Blog

Halloween Fun!

Posted on by Karen Sankey

This week we enjoyed cooperative activities while celebrating Halloween. The children worked in groups of four and each group was led by a third grade student. They discussed and planned the designs for carving their pumpkins. First they discussed and came to an agreement as a group, then they sketched their plan out on paper. The following day, they made their sketches on pumpkins. After sketching their plans, they cut, scooped, and carved their pumpkins. This annual Lower Elementary activity is a wonderful way for the children to practice cooperation and compromise.

We had a great time wearing our costumes to school and participating in the Halloween parade through the hallways of school. The primary and toddler children lined the hallways to watch the parade as elementary and middle school students proudly displayed their costumes.

In continuing with our biology lessons, the third year students had the opportunity to visit the middle school science lab. Mr. Brown expanded on their initial lesson on seaweed and the children learned to use the microscopes to look at the cells of seaweed plants. They enjoyed their lesson with Mr. Brown and we look forward to more visits to the science lab throughout the year as the third year students continue their study of plants.

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Stop And Smell The Pumpkins!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. Who knew this squat symbol of fall was ripe with opportunities for learning?

This week your children explored the life-cycle of a pumpkin. They read books and authored stories of their own. We used math to estimate the number of seeds and measure the circumference of our class pumpkin. We carved, then smelled, touched and baked the treasures found inside our pumpkin. Your children had fun exploring and learning from nature.

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. We have enjoyed sharing pumpkins in a new light. A seasonal hands-on learning experience that supports math, science, sensory, and language development, as well as curiosity.

Take time to stop and smell the pumpkins!

Enjoy your week!

Michelle & Jeannine

Music Time!

Posted on by Yun-Kyung Kim

All of the Lower Elementary students were experiencing and exploring musical concepts, which are meter, rhythm, beat, pitch, and melody.  Third year students learned the meter of the song, exploring where the bar line lies, experiencing the phrase of the song. Second year students learned pitch of the musical note by singing ‘Sorida’ and moving with Kodaly Hand signs (Do Re Mi…).  First year students experienced beat and rhythm through chanting, singing, and dancing with the song ‘Welcome to Music’.

Mrs. Carroll’s Class: Stop And Smell the Pumpkins!

Posted on by Cindy Carroll

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. Who knew this squat symbol of fall was ripe with opportunities for learning?

This week your children explored the life-cycle of a pumpkin. They read books and authored stories of their own. We used math to estimate the number of seeds and measure the circumference of our class pumpkin. We carved, then smelled, touched and baked the treasures found inside our pumpkin. Your children had fun exploring and learning from nature.

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. We have enjoyed sharing pumpkins in a new light. A seasonal hands-on learning experience that supports math, science, sensory, and language development, as well as curiosity.

Take time to stop and smell the pumpkins!

Enjoy your week!

Cindy & Sharlene

Mrs. Lopes’ Class: Stop and Smell the Pumpkins!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. Who knew this squat symbol of fall was ripe with opportunities for learning?

This week your children explored the life-cycle of a pumpkin. They read books and authored stories of their own. We used math to estimate the number of seeds and measure the circumference of our class pumpkin. We carved, then smelled, touched and baked the treasures found inside our pumpkin. Your children had fun exploring and learning from nature.

Pumpkins can be found everywhere in October. We have enjoyed sharing pumpkins in a new light. A seasonal hands-on learning experience that supports math, science, sensory, and language development, as well as curiosity.

Take time to stop and smell the pumpkins!

Enjoy your week!

Mrs. Lopes and Ms. Vigue

1st Year LED Wands

Posted on by Danielle Ulacco

 

1st Year students had their first lesson on circuitry today. Together we created LED Wands, or as the students called them, light sabers, flashlights, and halloween glow sticks!

Materials used:

  • LED Diodes
  • Coin cell batteries
  • Copper tape
  • clear tape
  • craft sticks
  • binder clip

During our MakerSpace class we discussed the legs of the diode, positive versus negative, what conducts electricity, and what is conductive. I am looking forward to expanding their knowledge of circuits throughout the last few weeks of this trimester.

Important Information & Events

Posted on by Alison Kistner

Parent Communication Survey Thank you to those parents that have taken the time to complete the recent communication survey. If you have not had a chance to complete the survey, we would love to receive your feedback. The survey can be found here.

Volunteers Needed Tuesday, October 29th – 9am.-12pm. to pack up the book fair tomorrow, Tuesday, October 29th from 9-12 in the Commons.

Book Fair Thank you to those that supported this year’s book fair through purchases and volunteering! We greatly appreciate your support! While the in school book fair ends tomorrow morning at arrival only for last minute purchases, the online book fair runs until October 30th. All purchases made online will support FWM! Click here for the online bookstore, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the button: “shop now”.

Halloween Parade on Thursday, October 31.  All parents, caregivers, and friends of FWM are invited to watch FWM’s Halloween Parade.  The parade will include students in grades 1 through 8.  Please meet in the back athletic field at 9am.

11:30am Early Dismissal on Thursday, October 31.  In order to allow time for teachers and staff to prepare for the Montessori Schools of Connecticut Annual Conference that is being held at FWM on Friday, November 1st, school will end at 11:30am on October 31st; there is also no After School Program.  There will be over 300 Montessori educators from Connecticut and surrounding states attending the conference on Friday!

Guidelines for Halloween by Level

For Toddler ONLY:

On Thursday, October 31st the toddlers will continue with their daily routine.  Children at this level won’t be wearing costumes but are invited to wear Halloween type clothing (images of Halloween or other clothing decorated with autumn themes).

For Primary ONLY:

On Thursday, October 31st Primary will be participating in autumn activities in the classroom.  Children at this level won’t be wearing costumes but are invited to wear Halloween type clothing (images of Halloween or other clothing decorated with autumn themes).

For Lower/Upper Elementary and Middle School ONLY:

On Thursday, October 31st the Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School children will participate in a Halloween Parade at 9am.  They will also have Halloween parties in their classrooms; each level will have their own time and method for celebrating.   Costumes are encouraged and children should wear their costumes to school.  Please make sure your child has a change of clothes so they can change into to dress down clothes after their parties.  Below are some guidelines for costumes:

  • No weapons or accessories
  • No costumes that denigrate a particular gender, culture, or religion
  • No gory masks (e.g. blood dripping down)
  • If wearing face paint, please have your child bring in wipes to help remove the make-up

Volunteer Opportunity Monday, November 4th – 4-5pm. Hosted by the FWM Parent Community Service Committee Join us after school next Monday at Silverman’s Farm in Easton to collect fallen apples for donation to various local social service organizations in town (FAITH Food Pantry, Nunnawauk Meadows, etc.). We’ll meet in front of the store at 4:00pm. Please bring your own baskets(s) to carry the apples you and your family collect. Please RSVP to Brooke Hopkins: brookepash@gmail.com so that we have an accurate headcount.

Volunteer Opportunity Saturday, November 9th – 9am.-12pm. Hosted by the FWM Parent Community Service Committee at Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown for a morning of fun, contribution, and exploration for the whole family!

As a group, we will be:

  • Winterizing the raised beds with cover crops (hay and leaf mulch) to help protect and prepare the soil for planting next year (both pollinator plants and vegetables for donation!).
  • Assisting the meadow restoration project by mulching the garden and sanctuary pathways with wood chips.
  • Moving some of the seasonal equipment into the barn.

The CVH crew has a fun project planned for the little helpers in addition to a Kindness Rock painting station.

We are asking for donations of gardening tools and gloves to supply the Sanctuary with for their upcoming seasons.  Small shovels and hand tools to work the raised beds as well as full size pitch forks, rakes, and shovels.  Kid size tools are also welcome!  It will be a learning station for years to come.

Questions regarding this event? Please email: parentassocation@fraserwoods.com and they will direct you to the appropriate person(s).

Mrs. Carroll’s Class: To Infinity and Beyond!

Posted on by Cindy Carroll

We are beginning our study of the solar system. Bringing some of the wonders of the universe to the children is exciting and one of their favorite units that we study. By nature, children are inquisitive, observant, and eager to learn about the world around them.  A child’s concrete thinking, understanding, and desire to label and name everything they learn about makes this a wonderful unit of study.

We begin by discussing what the children think the Solar System is. We know that as we look up at the sky during the day we can see the sun and at night time we can see the moon, stars, and some planets.  We learned about the largest star, the sun.  It is made of gas and gives us light and heat. Our sun is the center of our solar system, with planets circling around it.  The children then learned the names of the planets, in order from the sun.  We also learned fun facts about each planet and will do hands-on activities to explain revolution and rotation.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Cindy & Sharlene