Multi-Age Elementary
Kindergarten through 3rd GradeOur Classrooms
Violet Classroom
4.5 to 6-Year-Olds
Goals and Class Details
Watch your child grow and flourish in the Violet Class (for 4.5 to 6-year-olds).
This class teaches children essential skills like reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It also develops social skills such as respect and caring, concepts that are taught alongside academic subjects. As a school, we believe that children should develop their mental, emotional, and physical skills all at the same time, as they bolster each other.
We recognize and value student diversity and the differences in how students learn by providing a learning environment that accommodates such diversity. We know children have their own developmental trajectories and we respect each child’s method of learning.
We want to help children be active participants in their learning experience. At this point, we want to teach them self-regulation and control of their emotions, particularly in stressful and demanding situations.
We highlight how important relationships are for healthy and happy development, and we show children how to interact and communicate with their peers. As every experience is tailored to each individual, we see amazing communication patterns emerge in our classroom.
We always respect developmentally appropriate experiences and develop instructional plans based on the students’ needs, curricular goals and models, subjects, and communities.
One of the most important and fulfilling aspects of teaching is the collaboration between students, parents, community members, and professional colleagues to support student learning and development. Through personal and group involvement, we see a wealth of relationships and cultures mingle to produce an amazing and highly supportive environment.
Teachers
Ms. Erica Aragon
Learn About Ms. Erica Aragon
Hi! My name is Miss Shayli Hart and I am excited to be one of the Green Class teachers at Maslow Academy. I am looking forward to a year of learning, fun, and adventures. I cannot wait to learn all about you—but first, let me share a bit about me.
I was born and raised in Montrose, Colorado. I am 23 years old and love life.
My education has been full of interesting experiences. I went to five different area schools. My journey started in public school until 2nd grade; then, I was homeschooled for two years. I also attended a Christian school for a while, and was an online student until 10th grade.
I finished off my schooling in Montrose at Vista Charter school, graduating in 2015. After taking a year off to work before going to college, I went to Lexington, KY to a bible college for two-and-a-half years.
All these experiences have molded my view of education. I understand the meaning of individualized learning. Through my varied experiences, I can relate to all types of learners.
I have been with Maslow and Bright Beginnings for almost four years. I started off as a substitute, and have been a teacher in four different classrooms on and off during the summers, when not attending college.
There is so much that I am looking forward to this year! Some of the topics we will explore are pets, the ocean, plants, and families. We will also learn about colors and shapes and a new letter each week. We will read many books and hopefully find some favorite authors.
I cannot wait to meet you and start the school year!
A few of my favorite things:
- Favorite color: Teal
- Favorite season: Fall
- Favorite fruit: Apples
- Favorite restaurant: Chili’s
- Favorite drink: Dunkin
- Favorite hobbies: Hiking with family
- Favorite animal: Horse
- Interesting fact: I have broken both arms a year apart!
K/1 Classroom
Advanced Kindergarten through First Grade
Goals and Class Details
Helping children become active participants in their own development is the best way to create curious and independent learners.
This is particularly true for children moving from kindergarten to primary, where academic studies increase in intensity.
Children in advanced kindergarten through to first grade need emotional and social skills to boost their learning and optimize their abilities.
At this age, children have already built some social and emotional skills and are ready to tackle more demanding academic tasks. They are introduced to the world of reading, listening, and writing, alongside math, history, geography, physical and earth sciences, music, dance, and art.
Our school is centered on offering children a stable and supportive community where each student follows his or her own learning trajectory. Although academic learning deepens, children are still young and require quality education that involves emotional and social growth.
Advanced kindergarten and first-grade students are introduced to several academic subjects. Reading, listening, speaking, and writing are essential for communication. Learning about other cultures shows children the beauty of different experiences. They also learn about math, algebra, statistics, and first grasp the concept of probabilities.
Physical, earth, and life sciences help children develop their inquisitive and curious minds and show them how habitats, animals, and humans live together across various climates.
History, geography, and economics hone children’s curiosity and perception of time and space.
Finally, subjects like music, drama, dance, and visual arts cultivate children’s creativity and individual expression.
Teachers
Ms. Tanya Hawke
Learn About Ms. Tanya Hawke
Welcome to K/1 class! My name is Tanya Hawk and I will be your child’s teacher this year.
I am very excited to start the new school year! Let me begin by telling you a little about myself.
I am a Montrose native—yep, that’s right, born and raised here. I graduated from Montrose high school (I won’t disclose the year, lol). I also attended Colorado Mesa University. This will be my ninth year teaching and my sixth year here at Maslow. I am also attending grad school at night while pursuing a master’s degree in legal studies with the hope of continuing on to law school.
I have a sixteen-year-old daughter and a wonderful fiancé named Rick. We will be getting married in January. I love spending time with my family outdoors. Camping, fishing, hiking; anything to be out in nature. I also love animals—we have two dogs, a cat, a turtle, and a goat. All of which keeps us laughing daily!
I want to thank you for sharing your child with me this year. With everything that’s going on in our world right now, things can feel a little unsettling at times. I promise I will do my best to make this school year amazing for your child.
Parent + Child + Teacher = Success!
Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have! If there is anything I can do to make this transition easier for your child, please let me know. I believe in open communication!
Mrs. Melissa Senecal
Learn About Mrs. Melissa Senecal
Hello, my name is Ms. Melissa. I am a K/1 and Primary Class Assistant Teacher who will be assisting both Ms. Tanya and Mrs. Brink this year in their classrooms.
My background is in Secondary English. I’ve volunteered in public schools, guided 9 years of homeschooling, and have worked at Maslow in various capacities for the past 7 years.
My interests involve nature, whether it be gardening, hiking, desert exploration, or forest bathing. I love plants, wild and domestic. Whenever kids ask me what my favorite animal is, I reply, “sunflower.”
I have reacquainted myself with yoga recently and enjoy practicing.
I have 2 adult sons. One is currently fighting wildfires and the other is attending Montana State University as a senior. My husband teaches English at the high school, and we share a love of language and poetry. Just give me a haiku or some beautiful imagery, and I am happy. Also, two felines live with me. They keep me on my toes, both literally and figuratively.
I am so excited to be working with your child at Maslow! I want to support you and your child in their growth and well-being in any way that I can. If you have any questions or concerns or ideas, please email me.
I’m looking forward to sharing the school year with you!
Primary Classroom
Advanced First through Third Grade
Goals and Class Details
Advanced first- through third-graders will be expanding on their previous learning and delve deeper into how our world works, breathes, functions, and progresses.
Math moves further into algebra and geometric relationships, which will be the foundation for understanding equations in future grades. Physical, earth, and life sciences study the behaviors of organisms, life cycles, weather, and seasons. They make use of children’s innate ability to observe.
In history, children are introduced to chronological order and learn how to appreciate the past and its effect on the present.
In geography, children learn about spatial awareness, world regions, and our world’s finite resources. Maps and globes are helpful items to assist children’s perception of space.
In geography, children learn about spatial awareness, world regions, and our world’s finite resources. Maps and globes are helpful items to assist children’s perception of space.
Throughout all children’s years in Maslow Academy, they learn the significance of responsible and appropriate behavior. This knowledge helps us expand on the merits of rules, rights, and responsibilities for the future citizens of the twenty-first century.
Teachers
Ms. Stephanie Brink
Learn About Ms. Stephanie Brink
Hello, 2020/2021 primary students, parents, and guardians. I am eager to begin the new school year! I think we are all ready for as much normalcy as we can create.
My name is Stephanie Brink. Other than when I went away to college, I have lived in Montrose since I was 15 years old, making this my hometown. In 2001 I earned my B.A. in Counseling Psychology. I later realized I had a deep passion for teaching and returned to school, graduating from a post-baccalaureate program with a degree in Elementary Education.
I have a 4-year-old daughter, Briar; a cat, Luna; and a dog, Wallace. My husband of 16 years has a B.S. in Geology and loves to share his knowledge with our primary students (in a once-a-year presentation). Family time is extremely important to us and we love to spend time in the mountains camping, fishing, and hiking.
My goal as a primary teacher is to teach students a variety of skills at the elementary level using differentiation to cater to each student’s learning style. In primary, every student makes continuous progress no matter their age or at what level their knowledge and skills are currently at. I believe that learning at the appropriate level of challenge is motivating and builds lifelong learners. Primary class uses multiple tools and includes a wide array of technology to encourage and engage student learning.
Communication is key to student success. I remain available to students, parents, and guardians throughout the school day and into the early evening via phone (cell: 970-765-6436), email, and REMIND—our school-wide app. I generally stop taking calls around 6 p.m. and do not have access to my email after 4:30 p.m. I will send out a REMIND invite this week. REMIND is used daily in the primary classroom and is usually the quickest and most efficient means of communication.
I look forward to meeting and talking with each and every one of you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions! Keeping the lines of communication open is very important to me. I hope to see all of you on Zoom tomorrow during our scheduled time.
Mrs. Melissa Senecal
Learn About Mrs. Melissa Senecal
Hello, my name is Ms. Melissa. I am a K/1 and Primary Class Assistant Teacher who will be assisting both Ms. Tanya and Mrs. Brink this year in their classrooms.
My background is in Secondary English. I’ve volunteered in public schools, guided 9 years of homeschooling, and have worked at Maslow in various capacities for the past 7 years.
My interests involve nature, whether it be gardening, hiking, desert exploration, or forest bathing. I love plants, wild and domestic. Whenever kids ask me what my favorite animal is, I reply, “sunflower.”
I have reacquainted myself with yoga recently and enjoy practicing.
I have reacquainted myself with yoga recently and enjoy practicing.
I am so excited to be working with your child at Maslow! I want to support you and your child in their growth and well-being in any way that I can. If you have any questions or concerns or ideas, please email me.
I’m looking forward to sharing the school year with you!