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Thank you to all of the families that were able to participate in New Family Orientation! This year's New Family Orientation took place on Tuesday, August 16th. We shared information about our school, general Montessori information, and answered some great questions. If you were unable to attend, here is a recording of the meeting:

We had an incredibly smooth and exciting first day of school. We cannot show enough gratitude to our teachers, families, and learners for making our first day so special! From a truly (and surprisingly) successful morning carline, to community building activities in the studios, to a neatly wrapped up pickup carline and end of day, we were all struck by how pleasantly well things went. It was almost surreal (but only because a little pandemonium is to be expected at the start of any journey). For this, we owe a thanks: to staff - thank you for your efforts, your dedication, and your clear communications; to CM families - thank you for diligently reading the many (and yes, sometimes very lengthy) emails and following the instructions within them; to our learners old and new, young and grown, thank YOU for being the reason we do what we do, and for partnering with us in this grand adventure! Check out the awesome slideshow prepared by our very own Michael Sylvester!

The Community Montessori Food Pantry has gotten one heck of an upgrade in the form of new, built-in shelving! A CM family noticed that our existing shelves were looking a bit tired and worn down (which, itself, is a testament to how much has been given) and graciously volunteered their time, labor, and materials to construct new, sturdy shelving to hold all the goods our amazing families are constantly contributing. This was unsolicited but so appreciated in these tough times, when prices at the grocery store are hitting the pockets harder than Mike Tyson (and prices at the pump are taking quite a bite out of wallets)! On top of that, with a generous donation from Greenwell Plumbing, they were able to make several trips to restock, and upon completion of their weekend project they freshly stocked those new shelves. This did not last long, however, as I am told the shelves were bare again by the following Monday! It’s clear to me that this effort can make a difference, and that it is very needed. I am ever so impressed by the generosity of our families here at CM. Thank you for all that you do, and give, and please keep up the good work. This effort, this good, that you put out into the community helps to balance out all of the wild, unfortunate, and sometimes awful things that we are seeing happen in our world today. There is an imbalance in our communities, a wise Human once told me, and things like this, efforts like this, I truly believe, can help tip the scales in favor of good. Thanks to the Mascio-Thompsons and Greenwell Plumbing, and to all of our generous families and community members! Together, we can make a difference.

Community Montessori Public Charter School held its graduation ceremony for the class of 2022 on Saturday, May 28th at the New Albany Amphitheater. This was the first year the school had used this location - the first year that the ceremony had not taken place on campus - and the weather could not have been any better! This was also the first graduating class to choose one student to speak on behalf of all - a break from the norm for Community Montessori. As with everything we do at our school, the teens themselves were at the helm in planning this event and deserve as much accolades as can be given for a well-thought-out ceremony (shout out to some very dedicated advisors and staff for necessary assistance). Some of these learners have been at CM their whole lives, and one can only imagine the surreal experience of planning out the end of their journey (or the beginning of the next leg of that journey). After weathering the trials of a pandemic, leaving campus to learn from home, wondering if they would ever even return to the building, and dealing with all of this while riding the mental-and-emotional-rollercoaster that came with it, these young humans reached the finish line with gusto. This class saw amazing successes, including numerous grants, such as a ten thousand dollar grant from Caesars and the top Indiana Bar Association grant in the state! They completed internships and obtained real world experience. Some are graduating with so many dual credits that they will forgo their freshman year of college! These graduates are living proof that we humans are astonishingly resilient in the face of calamity and adversity. They are proof that you cannot define a generation, that each person is an individual, and that every child and teen truly is amazing! Congratulations to the graduating class of 2022, your Community Montessori family is beyond proud, and will always be here for you! If you missed the event, or would like to relive it, get comfortable and check out the video above (Facebook muted some of the audio here and there due to copyright - my apologies for that) but bring a tissue if you’re prone to tearing up. Huzzah!

The Big History Exhibition had quite the turnout, with the CASA dei Curiosity packed nearly to capacity for the opening ceremony. Attendees were able to view exhibits in thresholds 5 through 9 which were spread over the MAC, Lunarium, and fitness room. From Greek mythology, to historic events such as the Bubonic Plague; from the evolution of the wheel to Humanity's role in the cosmos; from the darkest moments of our past - the history of Human slavery - to the brightest moments still to come - the future lives and career paths of our graduating teens, Big History seemed to have it all. Indeed, it was more than could be viewed in the allotted time frame, which is why we’ve put together this slideshow. Not every exhibit is featured within (there were many, you’d be here all day), but here are some amazing examples of work done by our amazing learners. Enjoy!

How did we get here? What is the meaning of existence? What will the future hold for our universe? What is the next chapter in this grand story of the cosmos? So much of education is asking questions, and searching for answers. Often, the search leads only to more questions. My answer to these questions? The most frustrating answer you’ll ever hear: I don’t know. Haven’t got a clue… not in the slightest. Enter the brilliant teens of Community Montessori’s Woods Program! They’ll be displaying a semester's worth of meaningful, hard work and learning in the Big History Exhibition that will take place at our school on Thursday, May 12, 2022. We’ll kick things off with the opening ceremony in the CASA dei Curiosity, followed by exhibits on display in the Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC). These will touch on subjects such as Humanities, Biology, Mathematics, History, and more. Projects will range from the emergence and diversification of life, to the history of Humankind and current events, and beyond to the future. The Big History Exhibition is one of those events that summarizes well the Montessori approach to education - our learners learn how to learn: hands-on and experiential, with real world application, and with the learners themselves ever at the helm. It is a great opportunity to see not only what our teens have learned, but how they’ve taken that knowledge and turned it into something that can be showcased! The Universe is expanding, so come expand your own horizons by soaking up some of the residual smartness that’s radiating off of these shining young minds! RSVP here!

Darkness is dispelled by a sudden light. We see a caped adventurer, sword in hand, face masked (and for once it feels normal, and looks cool). The fighting ensues, and melee combat is joined. Monsters hath been slain! All to the tune of The Cranberries “Zombie” - what more could one’s 90’s loving heart desire? A Beholder - a hideous, floating, many-eyed, magical orb that has been the doom of countless D&D parties - that’s what! By the way, you can watch all of that in the trailer for She Kills Monsters, but viewer beware - goosebumps are an inevitability! (and yes, that is another 90’s reference). Community Montessori Performing Arts is putting on its first live theatre production in the CASA dei Curiosity - the event space that was built for this very purpose, to channel the creative energies of our spectacularly talented learners! In fact, they’re so talented that they’ve landed our school in the news, yet again! News and Tribune got a sneak peek at the production, including a picture more rare than a Bigfoot sighting… a five-headed dragon that could only be Tiamat, evil dragon goddess of greed (if memory serves correct.. my D&D days are far behind me). To verify all these unconfirmed rumours of Dragons and such, you’ll want to purchase a ticket for the show, which runs Thursday, 4/28 through Saturday, 4/30. Doors open at 7:00pm. In the meantime, check out the news article here and read all about how these teens have taken on leadership roles in the production, management, direction, and choreography of this show!

Our Community Food Pantry has been a boon to families facing food insecurity, but the shelves are frequently emptied. Donations are desperately needed, either in the form of monetary donations online, items sent directly from Amazon, or non-perishable goods dropped off directly to the pantry. The need for donations is even greater now, with the ending of additional funding for SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP benefits have been enhanced throughout the peak of COVID, but after May these enhancements will be removed, and some families will find their benefits cut in half. Linked here is the WHAS 11 coverage of this story, featuring our Community Food Pantry and our own hard working volunteer, Erin Lewis. Items Needed (this list is not all inclusive): - Canned Protein (Tuna/Chicken) - Cereal - Oatmeal - Pancake Mix - Pre-Packaged Meals (Chef BoyRDee, Hamburger Helper, Dinty Moore) - Instant Potatoes - Mac and Cheese - Rice - Peanut Butter and Jelly - Spaghetti and Spaghetti Sauce - Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, BBQ Sauce, Salsa, Syrup, etc...) - Snacks - Fruit - Baby Care - Feminine Care - Water - Shelf Stable Milk - Juice - Canned Soup - Personal Care Items - Spices - Baking Goods

Our school was, once again, visited by a reporter last week. Brooke Mcafee of News and Tribune stopped by to interview, and observe in action, our very own Morgan Miner! As the recipient of a state grant for the 2021 - 22 school year, Morgan was able to work on her state minimum requirements for full-time student teaching while focusing on the kids and the journey, rather than financial concerns (internships are typically shorter and unpaid). Morgan has since been hired, so we now officially employ a local celebrity! Check out her front page pic and read the article, linked below. https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/indiana-grant-program-offers-year-of-student-teaching-for-ius-students/article_2e5a2f30-bcea-11ec-bc1e-1feae319f9d8.html

CM was featured in a news article by Spectrum News 1 illustrating some of the differences that can be found in the Montessori environment versus traditional public schools. As legislation made its way through the gears of Kentucky lawmaking (complete with a Governor's veto and an override of that veto) it was so important for the people of Kentucky to know what they may be missing out on! Our Director, Barbara Fondren, walked with a reporter from Spectrum and gave the 411, the rundown, a recapitulation (if you like a fancier synonym with your tea and crumpets) of how we are unique, what we have to offer, and what future charter schools in the Commonwealth might aspire towards. It's that last thought that resonates most: as an established, successful Montessori Charter School, we have that responsibility to the community - to stand as a shining example of the possibilities and the varying paths to education! See the full article & video linked below:

We have had so much fun redesigning our outdoor playground to our revamped NATURAL PLAYGROUND - installation Summer 2022. With grant funds covering most of the cost of the project, we need a bit more HELP to support our full vision to revamp our backyard playground into a treasured NATURAL PLAYGROUND. With your help, we can install the GIRAFFE SWING (not currently in the budget) or MAYBE even 2 Giraffe Swings! WE ARE SO EXCITED!

We are lessening our footprint, to make room for MORE footprints. Please join us in re-thinking outdoor play. If you attended our December PIP Workshop, you heard from our designers, Bienenstock - the leaders in DISRUPTIVE design of Natural Playgrounds! The pandemic brought a new way of thinking to our world, and for us - it was a renewed commitment to our natural world. We have had so much fun redesigning our outdoor playground to our revamped NATURAL PLAYGROUND - installation in Summer 2022. YES! IF all goes as planned, we will be returning in Fall, 2022 - with an incredible new space… A Giraffe(looking) swing with an omnidirectional movement for incredible sensory input, collaborative play, and LARGE feelings of satisfaction. A digging/creative pit - It has been a dream for a LOOONG time to support this need in our young humans. This vast span of sand will be packed with little hands and toes:). A sensory path - a winding walkway with various shapes, materials, and designs to explore with shoes on or off. Wacky posts (small cut trees 5’-7’ tall) to climb on, build with, designed for slacklines and hammocks – so much fun! Hill slides - utilizing the slope of the earth to travel from the upper space to the sandpit. Climbing Structure - with climbing tree components, tall nests to gather in, ropes to travel across, and even a rope tunnel. Walking path - connecting the sidewalk at the front of the building to connect all the way around the school with paths and trails. Maintaining the large field in the back yard with better drainage management by integrating drain pipes under the digging pit. Large boulders and tree stumps throughout and even a rock path. A spiral bench and large trees to make a fort or dwelling. Landscaping and grass – all to make a space so a whole age level can be outside at the same time;)! HELP us make this the best it can be - GIVE NOW! You will be billed for this donation through Infinite Campus. If you would like to make your contribution in another way, please contact Barbara Fondren, Director. HERE is a SNEAK PEAK - WE ARE SO EXCITED!