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Middle School: Wrapping Up & Spirit Week

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It is an emotional time in Middle School during the last weeks. There is excitement for the upcoming summer and a break from school work, but there is also sadness over leaving friends and even the school. For our 8th graders, this was their last week at Fraser Woods. Some students joined the community in Middle School, and some in Kindergarten or Lower Elementary. While the anticipation of bigger high schools and new environments is something to look forward to, for some there is sadness and a feeling of leaving “home”.

We hope you enjoy your summer and, as always, we thank you for sharing your incredible children with us. It is truly a joy.

 

Peace & Love,

Michelle, Zak, & Megan

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Happy Summer!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

In the blink of an eye this challenging, as well as rewarding, school year has come to a close.  As we watch each child leave our classroom for the summer Mrs. Sharlene and I can’t help but remember their first days with us. It is always humbling to be a witness of the children’s growth and development throughout the school year.

While many of our children and families are returning, some will be moving on. To everyone, we wish you the best of summer and the best in the years ahead. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and cooperation throughout this journey of a school year that has been unlike any other.  We are so thankful to have gotten to spend this time with your children and know they will always have a special place in our hearts.  I will leave you with a poem that sums up our feelings at the end of the school year:

I have worked with your flower, and helped it to grow.

I’m returning it now, but I want you to know

This flower is precious, as dear as can be.

Take care of it, and you will see

A bright new bloom, with every day.

It grew and blossomed, in such a wonderful way.

In August, just a bud, then January, a bloom, now a lovely blossom

I’m returning to you.

Remember, this flower,

As dear as can be.

Though rightfully yours,

Part will always be with me!

Wishing you a peaceful, restful summer full of unforgettable memories!

Love,

Amanda and Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: What A Year!!!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we accomplished and how much each child has grown.  This year it was nothing short of amazing!!!  The 2020-21 school year was a historic one and we all deserve a summer with time to just be. We wish all of you a summer filled with peace, love, happiness and the chance to make beautiful memories.  Enjoy the time with your loved ones and may you all have a chance to relax and enjoy a calmer time of year.  Thank you for sharing your children with us and thank you for all the behind the scenes help that made our year so much smoother!

We leave you with a poem that resonates deeply with us every single year.

Whose Child Is This?      

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play.
“Mine,” said the parent with a tender smile.
“Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should.”

“Whose child is this?” I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in.
“Mine,” said the teacher with the same tender smile.
“Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school.”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door.
“Ours,” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child.
“Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever.”

—–Author Unknown

With much love,

Michelle & Lizette

Upper El – Thanks for a great year!

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” -Aristotle

When I was sharing my thoughts on the school year in class today I told the kids that they are the best class I’ve ever had. It was such an incredible blessing for me to make the move to Upper El with the fourths and to gain a bonus year with the fifths. These children are such an amazing group of humans and I am truly grateful for the time I have spent with them.

For this last post of the 2020-21 school year, I will share their advice to incoming fourths and fifths.

  • A good way to start off your year is to have a lot of confidence when you come in because that will help when making friends. It will be hard at times, but just keep on trying. Some of the work can be hard and intimidating but that won’t be that big of a problem because you can do it. Try not to leave work until later because you can forget it and end up without it. You have to make sure to do your work.
  • Here are some tips on surviving fourth grade. 1. Plan ahead. Figure out days that you will work on assignments. That way you will never have an overdue assignment. 2. Your classmates can help you, not just the teacher. Ask your classmates for help. 3. Listen to the teacher. Don’t start to daydream. Focus on the teacher, that way you can remember the assignment.
  • Don’t wait around on work next year. Ask for help if needed. You may feel like you’re the youngest and the smallest, trust me, you have a grade number that most people think of as a baby, but you have a smart and big life to come.
  • You can work as hard as you can and complete as much as you can.
  • Finish your assignments and keep a pencil in your pocket when you get your work done.
  • I think how you’re going to be successful in fourth grade is by: 1. Being kind 2. Don’t be mean to anyone 3. Bring your homework to school 4. Have fun!
  • How to have a successful school year: You need to make friends, make jokes, and just have fun.
  • One thing to know about fifth grade is that anything can happen. One day you might be on decimals but the next day you might be on multiplication. So get your work done, focus, and listen the best you can.
  • My advice to you for next year in fifth grade is do your best and even if you think you can’t do it, just try and do it in the most fun way possible.
  • Get all your work done. Don’t be behind on work. Fifth grade is exciting, fun, you learn new work like fractions and decimals. Even if you mess up, Mrs. Sankey will help you do your best.
  • Let me tell you, being in fifth grade is very fun and exciting. I loved being in fifth grade because there is a new lesson to be learned every day. Also, with a great teacher such as Mrs. Sankey, she can also help you get to new academic levels you maybe thought you could never achieve.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful children with me!  I hope you have a fantastic summer!

With love,

Karen

Ya Terminamos

Posted on by Sara Hall

We’ve ended the year in Spanish with so many exciting things happening on all levels! This has been a wonderful journey through some challenges of returning to school during a pandemic, and some incredible growth worth celebrating! I am so grateful to have experienced all of this with the Fraser Woods Community. Throughout the summer, I strongly encourage children to maintain exposure to the language, so that the transition back to school is a seamless one. Remember, if you don’t use it, you lose it! Here are some recommendations for continuing exposure to Spanish through the summer:

  • Primary: Read alouds on YouTube and songs by Super Simple Español can reinforce what we have learned so far (colors, shapes, numbers, animals, body parts).
  • Lower Elementary: Read alouds on YouTube and songs by Super Simple Español, directed drawing videos, podcasts or audiobooks, word searches. 
  • Upper Elementary: Read alouds on YouTube, directed drawing videos, podcasts or audiobooks. Students will also be bringing home a year’s worth of Scholastic’s ¿Qué Tal? Magazine and they have access to the eBook platform Flangoo through June 30th.
  • Middle School: Read alouds on YouTube, directed drawing videos, podcasts or audiobooks. They have access to the eBook platform Flangoo through June 30th. There are also age-appropriate shows on Netflix in Spanish.

Some websites and resources I have used throughout the year: 

www.spanishplayground.net 

https://revistaliteral.com/ 

www.conjuguemos.com 

www.quizlet.com 

Check out the music we’ve covered in our classes: 

Primary

Elementary

Middle School

Approaching the End of the School Year

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

Another school year is quickly coming to an end. For those of you with children in toddler, primary and elementary, I’m sure you’re amazed at how your children have blossomed as the year has gone by. We share both joy and tears as our elder Montessori students move to the next level. 

As Montessori teachers we stay true to our traditions of celebrating the community and bringing closure to the school year by honoring the students’ achievements with recognition of the time spent in their current level.

For the parents of our graduating 8th years, you are probably filled with mixed emotions of joy and bittersweet sentiment as your child prepares to leave FWM and move on to high school. 

When I talk to parents, I often hear them say how quickly time “flies” and how it seems “just like yesterday” their children began their educational journey.  

With 8th year graduation, moving up, and bridge-crossing ceremonies planned for the week ahead, our students, their parents, and their teachers have much to celebrate!

I hope you spend time this long weekend celebrating your child and family. Please take a moment this Memorial Day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Virtual Art Show

We are thrilled to present FWM’s second Virtual Art Show! We invite and encourage you all to click through each of the icons in the gallery to see the beautiful creations done by the children. At the end of the virtual art show, please continue through the slide show to see photos of our young artists at work!

Mrs. Hood’s Class: Water Blast!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

The big highlight of this week was definitely our water day! The weather couldn’t have been more perfect! 

Our playground was set up in different stations so children could choose what they wanted to do. There was water ball basketball, fishing, boats, bubble making (of course),  finger painting, water paint roller,  and a super fun splash pad that brought so much joy and laughter to your children. After having a great morning in the sun we closed with a super yummy popsicle! 

After everything I realized that I didn’t take many pictures, but then I remembered  that it was because I was getting soaked and having a blast with all of them 🙂 I couldn’t skip the fun! 

A big thanks to all the parents and staff  that supported us in making this morning a success but specially to Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Sara for all their hard work! 

Enjoy a couple of pictures  and we hope you enjoy the nice long weekend. 

Best, 

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

Lower Elementary Field Day Mania!

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

The kids had a blast participating in field day this past Wednesday! In overheard conversations, it was the “best day of school ever!” Thanks to Mrs. Pascarella for coordinating and setting up such exciting activities that also involved team work, cooperation and good sportsman ship. Some of those activities include; sponge relay race, egg and spoon relay race, water balloon toss, potato sac race, tug of war, ducks in a pond, and pool kickball. I even had a great time capturing these moments of excitement and laughter.

Below are the themes for spirit week:

Tuesday, 6/1

Pajama Day

Choose your favorite, cozy pajamas

Wednesday, 6/2

Lower El & Upper El: Wacky Wednesday!

Different shoes? Funky hair? Come to school with any style you consider wacky.

Thursday, 6/3

Sports Day!

Wear your favorite jersey, or uniform!

Friday, 6/4

Movie Day!

Dress up as your favorite movie character! (No costume masks please)