Blog

Mrs. Hood’s class: See you Later, Alligator!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Looking through this school year’s pictures I cannot stop the overwhelming feeling of thankfulness!  I know I have said it before, but I need to say it one more time: Thank you for entrusting us with your little ones and walking next to us to give them the best experience each day!
We give them back to you pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more independent, confident and mature than they were back in September. They did themselves a great job unfolding and growing each day and we feel honored to have witnessed it. They, for sure, will continue to be part of our lives. Even though some of them will be moving up a level, remember that we will always be interested in your children and their destiny-wherever they go, whatever they do and whoever they become.

They are truly precious to us!

We hope you all have a wonderful summer! See you in the Fall!

Enjoy the contrast pictures of the first weeks and the last weeks of school!

A Year of Changes and Growth

Posted on by Sara Kasbarian

 

Where to begin!  This week was fast and furious (kinda like a toddler)!  We started off with Field Day, which the children truly enjoyed.  Celebrated a friends birthday, finalized a special gift, and ended our week with our toddlers crossing the bridge ceremony.  What a special day it was!  As you could tell, the children were so excited for this moment.  They had the opportunity to practice, but it wasn’t the same without all of your presence.  That is what brought true joy to that moment!  Thank you for being there to celebrate the children.  See you in the fall!!!

As we all know our toddlers grow leaps and bounds in short amounts of time.  Sometimes it is subtle and goes unnoticed and other times you catch yourself admiring the changes you see before you.  Drink it all in, enjoy the moments no matter how big or small.  I know I can speak for all the teachers that had the joy and pleasure of guiding your children through this year of growth by saying it was a complete honor and privilege! Thank you for entrusting us with your most precious gifts.  Enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing more changes when you return in the fall!

Happy Father’s Day to all our Dads!  Hope you have a special day and enjoy your small token of love.

 

Over the Summer

Continue to encourage independence at home:

  •         Offer your child opportunities to make choices. For example, when wanting to play, give your child two materials or activities to choose from.
  •         Encourage your child to continue pouring water and serving food.
  •         Allow your child to continue practicing putting shoes on and taking them off.
  •         Model how to make the bed, fold laundry, sweep the floor, and wash the dishes so your child learns how to do these things.
  •         When working/playing, please limit interruptions so your child can concentrate.
  •         When your child is learning something new, remember to allow lots of time to practice and allow her to do it her way as long as it is safe and within your rules.

 

Ms. Kayser’s Class: How Time Flies…

Posted on by skayser

Can anyone believe that it is the last day of school? I feel like it was just yesterday that the students were walking into the classroom for the very first time. I spent some time looking back at all the pictures from the first few weeks of school, and couldn’t help but smile. I wanted to share some of my favorite photos with you so you could also take a trip down memory lane. I also added the pictures from field day this week; to see the difference in the children is breath-taking. Even in pictures, you can see how much they have changed. The students have all grown both physically and emotionally. Each one has a new found confidence in themselves and their abilities that I hope will follow them throughout their whole life. Although some of them may not be returning to the class next year, we are blessed to have been apart of their lives. We have no doubt they will continue on and make their mark on the world.

I want to thank everyone for such an unforgettable year. The memories we have made will surely be in our hearts for years to come. We hope everyone has a safe and fun summer! Please keep in touch and let us know how everyone is doing on their new adventures outside of Fraser Woods.

Love,

Ms. Kayser and Ms. Alli

More Ways to Prevent Summer “Brain Drain”

Posted on by Chris Robertson

Below are some additional resources for preventing “Brain Drain” that can happen with children during a hiatus from school.  Have a wonderful summer!

Kids can lose some serious ground in reading and math over the break thanks to the dreaded summer slide. But not this year! These super-easy activities are guaranteed to keep your child’s mind powered up all season long.

1. Sneak in Some Science

Try these 3 easy experiments that will give kids a lesson in biology and physics.

2. Kid-Friendly Summer Goals

Want to give your kiddo a head start on homework? Have her learn time-management skills when school’s not in session.

3. Start a Kids’ Book Club

Whether your child’s a bookworm or a struggling reader, sharing a book with others is way more fun than reading solo.

4. Easy Ways for Families to Exercise

These tips will make it easy for your whole family to slip in a workout in the back yard or the park.

5. Make Any Car Trip Go Faster

You won’t have to hear a constant chorus of “Are we there yet?” with these apps and old-school counting games.

6. Flash Cards That Make Learning Fun

These brain-building cards have plenty of puzzles, quizzes, and fun facts to amuse your little learner, no matter what grade she’s in.

7. Skill-Boosting Board Games

All board games can teach kids to focus and follow directions. But these games are tops for teaching many classroom-worthy skills at the same time.

__________________________________________________________________

Happenings & Events

Posted on by Alison Kistner

Field Day is Tuesday, June 4th
Toddler: 9:00-9:30am (Toddler parents are welcome to participate with their Toddler)
Primary: 9:30-11:00am
Elementary: 1:15-2:45pm
This event is for the students, but parents are welcome to watch from the sidelines and cheer! This is a day of sports, challenges, and lots of fun, Montessori style.

Toddler Crossing the Bridge Ceremony is Thursday, June 6th -10:15-11:00am. The ceremony begins in the zen garden with Crossing the Bridge and is followed by a gathering on the Toddler playground (weather permitting).

Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony is Thursday, June 6th – 1:00pm. The ceremony is held in the the zen garden. Families of our Kindergarten students are invited to this very special moving up ceremony.

8th Year Commencement is Thursday, June 6th – 5:00pm. held at the Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, Newtown. All are invited to attend. Parking is available on Main Street. Reception immediately following in the lower level of the Meeting House.

Last Day of School is Friday, June 7th. All school early dismissal at 11:30am. No after care program. 

Have a wonderful summer! See you in September!  

“Let Nature be your teacher”

Posted on by Chris Robertson

In college, I was inspired by the poets of English Romanticism.  One of my favorites is William Wordsworth whose poetry made me think differently about the relationship between people and nature.  Recently, while reading some of Wordsworth’s works, I came across a poem that seemed fitting as we begin summer vacation.  Interestingly, the actual message in the poem is more relevant to children in a traditional learning environment; however, the overall meaning is Montessori in nature and a good reminder to our FWM families.

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and enjoyable summer!

Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books;
Or surely you’ll grow double:
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks;
Why all this toil and trouble?
The sun above the mountain’s head,
A freshening lustre mellow
Through all the long green fields has spread,
His first sweet evening yellow.
Books! ’tis a dull and endless strife:
Come, hear the woodland linnet,
How sweet his music! on my life,
There’s more of wisdom in it.
And hark! how blithe the throstle sings!
He, too, is no mean preacher:
Come forth into the light of things,
Let Nature be your teacher.
She has a world of ready wealth,
Our minds and hearts to bless—
Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health,
Truth breathed by cheerfulness.
One impulse from a vernal wood
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and of good,
Than all the sages can.
Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;
Our meddling intellect
Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things:—
We murder to dissect.
Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.
__________________________________________________________________

After School: Magnificent May

Posted on by Rebecca Faust

 

May was an exciting month with fun and games played by all! Enjoy the pictures we gathered throughout the month.

We have enjoyed getting to know every student a little more each day. We wish you and your family a wonderful summer!

Best,
Mrs. Rebecca Faust
rfaust@fraserwoods.com
Director of After School

Climbing, Running, Jumping, and Swinging….. Perfecting our Gross Motor Skills!

Posted on by Sara Kasbarian

“Play is the work of a child”- Maria Montessori

The children put their gross motor skills to work investigating the larger playground that will be their very own next year.  Gross motor skills work the large muscles that are important for walking, running, sitting and other activities. There were many new things to learn and explore that encouraged the children to use those large muscles!  They enjoyed the swings, climbing rocks, more space for running and jumping from petal to petal.  On their own playground they put their muscles to work some more, by climbing trees, running with dump trucks, balancing on the border of the sandbox and sliding!  The children were exhausted from their all hard “work”!

In the classroom the children were able to have a tasting of raw broccoli.  Most enjoyed (in case you’d like to serve it up)!  Some words they used to describe it was bumpy, green, soft, and crunchy.

We have been talking about the life cycle of a frog, discussing the different stages of them (egg, tadpole, froglet, and adult frog). I was able to bring in some tadpoles for the children to look at.  We have noticed that they have grown in the two days we have had them, but it is unlikely for us to see them change into frogs.  So we will just enjoy them for now!

 

Upcoming Events:

June 4th- Field Day

June 6th- Bridge Crossing Ceremony-email to follow