Doing Good in the Community

Community Service at MMS

In addition to activities organized in individual classrooms, parent volunteers on the Good Works Committee at Marin Montessori School put together a series of school-wide community service opportunities for students and their families. For the 2010-2011 school year, these are:

California Coastal Clean Up (September) This is a great opportunity to help clean up one of the greatest coastal areas in the world, teach children to be stewards of the earth, and meet other MMS families at our local Muzzy Marsh.

Thanksgiving Food Drive (November) Each year, MMS families support the Marin Food Bank with a large donation of non-perishable food. Canned goods and other food items are collected and distributed to people in need throughout the Bay Area during the winter months. Children can get involved in various ways including selecting food products from their home pantry or at the grocery store.

Holiday Singing for Seniors (December) Seniors benefit greatly from social activities and interaction with children. This event, held at The Redwoods Senior Community in Mill Valley, gives students a chance to focus on giving to others at a time of year when they may be more focused on receiving. Aside from singing with their parents for an appreciative audience, children get to practice their grace and courtesy skills and to mingle with the seniors.

Project Night Night Blanket Drive (January) This carline drive collects new blankets for comfort kits for children who have to abandon their homes and belongings. One way that MMS children take part is by helping select a special blanket to donate and handing it to the volunteer accepting donations.

School Supply Drive (February) After the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, MMS adopted an impoverished school in New Orleans that was in critical need of school supplies. This effort continues today, as the school still struggles to meet the basic needs of its students. MMS children and their families can participate in a number of ways, including donating lightly-used puzzles, books, educational toys, and costumes from their shelves and closets.

Ring Mountain Invasive Plant Removal (March) MMS teams up with rangers from the Marin County Open Space District and with families from Marin Country Day School to help remove non-indigenous, invasive weeds that are damaging the ecosystem of our beloved Ring Mountain. This is a great opportunity for children to learn about the issue of native versus non-native plants and for MMS families to get their hands dirty together for a good cause.

To support the positive steps taken by Marin Montessori School in the past few years to "green" the MMS campus, the MMS Good Works Committee also puts together a weekly Go Green! section in the Thursday Bulletin. It contains tips and suggestions for MMS families to lead more environmentally-friendly lives.

If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please contact .