Blog

Mrs. Lopes: Oh The Places You’ll Go!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes


You can find magic wherever you look. So sit back and relax, all you need is a book.  

                                                                                                                                                                    —–Dr. Seuss

Read Across America is a national event celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This initiative was created by the National Education Association and implemented to encourage a love of reading in children. At FWM, we also turn that day into Pajama Day, and the children bring their favorite book to share. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

An online article from nationaldaycalendar.com has some beautiful ideas on how to motivate children to read wherever they are.

  • Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of the house, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible.
  • Visit the library often. Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide.
  • Get caught reading. Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. Whether they see you read a magazine, newspaper, or novel, let them know reading is the cool thing to do.
  • Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens up opportunities for discussion.
  • Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn!

In our classroom, we call books treasures. Reading is an integral part of each school day. I hope that Ms Hema and I can pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Happy Reading!

Amanda & Hema

Ms. Marissa: Oh The Places You’ll Go!

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

Read Across America is a national event celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This initiative was created by the National Education Association and implemented to encourage a love of reading in children. At FWM, we also turn that day into Pajama Day, and the children bring their favorite book to share.

An online article from nationaldaycalendar.com has some beautiful ideas on how to motivate children to read wherever they are.

  • Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of the house, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible.
  • Visit the library often. Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide.
  • Get caught reading. Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. Whether they see you read a magazine, newspaper, or novel, let them know reading is the cool thing to do.
  • Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens up opportunities for discussion.
  • Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn!

In our classroom, we call books treasures. Reading is an integral part of each school day. I hope that I can pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Happy Reading!

Research Night in Lower El!

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

The children were so excited all week as the anticipation of Research Night crept up. They were thrilled to share their projects with people they love deeply. The third-year students had their first public speaking experience, presenting before classmates and families. They were amazing! Although it was optional, some second- and first-year students wanted to present to their peers, too! They were all so brave! The children worked diligently and should be very proud of their work, as are we.

Have a relaxing and peaceful spring break!

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

6th and 7th Grade Research Presentations were a great send-off into spring break! Students should feel accomplished with all of their hard work preparing for this project.

Here’s what went on in classes this week:

Humanities

Grades 6 & 7 finalized their presentations and finished revising their essays this week. Some students moved on to other Humanities work when they felt prepared for research night (Grade 6- Ancient Egypt & Grade 7- A Long Walk to Water).

8th-grade Humanities classes sent off their first round of inquiries to potential experts for their final Expert Project. They also completed their final grammar assessment on complex and compound sentences. This week in US History, 8th-grade students presented on their reform topics. As we head into March break, the class will be moving into the start of the Civil War.

Science

6th-year Earth Science students have recently delved into a fascinating new unit titled Rotations, Orbits, and Seasons. This unit explores fundamental concepts in science and astronomy that are crucial for understanding the world around us. Understanding rotations, orbits, and seasons is essential as it helps students comprehend the reasons behind day and night, the changing seasons, and even the varying lengths of days throughout the year. These concepts lay the groundwork for students to appreciate Earth’s place in the solar system and how it influences life on our planet.

7th-year Physical Science students have recently started the unit on Kinetic Energy. During this unit, students will have the opportunity to apply their understanding by designing and analyzing how kinetic and potential energy are utilized in building a marble roller coaster. Additionally, they have also begun the exciting task of designing their pinewood derby cars. These cars will be tested to see how mass influences the transfer of kinetic energy.

8th-year Life Science students have recently begun the unit, Genes, where they are exploring heredity and the impact of past generations on our present lives. Currently, they are engaged in a fascinating monster genetics lab that delves into alleles, phenotypes, and genotypes to understand how these factors influence the appearance of their unique monsters. To conclude this project, students will creatively depict their monsters artistically.

Math

Pre-Transition students recently completed Chapter 7, Division Properties, which included units on the division of decimals (7.8), division of negative numbers (7.9), and solving division and multiplication equations using fact triangles (7.10). They will be moving on to their next chapter (8) on Ratios and Proportions, which are crucial in real-world applications.

Transition students finished Chapter 8 on Multiplication in Algebra, which involved units on Graphing y = ax + b (8.7), Solving c = ax + b (8.8), and Solving c ax + b (8.9). Their upcoming chapter (9) will focus on Patterns Leading to Long Division.

Algebra students are currently immersed in Chapter 10 on Linear Systems, covering units on solving systems using substitution (10.2), more using substitution (10.3), solving systems using addition (10.4), solving systems using multiplication (10.5), systems and parallel lines (10.6), as well as matrices and matrix multiplication (10.7).

The geometry class has explored triangle congruence theorems and the commonality of specific properties that quadrilaterals share. Students have applied these theorems and properties in their proofs. After the break, the class will explore perimeters and areas of triangles, quadrilaterals, and irregular figures. The end of chapter 8 concludes with exploring the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, and the arc length,  circumference, and area of a circle.

Have a restful spring break, everyone!

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

This past week was nothing short of amazing for Upper El students. After weeks of preparation, gathering information, and writing papers that were nine to fifteen pages in length, the students did a fantastic job presenting their autobiographies to a room full of families. They were poised and brave, some presenting in front of a crowd for the first time. It was indeed a proud moment for everyone involved.

Throughout this project, the children were full of joy and excitement. They spent weeks researching their family history, interviewing relatives, and writing autobiographies. The effort and dedication they put into their work were evident in the final product. Their presentations were engaging and informative, demonstrating a deep understanding of their history. They have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments.

We also managed to squeeze in time this week to create a beautiful canvas for the upcoming Saturday Night Fraser gala. Thank you, Jess and Liz, for taking the time to come in and help us create a gorgeous piece of art!

As a fun end to a week of hard work, Upper El students in Robotics class are attempting to break the world record for the longest-functioning robot! Enjoy the video below, which captured their excitement.

Lastly, I’d like to share that this was Krystin’s last week at Fraser Woods. She is now headed off to take on a new challenge as a preschool director. We’re so excited for her and are sending all our love and best wishes her way! On a happier note, we’re thrilled to welcome Deb back as our Upper Elementary assistant. We are excited for her to join us and are looking forward to all the great things she’ll bring to our classroom.

I hope you have a wonderful two weeks,
Karen

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

We have spent the first week of March listening to Irish music. The children have learned a bit about bagpipes, and many of them start to dance as soon as the music begins to play.  We’ve listened to the music from Riverdance and talked about Irish dancing. In some of the music, we listened for drums being played along with the bagpipes. The children have also enjoyed learning the names of other musical instruments such as flute, clarinet, French horn, trombone, and guitar. They have seen photos of people playing these instruments and enjoyed matching miniature replicas of these instruments to the photos. 

This week, we tasted asparagus: raw and cooked. Many of the children enjoyed the cooked asparagus. They noticed the difference in taste between the two, as well as the distinct crunch of the raw. 

We are so grateful to Angela and Michael Huttemann for working with our children to create a gorgeous collaborative handprint masterpiece, which will be available for purchase at the gala. 

Our children also had the opportunity to work with Ms. Sarah, our art teacher, to complete another project for the gala. They each pressed their fingerprints onto a ceramic vase. Upon completion, their fingerprints will look like insects crawling on its surface. We are eager to see the finished product!

We hope you enjoy some quality time with your families over the spring break, and look forward to seeing everyone back at school on March 25th.

Warmly, Christine & Lizette

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Joy, feeling one’s own value, being appreciated and loved by others, feeling useful and capable of production are all factors of enormous value for the human soul.” -Maria Montessori

The Autobiography Project is nearing completion after three months of gathering information, interviewing family members, and writing research papers. Upper El students have done an amazing job preparing to present their projects. Apart from working on their papers and slide shows, they are also preparing presentation boards. There is a real sense of accomplishment as everything is coming together after so much focused work. While working, there is a palpable sense of joy among the students, and they are enjoying learning more about each other throughout this process. I hope you appreciated the opportunity this project provided to connect and share details of your family’s history with your child.

We are eagerly anticipating welcoming you for presentations on Thursday evening. The evening will begin with oral presentations. Each student has chosen a chapter of their autobiography to present to the whole group. After the formal presentations, you will be invited to move around the room, and the children will present the rest of their autobiographies in a gallery style. Please remember the following in preparation for Thursday night:

  • Children should dress in neat attire appropriate for a formal presentation.
  • Please arrive promptly. We will begin presentations at 5:00.
  • There is no shuttle bus for this event. Please park at the school.
  • Children with siblings in middle school and lower elementary will present first.

Please check your child’s backpack for information about our overnight field trip to Nature’s Classroom. There are important documents to be filled out and returned to school, which are coming home with students today.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Karen & Krystin

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Well, folks, it is almost time for spring break! While it may not feel like spring outside quite yet, there are signs of spring manifesting in sprouting foliage, buds, and increased energy among the middle schoolers.

On the agenda for the final week before spring break is 6th and 7th grade Research Night! Please arrive at 5:50 for the 6 pm start time. Students will be separated into two mixed-grade groups and will be presenting in either Mrs. Lamb’s room OR the Math room. The program should run for about 45 minutes.

**Student presenters should be dressed to impress in business casual clothes and neat hair. Please leave sweats, torn clothes, and everyday gym shoes at home.**

Humanities

In general, Humanities classes were productive and almost entirely student-run, working through a few different tasks with each student in a different place with their own independent work. 6th and 7th-grade Humanities classes worked on revisions, presentation run-throughs, and finishing up their Black History Month gallery project. This is the culmination of Black History Month and additional learning about impactful Black Americans and topics in Black American history.

8th-grade classes this week for Mrs. Lamb included a one-on-one expert project check-in. Each student showed where they were with their research and set a goal for the next check-in. Also, the class discussed finding experts, reaching out and drafting emails, and interview questions, as these are due at the end of March. 8th grade also moved forward with their grammar unit and learned how to write and punctuate compound sentences to enhance writing. With learning how to identify independent and dependent clauses as well as complex and compound sentence structures, 8th graders will have a grammar assessment next week. This week, on the history side of Humanities, students have focused on the early reform of the 1800s in the United States. Students have been working on presentations for the class.

Math

Geometry students have been working very diligently on proving triangles congruent using four different theorems. They are “dissecting ” overlapping triangles as a means to an end. We have also started on the properties of a parallelogram and finding measurements of missing angles and sides using these properties.

Pre-Transition math students continued their exploration of division properties this week, covering units 7.6 on Flexibility using division, 7.7 on Terminating or repeating decimals, 7.8 on Division of decimals, and 7.9 on Division of negative numbers. They honed their skills in applying flexible division strategies, identifying and working with terminating and repeating decimals, accurately dividing decimal numbers while observing decimal placement, and mastering division operations involving negative numbers, comprehending the specific rules and processes in each case.
Transition math students continued to work on chapter 8 – Multiplication in Algebra, focusing on advanced topics in chapter 8. They explored combining percentages and learning how to work with percentages efficiently. Additionally, they tackled Solving ax = b, Graphing y=ax+b to visualize linear equations, and Solving c=ax+b equations involving variables, enhancing their problem-solving skills and algebraic reasoning. Finally, students grappled with the complexities of Solving c ax+b equations, honing their understanding of algebraic manipulations and equations with multiple variables.

This week in Algebra, students continued their work on chapter 9 – Quadratic Equations and Functions. They explored essential topics like Graphing y = a in unit 9.3, understanding the connection between Quadratics and projectiles in unit 9.4, learning the powerful quadratic formula in unit 9.5, analyzing solutions to quadratic equations in unit 9.6, and gaining insights into the significance of quadratics in unit 9.7. By mastering these concepts, students are one step closer to becoming proficient problem solvers in the realm of Algebra.

Science

Throughout the week, 6th-year Earth Science students continued their work on tides, exploring how the gravitational forces of the sun, moon, and Earth interact to create the rhythmic rise and fall of oceans around the globe. By understanding the relationship between these celestial bodies, students gained insight into how high and low tides are formed, allowing them to appreciate the intricate dance of nature that influences our coastlines every day.

7th-year Physical Science students have been finishing their unit, Chemical Equations and Reactions, exploring how substances interact and transform. As we transition into our next exciting unit on Kinetic Energy, students will embark on a journey to understand the conversion of energy from potential to kinetic forms. They will discover how energy can change from stored energy to energy in motion. To conclude this unit, students will engage in a hands-on project where they will design their pinewood derby car. Through this activity, they will apply their knowledge of weight, velocity, and friction to comprehend the principles of potential and kinetic energy in a real-world setting.
8th-year Life Science students have continued to work on their unit, Influencing Inheritance. Students researched and discussed how this scientific practice influences our daily lives. By researching various global issues, students have discovered the potential of genetic engineering to address a range of everyday problems faced by people across the world. From enhancing crop yields to developing disease-resistant organisms, genetic engineering presents innovative solutions that can positively impact living organisms and societies as a whole.
Have a great weekend!