Denali Montessori School

WHO IS MAC: The Montessori Advisory Committee (MAC) consists of all parents, step-parents and guardians of the students enrolled at Denali Montessori Elementary School as well as Denali’s teachers and principal. Membership is automatic and there is no membership fee. Each member has one vote at meetings of the committee and at elections.

WHEN DOES MAC MEET: All parents and guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend MAC meetings which are held in conjunction with PTA meetings the first Tuesday of the month. A potluck dinner will begin at 6:00 P.M and the meeting will start at 6:30 and end at 7:30. Child care is provided during the meeting.

WHO ARE THE MAC OFFICERS:
Sarah Moyer, Chair 279-8640 smoyer@acsalaska.net
Betsy Goudreau, Vice-Chair 929-3419 bdgoudreau@hotmail.com
Liz Brennan, Co-Secretary 272-1972 brennankel@alaska.net
Jeannie Sato, Co-Secretary 348-0470 jeannie@satoandsato.com
DeeAnn Apgar, Co-Treasurer 522-5440 deeannk@gci.net
Jamie Dodge, Co-Treasurer 929-9516 jcrdodge@yahoo.com

WHAT DOES MAC DO:

FUNDRAISE
MAC’s primary function is to organize and sponsor fundraisers in order to purchase Montessori materials, supplies and books for the classrooms. The Montessori materials necessary for a Montessori education are not paid for by the Anchorage School District. In addition, funds are used to partially reimburse teachers for Montessori certification training as well as other teacher training and development.

Last school year, through generous donations and contributions to MAC sponsored fundraisers, MAC was able to purchase Montessori materials totaling $11,000. In addition, $2,500 was spent as partial reimbursement for Montessori certification training, $750 as partial reimbursement for other teacher training and development and $1,900 was used to purchase computers. At the teacher’s request, $5,000 was reserved to pay for a school-wide Montessori training program for the teachers offered by Peter and Robin Larrow of Montessori Opportunities Inc. Hopefully, that training will take place this school-year.

MAC fundraisers/community events are held throughout the year and include: Innisbrook (August 24-September 20), the Denali Directory (released first quarter), the Fall and Spring Fund Drive, the Barnes and Noble Book Fair (the Saturday after Thanksgiving), Holiday Night and Gift Basket Auction (Friday, December 14), eScript and Movie Nights (the first is scheduled for Thursday, November 8). Remember to check the “PAW PRINTS” Newsletter for upcoming events. If you have a suggestion for a MAC sponsored fundraiser or community event, or know of a possible corporate sponsor, please let us know!

eScript is an easy way to raise funds for Denali. Register your Carrs/Safeway card and the store will automatically contribute a percentage of your purchase to Denali’s account. Click here and designate “Denali Montessori Elementary” as your Group. Our Group ID is 500005901.

ORDER AND DISTRIBUTE MONTESSORI MATERIALS FOR THE CLASSROOMS
In order to ensure the equitable distribution of materials to the classrooms, last school year MAC and the teachers worked hard to create an inventory listing each Montessori material needed for each grade level: kindergarten, primary and intermediate. This was a time consuming process that was completed, thanks to the hard work of the teachers, in January 2007. Once the “base-line” list of materials was created, each teacher inventoried their own classroom. Classroom inventories were completed in February and MAC was able to order materials and supplies in March 2007. Many classrooms still require “base-line” materials. MAC will place another order for materials based on the classroom inventories in October/November.

COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS
Parents/Guardians play an important role in the success of the Denali Montessori program. Families are encouraged to volunteer throughout the year. MAC works closely with the PTA, teachers and administration to expand volunteerism and to match school needs with individual parents’/guardians’ skills and availability. There are many different ways to volunteer your Time, Talent or Treasure. For example:
• Act as your child’s classroom “Room Parent/Classroom Coordinator. A description of duties and a sign-up sheet will be available in your child’s classroom during Open House.
• Volunteer in the Classroom. Your child’s teacher will let you know how and when you can help. Listening to students read, stuffing Thursday folders, giving spelling tests, chaperoning field trips, and making copies and materials in the workroom are some of the ways you might be able to help.
• Volunteer from Home: Often there are projects, such as gluing, stapling, and cutting, that can be done at home in the evenings.
• Volunteer at an Event or Fundraiser.
• Volunteer in the Library. If you arrive to pick your child up from school 20 or 30 minutes early (to get that coveted parking space), consider shelving books instead of waiting in your car.
• Make financial contributions or directly purchase materials and supplies.
• Attend MAC/PTA meetings.

OTHER MAC ACTIVITIES include coordinating the Alternative School Fair; assisting the administration with school promotion; coordinating the Spring Lottery Tours; tracking, ordering and distributing classroom materials; coordinating parent education nights; updating the school handbook; and organizing the year-end picnic. MAC’s Purpose and By-laws are set forth in the Denali Montessori Handbook.

The MAC officers are looking forward to working with you this year to further enhance our already wonderful Montessori program. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

See also MAC Bylaws

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Back to Montessori Handbook index