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Mrs. Wilson: An Eventful Week

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

What an eventful week we had! The children did so well with the many transitions that took place this week. I am delighted to report that our portrait day, held on Tuesday, was a resounding success. While not all the students were grinning from ear to ear, I am sincerely pleased to announce that no tears were shed during the photo session this year. On Thursday, we conducted our very first fire drill. The children comfortably held onto the walking rope as we proceeded outdoors to the field. Following that, we formed a circle and took part in our Peace Ceremony. We joined the whole school community to sing “Light a Candle for Peace” in honor of International Day of Peace.

In the classroom, the children are exploring apples further and have been introduced to farm animals. Farm animals are an excellent tool for language development as they help bridge the gap between babbling and actual words. The sounds that animals make, such as “baaa” and “moo,” help with phonological awareness by bringing together the consonant-vowel sounds.

Due to the events on Thursday, we decided to reschedule our food-tasting activity from Thursday to Friday. Typically, Thursday is the day when children participate in our food tasting. This week, the children had the opportunity to savor and explore a crisp green apple as part of this engaging activity.

Thank you goes to those who graced us with their presence at curriculum night. For those unable to attend, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any inquiries regarding our toddler curriculum.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Sara

Mrs. Hood’s: Yummy in my tummy!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

One of the main highlights of our week was our first lesson on food tasting. As children grow beyond the infant stage, they begin the journey to independence as toddlers. Many parents notice this change in their children when it comes to mealtime, as they begin to hear a resounding “No!” when it comes to eating the foods they once loved and trying new ones. In order to help families, we have integrated food tasting into our toddler program as a way to ease children into the idea of trying new foods by teaching them all about the food and encouraging them to participate as a group.

This week, we introduced some delicious red apples!

Children were really excited to see the food-tasting tray covered, especially our second-year students, who knew what was coming. The children gathered quietly around the tray as they noticed there was a surprise under the towel. To keep the mystery going, I peeked under the towel and got the children really excited and curious! There were smiles and expressions of awe at the moment I finally removed the towel that was covering the apple. This fruit was presented as a whole first, then cut in front of them, presented as half, and then served individually. In our conversation, and as the children could touch the apple being presented, we included such adjectives as cold, big, smooth, red, and tasty to keep adding to our vocabulary. Children observed while I slowly picked up a piece of apple and placed it inside my mouth, tasting it slowly and dramatically, with the purpose of encouraging curiosity and expectation when it was their turn to taste. They willingly accepted my invitation, and they all enjoyed some yummy apples. This lesson is a favorite every year, and we can’t wait to explore all the different food items on our list each week.

This week, we also celebrated our first birthday in the classroom. It’s always a joy to see those smiley faces feeling seen and cherished!

By the end of the week, we gathered as a school and celebrated the International Day of Peace. Each year, the International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world on the 21st of September. Established by the United Nations, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

On this day, Montessori schools from around the world join together to sing for peace. The song travels around the globe over a 24-hour period, starting with New Zealand and ending with the Hawaiian Islands.

Maria Montessori truly believed in peace education as she felt that world peace can only be achieved through education. In Montessori, we strive to give children the tools to live at peace with others and settle conflict in a peaceful manner.

While you enjoy some of your children’s pictures, we encourage you to put the volume up on this beautiful song and remember that each one of these little ones deserves to live in a peaceful world. So let’s work together for it!

Enjoy your weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

Mrs. Sargeant: Welcome!

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

What a week! The children have already become more comfortable in their new surroundings. They are becoming familiar with the daily routines and with each other. In just a short time, we have seen growth in the children’s interactions with each other. They are learning to communicate effectively and respectfully with their peers, and it has been very exciting to hear!

This week’s food tasting featured red apples. We discussed and examined the different parts of the apple: stem, skin, pulp, and seeds, and emphasized all the ways to describe the apple: red, crunchy, juicy, sweet, delicious, and crisp.

We’ve been enjoying singing together and taking turns to pop bubbles. ‘Five Little Monkeys’ appears to be the group favorite at the moment.

The children are slowly adapting to the playground routine. They are learning to walk in a line, using our rope, as we walk as a group through the halls all the way to the playground. This week, we joined the other toddler classes on the playground. By the end of the week, some children were eager and excited to see their new playmates.

We are thrilled to be on this enchanting journey with your children! This year will be filled with discovery, growth, and budding friendships.

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal times. Unless your child has a sibling at the primary, elementary, or middle school levels, or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for toddlers is from 8:30 to 8:45, and dismissal is at 2:45.

Wishing you all a happy weekend,

Mrs. Sargeant and Ms. Lizette

Mrs. Wilson: Getting to Know Each Other

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

 

Welcome to our first blog post for the school year 2023/24! Our children are adapting to their new surroundings and are beginning to make new friends with their peers, Ms. Sara and myself. For the past two weeks, we have focused on getting to know each other better. As part of this, we have created a family tree with photos of our families. The children have enjoyed exploring this display and learning more about each other’s families. We held up each child’s photo during our circle time while singing the attendance song. This song will be part of our daily routine each morning.

In the environment, we have materials that highlight the color red and apples. As toddlers are concrete learners, we use materials that represent the world around them, such as the seasons, and we create a relatable and engaging learning experience for the children.

Every Wednesday, Senora Ray will come in to sing and read to the children in Spanish. Senora Ray introduced her special lovey from Peru, Lola, the guinea pig, this week. Then she read a book that focused on the word Hola!

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal times. Unless your child has a sibling at the primary, elementary, or middle school levels, or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for toddlers is from 8:30 to 8:45, and dismissal is at 2:45. 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Sara

Mrs. Hood: Building trust!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

As we conclude our phase-in period, we couldn’t be more thrilled to share our enthusiasm for the incredible progress we’ve already witnessed in each of your precious toddlers! The journey has just begun, and it’s already filled with moments of discovery and growth.

As the days go by, your children are settling into their routines more comfortably. There are fewer tears at drop-off time and more moments filled with dancing and giggles throughout the morning. The children have been eagerly exploring their new learning environment, becoming more familiar with us, their peers, and the physical space around them. Our classroom is designed to nurture independence, encourage freedom of choice, and foster a deep respect for each other, the materials, and the shared space. Gradually, your children will learn how to navigate this newfound freedom while demonstrating care and consideration for one another.

We have introduced some essential ground rules. One of these rules is “Respect for Others’ Work.” While sharing is a vital concept, it is a task that most children at this age are not developmentally ready for. Instead, we encourage the idea of taking turns, promoting patience, mindfulness, independence, order, and concentration. Children are learning to assert their need for independent work by saying, “This is my work. Please don’t touch.” It’s remarkable to witness how even our youngest learners can begin mastering these valuable skills with the right guidance and encouragement.

Another important rule we’ve introduced is “We Respect our Materials.” We, as guides, model the importance of handling materials gently and with care throughout the day. When a child decides to throw a material, we gently redirect them to use one of the balls and provide simple verbal cues on how materials should be handled. Ex: “We throw a ball.” “We are gentle with our materials”. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and respect for their learning tools.

On a different note, our toddlers have had a blast exploring our outdoor space. They’ve also been practicing sitting in a community circle, bonding with our classroom pets, Lizzo and Scooter (two beautiful leopard geckos), and transitioning from place to place around the school using the rope, a.k.a. “The choo-choo train.” Some favorite songs from this week included Walking in the Jungle by Super Simple Songs, Walk Around by Nancy Kopman, The Goldfish by Laurie Berkner, and classics like The Wheels on the Bus and Old McDonald Had a Farm by Cedarmont Kids. As we have been focusing on studying the animals of the farm and their sounds, children have also loved the books Noisy Farm by Tiger Tales and The Farmyard Jamboree by Barefoot Books as some of their favorites.

Now, we invite you to please mark your calendars for an event you won’t want to miss. Join us next Thursday, September 21st, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for our Curriculum Night. This special evening will provide you with an opportunity to explore our learning environment, gain insights into our curriculum areas, and get a glimpse of the materials and experiences that will enrich your children’s educational journey. We are here to support you every step of the way, so don’t hesitate to bring your curiosity and questions with you!

Enjoy the photos,

Mrs.Hood and Ms. Mollie

Reminder: Tuesday September 19th- School Photo day

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal times. Unless your child has a sibling at the primary, elementary, or middle school levels, or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for toddlers is from 8:30 to 8:45, and dismissal is at 2:45. 

Community Building in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

It’s that time of the year again! Nothing fills my heart with more excitement than the first few weeks of school. This year was no exception, and I am thrilled to share that our first two weeks were nothing short of amazing! We kicked off the school year with a bang, playing games, engaging in numerous community-building activities, and truly getting to know each other. The energy in our classroom is infectious! I believe that this year will be filled with growth, exploration, and countless memorable moments. Together, we will navigate the challenges and celebrate our successes, creating a classroom community where every student feels valued and supported.

Here’s to a beautiful year ahead, filled with learning, laughter, and endless possibilities. I can’t wait to see how each student will shine and contribute to our classroom family. Stay tuned for more updates on our exciting journey!

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal time. Unless your child has a sibling at the middle school level or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for elementary is from 8:10 to 8:20, and dismissal is from 3:00 to 3:20. 

We are looking forward to seeing you next Thursday, September 21st, at 5:30 for Curriculum Night! 

New Beginnings in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Welcome to a new school year, Upper Elementary families! We had a fantastic first two weeks filled with getting to know each other, sharing, and learning. We even had our first birthday breakfast. Thank you to Luke’s family for joining us and bringing delicious cookies!

We have enjoyed hearing book reports on the summer reading the students completed. Each child that was ready to share, read their book report and then answered questions from their classmates. It was fun to hear about the different genres and authors that students explored during their time off.

This week, we started our history, biology, geometry, math, and spelling lessons.  In history, we began learning about humans’ closest living relatives and where humans fit into the classification of life. We discovered that humans are vertebrates, mammals, and primates. In biology, we will be learning about the vital functions of animals this year. We started our lessons by looking at the classification system and five kingdoms of life. In geometry, fourth years learned about congruent, similar, and equivalent shapes. Fifth years learned to prove and define equivalence between a parallelogram and a rectangle. We also began individual lessons and work in spelling and math. Each student has their own spelling words and has met with me to determine where their math lessons begin this year. All students are already working hard and collaborating on research and other assignments with friends.

We’ve also had a lot of fun this week with group-building games, building our class playlist, and playing on the field, playground, and in the woods of the outdoor classroom.

We are looking forward to our first field trip of the year on September 28, from 10:00-2:00. We will be going to the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport with Middle School to participate in their ropes course. Students will need a bagged lunch that day and should not bring anything that needs to be heated. I would love to have some parent volunteers join us on this trip. If you are interested, please send me an email. I will send each student’s waivers, which need to be signed, in a separate email.

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal time. Unless your child has a sibling at the middle school level or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for elementary is from 8:10 to 8:20, and dismissal is from 3:00 to 3:20. 

We are looking forward to seeing you next Thursday, September 21st, at 5:30 for Curriculum Night!

Have a wonderful weekend! For those celebrating Rosh Hashanah, Shanah Tovah!

Karen and Deb

Mrs. Doyle: Swinging Into A New Year!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

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

In just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment and the routines of our day. This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over 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 adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

Next Thursday, September 21st, from 5:30-7:00, is Curriculum Night. This is a great time to spend some time in our classroom and get a sneak peek into how our days are spent. We will discuss each area of the classroom and the structure of our days and have some time to answer all of your questions.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

As a gentle reminder, 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 in the car. Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal time. Unless your child has a sibling at the elementary or middle school level, or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for primary is from 8:20 to 8:30, and dismissal is from 3:00 to 3:20. 

Have a wonderful week!

Michelle & Maria