Chris Noel

by Theresa Powers, Program Director  One thing that is clear about the digital landscape is that it changes rapidly, and often as parents, we are not up to date with the latest changes.  Not every parent is aware of how TikTok works, as it’s algorithm makes content recommendations personalized for each user by offering up … Read more

by Josh Duelm The Eighth-grade class traveled to New York City on February 14 to participate in the annual Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) conference.  Students researched and role-played as ambassadors from countries attempting to solve global issues. Maria Montessori supported the work of the United Nations as a forum where peace could be created. … Read more

By Theresa Powers, Program Director MSSA continues to nurture and grow our social and emotional skills for both adults and students.  Recent SEL news: •  The Lower Elementary teachers did a wonderful job preparing their students to present about peace in their classrooms at the recent PTC meeting; the students showcased skills and strategies they … Read more

Ms. Cassandra’s class welcomed author Dr. George Thompson last week. The grandfather of Ben Srinivasan saw the book he had written, What Hardy Found, on the classroom shelf during his Grandpersons’ Day visit.  After talking with Ms. Cassandra and a few emails later, Dr. George scheduled a visit to MSSA. What began as a small … Read more

by Theresa Powers, Program Director There are specific phrases that you hear when people describe Montessori classrooms, and “freedom within limits” is one that may seem contradictory at first.  However, when you see children in a Montessori environment working independently with autonomy to make choices about their tasks as they interact with grace and courtesy … Read more

The mission of the MSSA music program is to assist and guide each student in developing their innate musicality with a rich, developmentally based curriculum that leads to lifelong participation, enjoyment, and appreciation of music in various forms.  The core of the music curriculum is the Kodaly philosophy of music education, which encourages good vocal … Read more

In a recent conversation with MSSA Class of 2021 member Kate Ogden, she discussed how each level shaped her and has prepared her for high school. As a sophomore at Clark High School, she credits her success to the foundational skills taught at MSSA. Here is a snippet of her interview. Q: Looking back, what … Read more

PE in elementary schools has come a long way since some of us last experienced it.  Long gone are the days of the teacher separating the class into two, handing each side a couple of red balls and then allowing each side to pelt the other by throwing the balls as hard as they could … Read more

MSSA administers standardized tests for third through eighth-grade students in October and November. In past years, MSSA has administered the CoGAT test as an aptitude test for third, fifth, and seventh-grade students, and the Iowa Assessments, an achievement test, for students in years three through eight. This year, we are using new aptitude and achievement … Read more