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Mrs. Semmah’s Class: Greetings!

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Greetings!

We welcomed new friends and families this year (myself included!). The first week of the phase-in period helped the children with the transition to the new classroom. It is an absolute pleasure meeting your children, seeing their smiles, and getting some heart-warming hugs. This phase-in period is so helpful for a smooth transition for your children and for feeling safe in a new environment and getting to know their new teachers. The children were curious to explore the Montessori materials and share them with their friends. It was amazing to observe the children’s transition during this first week.

Thank you for all your support and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year!

Enjoy these back-to-school pictures!

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Semmah and Ms. Sara

A Wonderful Return to School

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

Dear Families, 

As we complete our first (short) week of the 21-22 school year I want to take a brief moment to say thank you. Thank you for your patience as we work through any delays in the arrival and dismissal line, thank you for your support, and thank you for all you are doing at home to encourage and support the children to be ready for school each day. 

The children, especially our youngest students who are phasing in, have had such a remarkably smooth transition. I believe it is because all our students know that they have the unconditional support of their teachers, empowering them to ask questions when they are unsure, or to seek guidance when they feel they need it, further building their confidence and coping skills.  

With school in full swing next week, your children will likely be tired at the end of the day until they build up their stamina. You may want to consider bringing bedtime forward until they adjust. Sometimes parents see more tears at the beginning of the school year. This is fairly typical and may simply mean your child may need some extra attention and reassurance for a while. 

Below are a few reminders for a successful school year… 

Dress Code – For Middle School and Upper Elementary students, please review the dress code that is in the Parent Handbook. All parents are responsible for reading the Parent Handbook. 

COVID-19 Updates – We continue to follow the guidance coming from the State of CT, which remains an integral part of our FWM Healthy Initiatives.  We will continue to monitor local health metrics, review in-school data, and work closely with our school nurse and COVID-19 Coordinator to make appropriate, reasonable changes as we are permitted to do so in the future. 

I would also like to share with you why we believe Montessori is so valuable:

Maria Montessori created a curriculum we call the cultural curriculum. The cultural curriculum is grounded in the study of humanity, geography, and the interdependence of all living things. 

A Montessori education presents the world from “whole to part” which is an uncommon presentation. Typically, schools begin with the smallest aspect and try to expand as a child’s understanding grows. Dr. Montessori viewed the child as a piece of a greater whole and called upon us as educators to provide the children with BIG impressions about the world and human race in its entirety.

Children learn to recognize the basic needs of all people while learning to appreciate the diversity with which cultures around the world satisfy those human needs. 

Montessori children learn all they have in common with other people in the world, while at the same time, honoring individual differences. Dr. Montessori’s curriculum teaches basic human rights like freedom, dignity, safety, and equitable treatment for all. 

The classrooms are created on the principles of education and social justice. Montessori education fosters curiosity and respect for people across the continents, with an emphasis on the interconnectedness of all life.

The world of education has so much to gain from Maria Montessori’s unique view of the child and the classrooms we work to create for them. 

“…is no small undertaking, it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori Education and Peace – Address in Copenhagen May 1937 

Please remember that I am always available to you. I sincerely welcome your conversation any time.

Warm regards,

Gina

Welcome Back!

Posted on by pduttkunzweiler

We would like to welcome back all of our returning children and families and extend a warm welcome to all of our new children and families.

September is always a time of excitement, yet with that comes anxiety and nervousness for many children and parents alike. We will do our best to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible and to ensure that each child feels loved, respected, and safe. Our peaceful school and caring teachers and staff go the extra mile to provide a welcoming environment. Our goal at FWM is for every child to leave with a life-long love for learning, the ability to collaborate with others, and the confidence, courage, and compassion to excel in life. Please contact me if you have any concerns.

I leave you with a poem,

A Poem for Parents: Nothing
When children come home at the end of the day,
The question they’re asked as they scurry to play is,
“What did you do at school today?”
And the answer they give
makes you sigh with dismay.
“Nothing, I did nothing today!”
Perhaps nothing means
that I played with blocks, counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted or learned to tie my shoe
Or learned what happens when you mix red and blue
Maybe I learned to tuck in my chair and put my work away
Or maybe I learned to be kind to a friend while I was playing outside today,
Maybe my scissors followed a line and I learned to write my name.
Maybe I learned some sounds or numbers or learned to play a new game,
Maybe I made a craft or sang a song from beginning to end,
Or maybe I learned to play with a special, brand new friend.
When you’re in preschool
And your heart has wings, “Nothing” can mean so many, many things.
(Author Unknown)

Upper El – Off to a Great Start!

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Welcome to a new school year! We had a great first week of school – getting to know new friends, establishing classroom and school routines, and building community by having fun.

We had our first of many weekly community meetings this week. We had two topics for discussion: deciding what our classroom jobs and responsibilities will be this year and drafting our Upper Elementary Rights and Responsibilities. Next week, we will each sign our class Rights and Responsibilities, agreeing to do our best to abide by each of them. Taking care of our classroom environment is another valuable part of our Montessori experience, and each week, students will share in that responsibility, taking turns doing each of our classroom jobs.

Four students shared their summer reading book reviews this week. We are looking forward to hearing the remaining reviews in the coming weeks. (If you need any guidance about this assignment that was sent home during the summer, please reach out and we can chat about the details.) The children were excited to have their first work cycle this week, during which they each had a spelling assessment, worked independently and with friends, some even already starting research on topics of interest.

I hope you have a nice weekend! It’s great to be back!

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Swinging Into A New Year!

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

 

 

While our first week was a short one, it was also a very successful one. We know that the phase-in schedule can be difficult to manage but it really does allow us to set the tone for the year.  So, thank you for your patience and understanding.

It just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment as well as the routines of our day.  This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over the course of the year. We had a very smooth start and we are so excited to be part of this journey with all of the children and all of you!

The old adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Michelle & Liset

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Off to a Great Start!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

“A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges.  The slate is clean and anything can happen.” -Denise Witmer

Even though our first week was short, you will see in the pictures how busy the children were!  We were impressed with how easily the children acclimated to the classroom environment, and the excitement of a new school year filled Ms. Heather and I with joy.  We look forward to working with you and your children this year!

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Amanda and Heather

Mrs. Hood’s Class: And So the Adventure Begins!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Welcome families!

As we end our first week of the phase-in period, we couldn’t be happier and more amazed with the progress we have already observed in each of your toddlers! It has been a pleasure getting to know each new student and a true joy watching our returning students settling so beautifully. This continues to be a special time of striving to create a peaceful and welcoming environment for your child as this is an important stabilizing period where the children and Guides get to know one another.

Children have been exploring the learning environment and getting familiar with the physical space. Our environment is a place where independence, freedom, and choice of materials are the rule. The children will gradually learn how to handle this choice and freedom while respecting and caring for each other, the materials, and the classroom!

We want to thank you for all your support and for entrusting us with your precious jewels. It’s going to be an awesome school year!

Enjoy the photos!

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

Middle School: A Great Beginning

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

What a great first (short) week back to school. We would like to welcome all new Middle School students and families and say, “Welcome back!” to those returning. It is exciting to have middle schoolers safely back at lockers, rotating classrooms, and becoming one cohort. We worked this week on forming the group and making connections.

Please look for an email from Ms. Sutherland regarding the flower schedule. Part of a Montessori classroom is maintaining its beauty. We have fresh flowers in the classrooms throughout the school, provided by students in each class. When it is your child’s week to bring in flowers, we ask for two bouquets that will be divided and arranged by your child in school among the three MS classrooms.

Enjoy the pictures from these first few days! We are pumped for this school year!

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Lamb, Mr. Brown, & Ms. Sutherland