ONTESSORI CHOOLO U N TA I N EER

Lighting the way for education since 1976

M M S A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 5 - 1 6

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

E D U C A T I O N

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

alive

E D U C A T I O N 2

Lower Elementarytrout release

Primary students explore their environment

Middle SchoolCarriage Trail map project

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

innovative

vibrant

E D U C A T I O N 3

MMS students at summerAdventure Play Camp

MMS Art-For -All participants

Lemonade Day

Lower Elementary tripto Charleston Broom & Mop Co.

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

hands-on

E D U C A T I O N 4

Co-Directors Jennifer Carringer & Suzanne Sanders

Upper ElementaryEgyptian fashion show

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

creative

E D U C A T I O N 5

Co-Directors Jennifer Carringer & Suzanne Sanders

Upper ElementaryEgyptian fashion show

Montessori is education in living color. Alive. Bright. Real. In Montessori schools, education jumps off the page, giving children hands-on, real life learning – in the classroom, the outdoors and the community. Montessori students draw upon their own interests and passions to create their personal education trajectory and realize their unique potential. For 40 years, MMS has been as a vibrant and vital education resource for our entire community, inspiring an estimated 1,000 children since our founding in 1976.

Our 2015-16 Annual Report, “Education in Living Color,” paints a picture of our community over the past year and our vision for the future. We hope you enjoy this look back and join with us to create another Montessori masterpiece in the year ahead!

ENROLLMENT: Currently, 121 students are enrolled at MMS, reflecting strong community interest in education alternatives, our reputation as a premier, time-tested Montessori school and expansion of our programs through the eighth year. The MMS Board of Directors and faculty are working to accommodate growing demand for Montessori education while maintaining the highest quality educational experience for current students. To better serve our community, a third primary classroom will be phased in starting in August 2017.

PROGRAMS: MMS offers a world-class, fully-implemented Montessori program to children ages 3-14. With a five-decade commitment to ensuring a superior educational experience, we strengthened programs in several areas. A second Lead Guide, Juli Taylor, was assigned to Upper Elementary. Physical education was expanded to the YMCA (in addition to Triana Field and pool at University of Charleston), and last spring, MMS and UC students trained together for the UC Welch Colleague Half Marathon/5K. A coding component was a popular addition to our comprehensive elementary computer curriculum.

The Middle School program, the only one of its kind in West Virginia, expanded its “micro-economy” (entrepreneurship) curriculum this year. Students met with industry and academic leaders to learn about starting and running their own business. Proposed ventures were presented and evaluated in a “shark tank” style forum. Students hosted several Parents Night Out events and community breakfasts and sold products and services at Montessori Farm Stands. Proceeds were invested back into their class business operations.

FACILITIES: A major effort to enhance the elementary learning environment began in the summer of 2015. All classrooms were reconfigured and refreshed from top to bottom. Smart use of space and careful planning opened new areas for students to learn, collaborate and discover during the morning work cycle. To prepare for the current

school year, new carpeting was installed and gutter improvements made. A new lease for our main building was negotiated with the University of Charleston and we enjoyed increased use of the South Ruffner Presbyterian Church for music classes and concerts, parent and community meetings, and other school activities. Expanded storage facilities, fresh paint, new furniture and additional technology enhanced the Middle School, located at Unity of Kanawha Valley in South Hills.

Donations from BB&T and The Bell Law Firm provided much-appreciated computer equipment upgrades and expansion in the MMS Apple Lab and in the classrooms. The closing of a downtown conference center gave MMS the opportunity to acquire needed audio/visual and meeting equipment at a very low cost.

FACULTY:MMS once again made a significant investment in classroom excellence, sponsoring Montessori training for four faculty members, who attended in programs in Florida, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. All MMS staff participated in Positive Discipline in the Classroom professional development and assistants and specialists completed a two-day training focused on Montessori philosophy, an overview of the curriculum areas, and responsibilities of adults in the Montessori environment. We congratulate Lower Elementary II Lead Guide Becca Moore, who received her AMI Elementary 6-12 credential (three-year program) from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee, and Primary II Lead Guide Samantha Van Den Berghe-Lynch, who was awarded the AMS Early Childhood credential from the Virginia Center for Montessori Studies (two-year program).

We also strengthened our staff through enhanced communication; updating of the employee handbook, review process and contracts; and formalized training and structure of the substitute teacher program.

At the end of the school year, Co-Director Suzanne Sanders announced her resignation to accept an exciting opportunity at a Montessori school in Madrid, Spain. With Suzanne’s departure, Jennifer Carriger was named Director and Beth George appointed as our Assistant Director. Jennifer and Beth bring a wealth of experience as educators, administrators and MMS parents to their positions. We wish Suzanne all the best in her new school in Spain and congratulate Jennifer and Beth on their promotions.

LEARNING SUPPORT: At MMS, experienced specialists work hand-in-hand with students, teachers and parents to nurture learning and provide additional individualized educational support as needed. To assess progress, all elementary students receive reading screenings three times a year. In the past year, 21 formal Student Support Team meetings were held, with further testing referrals and educational accommodations made as appropriate.

PEACE CURRICULUM: MMS students put the Montessori peace curriculum into practice through a range of developmentally-appropriate classroom and

community outreach activities. These included a drive to support the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association; participating in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service and March to the Capitol; offering free make-and-take art activities to children in June during FestivALL; and collecting flood relief donations for the Red Cross.

Community service is a major component of the Middle School curriculum. Students gained experience and knowledge volunteering at the East End Community Garden, East End Bazaar, Hudson Farms and the WV SAGE garden serving the Schoenbaum Center. As part of their unit on Western religion, students visited houses of worship, met with Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy, and experienced the foods, literature and culture of the three faith traditions.

ON THE GO: The Montessori “community as classroom” approach to education took students many places this year. Students participated in off-campus learning opportunities in Charleston, throughout the state and beyond. These included field trips to the Green Bank Radio Observatory and Cranberry Glades; Blackwater Falls State Park and the Caanan Valley; Morris Creek Watershed; Kanawha State Forest; Gritt’s Farm; Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington; Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; The Mountain Institute; and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati,.

They also attended several musical and theatrical productions throughout the year, including those by Charleston Ballet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Theatre of Charleston, January’s Academy of Dance and River City Youth Ballet.

CREATIVE EXPRESSION: Our exceptional arts program continues to inspire creative excellence, giving students at all levels the opportunity to express themselves through vocal and instrumental music, dance/movement, drama and creative writing. Winter and Spring Concerts showcased our rich music offerings, with music appreciation and Kindermusik, Orff, vocal, recorder and piano opportunities with Karen Morris and strings instruction with Bernard DiGregorio of the WVSO. Several classes staged dramatic performances, including an original adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Upper Elementary. Some 25 individual and class projects by MMS students, created under the direction of Barrie Kaufman and Nancy Johnston, were accepted for the Art-for-All Children’s Art Show, presented at the Clay Center during FestivALL.

AFTER SCHOOL: The MMS classroom program is extended by a range of after school activities, including our Montessori-based Plus Program. Plus students experienced several special opportunities this year, including a magic show by John Slicer, art presentation by Charly Hamilton, and construction of a “buddy bench” with Chad Cordell. The MMS Lightning, our cross country team, enjoyed a great fall season, and the Chess Team continued its proud tradition, claiming the WV Scholastic State Championship for grades K-2. Both winning teams

are coached by Jason Winesburg, an Upper Elementary Co-Lead Guide. Congratulations, students and Jason!

BUILDING COMMUNITY: Our community was brightened by friend- and fundraising activities, including the back-to-school ice cream social, Tricky Fish Tuesdays, Annual Book Fair and Bake Sale, annual appeal, ice skating party, Lemonade Day, annual tie-dye day and school picnic.

“Masquerade,” our spring fundraiser held at the University of Charleston, revealed an exciting evening of grown-up fun. Featuring wine and dessert pairings, entertainment by Steve Himes and the Carpenter Ants and an extensive silent auction, the event made a splash, boosting our fundraising to more than $60,000 this year. A highlight of the evening was a live auction of 12 incredible class art projects, ranging from a mobile/windchime crafted from vintage silver flatware and teapot by Primary II to colorful Adirondack chairs painted by Plus students with Charly Hamilton. We tip our masks to Event Chair Katie McFadden and all the volunteers who collaborated on this memorable event!

A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS: Parent Education events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Montessori and our school community. In addition to individual classroom presentations, several whole-school education events were held this year. These included a Positive Discipline workshop for parents and an interactive program on Montessori outcomes.

Increasing classroom observations was a priority this year. As part of this process, parents are provided guidance for a visit to their child’s classroom, which is followed by a survey and meeting with the Director. In the past year, MMS hosted 54 observations, up from eight the previous year.

LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND OPERATIONS: The MMS Board and faculty worked diligently this year on several important governance and operations initiatives. Board members and Co-Directors Jennifer Carriger and Suzanne Sanders participated in a non-profit self-assessment offered through the WV Non Profit Association and are implementing several best practice recommendations that grew from this process. MMS Board Treasurer Clifton Clark attended training through the WV Tax Department for application for Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits. Our Co-Directors completed Level I of NAMTA Whole School Management training with education leaders from around the world in Baltimore and Jennifer has begun a two-year AMS Montessori Administrator credential program offered by the Center for Montessori Education in New York.

MMS Board members and Co-Directors were actively involved in a statewide effort to pass a “Tim Tebow” law, which would allow home- and independent school students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports. Board members and staff attended meetings of the WV House Education Committee, monitored legislative activity, connected with lawmakers and education leaders, and implemented a comprehensive communication campaign,

including placement of an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette. The bill was not successful in its first year, and we are committed to continue advocating for this policy that would benefit our students.

SHARING OUR STORY: Communication with families and the community is important to our mission. An enhanced monthly e-newsletter and a new email management system helped us deliver more timely and targeted information to parents. An attractive MMS yearbook was produced for the first time in several years. Our website was continually updated, with blog content expanded. The MMS social media presence grew, helping us communicate with families, the community, corporate sponsors, policy makers and educators. We currently have more than 3,000 Instagram, 1,200 Facebook and 1,000 Twitter followers. MMS programs and activities generated 34 print and broadcast news stories, including three major features on the MMS-UC running partnership.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES: While tuition covers basic expenses, donations, sponsorships, grants and special events are an important source of funding for our school, enabling us to support special programs, teacher training and financial aid. Thanks to a strong annual appeal, successful fundraising activities and careful fiscal management, MMS has been able to minimize tuition increases while strengthening programs and expanding tuition assistance. Monthly budget meetings with our CPA, Co-Directors and Board Finance Committee facilitated close control of expenses and accurate financial projections. MMS ended the 2015-16 fiscal year with a net gain, enabling contributions to employee retirement accounts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Programmatic priorities for the new school year include: phasing in a third Primary classroom; offering virtual high school level courses for middle school students; adding an advanced mathematics specialist to the Middle School faculty; starting an after school “homework club;” expanding our guest artist program; and offering summer programming based upon results of a forthcoming parent survey. Staff training and professional development remain a top priority to help ensure the best educational experience for our students.

Facilities/operations goals this year include continued classroom updates, including new flooring for Primary classes; developing an interior and exterior maintenance and replacement schedule; phasing in an online student application/registration process; and beginning site selection for the middle school program (in the third of a three-year lease at its current location) and expansion.

COLOR OUR WORLD:In the year ahead, MMS will celebrate education in living color and our 40-year tradition that inspires children to discover and become who they were meant to be. Join with us to bring learning to life for our students....in the months ahead and years to come!

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Primary and Elementary / 308 20th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304Middle School / 804 Myrtle Road, Charleston, WV 25314304.342.7870 / mountaineermontessori.org / info@mountaineermontessori.org

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