2026-09 September Newsletter

“The child gives us a beautiful lesson – that in order to form and maintain our intelligence, we must use our hands.”

—Maria Montessori

Calendar of Events

The above information is from a “Google Calendar” and can be added to any Google Account by clicking here.

Welcome from the President

Dear MMEC Families,

On behalf of the MMEC Board of Directors and me, it is my absolute privilege to welcome you to the 2026/2027 school year! Whether you are returning to a familiar classroom or entering our community for the first time, we are thrilled to have you join us on this journey.

A new year brings a sense of renewed hope! When we walk through the hallways and peer into the thoughtfully prepared environments, we are reminded of why we have committed to the Montessori philosophy. The philosophy is a way of being: a philosophy of life and a framework for how we treat other human beings.

Our Vision for the Year Ahead

Our primary responsibility is to steward MMEC’s long-term health, strategic vision, and mission. This year, our focus remains:

• Preserving the essence of Montessori: Ensuring our classrooms remain authentic, deeply enriching spaces where children can develop independence, compassion, and a lifelong love of learning.
• Community and Connection: Cultivating a strong, inclusive environment where families and staff work in partnership.
• Sustainability and Growth: Investing in our two beautiful campuses and supporting our incredible staff so they can continue to do what they do best.

We recognize that you have choices regarding your child’s education, and we are deeply grateful that you have entrusted MMEC with their formative years. It is the collaboration between our dedicated administration, our talented guides and support staff, and our supportive families that makes this community so uniquely beautiful.

I encourage you to stay connected, attend our upcoming community events, and engage with the school throughout the year. I am available at [email protected] or in the school office.

Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your shared commitment to Maria Montessori’s vision of cultivating peaceful, independent global citizens.

Wishing you all a wonderful, inspiring, and joyful school year!

Warm regards,

Servejit Massey

Family Barbecue and Open Houses (both campuses), September 4th

Families from both campuses are invited to join us at the Chief Crowfoot location for a welcome-back barbecue in the school field on Friday, September 4th, from noon to 1 pm. (Inclement weather plan not yet established.)

Please bring a blanket, lawn chairs and drinks and enjoy meeting new and returning families. Families are also invited to attend an open house at their respective campuses to meet classroom staff and visit their classrooms.

cSpace Open House: 10:30 am – 11:30 am.
Chief Crowfoot BBQ: 12 to 1 pm.
Chief Crowfoot Open House: 1 pm – 2:00 pm.

Additional Office Staff

Please welcome a new face into the office this coming year. Anna Carnini will take on the Administrative Secretary role interacting directly with parents, teachers and students. Catharina retains her Financial Manager role and will support Anna as needed.

Anna has been with MMEC for many years in different roles and we are thrilled to have a support in the office!

First Day of School

School for all returning students (primary and elementary) starts on Tuesday, September 8. Primary children (Casa and Toddler) new to Montessori will be staggered as per the Primary Welcome Document schedule. Should you have any questions, please email Servejit at [email protected].

Saying Goodbye

Our goal is to ensure a smooth and peaceful transition each morning by fostering independence and confidence in every child. With the exception of toddlers, children must enter the school environment independently. Give your child the gift of independence and let them know that they are capable by allowing them to walk in on their own!

Each class will enter through a designated door, where they will be greeted by a staff member who will walk them to their classroom. Once inside, another staff member will welcome them and assist them in settling into their morning routine. Toddler children should be accompanied directly to their classroom by a parent or caregiver.We recognize that morning drop-offs can be emotional, especially at the start of the year. However, we kindly ask that parents avoid lingering at the entrance, waving from a distance, or negotiating goodbyes. These actions can often make the transition more difficult for the child. A calm, confident, and brief farewell helps set a positive tone for the day—your approach plays a big role in your child’s comfort.

Arrival and Dismissal

Students enter and exit the school daily through designated doors and at specified times for ease and convenience. Children are expected to enter the school independently of a parent/caregiver, except for toddlers. Thank you for respecting your child’s independence. We appreciate your timeliness! Please see below.

Main Campus

Toddler drop-off between 8:10 and 8:20 am.
Toddler 1 enters and exits through the back parking lot door near the waste disposal bins.
Toddler 2 enters and exits through the main parking lot door off of 13 Ave.
Half-day children are dismissed at 11:30 am, and full-day children may stay until 5 pm.

Casa drop-off between 8:15 and 8:25 am.
Casa 1 enters and exits through the main parking lot door off 13 Ave.
Casa 2 enters and exits through the doors off 12 Ave.
Casa 3 enters and exits through the back parking lot gym door.
Half-day children are dismissed at 11:30 am, full-day children may stay until 6 pm, and Kindergarten children are dismissed at 3:25 pm.

Lower Elementary drop-off between 8:15 and 8:30 am.
All lower elementary children will meet their class group at the school field for supervised play and enter the school with their class through the playground doors.
Children are dismissed at 3:35 pm at the school field.

Upper Elementary drop-off between 8:15 and 8:30 am.
All upper elementary children will meet their class group at the school field for supervised play and enter the school with their class through the 12 Ave. doors.
Children are dismissed at 3:35 pm through the 12 Ave. doors.

Erdkinder drop-off between 8:15 and 8:30 am.
Erdkinder children enter the gym from the back parking lot doors for free play until
8:35 am, when they go to class.
Children are dismissed between 3:35 and 3:40 pm and exit through the Erdkinder parking lot doors.

cSPACE Campus

Toddler drop-off between 8:15 and 8:30 am.
Toddler children are brought to their class by a parent/caregiver through the parking lot doors.
Half-day children are dismissed at 11:30 am, and full-day children may stay until 5 pm.

Casa drop-off between 8:15 and 8:30 am.
Casa children are greeted by a staff member at the door of the classroom (parents remain in the hallway).
Half-day children are dismissed at 11:30 am, full-day children may stay until 5 pm, and kindergarten children are dismissed at 3:30 pm (dismissal is from the classroom).

Punctuality and Attendance

We are committed to ensuring children arrive at school on time (8:30 am at the latest). Timely arrivals teach children routines, commitments and respect for others’ time. Late arrivals not only disrupt the classroom environment but also cause students to miss social and learning opportunities, as well as lessons that occur in the morning. Your timely arrival at pick-up times after school is equally important, as classroom and office staff are busy preparing for the next school day. To support a positive school experience, please prioritize regular attendance and timeliness.

Before and After School Care (Main Campus)

Before and after-school care will begin Tuesday, September 8 (before care from 7 to 8:15 am and aftercare from 3:30 to 6 pm). Students are grouped according to age and placed with the appropriate care provider. While students move between the gym, lower elementary classrooms and the playground, programming will include arts, crafts, sports, and free play.

Saaeda Sarwar provides morning care, and the aftercare providers are Kerrigan Dubeau, Winnie Mei, Ava Blackman and Diamond Sullivan. Children arriving for morning care must be escorted into the building via the back gym door by a parent/caregiver and signed in. After school, children will seamlessly transition to the care program upon dismissal at 3:30 pm. Aftercare parents must sign out their child before leaving. Please do not take your children home without connecting with one of the care providers.

Children should bring an additional snack to eat before/after school. This snack should follow the Canada Food Guide (no sugary and highly processed foods, please).

Also, please ensure that your child is prepared for the weather, as the children go out to play daily. Please note that toys and games from home are not permitted as items can be damaged or misplaced, resulting in unhappy children.

Allergies and Medical Conditions

Prior to the start of school, please help us collect the necessary information about any medical conditions, food intolerances, allergies, celiac disease, etc., that may impact your child in our care. Medical information can be updated via an email to [email protected].

If your child requires medication or an EpiPen while at school, please come by the office to complete a form (inhalers, EpiPens, ADHD meds, etc.). Forms can be emailed to [email protected] or brought to the office on September 4th or 8th, accompanied by the necessary medications if possible. Please take note of the following:

• If your child requires an EpiPen/Allerject, please provide two. One is kept in the classroom and one in the staff room, accessible to all staff members. Children younger than grade 7 may not carry their own injectors.
• Children may carry their inhalers, but the office needs to be notified and a medical authorization form completed.
• If your child requires medication throughout the year, please bring the medication to the school office and complete a medical authorization form. A staff member will administer the meds. Children may not self-medicate.
• All prescription and over-the-counter medications, such as Advil and Tylenol, are kept in a locked box in the office and administered as prescribed.
• If your child takes medication at home, please share that information with us (medication for ADHD).