Monticello Academy RSS Feed

Language Fair Needs

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:51:22 MST

On Thursday, March 18th Monticello is hosting our first Foreign Language Fair, from 5:00 to 7:00pm. We are looking for volunteers to donate store bought cookies- any type of Spanish or Chinese cookies would be nice but we will also take anything you can provide and some 2 liter bottles of Sprite.

We are hoping to enhance the evening with some dance or musical groups (Spanish and/or Chinese) willing to perform (free) that night. If you have any contacts or know of such groups please let me know.

My information is as follows:

Lindabird01@comcast.net
801.450.7250

Please contact me by Monday, March 15th - Thank you for your willingness to help make this event a success!

Parent / Teacher Conferences

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:15:45 MST

Remember the date for the spring Parent/Teacher Conferences is being consolidated from 2 days to one day. March 3rd will be a full day of school (no conferences) and school will end at 12:00 (lunch will not be served) on Thursday, March 4th 2010. Parent/Teacher Conferences will follow the half day from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Teachers will be excused for dinner from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Note: Kindergarten Hours on Thursday, March 4th

* Morning Kindergarten 8:00-9:45
* Afternoon 10:25 - 12:00

NEW FORMAT

We are also trying a new format for the spring Parent/Teacher Conferences. Instead of expecting parents to meet with all of their 4th-9th grade teachers in the gym, as we did last fall, students are preparing educational portfolios (with the help of their home room teachers) for your review. When you arrive, you will pick up your student's portfolio in his/her home room (1st period, A-day class). You will sit down with your student in the home room class and he/she will review its contents, sharing goals, successes, and challenges in regards to attendance, grades, and behavior. You are encouraged to help your student refine his/her goals. Your student will also provide some of his/her favorite work for you to review, as well as any other pertinent information he/she feels it important to share. Once your student is finished reviewing and discussing the portfolio with you, you may wish to visit with certain teachers to discuss any concerns you may have regarding attendance, missing work, or behavior concerns. You are free to stop by any teacher's room for a brief discussion/review of the portfolio materials. If you would like to discuss matters in depth, you are invited to stop in and set an appointment with the teacher to come back before or after school to discuss your concerns in a confidential atmosphere without time constraints. Of course, emails and phone calls are also helpful resources for communication with teachers.

NEW! TUTORIAL ON PARENT PORTAL AVAILABLE

We will have 4 computers set up in the main office for anyone who would like to stop in and ask questions about Compass, Monticello Academy's student information system. Compass provides parents/guardians and students with critical online information: a syllabus and unit plans, attendance and grade tracking, lunch account information, library book due dates and much, much more.

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Mr. Seim, our school counselor will be available from 12:00 p.m to 2:00 p.m. as well as between 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. if you would like to discuss your student's SEOP. Mr. Seim will also be available to his 9th grade Geography students and parents/guardians from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Book Fair

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:30:01 MST

Our semi-annual school book fair will be held in the school library on

* Tuesday March 2nd - 12-4 p.m.
* Wednesday, March 3rd - 7:30-8:30 a.m. & 12-4 p.m.
* Thursday, March 4th - 7:30-8:30 a.m. & 12-6:30 p.m.

We are still in desperate need of volunteers to help. This is a great way to get your hours. If you are able, please contact Julie Anderson and 801-252-9028 or 801-680-5758. Your help will be greatly appreciated. We encourage you to come and visit with your children while you are at the school for Parent Teacher Conferences. Please remember not to send your small children into the library unattended. The book fair is a great way to show your children the importance of reading at home. It is also a great way to help us build our school library as the revenues will be used to purchase more books! Thank you in advance for your help and support!

We look forward to seeing you at the Monticello Academy Book Fair.

Chinese students visit Monticello Academy in West Valley

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:16:21 MST

February 10th, 2010 @ 5:20am
By Mary Richards (KSL)

The original article can be found here.

WEST VALLEY CITY -- About two dozen Chinese students are attending classes at Monticello Academy this week. Their vice principal, Dou Yongge, said through an interpreter that her school in China and this charter school have a lot in common.

"We have so many of the same things. We are very young, with new ideas about education. Our students cannot only have their good grades, we also focus on the ability of the students," Dou said.

The students have also been talking about Utah's former governor, Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr.

"I think the ambassador can give us a kind of stage to have this kind of sister cities or sister schools," Dou said.

This isn't the group's first visit to the United States, but it is their first visit to Utah.

Monticello director Mike Westover said he believes his school was picked because it has been focusing on teaching Chinese for years.

"There is so much that is going to happen in the near future between our two countries. So, it is critical that we are teaching our students now to communicate, so that when those opportunities arise, they are prepared," Westover said.

The director said this experience is proving very interesting and helpful for both sets of students.

"I think it's enough to give our students and our Chinese teacher, who is trying to teach them these things, to have much more relevance," he said.

Westover said the West Valley students hope to take a trip to China some day.

Audio
Mary Richards reporting

Parent Teacher Conferences

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:03:12 MST

ANNOUNCING A DATE MODIFICATION AND A NEW FORMAT FOR SPRING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES

The date for the spring Parent/Teacher Conferences is being consolidated from 2 days to one day, so March 3rd will be a full day of school (no conferences), and March 4th will be a 1/2 day of school followed by Parent/Teacher Conferences from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Teachers will be excused for dinner from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m.

We are also going to try a new format for the spring Parent/Teacher Conferences. Instead of expecting parents to meet with all of their 4th-9th grade teachers in the gym, as we did last fall, students are preparing educational portfolios (with the help of their home room teachers) for your review. When you arrive, you will pick up your student's portfolio in his/her home room (1st period, A-day class). You will sit down with your student in the home room class and allow him/her to go through the portfolio, sharing goals, successes, and challenges in regards to attendance, grades, and behavior. Your student will also provide some of his/her favorite work for you to review, as well as any other pertinent information he/she feels it important to share. Once your student is finished reviewing and discussing the portfolio with you, you may wish to visit with certain teachers to discuss your concerns regarding attendance, missing work, or behavior concerns. You are free to stop by any teacher's room for a brief discussion/review of the portfolio materials. If you would like to discuss matters in depth, you are invited to stop in and set an appointment with the teacher to come back before or after school to discuss your concerns in a confidential atmosphere without time constraints. Of course, emails and phone calls are also helpful resources for communication with teachers.

The purposes of "student-led" Parent/Teacher Conferences are 3-fold, providing students with the opportunity: 1) to share their educational and extracurricular goals and aspirations, 2) to take responsibility and be accountable for their personal educational achievements and challenges, and 3) to provide an opportunity for students to improve critical communication skills. We will also be providing Compass tutorials in the office during Parent/Teacher Conferences this spring.

We will have 4-5 computers set up in the main office for anyone who would like to stop in and ask questions about Compass, Monticello Academy's student information system. Staff will be available to teach you anything you need to know to navigate and use the system successfully, which is critical for you to stay on top of your student's educational progress.

Please note the date modifications listed above and remember that you are not expected to meet with each teacher. The primary "conference" will be between you and your student, and teachers will be available for comment, as necessary.

Thank you so much helping us try this new format for spring Parent/Teacher Conferences. And thank you for your support of Monticello Academy. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Michael Westover
Director

After School Detention

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:42:03 MST

Thank you for your wonderful children (seriously). It's an honor to be able to interact with so many great students every day!

As you know, I also have the responsibility of being the "bad guy" some times. It's not a part of the job that I necessarily enjoy, but it's part of the job. I try to handle each situation professionally.

We have lacked an effective means of natural consequences in the past. The teachers really need more administrative support with discipline, so we are starting an after-school detention program starting next Monday, February 8th. The detentions will be held Mondays through Thursdays (note - NOT Fridays) in the library from 2:45 - 3:30 p.m.

Students will not be allowed to talk. They simply need to show up on time and work on their school work. There will be an aide there to help if the student needs assistance. If the student fails to bring work, the aide will provide work to do from our new Character Education program. The point is that we want students to use the time wisely.

The challenge will be for you, as parents/guardians, to arrange for the students to be picked up at 3:30 p.m. I know this is an inconvenience, and I apologize, but we need to do more than assign "lunch duty" when students are sent to the office.

We have great students, but even good kids make mistakes. We try to be as respectful as possible, but we do try to hold students accountable.

Thank you so much for your support.

Respectfully,
Michael Westover
Director

Monticello Academy Read-A-Thon

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:51:57 MST

LET'S "JAZZ" UP OUR SCHOOL BY WINNING A VISIT FROM A UTAH JAZZ PLAYER!

How: Participate in the Read-A-Thon. Bring Your Own Book(s)
Who: Monticello K-6th Grades (7-9 grades weekly reading minutes DO COUNT towards a party and for Road to Success for our school though they cannot participate in the Read-A-Thon)
When: Friday, February 5, 2:00pm-4:00pm (you do not have to stay for the full two hours)

Be sure to pick up a permission slip from the library or in the office and return it by Monday, Feb 1.

This Read-A-Thon is to help boost the JAZZ/Scholastic Reading Minutes from the last four weeks so plan to participate!

Prizes Are:

Top schools will win an assembly with a Jazz player, an ice cream party from Russell's and pictures of the Jazz player.

One student will have the opportunity to put your name in a drawing to attend a coaching workshop with the Utah Jazz Coach. Let your teacher or Mrs. Ballard know if you are interested in winning that workshop!

Amongst Monticello classes we will be having our own class competitions to win a class party. It will be between the following grades:

K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9

If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Ballard in our Library or at kathy.ballard@monticelloacademy.net.

Hairstyle Policy

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:49:32 MST

The Board-approved Monticello Academy Policy Manual states in Section 6-6 under the sub-section "Hairstyles" that "Hair must be clean, neat, and well groomed. Only natural hair colors are allowed. Extreme hair styles, cuts, or shaves ... are not allowed ..."

Further, section 6-10 "Miscellaneous" reads: "Students must present a neat and clean appearance."

I realize that one of the many latest and greatest hair styles for boys is to have long, flowing hair. I believe hair can be cut and worn a little longer and still "be clean, neat, and well groomed" and even "present a neat and clean appearance." However, I consider "extreme hair styles, cuts" as hair that covers any portion of the eyes for boys or girls and/or hair that is not properly clean and neatly maintained.

Please review this policy and information with your student(s) and make any necessary changes immediately. We have a great looking student body, but some students are pushing the hair limits, and we need your help.
Thank you for your support.

Respectfully,
Mike Westover
Director

Monticello Academy In the News

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:42:06 MST

Our school was featured twice in the West Valley Journal. Below are links to the two articles.

Leonardo on Wheels visits Monticello Academy

Monticello transported to medieval times

Carpool Pickup Policy Reminder

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:12:49 MST

As the weather turns colder many of you who have walking students have expressed a desire to use the carpool lane instead. You will need to register your students for a carpool to receive your carpool number. You can do this by going to https://secure.monticelloacademy.net/carpool. After you register your carpool number will be emailed to you within 24 business hours. Please note in the comments that you would like your students removed from the walking list.

With the addition of ice and snow please use caution when driving or walking.
While in the carpool lane if your speedometer registers you are going too fast.
Keep space between you and the car in front of you to avoid sliding into each other.
Watch for directions from the traffic volunteers to keep things moving smoothly.
Keep your carpool number visible until you exit the carpool lane.
If you are walking DO NOT go over the hill and across the carpool lanes, use the sidewalks and the crosswalk. Attempting to go over the hill is dangerous and is not necessary.
Remember that there is no left turn into the parking lot. Accesses to the parking lot is not available from aprox 2:30 - 2:45. You will need to wait in the carpool line if you wish to access the parking lot and arrive after traffic has reached the street.
Remind your student to come out as soon as their number is called. We will ask cars who are waiting more than 5 minutes to go around to help keep traffic flowing.

If you have questions concerning traffic procedures please email info@monticelloacademy.net