Principal's Message
    As we begin to make preparations for the 2008-09 school year, I would like to share how class placements are made and how teacher requests are handled.        

         Our goal is to create classes that are balanced academically and socially and to avoid groupings that would distract from the learning process.   Unbalanced classes create unfair burdens on students, teachers and parents.   Classes that are well balanced academically and socially provide wide range benefits to each child and teacher.   Requesting specific teachers poses a problem in achieving this balance.

          Grade level teams will develop the majority of class lists and I hope that you will not feel it necessary to make requests for teachers.   Our philosophy is that Mount Mahogany doesn't have any "one best teacher," but all of our teachers are good and possess their own unique qualities that any child could benefit from.   Children are extremely resilient and have an uncanny ability to be comfortable in most classroom situations.

         Requests for a student to be with a friend, or my neighbor said, "this teacher is best/worst", or the word in the neighborhood is to get/not get this teacher, are not legitimate reasons for requesting a teacher.   Examples of legitimate reasons would include if you feel your child needs to be separated from another child, other situations you would wish to avoid, or if you feel your child would benefit academically under a certain placement.

          Request forms and guidelines, if you feel the need to make a specific request under the above mentioned guidelines, will be available at the office beginning Tuesday, May 6 and are due no later than Friday, May 9.    There will be no exception to this date.   Request forms need to be picked up at the office by a parent and will not be sent home with students.         

         No more that a few requests will be honored per teacher.   If more than a few requests are submitted they will be randomly selected.    On the request form, a second request also needs to be stated in case the first request cannot be met.

         Some requests might not be honored because of faculty recommendations that certain students not be placed together due to potential discipline problems.

         Also, remember that there is always the potential that staffing assignments can change before school begins next year, i.e. retirement, change in teaching assignment, etc.

          Because of the number of students who move in and out over the summer, class lists will not be posted until our Open House in August.                             

Thank you for your support of our teachers and the placement decisions we make on behalf of your children.   Your backing empowers us to do what is most appropriate for all children.

Mr. Westover

Kindergarten Happenings

May is always an exciting time as we begin to wind up our year's  

activities in Kindergarten.   We have enjoyed this year with your  

children!   We encourage parents to continue to work with their  

children throughout the summer on alphabet letters, names and sounds  

and high frequency words.   Writing letters to grandparents or others  

is a fun way to practice.   Counting, adding, subtracting, and   

measuring activities will reinforce math skills.   Reading with or to  

your child throughout the summer will help her/him retain the skills  

they have acquired and give them a successful start in first grade.

Fifth Grade

We encourage parents to help their children be well rested for our  

testing this May.   We also ask that the students eat breakfast so  

they will have the energy to complete school tasks.   Students will do  

Utah Core Assessment tests in Science the week of May 5th through  

9th.   Some students may finish up on May 11th.   Please have your  

child attend school as some of our tests will be taken on-line.

The 5th and 6th grade students are invited to try out for our 5th/6th  

grades Talent Show.   We are accepting all   kinds of talents such as  

singing, dance, piano, gymnastics, comedy, playing of instruments,  

and many others!   Tryouts will be on Monday, May 19th, after school.   

Students who are successful will perform on Tuesday, May 27th, around  

1:15 or 1:30.   Please review your child's talent to make sure lyrics,  

costumes, and routines are appropriate for our school-aged audience.

Please encourage your child to have a jacket at school as the weather  

changes frequently.   Also, encourage your child to complete any  

absent work before the last two weeks of school.

Sixth Grade

Important Dates for May:

May 5-16 - Core testing

May 23 - Field Day

May 28 - Sixth Grade Graduation

We are also working on putting together a yearbook for the 6th graders.   These will be available for purchase after graduation.   We will send a note home later with the final price thank you for all your help and support this year.   Best of luck to all of the graduates as they leave Mount Mahogany for Junior High School!

Computers with Mrs. Childs

Kindergarten through Second grade

     The skills that are in progress are learning how to use the computer while simultaneously improving their math and language skills.

Third grade

      They will be learning about Internet safety.

Fourth grade

     They are finishing up their movies and will be watching them at the end of May.

Fifth grade

           They are all done with their typing test and will be learning more about the Internet.

Sixth grade

        They are finishing up presenting their power point presentation on their country and enjoying their last few days in their elementary computer class.