Mountain Village School News

2015 Family Survey This week, we ask that you complete our parent survey. This survey is just one of the methods we use to take a look at our overall program. We take your feedback very seriously and use it to reflect on our strengths as well as areas where we can improve. The survey can be completed anonymously, and your answers are strictly confidential. You can access the parent survey via email, or you can wait for a paper copy which you'll find in your child's cubby. Electronic copies can be emailed right to Sarah at info@mountainvillageschool.com or you can turn in paper surveys here at school; there will be folders affixed to the walls in the upstairs and downstairs hallways. Please complete and return all surveys by Friday, February 6th.   So take a moment to fill out a survey, our hope is that MVS is the best possible experience for your children, and your feedback is a vital and valued tool for us to make our school even better.  On a similar note, stay tuned fo...

Welcome Emma! Unfortunately, at "press time" we didn't have a photo of Emma to share, but our welcome is just as warm! We'd like to welcome Emma to Mountain Village School; she attended the University of Vermont and has a degree in Elementary Education. She is currently a paraeducator at Stowe Elementary, so she is certainly a familiar face to many of you. Emma will be joining us in the afternoons on the back playground, so be sure to say hello and welcome her when you pick up your children. An Adult's Role in Supporting Intentional, Constructive Play You may remember that last week we explored the importance of play for young children. If you missed it, check it out below. This week, we'll look at how adults can support children's learning through play. Space and Time: This is a tricky one isn't it? Allowing ourselves to slow down and give children the space and time they need to play can sometimes be one of the biggest impediments to meaningful...

A reminder that we are closed Monday 1/19   in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday. Save Money and Eat Well with EITC and 3SquaresVT We wanted to pass along some information from 3SquaresVT, an organization that helps Vermonters "stretch their food budgets and put three square meals a day on their tables." Check out the description below for more on the Earned Income Tax Credit and 3SquaresVT food benefits. There is an online flyer that can be found by clicking here , so take a look and feel free to pass it along to others in our community.  It’s tax season again and families are thinking about how to save money in these tough times. Vermonters who made under $52,427 in 2014 may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), designed to boost the income of working families and worth up to $6,143 as a tax credit or refund. Income guidelines are based on tax filing status and number of dependent children in the home. ...

We made it through a chilly week here in Stowe, and Mother Nature decided to warm up enough to get many of us outside for almost a full hour on Friday afternoon! On to this week's news. School Calendar for 2015 If you haven't already seen the updated school closures for 2015, check it out below. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know. January 1st: New Years Day January 19th: MLK Jr. Day February 16th: Presidents Day March 3rd: Town Meeting Day April 24th: In-Service Day May 25th: Memorial Day July 3rd: In Observance of Independence Day August 17th: In-Service Day September 7th: Labor Day October 16th: In-Service Day November 11th: Veterans Day November 26th and 27th: Thanksgiving December 24th and 25th: Christmas December 31st: New Years Eve Free Range Babies: Unrestrained Movement, Honoring Sensory Development and Why "Contraptions" Have No Place at MVS Every now and again, we stumble across different research, books and articles tha...

Check out the Sidebar-------> We've added a few features in the sidebar of the newsletter, including a link to recommended reading. Have a look, and check back often, as updates are always in the works. Understanding STARS You may have heard about the STARS program through the VT Department of Children and Families. STARS stands for STep Ahead Recognition System, and serves as the the state's quality recognition system for schools such as ours. Schools that participate in the STARS program, go above and beyond state regulations to serve children and families.* Mountain Village School is recognized by the STARS program, and we are in the process of applying for even more stars! So what does that look like? Back in September, we began a lengthy application process to evaluate a number of factors within our school.  Some of the criteria we're looking at include: -Health and safety -Curriculum (school-wide) -Interactions and communication with children -Learnin...