A Month In: Navigating MSIMS Together
A 2026–27 Family Guide & School Update
More than a month into the school year, our classrooms are settling into their rhythms and our community is fully underway. We’ve brought together important schoolwide information, resources, reminders, and updates in one place to help families navigate the year ahead.
The information below is intended to serve as a clear reference for where to find information, whom to contact, what communication to expect from the School, and the systems in place for our students, programs, and community throughout the year. Additional policies and procedures are outlined in the MSIMS Family Handbook, always available in Transparent Classroom under the School Info tab.
School Communication Practices
MSIMS uses digital communication as the primary method for sharing school and classroom information.
The Prairie Dog Press is our weekly schoolwide communication and includes important dates, upcoming events, registration and sign-up links, reminders, and campus-wide news. Lead Guides also send classroom-specific newsletters each week with information relevant to their individual classrooms and programs.
Families should take time each week to read both the Prairie Dog Press and their classroom newsletter. Together, these communications provide what families need to know about upcoming events, important dates, classroom activities, links, sign-ups, reminders, and other campus happenings.
Transparent Classroom is another important family resource, providing access to classroom newsletters, student forms and photos, and the Classroom Directory. The MSIMS Family Handbook, along with additional school policies, forms, and family resources, can be found under the School Info tab on the Parent Home Page.
All MSIMS parents and guardians should also maintain access to the MSIMS app and ensure that text/SMS notifications are enabled. Text messaging is used for weather-related closures or delays, emergencies, and other time-sensitive operational matters.
Please keep all parent/guardian contact information, emergency contacts, and approved pick-up adults current throughout the school year. Updates to emergency contacts or approved adults may be submitted to Ariana Brents at Ariana.Brents@mountainshadows.org.
As a general guide:
Prairie Dog Press: Schoolwide news, dates, events, links, sign-ups, and reminders
Transparent Classroom: Weekly classroom newsletters, student forms and photos, Classroom Directory, Family Handbook, and school resources
MSIMS App: Sign-ups, chat groups, quick links to all MSIMS info, emergency communications, and push notifications
Text/SMS: Emergency, weather, and time-sensitive notifications
MSIMS limits printed materials when a digital option is available. Families who need or prefer a printed copy of a school communication may request one from the front office. If you are not receiving school communications or need assistance accessing any of these systems, please contact the front office.
Absences, Late Arrivals, Early Pick-Ups & Drop-In Aftercare
If your child will be absent, arriving late, or picked up early, please submit the Attendance Form in the MSIMS app rather than emailing your child's teacher directly. Drop-In Aftercare requests for Primary and Elementary may also be submitted through the app. Drop-In Aftercare is not available for Nido or YCC programs.
Using the Attendance Form ensures that administration receives the details and can communicate them to the appropriate classroom staff, particularly because educators may not view email while actively supervising students during the school day.
Childcare Days & School Closures
MSIMS is closed for two days in October and again in the spring for Parent-Teacher Conferences, as well as during Fall Break and Spring Break. These scheduled closures include designated Childcare Days for families who need care.
Childcare Days require advance registration so that we can plan appropriate staffing based on enrollment. Please review the MSIMS school calendar and register before the applicable deadline if your family will need care. Registration links and reminders are shared in school communications and are also available through the Current Families section of our website and the MSIMS app.
Winter Break, Federal Holidays, and Professional Learning days are full school closures, and childcare is not offered.
Who Should I Contact?
For questions regarding your child's classroom experience, development, friendships, academic progress, or other classroom matters, your child's Lead Guide should generally be your first point of contact.
Staff are not expected to respond to email outside of working hours. If an urgent matter arises after hours, please include URGENT in the subject line and copy the Head of School.
MSIMS office hours are 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Administration will respond to non-urgent inquiries during regular business hours.
For administrative or program-specific matters:
Nido & Young Children's Community
ECE Director: Nichole.Holtvluwer@mountainshadows.org
Questions regarding student transitions from Nido to YCC or YCC to Primary should also be directed to Nichole. Transitions are planned according to each child's developmental readiness and in coordination with classroom teams and families.
Middle School
Director of Adolescent Education: Amanda.Stone-Norton@mountainshadows.org
Primary, Elementary & Whole-School Questions and Support
Assistant Head of School: Jason.Stephens@mountainshadows.org
Head of School: Lauren.Franchek@mountainshadows.org
After-School & Extended Day Programming
After-School Administrator: Maddie.Stephens@mountainshadows.org
ECE Director: Nichole.Holtvluwer@mountainshadows.org
Enrichment Programming
Director of Operations: Ariana.Brents@mountainshadows.org
Tuition Billing, Health Documentation, Admissions & Enrollment:
Enrollment@mountainshadows.org
Community Circles and Volunteering
Development@mountainshadows.org
General Questions or Not Sure Where to Start?
Hello@mountainshadows.org
Our Website
The Current Families section of our website includes Childcare Day registration links, hot lunch information, and quarterly Enrichment offerings and registration. Direct links to these pages are also available in the MSIMS app.
The Events section provides details for program-specific and schoolwide events and is a helpful first stop for questions about upcoming activities.
Our Calendar includes the School's public Google Calendar and is updated in real time as event details change. We highly recommend adding the MSIMS Google Calendar directly to your personal device so you always have access to the most current school calendar.
Staffing & Classroom Leadership
When a staffing change or other circumstance materially affects a student's regular classroom experience, program leadership, health or safety, or a family's regular point of contact with the School, MSIMS communicates directly with the families impacted. These communications focus on what families need to know, next steps, and any action they need to take.
For personnel matters, MSIMS respects employee privacy and does not disclose confidential employment information. Communication with families focuses on what is relevant to students, the classroom, and ongoing program needs.
Staff Absences: Routine staff absences are managed through established internal coverage and substitute procedures and are not typically communicated to families. MSIMS prioritizes internal coverage rather than external substitutes to maintain consistency for children and familiarity within our programs while drawing upon the training and experience of our existing staff. Our school has resident substitutes and support assistants for each level who provide daily lunch breaks for staff as well as coverage during staff absences. This supports stability for the children with familiar trusted adults.
When an absence is expected to be extended or results in a change to regular classroom leadership, families will be notified of the coverage plan, including who will provide classroom leadership during that time.
Throughout the year, planned absences may also occur as educators participate in AMI observations, practice teaching, conferences, training, and other professional learning. These experiences are an important part of continued education for teachers.
Health and Safety: MSIMS communicates directly with families when notification is required or appropriate regarding communicable illness, health and safety matters, emergencies, weather-related changes, or other operational circumstances requiring family awareness or action.
If you are unsure whom to contact, please use the general school email, and the administrative team will direct your question to the appropriate staff member.
Educators are responsible for active supervision and instruction throughout the school day and may not be available for immediate responses. Arrival and dismissal are also important supervision and transition periods and should not be used for substantive conversations. When a matter requires discussion, please contact the appropriate staff member to schedule a meeting.
Families are encouraged to inform the School of significant circumstances that may affect a child's experience at school, including changes at home, travel, illness, family transitions, or loss. Knowing about these circumstances allows us to respond thoughtfully to a child's needs at school.
Commitment to Montessori Excellence
MSIMS maintains a deep commitment to qualified Montessori staffing, professional growth, and the long-term cultivation of Montessori educators. Every classroom is led by a Montessori-credentialed Lead Guide and has a minimum of one Assistant with Montessori training or credentials. Additional Assistants are pursuing AMI Orientation Courses and other Montessori training as part of their continued professional development.
This investment is particularly important to our continued accreditation by Association Montessori Internationale(AMI). AMI accreditation is not a designation earned once and simply retained; schools apply annually and must continue to demonstrate alignment with AMI standards for trained educators and administrators, prepared environments, mixed-age communities, uninterrupted work cycles, Montessori materials, and high-fidelity practice. Ongoing consultation and professional development provide additional layers of reflection, mentorship, and accountability.
Our Lead Guides hold undergraduate degrees in addition to their Montessori credentials, and several hold postgraduate degrees in Montessori Education or related fields. Our Assistant faculty includes experienced AMI- and AMS-credentialed educators, including some with years of Lead Guide experience across multiple planes of development. This year alone, four MSIMS educators are completing advanced AMI programs. Together, this creates tremendous depth within our faculty, allowing educators to mentor one another, share expertise across developmental levels, and provide meaningful continuity and support throughout the School.
That expertise extends beyond individual classrooms. Koral Walters, our Red Fox Primary Guide, serves as an AMI School Consultant for AMI/USA and works with Montessori schools across the country. Several members of our team also hold Colorado Large Center Director qualifications, strengthening our internal expertise in licensing, health, supervision, and regulatory compliance. Throughout the year, MSIMS also welcomes AMI teachers in training, visiting educators, and teacher trainers from across the United States and internationally, connecting our faculty with the broader Montessori community.
Maintaining a strong Montessori school requires continued learning and investment well beyond an initial credential. Through AMI training and Orientation Courses, mentorship, conferences, observations, practice teaching, and other professional learning, we continue to develop Montessori expertise within our existing team while intentionally recruiting AMI-trained educators and individuals interested in pursuing Montessori training for Assistant roles. As Mountain Shadows grows across a full continuum from Nido through Middle School, this commitment helps us build a strong pipeline of Montessori educators and future leaders while ensuring that our growth remains grounded in the principles and practices of Montessori education.
Outdoor Environments & Nature Learning
This year, Mountain Shadows was awarded a grant through the Whole Kids Foundation to further our gardening and nature-based programming. In addition to expanding our classroom gardens this spring, the grant will provide professional learning for staff focused on gardening, nature, and ways our outdoor environments can further enrich children's learning.
This work builds upon one of the unique strengths of our campus and creates additional opportunities to connect Montessori education with stewardship, practical life, science, food, and care for the natural environment.
Health, Illness & Medication
Students who are ill should remain home. Families should report illness-related absences through the Attendance Form in the MSIMS app.
When determining whether a child should attend school, families should refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's How Sick Is Too Sick? guidance. MSIMS health policies include requirements regarding fever, vomiting, diarrhea, communicable illness, and return-to-school criteria.
Medications may not be sent in a child's backpack or provided directly to classroom staff. Prescription and applicable over-the-counter medications require appropriate authorization and must be provided to the front office in their original, properly labeled containers.
Questions regarding health documentation, medication requirements, or return-to-school documentation should be directed to Ariana Brents, Director of Operations.
Parent Observations & Parent-Teacher Conferences
October includes two important components of the home-school partnership: Parent Observation Week and Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Classroom observations provide families an opportunity to experience the Montessori environment in action, including the work cycle, student independence, concentration, movement, social interactions, and the role of the adult. Observation procedures are structured to preserve the normal operation of the classroom.
Parent-Teacher Conferences provide dedicated time for families and Guides to discuss student development, strengths, areas for growth, relationships, academic progress, and shared goals.
Prior to conferences, please complete a Pre-Conference Questionnaire for each student, which was sent through Transparent Classroom. We ask families to complete the questionnaire in advance so your child's Lead Guide can prepare for your time together, address specific questions or topics you would like to discuss, and better understand how your child is doing at home.
Family responses also help us identify broader topics where parent education, resources, or future Community Learning Nights may be valuable, allowing us to develop offerings that reflect the questions and needs of our community.
Classroom teams will provide families with scheduling information and applicable procedures.
While formal parent observations and conferences are scheduled twice each year, families are always welcome to connect with their child’s Lead Teacher to schedule additional check-ins or observations. Please email your child’s teacher directly—they are happy to connect with you and share more about your child’s experience, development, and day at school.
Photos shared through Transparent Classroom are intended to provide families with a glimpse into the classroom environment and their child’s work. At the same time, our teachers’ first priority throughout the school day is being fully present with the children. This is one of the beautiful aspects of the Montessori approach: our adults are actively observing, guiding, connecting with, and supporting children rather than spending the day behind a device.
Our classroom assistants also help capture and share photos when opportunities arise and do their best to tag individual children. In larger classroom communities, the frequency of photos may naturally vary from child to child and week to week.
If you have not been seeing photos of your child regularly or would simply like to know more about what their days look like, please reach out directly to your child’s Lead Teacher. We always want families to feel connected to their child’s experience at school.
Philanthropy & Volunteerism
At Mountain Shadows, philanthropy and volunteerism take many forms. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) school, tuition does not cover the full cost of operating our programs and campus. We depend on the generosity, talents, time, connections, and participation of our community to help our school continue to thrive.
Our parent community brings an incredible range of skills, interests, and experiences to MSIMS. This year, we are looking for parents and family members who would like to help lead or participate in Community Circles. These are intended to be largely parent-led groups, with partnership from the School.
Families may participate in one circle or several and can also serve as Parent Coordinators for their individual classrooms. Whether you have significant time to give or simply want to contribute to a project here and there, there is a place for you.
Sunshine Circle
Help us care for the people who make up our community through staff appreciation, teacher birthdays, graduations and milestones, welcoming new families, celebrating new babies, organizing meal trains, and finding thoughtful ways to care for community members during challenging seasons.
Celebrations Circle
Help bring MSIMS events to life through planning, décor, procurement, vendor partnerships, communications, graphics, art projects, family activities, and event-day support. This circle will work alongside MSIMS Administration and the Board of Directors’ Development Committee to create meaningful community celebrations throughout the year, including the Boulder Lights Parade, Earth Day, and our biggest celebration yet: MountainChella—MSIMS’s 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Connections Circle
Help create opportunities for families to build relationships beyond the school day through parent happy hours, book clubs, park meetups, family gatherings, and other informal ways for adults and children to connect. If you have an idea for bringing people together, this is the circle for you.
Campus Cares Circle
Help care for our beautiful campus through gardens, painting, carpentry, repairs, building and resurfacing projects, classroom needs, community spaces, and special campus improvement days. Whether you are handy yourself or have connections to people or businesses who can help, we'd love to have you involved.
Interested in getting involved?
Email development@mountainshadows.org and let us know what interests you. You do not need to choose just one circle or make a major time commitment. We are looking for a few key volunteers who would enjoy helping lead these efforts, as well as many hands who can jump in when and where they can.
There are many ways to give to Mountain Shadows through time, talents, resources, connections, and financial support.
A Prepared Community
This year marks an important moment in the history of Mountain Shadows. Our Board of Directors is actively working through its committees to advance the School's five-year strategic plan, including preparations for this year’s 50th anniversary celebration this May.
Over nearly five decades, Mountain Shadows has experienced seasons of growth and change while continuing to adapt and respond to the needs of children and families. Reaching our 50th year gives us an opportunity to honor that history and the many educators, families, students, board members, and community partners who have shaped the School along the way.
We are proud to celebrate where Mountain Shadows has been, energized by where the School is today, and excited to enter our 50th year together.
Thank you for being part of Mountain Shadows.
In Partnership,
MSIMS Administration & Leadership