Blog

Peak into Toddlers’ Music Class

Posted on by Yun-Kyung Kim

 

The effects of music on children are magical. Music can be both energizing and calming. Toddlers learn by watching others tapping, shaking, always experimenting with the environment as well as their voices motivated by what they hear. Music supports social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. 

In our Toddler music class, children gather together to do all of the activities that are described above within the musical structure that is provided. By listening and singing along, they learn to sing in tune and how to keep the beat. By playing instruments, they are improving fine motor skills. By moving with musical cues, gross motor skills are enhanced. By participating, creativity and self-expression get inspired and blossom.

These are some moments to witness the wonders of the music class!

Middle School: Impermanence

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

On Thursday, the middle school took a short walk through FWM’s trails to the Resiliency Center of Newtown. This week, visiting Buddhist Monks completed a sand mandala in honor of Jeremy Richman.

Ms. Reid taught all of her middle school art students about this ancient traditional practice in her classes a few months ago. In Humanities classes, we are constantly learning about the beauty and importance of diverse cultural traditions. This experience brought meaning to the content in our classes.

While there, we were fortunate enough to be welcomed into the space to sit and observe this Tibetan Buddhist practice. One of the monks explained the entire process to us, the philosophy, and allowed the students to ask questions.

It is common for people to be shocked that after about 40 hours of work to complete the beautiful and intricate piece, a ceremony is done and it is dismantled. The meaning behind this part of the practice is invaluable: impermanence. The idea is that there is beauty in creation and compassion for the process, but we must be mindful that not everything is permanent in life.

During Poetry Tuesday last week, the 6th years read Robert Frost’s,”Nothing Gold Can Stay”. The 6th years connected this to the mandala and its purpose while we reflected on our visit. I posted the poem at the end of the post.

I am grateful we were able to view the mandala and speak to the monks at the Resiliency Center of Newtown. It was not only beautiful and emotional to witness, but moving for me to see the students in awe of something that holds so much meaning.

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold. 
Her early leaf’s a flower; 
But only so an hour. 
Then leaf subsides to leaf. 
So Eden sank to grief, 
So dawn goes down to day. 
Nothing gold can stay.

Mrs. Thomas: More Fun Work in Action!

Posted on by Stephanie Thomas

We are thrilled to be outside more and more each day! As the children play on the playground, they are noticing the buds on the trees and bushes and how the leaves of the tulips and daffodils are pushing up through the flower beds.

Inside, the shelves are filled with materials reflective of the new season. We have books about birds, caterpillars, and butterflies to enjoy. Plastic eggs have been hidden in Easter grass for the children to find and place into an egg carton and then do all over again. White construction paper butterflies become colorful as the children decorate them with Do-a-Dot markers. Little golden eggs are transferred from one silver bowl to another with a ladle. And brightly colored woolen flowers are transferred with small tongs.

We have also put the doll house away and brought out the barn. The children love playing with the cow and calf, the sheep and lamb, the duck and ducklings. A horse, goat, turkey, and two cats round out the animals in the barn. It is such a joy to watch their imaginative play blossom with this new cast of figures and to hear them learn the adult and baby names of these animals.

We added another sensory bin to the environment this week. Small items are hidden in rice for the children to find. They LOVE running their fingers through the rice…such a fun sensation! As they find these items, they are learning their names such as “spring”, “knob”, “cog”, and “anteater”.

Next Thursday is our Toddler Parent/Child Morning. An email will be sent out soon with more details.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Head, Thorax, Abdomen!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

We are hard at work becoming entomologists.  This is always a favorite unit of study for the children.  An entomologist is a scientist who studies insects. We began our unit by reporting on what we already know about insects, what they are and what they can do.

This week as a class, we discovered that insects are slimy, little, gross, soft, and hard. Insects can crawl, sting, bite, eat, fly, walk upside down, and jump. We learned that insects lay eggs, have antennae, three main body parts, a head, thorax and abdomen, eyes, and six legs. Insects are also cold blooded, have an exoskeleton, and many have wings. We found out why a spider is not an insect. Ask your child to see if he or she knows.

We also welcomed five tiny caterpillars to our classroom. It is so exciting to observe each step of the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Right now our caterpillars are busy eating,  spinning silk and growing bigger every day. During this incredible period of growth, they will shed their exoskeletons four times and grow more than ten times their original size! When they have finished growing, the caterpillars will climb to the top of the cup. Once there, they will hang from the paper disk in a “j” shape under the lid. They will shed their exoskeletons one last time  before they pupate and form a chrysalis.

Have a wonderful week!

Michelle & Sonja

Parent-Child Morning Success!

Posted on by Stephanie Thomas

FWM’s Parent-Child Morning was a huge success! It was such a pleasure to see the children’s faces lit with pure joy while sharing their special environment and activities with you.

The last time you were all in our room was in September for Phase-In. Your children have grown so much in such a short period of time, haven’t they?

For those of you unable to attend, several parents stepped in and worked with your children, much to their delight. This class is one big happy family!

And although I’ve already written this before, thank you all again for your unwavering support this year, especially during this last week.

Much love to you all!

Stephanie

Happenings and Events

Posted on by Alison Kistner

Toddler Parent & Child Morning on Thursday, April 11th from 10:30-11:30am.   Toddler Parents/caregivers will have an opportunity to work with their child in their classroom.  Parking for this event is at the school.

IMPORTANT: No after school care is offered this Friday, April 12th.  There is a 3pm dismissal for all full day students.

25th Annual FWM Auction Gala “Havana Nights” on Friday, April 12th from 6:30-11:30pm.  at The Waterview, Monroe, CT 

Art Show on Wednesday, April 17th from 3:30-5:30pm.  Please come to the Commons to see Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School student artwork. Ms. Reid, the art teacher, will be present to answer questions.

Pizza & Salad Dinner on Wednesday, April 17th from 5:00-6:00pm.  The Middle School students will be serving pizza, salad, and drinks to the community.  Please come support the students and enjoy a meal with your family.  All are invited!  Please park at Sand Hill Plaza -shuttle buses will begin at 4:45pm.  To sign-up for the dinner please click here.

Parent & Child Night on Wednesday, April 17th from 5:30-6:30pm.  You and your child are invited to attend an hour of educational engagement.  Parents/ caregivers will have an opportunity to learn about the different Montessori works from their children in the classroom.  This event is open to all parents in Primary through Elementary.  Please park at Sand Hill Plaza -shuttle buses will begin at 4:45pm.

11:30am. Early Dismissal on Friday, April 19th – No after school care is offered on this day. 

Look for an email to pre-register for FWM Summer Camp!  Weekly sessions for summer program offerings for Toddler, Primary, and Elementary age children.  Registration and more information coming soon!

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Happenings and Events

Posted on by Alison Kistner

FWM on the BIG Screen!   Edmond Town Hall Theater in Newtown and Riverview Cinema in Southbury are playing FWM videos.  Arrive a few minutes before the feature film to see these excellent and professional promotional videos about life at FWM.

Middle School Play on Thursday, March 7th at 7:00pm.  All are invited to the Middle School Play which will be performed at FWM.  The entire play – from script to set – is developed by the students.  This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the final product of a student-directed initiative.

Save the Date:  25th Annual Auction Gala on Friday, April 12th from 6:30-11:30pm.  Join us for an evening of fun while raising funds for a great cause! This annual event is not to be missed! Tickets are now on sale. Early bird ticket discount ends March 4th. Purchase your tickets here!

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3D Printing in Kindergarten

Posted on by Danielle Ulacco

Last week students in Kindergarten were mentored by our Middle School 3D printing experts during their weekly MakerSpace class. Kindergartener’s quickly learned how to use Morphi, our resident 3D printing application, and its 2d to 3d tool.

 

Their task was to create their name within the application which would be 3D printed onto a keychain. With a mentor by their side, students went to work writing their names into the application using just their finger. Then with the click of a button, they watched as their digitally drawn autograph was converted into a 3D object. Middle School students then added the names to the keychain template (a rectangle with a hole in it) to complete the design.

 

Today these kindergarten makers will be given their keychain to take home. I can’t wait to see their faces when they realize that the letters they drew on a screen were printed in our MakerSpace in the color that they selected! More 3D printing to come before the year is over!