Read all the details HERE. If you contribute a recipe, you will receive a complimentary cookbook!* *one per family Submit Online Log in: Mchpa Password: simmer036 Questions? emily@mch-pa.orgNature Walk & Family Picnic Join us for our next stroll through the woods (about 1 mile), followed by kids' playtime, and a family picnic! This month we will visit St. Edward State Park (located between Juanita and Kenmore) for an out-and-back trail to the shore of Lake Washington. This easy route is tree lined, so great for all weather conditions. Plus, there is a lovely climbing frame and swing-set for when we get back. For those who want, we will stay a while longer and enjoy a picnic and chat with friends. Meet us in the parking lot at 10.30am on Sunday 17th March. For more information, call or text your trail guide – David, aka Ella’s Daddy (Snowberry), on 305 905 9135. Friendly reminder that we will collect items that your family has outgrown during drop off/pick up from March 18th to March 22nd. Items included in the swap: lightly used children’s clothing (clothes, outerwear, boots, shoes, costumes), and books. Please note that toys and kids’ furniture is not included in the swap. And we hope to see you on Sunday, March 24th from 1-3pm at the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club to select and pick out items to bring home! Annual MCH Camping Weekend! The time has come to sign-up for our annual family camping trip! Back by popular demand, we have made a group reservation at the Tolt-MacDonald Campsite from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June. Located near Carnation, on the beautiful Snoqualmie River, this campsite is only 15mins drive east of the school, yet feels sufficiently outdoorsy to keep all campers happy! Packed with fun activities, games, nature walks, and group cook-outs, this weekend will fill-up fast! The PA has reserved space for 100 people, on a first-come basis. There are two categories of camping available:
For more campsite details, click here. For campsite location, click here. Thank you to those who were able to join us on February 8th for our second annual Positive Discipline Workshop. What a fabulous community of parents! We shared stories, ideas, challenges, and lots of laughter, too. Our dynamic activities and conversations focused on common parenting strategies that don’t exactly teach our kiddos what we intend to teach them, as well as the art and practice of letting go. While we don’t often have specific answers in raising our children, we have one another to learn and grown with. Many thanks to Angela Spayde, Head of School and Julie Zivah, MS, RDN, CPC, Founder Zivah Coaching, LLC for leading this event! We all look forward to our next workshop. Five Criteria for Positive Discipline:
Upcoming Events:
President’s Letter Hope everyone has had a great start to a new year, despite the cold! Here on the PA, we’re super excited to kick off our second half of programming. Below is a summary of what we have planned. Mark your calendars!
We look forward to seeing you at these events! If you have any questions for feedback, feel free to check out the Parent Association website or email us at pa@mch-pa.org. Warmly, Jessica Lin First Annual MCH International Day! When: Sunday, March 3rd from 2:30-4:30PM Where: Boys and Girls Club of Sammamish For the first time at MCH, you will have the chance to share your culture and traditions with our community! To celebrate the rich diversity we have at our beloved school, the PA will be organizing an International Day! We will have booths with food, performances, and more! Imagine the feeling of traveling around the world, by moving from one booth to the next, exploring the rich assortment of food, music, and customs each one showcases. For more information, click HERE. if you haven’t already, please click HERE sign up for a booth, a performance, or both! The MCH Community Cookbook Contribute your family’s favorite recipes to the MCH Community Cookbook! Read all the details HERE. Deadline is February 15, 2023 Submit Online Log in: Mchpa Password: simmer036 Great news! If you contribute a recipe, you will receive a complimentary MCH Community Cookbook!* *1 cookbook per family Questions? emily@mch-pa.org February Family Walk & Play Join Us! President’s Letter Hope everyone has had a great start to a new year, despite the cold! Here on the PA, we’re super excited to kick off our second half of programming. Below is a summary of what we have planned. Mark your calendars!
We look forward to seeing you at these events! If you have any questions for feedback, feel free to check out the Parent Association website or email us at pa@mch-pa.org. Warmly, Jessica Lin First Annual MCH International Day! When: Sunday, March 3rd from 2:30-4:30PM Where: Boys and Girls Club of Sammamish For the first time at MCH, you will have the chance to share your culture and traditions with our community! To celebrate the rich diversity we have at our beloved school, the PA will be organizing an International Day! We will have booths with food, performances, and more! Imagine the feeling of traveling around the world, by moving from one booth to the next, exploring the rich assortment of food, music, and customs each one showcases. For more information, click HERE. if you haven’t already, please click HERE sign up for a booth, a performance, or both! The MCH Community Cookbook Contribute your family’s favorite recipes to the MCH Community Cookbook! Read all the details HERE. Deadline is February 15, 2023 Submit Online Log in: Mchpa Password: simmer036 Great news! If you contribute a recipe, you will receive a complimentary MCH Community Cookbook!* *1 cookbook per family Questions? emily@mch-pa.org February Family Walk & Play Join Us! Date: Saturday, February 3rd Time: 10:30AM-11:30AM Location: Evan's Creek Preserve (entrance off of 202) Second Annual Positive Discipline Parenting Workshop The word “discipline” is from the Latin word disciplina, meaning “instruction and training.” It is derived from the root word discere— “to learn.” Relatable for all ages, Positive Discipline is a guide for both caregivers and teachers as they support children on their journeys! Join Head of School, Angela Spayde, and Parent Coach, Julie Zivah, for an illuminating conversation about connection and community. This year will offer new insights as we discuss how Positive Discipline can inspire educators in the classroom and caregivers in the home, while helping you identify your personal parenting values. We look forward to learning in person with you! When: Thursday, February 8th from 6:30-8:15pm Where: Lily Pad, near MCH. Additional location details will be provided to those who RSVP. Please RSVP via ParentSquare. NOTE: This event is for adults only. Childcare will be offered on campus for early childhood students and older. Please RSVP for childcare when confirming. Pizza Party! Did you know that February 9th is National Pizza Day? In order to celebrate this momentous day and to spread some love, the PA is sponsoring a pizza party for all students and staff on Wednesday, February 14th! That's right, that means that you don’t need to pack lunch that day for your child(ren)! We will provide cheese pizza (including gluten-free and vegan for those with allergies/dietary restrictions), a fruit, and a vegetable. Toddlers up to middle school will be included (sorry infants), as well as staff. If you would like to opt your child out, please add your child's name and classroom to the OPT-OUT list in ParentSquare. You do not need to respond to be included, we are only asking to be informed if you would like your child to not be served pizza. If your child has an allergy or dietary restriction that is not already on record with the school, please email office@mchkids.com to have that updated. Spring Swap is Back! Last year we up-cycled lots of clothing and books to other families within our MCH community, and donated the rest to KidVantage (formerly Eastside Baby Center) in Issaquah. We will collect items that your family has outgrown during drop off/pick up from March 18th to March 22nd. Then on Sunday, March 24 (1-3pm), all families are invited to the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club to select and pick out any available items to bring home. Anything that’s left over will be donated to local organizations. We will send out more details later, but wanted to get this message out early so you can start putting aside items that may no longer be a good fit for your family. Items included in the swap: lightly used children’s clothing (clothes, outerwear, boots, shoes, costumes), and books. Please note that toys and kids’ furniture is not included in the swap. Upcoming Events:
We hope 2024 is off to a great start for your family… Donate to the MCH Parent Association Date: Saturday, February 3rd Time: 10:30AM-11:30AM Location: Evan's Creek Preserve (entrance off of 202) Second Annual Positive Discipline Parenting Workshop The word “discipline” is from the Latin word disciplina, meaning “instruction and training.” It is derived from the root word discere— “to learn.” Relatable for all ages, Positive Discipline is a guide for both caregivers and teachers as they support children on their journeys! Join Head of School, Angela Spayde, and Parent Coach, Julie Zivah, for an illuminating conversation about connection and community. This year will offer new insights as we discuss how Positive Discipline can inspire educators in the classroom and caregivers in the home, while helping you identify your personal parenting values. We look forward to learning in person with you! When: Thursday, February 8th from 6:30-8:15pm Where: Lily Pad, near MCH. Additional location details will be provided to those who RSVP. Please RSVP via ParentSquare. NOTE: This event is for adults only. Childcare will be offered on campus for early childhood students and older. Please RSVP for childcare when confirming. Pizza Party! Did you know that February 9th is National Pizza Day? In order to celebrate this momentous day and to spread some love, the PA is sponsoring a pizza party for all students and staff on Wednesday, February 14th! That's right, that means that you don’t need to pack lunch that day for your child(ren)! We will provide cheese pizza (including gluten-free and vegan for those with allergies/dietary restrictions), a fruit, and a vegetable. Toddlers up to middle school will be included (sorry infants), as well as staff. If you would like to opt your child out, please add your child's name and classroom to the OPT-OUT list in ParentSquare. You do not need to respond to be included, we are only asking to be informed if you would like your child to not be served pizza. If your child has an allergy or dietary restriction that is not already on record with the school, please email office@mchkids.com to have that updated. Spring Swap is Back! Last year we up-cycled lots of clothing and books to other families within our MCH community, and donated the rest to KidVantage (formerly Eastside Baby Center) in Issaquah. We will collect items that your family has outgrown during drop off/pick up from March 18th to March 22nd. Then on Sunday, March 24 (1-3pm), all families are invited to the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club to select and pick out any available items to bring home. Anything that’s left over will be donated to local organizations. We will send out more details later, but wanted to get this message out early so you can start putting aside items that may no longer be a good fit for your family. Items included in the swap: lightly used children’s clothing (clothes, outerwear, boots, shoes, costumes), and books. Please note that toys and kids’ furniture is not included in the swap. Upcoming Events:
We hope 2024 is off to a great start for your family… Donate to the MCH Parent Association Season of Gratitude… Thank you to everyone who donated to the SEED campaign! Your support is what funds the Parent Association and all the programs we put on, so thank you! And a special shoutout to Heather Sabotta from the board, who spearheaded the fundraising efforts and who you may have seen braving the cold during drop-off to promote our SEED campaign. Thank you, Heather for your leadership and dedication! We also have great gratitude for the staff at MCH! This past weekend the board got together to write holiday cards for the staff, that were delivered on Tuesday. And due to the generosity of the parent community, the PA once again sponsored a portion of the staff holiday party, and gave each staff member a gift card to one of their preferred merchants. On behalf of the board, I wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season, filled with laughter and joy. Sincerely, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association SEED Update: Between October 29 and November 17th, you all raised $24,433! Even though the campaign is over, it’s never too late to donate! Many companies run an employee giving campaign during the month of December and payroll deduction makes giving easy! Please consider adding the MCH PA SEED Fund to your list of non-profit organizations receiving tax-deductible donations directly out of your paycheck. You can usually find us by our EIN or Tax ID number: 91-1960800. Your gift will help fund special events like international night, pizza parties, the MCH cookbook, robotics day, parent educational opportunities, school enrichment specialists, holiday gifts, teacher training and accreditations, and more! Were you one of the 84 families that decided not to give this year? The PA would love to know why! Please send your anonymous feedback via this survey so that we may improve our communication in future campaigns. International Day Coming in February… For the first time at MCH, you will have the chance to share your culture and traditions with our community. To celebrate the rich diversity we have at our beloved school, the PA will be organizing an International Day! We will have booths, food, performances and more. We’re imagining the feeling of traveling around the world, by moving from one booth to the next, exploring the rich assortment of food, music, and customs each one showcases. Please go to this link to sign up and help us choose the date. We hope these photos inspire you! We are cookin’ up an MCH Community Cookbook & you are invited to submit recipes! We are thrilled to be putting together a one-of-a-kind Community Cookbook filled with cherished recipes where we aim to showcase the diverse and delicious tapestry of Montessori Children's House through your favorite recipes. What is the "thing" you bring to family meals? Whether it's passed down from your great-great-great grandpa OR on the back of the Frank's Red-Hot bottle (the Buffalo Chicken Dip is SO delicious)...Your contribution doesn't need to be fancy or sophisticated (or it can be, and we love it)... This cookbook is all about sharing the recipes that bring us joy. So, click below and help us bring the cookbook to life: https://www.typensave.com/get-started/ Log In: Mchpa Password: simmer036 Don't be afraid to enter your email after you log in (you won't get spammed). Click "Add Recipes" and channel your inner chef...the more recipes the merrier. Note: If you are pulling the recipe from your favorite website/cookbook and want to give credit, wonderful! Simply add to the note section something like: "this is my favorite weeknight recipe from Smitten Kitchen", or this is "inspired by the classic Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe.", etc. Questions? emily@mch-pa.org Join Us! January Family Walk & Play Date: Saturday, January 13th Time: 10:30AM-11:30AM Location: Evan’s Creek Preserve (entrance off 202) Picture from December’s meet up at the Redmond Watershed — the rain didn’t stop us from a great time in the forest! Bonfire Follow Up Thank you to the many families that joined us last month for our community bonfire! The crisp afternoon was filled with outdoor play, cozy conversations by the fire, and many s'mores. It was a great way to welcome the cooler weather! Rosetta Lee Workshop Follow Up
Last month we had a very productive session with Rosetta Lee on talking to our kids and youth about complicated and heated topics. Here are a couple of nuggets from the session:
Here are resources from the session: Slides Resources Thank you to all the families that attended, and we hope to see everyone at our Positive Discipline workshop on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Upcoming Events: January Family Walk & Play: Saturday, 1/13 Positive Discipline Workshop: Thursday, 2/8 Many of you may be deciding how much tax-deductible money you can give to worthy causes before the end of the year. Whether it's $5, $50 or $100, whatever you're able to do, the Parent Association would be most grateful to be included in your end-of-year giving plan. And of course, don't forget to check if your employer does matching contributions for a larger impact. Donate to the MCH Parent Association Wishing your family a festive & relaxing holiday season President’s Letter I hope all of your families have enjoyed and are settling into the new school year. The fun is just beginning! We’re happy to announce that our events will soon be added to the school’s Parent Square calendar so that you can see all school and PA events in one place. We will regularly be adding events or save the dates as our details get confirmed. Upcoming events are also listed at the bottom of this newsletter for your convenience. Thank you to all the families that filled out the Parent Association annual survey. We had a record high number of responses, and we’re excited to share the results below. It really is so energizing to see all of your feedback and interests, as it helps drive the direction and programming of the board sponsors. Needless to say, none of this happens automatically. All of our events are driven by our volunteer board members, and our funding comes completely from the community. As we prepare to kick off the SEED campaign at the end of October, we ask that you remember the MCH Parent Association and contribute what you’re comfortable with. We look forward to seeing you and your families at Harvest Fest and our first annual bonfire (highest rated in our survey) in the coming weeks! Sincerely, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association 2023 Parent Survey Results With nearly 30% of MCH families participating, we had our largest turnout ever and collected tons of helpful feedback. The distribution across the programs (infant & toddler, early childhood, elementary, and middle school) was roughly proportional to those at the school, making for a very representative set of results. Parents’ spending priorities have a huge impact on how we approach our work for the year. In addition to a number of great events and initiatives, staff appreciation and development projects in the pipeline, we’re working with the school to identify extracurricular student activities and classroom enrichment material that will enhance our children’s experience at school. You can be sure we’ll have more for you as soon as we have updates on those fronts. We have a calendar packed with exciting events - from the Community Bonfire in November (more on that below), to our first ever International Night in February, and an even bigger Camping Weekend in June. Just as we’re doing with the responses to the spending question above, you will find that our community events programming for the year is nicely aligned with the community’s wishes. Beyond the two primary questions, we also found that parents:
Finally, we had almost 20 parents ask to be added to our brand new volunteer list and we’re so grateful for that. We’ll reach out to those individuals as opportunities become available. Thank you again to everyone who completed the 2023 survey! Join us for a Community Bonfire! When: Saturday, November 18th 1:30PM-4:30PM Where: Lake Sammamish State Park * The fire pit is located within a covered structure, so come warm up, and toast marshmallows with us rain or shine! *Parking is free with a Discover Pass, or you can purchase a parking pass at the park. HarvestFest See you at HarvestFest! As is tradition, the Parent Association will be hosting the Pumpkin Patch in the EC Playground. Come say hi, get creative with pumpkin (and gourd!) decorating, and discover more about our exciting initiatives. We can't wait to connect with you! 2023 SEED Fundraiser Campaign Starts Sunday, October 29th! The SEED campaign entirely funds our operations and activities throughout the year. Please be on the lookout for the kickoff of our fundraising campaign the day after HarvestFest, and consider supporting our mission to enrich the MCH community in service to you as parents and our children. Feel free to contact us at fundraising@mch-pa.org with questions or concerns. Stay tuned for more information about an amazing parent education opportunity happening on Friday, November 10th with renowned diversity speaker and trainer, Rosetta Lee. Upcoming Events: Harvest Fest: Saturday, 10/28, 10am-12pm SEED campaign starts: Sunday, 10/29 Rosetta Lee Workshop: Friday, 11/10, 5-7pm Bonfire: Saturday, 11/18, 1:30pm-4:30pm Wishing your family a peaceful & joy-filled fall season Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We hope you and your family had a great summer and are enjoying this beautiful weather at the start of the school year. As a parent/guardian of an MCH student, you are automatically a member of the Parent Association. We are so excited about the things we are planning for this year and hope you are too! The Parent Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to building community at MCH, supporting the staff and enriching the student experience through supplementary programming. In addition to hosting staff appreciation week and sponsoring some teachers to the AMS conference, last year we also sponsored community events like parent workshops, game days, spring swap, robotics week, and an end of year camping trip, among other events. This year we’re building on our momentum and have even more programs in the works! All of the programs we put on are only made possible through the generous gifts we have received from you to our annual SEED fund. Our fundraising campaign will kick off this fall, which you can read more about below. To find out more about board sponsored events or to learn more about the board members, visit the Parent Association website at: https://www.mch-pa.org/ I'm Jessica Lin, and I’m honored to be serving my second year as President of the Parent Association. I’ve been a parent at the school since 2018 and I currently have one child in the toddler program and another in the early childhood program, who is a kindergartner. As someone who has been at the school pre, during, and post pandemic, I can honestly say that I am more excited about this school year than any previous year, especially now that snacks are back! In all seriousness, we have an amazing board this year full of enthusiasm, ideas, and the desire to build our community! It is my hope that the MCH community is one where you can find connections that bring you joy and friendship, as we go on our collective journey to help our children thrive. Sincerely, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association Thank you to those that joined us last month for the Family Walk! October’s Family Walk & Play: Perrigo Park on October 7th from 10:30am-1:30pm. Whether you have little ones that like toddler swings, or older kids that want to play volleyball, tennis, or basketball, Perrigo Park has us covered. Don’t forget a nourishing sack lunch to keep your energy up. The 2023 SEED Fundraiser Campaign Starts Sunday, October 29th! The SEED campaign entirely funds our operations and activities throughout the year. We have so many great ideas building off of the Parent Survey that this PA Board is eager to make happen. Please be on the lookout for the kickoff of our fundraising campaign the day after HarvestFest, and consider supporting our mission to enrich the MCH community in service to you as parents and our children. If you have been hesitant to give in years past, feel free to contact us at fundraising@mch-pa.org with feedback. 2023 Parent Survey We Still Want to Hear From You! We've already heard from a number of parents but we'd love to get input from an even larger group. If you haven't already completed the very brief survey, please take a minute or two and let us know what kind of community programs and events you'd like us to offer. We appreciate your feedback! CLICK HERE to take the 2023 Parents Survey Parent Association Annual Meeting Please join the Parent Association for our annual meeting. This short get together will provide members of the Parent Association an opportunity to review the previous year’s financial report and learn about the current year’s budget and board priorities. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13th, from 7:30 PM to 7:45 PM via Zoom. Please contact us for Zoom login details. We hope you can join us! We hope everyone is having a successful start to the school year!
Welcome (Back) to School! As the Montessori Children's House community comes to life once again, we extend a heartfelt welcome to our returning families and an enthusiastic greeting to those joining us for the first time. For those of you who are receiving this monthly newsletter for the first time, we wanted to take a minute to introduce the Parent Association. We are a group of parent volunteers dedicated to building community at MCH, supporting the staff and enriching the student experience through supplementary programming. We operate independently from, but in support of, MCH as an exclusively community funded 501c3 non-profit organization. Our current board is made up of 12 passionate parents (and grandparent!), with diverse backgrounds and experiences. You can read more about us here, and you will have a chance to meet us at many upcoming school events including the Back to School Picnic, Parent Nights, and HarvestFest. The Parent Association eagerly looks forward to fostering connections and shared experiences through engaging events. Just to give you a taste of what’s to come, we’ve already reserved the campsite at Tolt-MacDonald Park for June 21-23, 2024 – so save the date! Let's embrace this enriching adventure of education and community, united in our commitment to our children's development. Warmly, The MCH Parent Association MCH PA Walk & Talk at Farrel-McWhirter Park You are invited to join us for a family walk and sack lunch at Farrel-McWhirter Park on Saturday, September 9th from 10:30am to 1:30pm. There are family friendly trails, farm animals, and space to run and roam. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the fields after the walk (please note there is very limited seating so be prepared to sit on the ground). This is a chance for new and returning families to meet while enjoying simple outdoor activities accessible to all of us in the Redmond area. Please meet us at the red barn. (Google Maps) 2023 MCH PA Parent Survey - We Want to Hear From You! It's time for the annual MCH PA Parent Survey and we're excited to hear what you're looking forward to this year! Every parent is part of the MCH PA and as such, we would like to encourage your involvement with the Parent Association and the community. We are thrilled to get back to school, meet new families and see old friends, and have a number of activities planned - though your input is crucial in directing where our attention and funding goes. Please take a minute or two and let us know what kind of community programs and events you'd like us to offer. We appreciate your feedback! CLICK HERE to take the 2023 Parents Survey The 2023 SEED Fundraiser Campaign is Coming Soon! Every fall, we run a fundraiser to raise the money we need to operate. The funds raised by our community will determine what events we can organize and how much we can support various MCH projects. The SEED campaign (Sponsorship, Extracurricular, Enrichment, and Development) entirely funds our activities throughout the year, and we have many great ideas that this PA Board is eager to run with! So, please be on the lookout for the kickoff of our fundraising campaign this fall and consider supporting our mission to enrich the MCH community in service to you as parents and our children. We look forward to seeing everyone on campus!
Thank You For A Great Year! Time flies when you’re having fun! It’s crazy how quickly the school year has gone by and now the last day of school is just around the corner. For us on the board, it also means we’re wrapping up for the year with the current board. Thank you to all the current board members for always bringing so much heart and enthusiasm to the board. Coming out of the pandemic, the reason I joined the board was to make more connections with people in the community, and you all have been such fun and spectacular people to work with. I’ve truly been in awe of all the different talents and ideas everyone brought to the table, and how hardworking and responsible of a board this has been. Thank you Taryn Rathbone-Daub, Amy Stojsavljevic, Tiff Stoner, Heather Sabotta, Julie Miller, Daniel Steinberg, John Cramer, Jonathan Ng, and Sulafa Talha for your service on the board this year. Amy, Tiff, and Jonathan, we will miss you and wish you all the best of luck. Julie and Sulafa, we hope to see you both around the campus and at events next year. And of course, thank you to all the members of the Parent Association (that’s you!) for supporting us by participating in events, engaging with us, reading our newsletters, and providing financial support for our initiatives. Your support was deeply felt and appreciated, and encouraged us to want to do more for the community. The PA newsletter will be taking a summer break, and we will be back in September with a new slate of board members and fun plans for next year! Hope you all have an amazing summer! With love, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association Elections Are Happening Now! Elections for the new board are happening now! If you have not already voted, please make sure you do so. Our bylaws dictate that we need at least 25% member participation for the elections to be valid, so please vote! Please note that this is by member and not by family. That is, if you have two parents/guardians for a child at the school, please ensure that both of you vote. As of Wednesday, June 7th, we are at 21%. That means we need 4% more of the community to vote to make the election valid! Voting is very quick and non-competitive. We recommend you vote for all the members on the ballot. Please check your email inbox for a link to participate in our online election. If you have not yet seen an email from the pa@mch-pa.org or invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com, please check your spam folder. If you haven't received the email, please reach out to john@mch-pa.org for a ballot. Epilogue: In-Person Book Club! This month we are gathering to celebrate a wonderful year of reading, reflecting, and laughing. There isn’t an official June book to read, we’ll just be sharing titles for potential summer reading. Bring a suggestion, or just bring yourself! No prior participation required. Date: June 16th Time: 6:30pm-8:30 pm Please RSVP to receive the gathering address prior to the event. We hope to see you there! Tolt McDonald Camping Trip Schedule and FAQ The PA is excited to sponsor our annual camping event from Saturday June 24 to Sunday June 25. If you’re not camping but are interested in joining us during the day to hang out, we’d be happy to see you! The tentative itinerary is listed below. We also have a FAQ with more information about the event. Saturday, June 24:
A Flurry of Spring Activities It’s May and that means the end of the school year is right around the corner. If you’re like me, this year has absolutely flown by, especially for the board! In just the past few weeks, the board sponsored Robotics Week, Book Club, a SAW fundraiser, Spring Swap, Family Game Day Round Two, Staff Appreciation Week, and we've been recruiting for next year’s board. I'd like to give a huge shoutout to all the board members for working on and organizing a string of back to back events despite everything else that’s happening in their lives. And of course, a huge thank you to the broader community in all the ways you support us either by volunteering, bringing in your swap items, donating over $4,800 for SAW, bringing something for the SAW potluck, and just showing up. We see you and we appreciate you! It has been so rewarding to see both the entire parent community come together to show appreciation to the staff, and then to see the joy and smiles emanating from staff all week for their appreciation for the parent community. It felt extra special this year as we eased out of a pandemic and got to connect face to face again. Read below to see all of the things the PA did for SAW, as well as some love letters we received back from staff. We have an exciting group of board applicants for next year and we hope everyone votes in the coming elections. The election is not competitive (please vote for everyone suggested), and we need at least 25% of the community to vote for it to be valid. Wishing all the mothers out there a very Happy Mother’s Day! With love, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association MCH Parent Association Special Meeting June 12 Each year the MCH Parent Association holds an election for our Board of Directors. Our bylaws dictate that 25% of our MCH Parent Community must participate in the election to be valid. Please watch your email the week of May 31st for information on how to vote. On Monday, June 12th, at 7:30pm on Zoom, we'll be holding a special meeting to certify and announce the election results. This meeting usually takes about five minutes and we encourage you to join us and meet the new board of the MCH Parent Association. Email us for the Zoom meeting link. Staff Appreciation Week is a Wrap! Last week, the PA organized quite a celebration for teachers and staff! It was thrilling to be back on campus with in-person events. Here’s the run down on everything we were able to do thanks to your generous donations and potluck contributions. “Thank you so much to all the parents! This week has made me feel the love that parents have for the staff at MCH! I especially want to thank all the parents who worked so hard to contribute to the potluck lunch. It was so heartwarming to see. And also huge thanks to the parents who were restocking the snack cart in the staff lounge so frequently! Such thoughtful snacks and small gifts there - it was really kind and made my day! The coffee cart was also a great idea and it was nice to see parents there interacting with staff as well. Thank you parents!” Monday and Friday mornings, the teachers visited the coffee cart on the Foxglove patio for (unlimited) tasty drinks and breakfast treats. This has been a staff favorite in the past and we were excited to double up on this particular item this year. Tuesday was a hot taco bar with all the fixings. On Thursday, we brought back the uber popular, parent-cooked potluck lunch with lovely dishes from many different cuisines. The onsite Ooni pizza oven with made-to-order pizzas was very popular (shoutout to the two families from Horsetail)! For both lunches, takeout containers were provided so the leftovers could be taken home and shared, ensuring very little if any food was wasted. “Dear parents, thank you so much for the lovely lunches! The tacos were just delicious and so perfect, and then the potluck just topped the tacos! A pizza oven? Pulled pork? Coleslaw? Cookies, crepes, cake, salad?! A true smorgasbord! So delicious! I loved all the various dishes - so multi-cultural and all filled with flavor!” On Wednesday, the PA delivered beautiful Gratitude Trees with handwritten notes from families for our teachers and staff. In the staff lounge, we set up a Staff Appreciation Station stocked with snacks and small non-food items (enamel pins, plant seeds, iron-on patches, chapstick, gum and notes of affirmation). The cart was refilled twice-a-day throughout the week and was a huge hit! We originally planned to stock it on Monday and refill it once on Wednesday, but it was so popular that we dedicated more time and funding to keeping it well stocked all week. Finally, staff were able to select a $50 gift card from one of five local/mission-driven businesses: The Recology Store, Frankie & Jo's Ice Cream, 21 Acres Farm Market, Ben Franklin Crafts, and Metier Brewing Company. “Thank you for everything that you do! The MCH community wouldn't be the same without the amazing parents. You have all gone above and beyond to show your appreciation for the MCH staff and we felt it all week. Thank you for raising money to treat us and take time out of your day to share your homecooked meals with us. The potluck was full of such amazing food that had something for everyone. We are so grateful to have such a supportive, uplifting community surrounding us.” Finally, on Sunday morning, parents and staff teamed up for the Adopt-a-Highway roadside cleanup. Working side-by-side (with almost double the usual turnout), we collected 40 garbage bags full of trash along two miles of State Route 202. Even a black bear and a dozen snakes couldn’t stop us from cleaning up tons of plastic, bottles, tires, an iPhone, fast food and snack wrappers, a ladder, and plenty of other non-biodegradable items. All of this would not have been possible without the generous gifts from you – we raised nearly $5,000 and had over 30 families contribute to the potluck lunch! We truly do have an amazing community here at MCH, and the PA is grateful to you! Spring Swap and Family Game Day Round 2 On Sunday, April 23, we held our Spring Swap and Family Game Day joint event at the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club. Families came to enjoy board games and pick out clothing and books from within the community. We filled up many bins of items that families dropped off, and ultimately were also able to donate a large amount of clothing and books to KidVantage (formerly Eastside Baby Center). Thank you to all the families that participated in the swap! And if you missed out this year, don’t worry – we plan to have another Spring Swap next year! Alongside Spring Swap, we hosted Round Two of Family Game Day. This time, it was a bring-your-own-games affair and folks delivered. From giant jenga, to a variety of card and board games, plus a balloon pit and a snacks table – the kiddos and their families had plenty of fun. Look out for Family Game Day Round Three (outdoor games) at the MCH PA Camping event in late June! Robotics Week Follow Up The event was in the first week of April. Many thanks to the volunteers, staff members, PA members and to the school for making this event possible. We worked on a Musical project, and we did robots race, the faster you clap your hands the faster your robot will go! We used block programming as an educational programming language to learn programming basics. We also used the Ed mat, which is a smart robotics mat with barcodes to activate the robot to perform different tasks, like sumo wrestling. Our music specialist, Ms. Becky, showed us the musical notes of the “Twinkle Twinkle little star” song, and students showed her how to download that note to the robot and hear the robot singing it. Some students programmed their robots to sing different songs, like the “Jingle Bells.” One student was concerned the robots would be scary, but after he was done with the first project, he said he had fun with the hand-sized orange robot and was even thinking of adding new ideas to the project! Experiences like this event help children to expand their perspective on the world around them. If your child is interested in robotics and you would like to help them with self-learning at home, an Edison Robot kit is available to borrowing from the school, complete with clear instructions so to help your child get started. Students already learned the complete programming cycle during Robotics Week. Interested students can submit their work by visiting National Robotics Week, clicking "Get Involved" and then "Submit Your Event or Activity." Please email Sulafa Talha for any questions or assistance. Upcoming Book Clubs New participants are always welcome! Even if you have not read the book, come visit us on Zoom each month to explore great reads and get to know your fellow MCH parents. We’re a very casual bunch who always enjoy laughter and camaraderie. For our May gathering, we are reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks, a novel rooted in actual events. The author's website describes the novel as “[a] discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history." “Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.” —TIME Check out this Q&A with the author to hear her compelling reasons for writing this novel. We hope you'll join us on Zoom, May 18th at 7:30 pm. We will be gathering in-person on the evening of June 16th to celebrate another year of great reads. Join us (newcomers welcome!) to chat about our summer reading lists and adventures. No official book to read this month, just bring a title or two share. Details to follow in the June newsletter. Camping Trip Update! The camping trip is fully booked and with a waitlist! We will be corresponding directly with families who have signed up. For those of you not wanting to camp, but interested in stopping by to say hi, we will share our planned itinerary in the June newsletter. Spring has Sprung! Spring is such a vibrant and colorful time of year, with cherry blossoms and tulips coming into full bloom. The Parent Association is also hitting one of our busiest times of the year, running multiple programs and events. In particular, I'd like to thank those who volunteered to help make Robotics week a success in the upper school this week! Staff Appreciation Week is right around the corner. It always amazes me to see what my kids learn from school, and I’m so appreciative of the teachers and staff who patiently educate and nurture my kids. Considering that teachers are often underpaid compared to other professions, the SAW fundraiser is my go-to way to thank the staff for the hard work they do every day. If you’re looking for more ways to show gratitude to the staff or your enthusiasm for our community, consider joining the Parent Association board. We are actively recruiting new members to join the board for a two year term, which starts in the fall. Get ahead of the mail heading to your inbox soon, and submit your application to john@mch-pa.org. We want to add your creativity and energy to our great community of parents and guardians who support the mission of MCH. I hope you all enjoy your spring break and don’t forget to collect your items for the Spring Swap, which kicks off the week we return to school! Warm Regards, Jessica Lin President, MCH Parent Association Show Your Love and Appreciation for MCH Staff! We've learned a lot over the last few years living through a pandemic. For parents, it's never been more clear how incredibly important our teachers and schools are, and how hard these folks work, day in and day out. Thanks to your generous donations, we have some great things planned this year for Staff Appreciation Week happening May 1--5. The PA will treat teachers and staff to two catered lunches, one potluck-style lunch provided by families (more to come on how to participate!), two days each of snack and coffee carts, and gratitude trees for each classroom and the front office. Any additional funds raised before April 30th will go toward self-selected gift cards from local businesses for each teacher and staff member. Help us show MCH teachers and staff extraordinary recognition by making a gift now! Truly, gifts small and large will go a long way. Spring Cleaning? Our First Annual Spring Swap is Right Around the Corner! Save the Date: Sunday April 23, 1-3 pm, Boys & Girls Club, Sammamish. The Parent Association is excited to host a Spring Swap this year! This event is an opportunity to “swap” out your lightly used children’s clothing and books with new to you items from within the MCH Community. Item collection will happen April 17--21 during drop off and pick-up. Simply pass your bag of goods (see instructions below) to staff and students who will be there to collect them. All items must be collected at school prior to the event. Items that will be accepted for this year’s swap:
Gently used, recently washed, great condition items for infants through teens are welcome. Items don't need to be folded, but should be in a paper bag (preferred over plastic) and labeled with the age or age range on the outside. Please be sure to pair any socks and ensure there are no holes, and please secure pairs of shoes together either with zip ties or the shoelaces. Then join us on Sunday April 23, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club (825 228th Ave NE, Sammamish, WA 98074) to pick out items that may be of use to your family. The Spring Swap will be jointly held with our second family game night, so play games while you pick out new items to take home! Any items that are left over will be donated to local organizations (feel free to send us recommendations!). Family Game Day Round Two! Between rounds of Ticket to Ride, Jenga, and many plates of fries, we had a great time at Mox Boarding House for the first Family Game Day last week. Thanks to everyone who came out! Now it’s time for Family Game Day: Round Two. We’re partnering with Spring Swap and taking over the Sammamish Girls and Boys Club for the afternoon. This time around, it’s a bring-your-own-games affair. Everyone has their go-to board and card games, and we’d love for you to have a chance to share yours with the community. Stop by and pick up some new-to-you items at the Swap for the kiddo(s) and sit down for a few games with your child’s classmates and their families. We’ll have snacks and beverages and it’s sure to be a good time. And don’t forget to bring a few of your family’s favorite board and card games. Family Game Day will take place on Sunday, April 23rd from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at the Sammamish Boys and Girls Club (825 228th Ave NE, Sammamish, WA 98074). If you have any questions about the event, feel free to email daniel@mch-pa.org. We hope to see you there! Upcoming Book Clubs New participants are always welcome! Even if you have not read the book, come visit us on Zoom each month to explore great reads and get to know your fellow MCH parents. We’re a very casual bunch who always enjoy laughter and camaraderie. This month we'll be discussing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist. April will take us in an even lighter direction with Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist. Synopsis (from Goodreads): Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo. Check out this interview with the author (who has lived in Seattle) on NW New Day. We hope you'll join us on Zoom April 20th at 7:30 pm. For our May gathering, we are reading Horse by Geraldine Brooks, a novel rooted in actual events. The author's website describes the novel as “[a] discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history." “Horse isn’t just an animal story—it’s a moving narrative about race and art.” —TIME Check out this Q&A with the author to hear her compelling reasons for writing this novel. We hope you'll join us on Zoom, May 18th at 7:30 pm. Special Announcement! Our June Book Club will be held in person. Details coming soon! Join the Parent Association Board Do you want to see more smiling faces? What about building and supporting the community? Do you want to get to know more parents from the community and love video conferences? We are now recruiting for new members to join the MCH Parent Association board. If you are staying for another year, two, or more, please consider joining us. Check out our FAQ on board membership and to download an application. Also take a look at our recruiting page for more information on the recruitment process and timeline. Please reach out to John for more information and keep an eye on your in-box for recruiting letters soon. Tolt MacDonald Camping in June! We are almost at full capacity for the Tolt MacDonald Park camping trip at the end of June. Yurts are no longer available to reserve, though you can join the waiting list in case other families withdraw their reservation. For the families who have already signed up, we will be sending you separate communications directly within the next few weeks to provide more details about the trip. We currently have room for about three more families, so if you’re interested in camping, sign up here ASAP to reserve your spot! We also keep a waiting list in case families need to cancel their reservation. If you'd like to join us, but sign up too late, please note that Tolt MacDonald still has some campsites available for families to book on their own. And finally, if you don't want to camp but would like to come hang out with us, we'd be happy to see you! A more detailed itinerary will be sent out at a later date. |
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