Chantilly Montessori PTO
Upcoming Events:
Staff Appreciation Week: March 25-28
We are so excited to show our school’s staff how much we appreciate them and hope you will join in the fun!
Here’s the plan for Chantilly Montessori Staff Appreciation Week:
Monday 3/25 — Baked Goods
On Monday, we will provide a spread of both sweet and savory baked goods for the staff to enjoy.
Tuesday 3/26 — Healthy Snacks
On Tuesday, the staff members will snack on healthy foods provided by Chantilly families.
Wednesday 3/27 — Catered Lunch AND Flowers for staff vases
On Wednesday, the PTO will provide lunch for the staff and drink donations are needed to accompany this catered lunch.
We will also give our staff members the lovely gift of FLOWERS brought in by students. These will be collected in vases provided for each staff member.
Thursday 3/28 — Self-Care Shop!
On Thursday, we will create a "self-care shop" that each staff member will visit at some point during the school day. (Items donated in the past: small tubes of hand lotion, foot soaks, face masks, lip balm, small candles, tea bags, fancy bar soap, essential oil rollers, etc)
Please sign-up to join the fun and show our Chantilly Montessori staff how much we appreciate them: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084BA9AB23A31-48414517-staff
Any questions, please contact Alison Parrella (text: 704.737.5906 or email: alison.parrella@gmail.com).
Thanks everyone!!
Our school community has a fun tradition called THANKFUL THURSDAY. On the first Thursday of each month, we show our gratitude towards the Chantilly Montessori Staff by sending / bringing yummy baked goods and healthy snacks for them to enjoy.
All items should go to either the Main Office or the Staff Lounge. If possible, please send non-perishables on Wednesday so they can be part of the set-up early on Thursday AM.
Click here to see the dates and sign-up to contribute!
PTO Calendar 2023-2024
Visit the PTO Calendar page to see all of the events planned for this school year!
Welcome Note from Chantilly PTO President
Welcome Chantilly Montessori Families!
My name is Austin Applefield and I am honored to serve as your 2023-2024 PTO President. We are excited for another successful school year!
We encourage all parents, guardians, grandparents and other family members to join the Chantilly PTO, which simply means getting involved in some way. Getting involved demonstrates for our children the valuable lessons of responsibility and being good stewards of our community, all while supporting the educational and enrichment needs of the school. Whether you donate your time, your services, your skills, or your spirit… YOU will be the reason we are successful for our children.
Thank you for being a part of the Chantilly community and we look forward to seeing you throughout the year.
My email is always open: ChantillyPTOPresident@gmail.com
With Grace and Courtesy,
Austin Applefield
2023-2024 PTO President
About Our School
Chantilly Montessori is a Pre-K to Grade 6 Magnet School within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools public school system. For more information about our school, staff, schedules, Montessori philosophy, and the magnet school lottery process, please visit the CMS webpage for Chantilly Montessori.
ChantillyPTO.org is run by the Chantilly Montessori Parent-Teacher Organization and is intended to supplement information on the school website with additional resources for parents, teachers and school supporters.
About Our PTO
Goals
The Chantilly Montessori Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer-led organization that seeks to:
Build upon our school’s strong sense of community and work to ensure that all parents, guardians, staff members, and students feel included.
Communicate effectively with all members of our school community.
Serve as a liaison between families and school staff.
Encourage parent involvement within the PTO, which includes attendance at school events and participation in volunteer opportunities at our school.
Encourage staff engagement, with a focus on the “T” in PTO.
Fundraise to enhance our students’ educational environment and support our teachers’ classroom needs.
How will we achieve these goals?
We will :
work to recruit PTO Leadership that represents our school community.
communicate consistently through our PTO e-newsletter (the Montessori Messenger) and emails to classroom communities from room parents.
announce school events well in advance so families can plan accordingly.
offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to accommodate various interests and schedules.
work collaboratively with all Chantilly staff members.
plan and implement two primary fundraisers during each school year: Invest in Your Child (IYC) and the Parking Fundraiser.
maintain the PTO Budget and offer transparency regarding how all funds are used.
Values Statement
Individuals involved with the Chantilly Montessori PTO will treat everyone in our school community respectfully, with a particular emphasis on: peaceful interactions, collaboration, and inclusivity.
PTO Executive Board
PTO Officers
President, Austin Applefield: chantillyptopresident@gmail.com
President-Elect, Dave Nunn: chantillyptopres.elect@gmail.com
Secretary, Marie Arrington: chantillypto.secretary@gmail.com
Co-Treasurer, Anika Kim: chantillypto.treasurer@gmail.com
Co-Treasurer, Stacy Weis: chantillypto.treasurer@gmail.com
PTO Staff Representatives
Primary Team, Ms. Julia
Lower Elementary Team, Ms. Maria
Upper Elementary Team, Ms. Tamara
Special Area Team, Ms. Ann
Support Staff, Ms. Jamie
PTO Leadership Committees
Meeting Minutes
Minutes from meetings of the Chantilly PTO are available to view here.
"I heard that Chantilly Montessori is moving... What's the most recent update?"
Chantilly Future Facilities Meeting: March 2023
Held at Chantilly Montessori School on March 14, 2023 as an open meeting for all of the Chantilly Montessori community to attend.
In attendance: Dennis LaCaria (Real Estate & Capital Planning for CMS), Walter Hall (Director of Magnet Programs for the District), Sandra Noel (Principal of Chantilly Montessori), Stacy Weis (Chantilly PTO President, 2022-23), Chantilly staff members, and Chantilly Montessori parents.
Timeline for Comprehensive Plan & Construction
March 2023 - Mecklenburg County Government prepares bond package for the November ballot
Summer - Fall 2023 - Present Capital Investment Plan to Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners and local government commission
November 2023 - School Bonds on ballot for voter referendum
January 2024 - Funding available to begin design for new school buildings and renovations to be funded by Capital Investment Plan (30 projects for $2.9 Billion)
Design and build takes one year. First projects identified in this plan will not be finished until 2025 at the earliest.
Community Q&A These questions were asked by staff members and parents during the meeting. Answers were provided by Dennis LaCaria and Walter Hall.
What is the timeline for Chantilly to move into the Billingsville building?
In November we will have more clear definitions as far as move dates. The current plan is for Cotswold Elementary students to move into the Billingsville Elementary building for the 2023/2024 school year. The Cotsold building will be demolished and a new facility will be built at the Cotswold location. Currently the permitting timeline is 7 months and the new school build is 9 months. For the 2025/2026 school year, all Billingsville/Cotswold students would move to the new building at Cotswold Elementary location. Over the summer months of 2025, the Billingsville Elementary building would be renovated to meet Montessori needs (i.e. community gardens, larger classrooms, etc.). There is approximately 10 M budgeted for this renovation.
What happens if the bond does not pass?
If the bond does not pass, the top five largest issues will be pushed through with a certificate of participation. The Chantilly building is in the top five largest issues and therefore will happen regardless of whether or not the bond passes.
Will the name of our school change?
The Board of Education will determine what happens with the school name. “Chantilly Montessori” will most likely change to be named “Billingsville Montessori,” due to the history of both school names.
Is Chantilly Montessori combining with Billingsville Elementary School?
No. These programs are separate and will remain that way. Billngsville and Cotswold Elementary are a combined school already – that school community will be housed in the Cotswold Elementary School building, after it is re-built. The Chantilly Montessori School community will then move into the empty Billingsville building, after renovations. The schools are not getting combined.
How many more students should we expect in the new building?
The number of students in each class will remain the same. Currently Chantilly has a student body of 307. Next year it will be 320 students. In the new building, the goal is 400 students. The number of students in each class will remain the same as what we currently have at Chantilly and additional classes will be added in the new location (Billingsville) to reach the goal of 400 students.
We are experiencing issues retaining Montessori trained teachers. How will we find additional teachers?
We plan to implement stipends, teacher training in Charlotte, and leadership programs that receive additional pay.
How many classrooms does the Billingsville Building have?
Billingsville has 36 classrooms. The common areas are much larger. There are 15 classrooms at Chantilly.
How can Chantilly Montessori staff and families engage and provide input on the design of the new building?
In January of 2024 we will have an information session/ meeting similar to this one, where we will classify what is non-negotiable as well as what the Chantilly school community wants and needs.
We are currently experiencing issues with long bus rides that deliver students home late in the day. This school is further away from some of our homes. What will be done so that our students aren’t on the bus for hours?
There is currently a bus driver shortage. CMS has a need for 1,300 bus drivers and we currently have 900. It is possible that after the move into the new building you may have an earlier bell schedule. Bell schedules are determined by CMS transportation.
Is it possible to have meetings with the architect once the renovation plans begin? Would it be possible to get copies of the blueprints?
Yes, that is a possibility. Ms. Sandra has a field trip scheduled to tour the new building in April. She will share feedback with us as well as with you.
When the Chantilly Montessori program is moved to a new location, what will happen to the historic building and current site?
The Board of Education owns the property. The building will be demolished and it is very likely there will be a property swap with Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec.
I have more questions. Where can I get more information?
Email CMSReview23@cms.k12.nc.us
Visit www.cmsbondconstruction.com for updates on this Comprehensive Plan Review Process as well as construction updates on current bond projects.
