Happy New Year, everyone! The Parent Association is excited to welcome you back to school in 2022, and we hope you had a wonderful break and got to spend some time with your family. I had some fun in the snow with my family and am ready for some bonding time with our MCH parent community, as well as getting back into our school routine. 

We had a wonderful discussion last month on the book "Digital Minimalism," and this month, we are planning to discuss T.J. Klune’s book, "The House in the Cerulean Sea." I'm really looking forward to our discussion, as this book resonated with me on how to learn true kindness in the face of some unique challenges. I hope to see many of you at the virtual discussion on Zoom. Also, make sure you take a glance at our parent meetup section below for dates and times for these and other great community events. 

Just a gentle reminder to stay safe and healthy this winter and that if you have any questions, comments or concerns about community events, what the board is up to, or any general feedback, feel free to contact us at board@mch-pa.com. We look forward to hearing from you!  

Regards,
Susan Smith
President, MCH Parent Association

Big Announcements from the Community Development Committee!

Last Fall, the MCH Parent Association conducted a survey to learn more about our community interests. Through that survey, we discovered that our community is interested in Book Circles and Parent Education Programming offered through the PA. 

Well, we’ve got great news! This winter and spring we are offering several opportunities to grow as a community and as parents. Note: given the ongoing pandemic, at this time we plan for PA book circles and parent education programming to be held in the evening, online, via Zoom. 

Walk and Talk
Friday, February 11th, we will be meeting after drop-off (approximately 9:30-9:45am) at Redmond Watershed Preserve for an easy walk and good conversation. 

Plan to meet at the Trout Loop Trail head in the parking lot (21760 Novelty Hill Rd, Redmond). We hope to see you there!

Book Circles
(Pssst! It’s always 110% okay if you haven’t read the book, just come to enjoy the conversation.)
 
In December we had an insightful book circle conversation about the non-fiction book "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport. This read offered all in attendance time to pause and consider how the digital age impacts our parenting, our children, and our personal identities. Given that we met via Zoom, we certainly held gratitude for technology, and also leaned into our own values around finding time for quiet solitude. 
 
This month, we will meet on January 18, 2022 at 7:30 pm via Zoom to discuss a feel-good fiction book, "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by T.J. Klune.  
This brilliant read is just what the world needs during the uncertainty of a pandemic! The characters offer glimpses into our own identities and assumptions on a journey toward discovery and community. No time to read it? No problem! Here's a little sound bite about the book, or check out a podcast interview with the author. 
 
“The House in the Cerulean Sea is a gripping character tour-de-force that draws you in at every turn. You’ll fall in love with the knobby-kneed, round-about-the-waist anti-hero of Linus Baker, who will surprise you and even himself throughout the novel” – Matt R.

“When I picked up this book I had no idea the astonishing amount of joy it was going to bring me.  My heart flutters with all of the hilarious jokes, sweet kids, and messages of anti-prejudice in this book.  It is like sunshine right into your soul.” – Sarah V.
  
“We should always make time for the things we like. If we don't, we might forget how to be happy.”
― T.J. Klune, The House in the Cerulean Sea

Book Circle/ Parent Education Programming Combo
In February we will shift our Book Circle to begin our Parent Education Programming. We are reading the parenting gem, "Shame-Proof Parenting: Finding Your Unique Parenting Voice, Feel Empowered, and Raise Whole, Healthy Children" by Mercedes Samudio and (drumroll please) we will be joined by the author herself!!  

That’s right! We are honored to welcome Author and Parent Coach Mercedes Samudio, LCSW to our Book Circle Conversation on February 23rd, 6:00-8:00 pm via Zoom. This is one you don’t want to miss, so mark your calendar now!

NOTE: While this event is free and open only to MCH families and faculty, registration is required so that we can customize the content based on your interests.  

This is a HUGE opportunity and gift to learn with Mercedes who is highly regarded in parenting circles, and is a 2017 International Book Awards Finalist and 2018 Indie Reader Discovery Award Winner. Her message is for all ages and stages: moms, dads, nannies, grandparents, and educators alike.

A parent herself, Mercedes helps readers and clients shed shame in favor of finding their authentic parenting style. She does not ask you to ascribe to one particular methodology. Rather, she invites you to examine what matters most to you and how to translate that into guiding the children in your life. She helps parents and children communicate with each other, manage emotional trauma, navigate social media and technology together, and develop healthy parent-child relationships. 

“The shame-proof framework gets us back to what it means to be a human raising another human and gets us to stop glorifying the notion that we need to be superhuman to raise a kid.” During our time together, Mercedes may speak to:

• What does it mean to be a shame-proof parent?
• How can a parent manage their child’s behaviors when they’ve tried everything?
• Why does a parent need to get back to their humanness to be more effective as a parent?
• What are parenting defense mechanisms?

The author will also be available for Q&A, so go ahead and get your copy of "Shame-Proof Parenting: Finding Your Unique Parenting Voice, Feel Empowered, and Raise Whole, Healthy Children" and plan to join us February 23rd. 
 
Mercedes Samudio is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private coaching practice who has worked with adoptive families, foster families, teen parents, parents navigating the child protective services system, and children living with mental illness. Mercedes seeks to empower parents to believe that they are already great guides for raising healthy and happy children.

Learn more about Mercedes and Shame-Proof Parenting here and/or get started with some of her go-to strategies in this blog post.

These events are hosted by the Parent Association and not affiliated with the school. Please wear a mask to all in-person events.

But Wait, There's More!
The Community Development Committee is excited to announce new Parent Education Programming: Parenting with Courage and Connection

In March and/or April we have the good fortune to partner with Sound Discipline for a deeper dive into our parenting practice. Sound Discipline played a pivotal role in bringing the Positive Discipline philosophy and practice to MCH faculty and staff. Now, parents, caregivers, grandparents, and other adults in your child’s life have the opportunity to experience and practice this transformative work.  This is a lovely way to get grounded in otherwise uncertain times. 
 
What exactly is Positive Discipline? This program, based on the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, and crafted by Dr. Jane Nelsen, is designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their communities. Positive Discipline teaches important social and life skills in a manner that is deeply respectful and encouraging for both children and adults (including parents, teachers, childcare providers, youth workers, and others). Learn more here.
 
Parenting with Courage and Connection (aka Parenting with Positive Discipline) is a cumulative four-week workshop series where we examine the latest brain science and child development research in light of the challenges of today. You will be guided to deepen your understanding and reflect upon parenting practices to support you in raising caring, collaborative, capable kids. Learn how to broaden your compassion for yourself and your child(ren) and practice specific skills to help you navigate common parenting challenges while strengthening your relationships. This is perfect for parents new to this parenting style and nourishing for those who are familiar and need a pick-me-up. Additionally, this offering will help you weave a common language and practice between school and home. The $150 fee for this interactive workshop (active participation is essential, this will not be offered as a recording) is a $150 per-participant value, and will be covered on your behalf by the MCH Parent Association. 
 
Ready to sign-up? We are working hard to confirm interest to finalize details for our private workshop series. We need your participation now to be able to bring this program to our community. Please complete this short, four-question survey to help us finalize our plan! 

Curious but not sure?  On February 3rd, Sound Discipline is hosting a free, one-time introduction to Positive Discipline class just for the MCH community.  Join us to learn more about Positive Discipline and what to expect in the workshop series. Register for the introduction class here.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Walk and Talk, Book Circles, and Parenting with Courage and Connection workshop series. Watch for more details in our February newsletter.   

Thank you to all who donated to the 2021 MCH PA SEED campaign! Together, we raised $32,700!

While we did not quite meet our goal, every gift helps us replenish our largely exhausted funds so we may continue our mission of supporting the MCH community.

And even though the campaign is over, it’s never too late to donate! Your gift helps pay for short-term tuition assistance, sponsored field trips, education specialists, classroom enrichment materials, staff professional development and MCH community development.

If you did not give this year, we would appreciate it if you would complete this survey so that we may improve our communication in future campaigns.  ​

October is upon us and with the changing seasons, we have some exciting news in this month’s newsletter!

I am grateful to see MCH back in the swing of things and look forward to settling fully into our family’s fall routine. I hope you all are finding your rhythm as well as enjoying meeting new members of our community. Our first coffee meetup at Evans Creek was a success and we are excited to see that the community is ready to get out and create new connections.
 
On October 18th, the Parent Association will kick off our annual SEED fundraising campaign. SEED funds all our activities during the year and every student benefits from these programs. Throughout the month, we will share more information about our programs with you, but to summarize, SEED covers:

• Sponsorship: Short term tuition assistance and sponsored programs
• Extracurricular: Field trips, education specialists, and special events
• Enrichment: Special projects and classroom enrichment materials
• Development: Staff professional development and MCH community development

This is an especially important year for SEED, and we look forward to your gift to the 2021 fund!

Be on the lookout for more Parent Association events that will be announced soon, including an evening virtual event coming up and a discussion about books and podcasts. Harvest Fest is just around the corner, and we are excited to see what the school has planned!

I hope to get a chance to meet up and speak with more of you as the year continues. Please feel free to reach out at any time with your questions, comments, or ideas.

Sincerely,
Susan Smith
President, MCH Parent Association

Please join the MCH 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 8th, 2021, from 7:00 PM to 7:15 PM via Zoom. 

Please contact us for Zoom access information.

We hope to see you there!

Thank you to the families who were able to join us for our first coffee meetup in September. It was a soggy day, but we had a good time chatting about hobbies, summer travel stories, and simply getting to know each other.

We have two more meetups planned in October - please join us!

Our first meetup will be an easy walk/hike on Thursday, October 14th at Soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish. We'll be there, rain or shine, to enjoy a walk in the woods with fellow MCH parents. Meet at the main entrance between 9:30--9:45 am, and we'll head into the forest for about 60--90 minutes, depending on participants' availability. Soaring Eagle's main entrance is located at 26015 E. Main Dr., Sammamish. You can find out more about the park on the King County Website.

Our second meetup will be held virtually on Tuesday, October 19th. Join us on Zoom from 7:30--9:00 pm(ish) to plan our upcoming Book/Podcast Circle. Help us explore topics, select content, decide when we'll meet, and other details. We might even throw in a few games just for fun! While this event is geared toward parents, it will certainly be child friendly. We'll enjoy some social time from 7:30--8:00 pm, and then games and the main discussion will start at 8:00 pm. Join when you can and stay as long as you like. Please contact us for Zoom access information.

If you are interested in the Book/Podcast Circle but cannot attend the virtual planning meeting, please contact us to be added to the communications.

These events are hosted by the Parent Association and not affiliated with the school. Please wear a mask to all in-person events.

Children are doing a great job wearing their masks…most of the time.

Wearing a mask properly is a new skill that takes time and practice to normalize. If your child shows some resistance or is experiencing mask fatigue, these ideas may be useful. 
 

1. Empathy: It's always helpful to notice and validate whatever emotions children are feeling.
2. Kindness with firmness: Practice creating connection with empathy and respect AND following through on what is required: in this case, wearing a mask.  
3. Ask, don’t tell: “What needs to be over your nose right now?” “How can you keep your mask on your face and still be comfortable?” “What ideas do you have?”  “Looks like you want to throw things with your friend. What can you throw, and where can you do that?”
4. Limited choices: “You can wear your mask and we can go meet a friend for a walk, or we can stay home without masks and play a game together. What would you like to do?”
5. Encouragement: “I notice that you kept your mask on during circle time. Thank you.”
6. Practice at home (take time for training): Invite young children to put masks on their stuffed animals or family members during play. This helps address mask-wearing when the child’s brain is calm and receptive. 
7. One word: For older children, a simple “Mask” might do the trick (avoiding lecturing or nagging).

Adapted by Julie Miller, MS, RDN Positive Discipline Parenting Educator, original credit to Cheryl Erwin, MA, MFT, Positive Discipline Lead Trainer

During the Parent Association’s August meet-and-greets, we heard from several people who wanted to connect with other MCH families to plan playdates or get to know parents in our school community. Transparent Classroom is a helpful tool for this if you want to reach out to other families directly.

Simply log in to your account and click on "Classmates" (in the left-hand sidebar) to see the names of the other students in your child’s class, as well as their parents’ or guardians’ names. 

Right underneath "Classmates," you can also click on "Directory." The “Parents” tab lists contact information for any parent, in any classroom, who has agreed to share their details with the MCH community. This is a voluntary feature, so contact information is only listed if the parent has consented. If you’d like to add or remove your information in the Transparent Classroom directory, or if you need help logging in to your Transparent Classroom account, you can reach out to office@mchkids.com.

​Want to get to know your child’s teachers? Looking for ideas for staff gifts for the holidays? This summer, the Parent Association worked with MCH to create profiles for each staff member. Thanks to the hard work of MCH’s administrative staff, these are now available in Transparent Classroom.

The profiles include birthdays, favorite activities, foods, and gift ideas. The PA will be using them for staff appreciation activities throughout the year, but they’re a fantastic resource for anyone in the MCH community looking for fun information about the people who work with your kids each day.

To access the profiles from Transparent Classroom, click on School Info and select your child’s class. Scroll down to the “Fun Facts about Montessori Children’s House Staff” section to click on this year’s profiles. 

Then scroll to click on each staff member’s name by department or classroom.

​The Parent Association wants to learn more about our parent community! We've created a short survey to better understand how you'd prefer to work with and hear from us. The survey is completely voluntary, but your responses will help us shape our outreach this school year and into the future.

Click here to access the survey through Google Forms. The survey has only seven multiple-choice questions, and we appreciate you taking a few moments to fill it out. We hope to see all responses by Friday, October 20th. 

​If you make purchases on Amazon, we encourage you to check out the AmazonSmile program. It's an easy way to support charitable organizations (like your Parent Association!) with every eligible purchase, at no cost to you. 

The program is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon app for iOS and Android phones. When you select a charity, AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchase to that organization. If you'd like to support the MCH Parent Association, please click here: smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1960800https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1960800. 

If you do choose to support the PA through AmazonSmile, we sincerely appreciate the support. Every penny counts!

The MCH Parent Association would like to welcome you to the 2021-2022 school year! Did you know that as a parent of an MCH student, you are automatically a member of the Parent Association? 

I'm Susan Smith, the newly elected president of the Parent Association Board, and I work with a group of experienced individuals to find ways to help you, our parent community, feel supported by and integrated with the school. We are excited to build our community this year and find new ways to encourage our parents, students, staff, and teachers to bond during these unique times. The board is here for you if you have any questions about being a parent of an MCH student and how best to acknowledge our staff and teachers throughout the school year. 

The Parent Association is a non-profit organization that hosts staff appreciation week, holds community enrichment events, and helps fund scholarships for our students. These programs are all possible through the generous gifts we have received through our SEED campaign, a fundraising campaign you will see more information on later this fall. 

We value your input in our community and will be reaching out to you throughout the year via this newsletter, word of mouth, and the occasional email to ask for feedback and volunteers to assist at various events. 

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. I look forward to meeting you all and, again, welcome to the MCH community!
Sincerely,
Susan Smith
President, MCH Parent Association

Over the past year, MCH had provided loaner laptops to some students when they needed to school at home. Many of those laptops are quickly coming to the end of their useful life.

The Parent Association is soliciting laptops from the community to have a small stock ready to go should students need to school at home again this year. If you have a laptop that meets the following criteria and are interested in donating it, please contact us.

• No more than 5-7 years old
• Windows operating system (we cannot support Macs or Chromebooks)
• The battery holds a charge for at least 2 hours
• Has a power cable

Thank you in advance! We appreciate your consideration and any donations you can make.