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Ms. Handibode Pumpkins, Perseverance, and Parent Partnerships

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

Last week, our classroom transformed into a pumpkin patch, with pumpkins everywhere you looked! These vibrant orange gourds provided countless opportunities for the children to observe, explore, and engage with basic science and math concepts in meaningful ways.

In our Practical Life area, pumpkin-themed works flourished. The children practiced pumpkin spooning, pumpkin pouring, pumpkin scrubbing, and pumpkin grasping—each activity building coordination, concentration, and independence. In Science, we learned about the parts of a pumpkin and followed the pumpkin’s life cycle from seed to harvest. The children compared pumpkins and categorized them as small, medium, and large, developing their mathematical minds through hands-on exploration.

We used our five senses to discover what pumpkins look, smell, feel, sound, and taste like. After carving a pumpkin together, we celebrated with our Harvest Celebration. Each child had the opportunity to visit our classroom’s “pumpkin patch,” pick their own pumpkin, create a spooky craft, and enjoy a festive snack.

The kindergarten students worked together to prepare Skelly, our veggie skeleton. It was wonderful to hear children say they didn’t like certain vegetables and then watch them devour every bite! This experience reminded us that trying new things in a supportive environment can lead to delightful discoveries.

One kindergarten student captured the spirit of perseverance beautifully this week when they said, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it all by myself!” These moments of determination and independence are exactly what we hope to nurture in every child.

We were grateful to have Eloise’s mom, Nicole, join us as a guest reader. The children loved listening to the fun story “Pumpkin Jack.”

All of the wonderful experiences we share with the children are possible because of parents helping behind the scenes. A huge shout-out to everyone for sharing their time and energy with us to provide these wonderful opportunities for the children. It takes a lot of time, effort, and organization for all of this to be possible, and we are truly grateful and blessed.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Encourage your child to try something three times before asking for help. This builds resilience and problem-solving skills.
  • Visit a local pumpkin patch or farm stand to explore different sizes and varieties of pumpkins together.
  • Cut open a pumpkin at home and explore the inside. Count the seeds, feel the stringy pulp, and roast the seeds for a healthy snack.
  • Practice sorting and categorizing with household items—sort laundry by color or size, organize toys by type, or group kitchen items together.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds and Nitzan Birthday Walk and Sharing Box
Tuesday, November 4: Buckens
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader–Hus
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Lopes: Celebrating Fall and the Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Last week, the classroom was filled with excitement as the children explored the life cycle of a pumpkin. This study connected beautifully to our fall observations and gave the children a deeper understanding of how living things grow and change.

The week began with a thrilling pumpkin hunt on the playground on Tuesday morning. The children searched high and low, working together to find our classroom pumpkin. Their joy at the discovery was contagious! On Wednesday, we were grateful to have Kaiah’s mom join us to help carve our pumpkin into a spooky ghost. The children watched with fascination as the pumpkin transformed, observing the seeds inside and discussing how those seeds could grow into new pumpkin plants. This hands-on experience brought the life cycle concept to life in a memorable way.

Thursday brought our festive classroom celebration, complete with a special fall snack and a spooky craft project. The children took great care in creating their decorations, demonstrating the concentration and fine motor skills they’ve been developing throughout the year.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Plant a few pumpkin seeds in a small pot or cup with soil. Watch them sprout and discuss how they might grow into a pumpkin plant.
  • Take nature walks to observe signs of fall—changing leaves, cooler weather, and seasonal plants. Talk about how nature changes with the seasons.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Playground Volunteer– Regine Hooper-Campbell
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader– Jordan Dugbartey
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration, Parker’s Birthday Walk
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Ms. Rhodora: Exploring Our Senses Through Fall Festivities

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

Last week, the classroom was alive with fall festivities and rich sensory exploration. The children delved into the sense of sight and the sense of taste, discovering the four basic tastes: bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. Watching their faces light up with surprise or scrunch up with uncertainty as they tasted each flavor was pure joy! This sensory work helped the children develop their vocabulary while tuning into their bodies and the world around them.

Our pumpkin activities provided wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning. A parent volunteer joined us for pumpkin carving, and the children were fascinated by the transformation. The highlight of our mathematical exploration came when we counted pumpkin seeds together—all 492 of them! The children worked patiently and collaboratively, taking turns counting and organizing the seeds. This activity strengthened their number sense and demonstrated the beauty of working together toward a common goal.

The children also had the chance to explore our pumpkin patch, selecting and examining pumpkins of different sizes and shapes. Another parent volunteer helped us create popcorn hands, which added a fun, tactile element to our fall celebrations.

Our pajama party brought smiles all around as the children enjoyed rainbow bagels with cream cheese in their cozy pajamas. The Harvest Celebration tied together all our fall learning beautifully, and the kindergarten students worked together to create a veggie skeleton that impressed everyone in the classroom.

We are so grateful for the parent volunteers who made these experiences possible. Your time and energy enrich our classroom community in immeasurable ways.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Explore the four tastes together at home. Try a lemon (sour), pretzel (salty), dark chocolate (bitter), and honey (sweet). Talk about which tastes your child prefers and why.
  • Practice counting with everyday objects—coins in a piggy bank, toys in a bin, or crackers before snack time. Challenge older children to count by twos, fives, or tens.
  • Use all five senses during daily routines. At mealtime, talk about what food looks like, smells like, feels like, sounds like when you bite it, and tastes like.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Wilson: Pumpkin Pumpkin Part Two

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we continued our pumpkin exploration in so many delightful ways! From our very own pumpkin patch to tasting pumpkin treats, the children had the opportunity to experience pumpkins with all of their senses — touching, smelling, tasting, seeing, and even listening as we carved and scooped.

We began the week by transforming a tiny pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern, which is named Pumpkin Jack. Pumpkin Jack will live in our classroom all year long — well, at least until he begins to sprout! When that happens, we’ll plant him outside to see if we can grow new little pumpkins from his seeds.

On Wednesday, we had our much-anticipated pumpkin patch adventure! The middle school students joined us to help pull the wagons and take the toddlers on a joyful ride around campus. We ended our journey at Fraser Farms, where each child explored and selected their own perfect pumpkin to take home. After a photo with their special pumpkin, the children climbed back aboard for another fun wagon ride before returning to the classroom.

Back in class, we carved a larger jack-o’-lantern, affectionately named Bucket by the children. To celebrate our pumpkin fun, we enjoyed a sweet treat and warm apple cider together — a cozy ending to a beautiful autumn day.

Our food tasting this week was all about pumpkin, too! With Ms. Sara’s help, the children prepared pumpkin bread and pumpkin soup. Both were absolutely scrumptious, and the children took great pride in helping make them.

We wrapped up our pumpkin season by attending the Halloween Parade hosted by the Lower Elementary through Middle School students. The children’s eyes lit up as they watched all the creative costumes and cheered with colorful scarves as the parade passed by. It was such a joyful way to end our month of pumpkin festivities!

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who contributed decorations, treats, and supplies — your support helped make this season so special for our toddlers.

With love and light,
Cynthia and Sara

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

We had a wonderful time at our Halloween party last week! We began the day with our schoolwide costume parade and our class party, complete with delicious snacks and the film City of Ember. After lunch and recess, we had a great time carving our pumpkins. We ended the day by cleaning our classroom. We will enjoy some roasted pumpkin seeds in class this coming week. Thank you to all of our families who generously donated food for our party!

Upper El Community Service

Every month, upper el students participate in a fantastic community service project, making sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission in Waterbury. It’s an excellent way for kids to give back to the community while learning about the importance of helping those in need. Parents are incredibly supportive and donate all the necessary ingredients, from bread and meat to cheese and condiments. On sandwich-making day, the excitement is contagious! The students work in teams, stacking up the ingredients, and making sure each sandwich is delicious and ready to go. It’s not only a lesson in teamwork but also in kindness and responsibility. After all the sandwiches are assembled, they’re neatly packaged and prepped for delivery to the soup kitchen. It’s heartwarming to see the kids take pride in their work, knowing that their efforts can make a real difference in someone’s day. This monthly tradition has become something special for our class, reminding us all of the importance of community and the joy of helping others! We will begin our community service this month. Look for an email this week from Nora with all the details and an opportunity to sign up to help through donations or volunteering on sandwich-making day.

Upcoming Events

  • Thursday, November 13 – Upper El Sandwich Making for St. Vincent DePaul Mission

Mrs. Sargeant: Celebrating Halloween and Exploring New Materials

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, the classroom was buzzing with fall celebrations and exciting learning experiences. The children were deeply engaged in both our special Halloween activities and the new materials that appeared on our shelves.

A new sifting spoon work joined our practical life area this week. The children use this special spoon to gently shake sand through tiny holes, transferring split peas from one bowl to another. Watching them discover this work has been mesmerizing—the careful concentration on their faces as they slowly shake and watch the peas separate from the sand is like watching them uncover hidden treasures!

We were so grateful to Ivy’s mom for carving a pumpkin with us. The children had the wonderful opportunity to see, smell, and touch the inside of a real pumpkin, engaging all their senses in this exploration. Our lit jack-o-lantern has been glowing in the classroom all week, adding to the festive atmosphere. Thank you to Gabriel and Madison’s families for supplying pumpkins and helping set up our pumpkin patch on the playground—the children loved finding and exploring them.

The Halloween parade brought pure joy to our classroom. The children were thrilled to see their mentors, book buddies, siblings, and former classmates in their costumes while proudly showing off the pajamas they wore for Pajama Day. We enjoyed a delicious Halloween cake baked by Ava’s family. Although we planned to celebrate outside, the rain had other plans! We moved our party into the Aftercare room, which turned into a fun adventure and a wonderful lesson in flexibility. Thank you to Autumn’s family for the pumpkin drink holder party favors.

A highlight of the week was watching all 21 kindergarten students work together to create a “veggie skeleton,” which they democratically voted to name Skelly. The children peeled and chopped vegetables with great care, and many of them tried vegetables they’d never tasted before—olives, cauliflower, and different varieties of tomatoes. The collaboration, fine motor practice, and willingness to try new foods made this project a true success.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Practice transferring skills using everyday kitchen tools. Try using a slotted spoon to separate pasta from water or a strainer to wash vegetables together.
  • Continue the vegetable exploration by visiting a farmers’ market or grocery store. Let your child choose a new vegetable to try and help prepare it at home.
  • Take advantage of the fall season by going on nature walks to collect leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures. Sort and classify them by size, color, or type.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Recess Volunteer: Jacob
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader: Ortner
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Ms. Mollie: Pumpkins, Paint and Halloween!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week was full of joyful seasonal learning in our toddler community! Autumn offers so many natural opportunities for hands-on exploration, and the children embraced every moment.

We kicked things off with a pumpkin-picking adventure right here at school. Toddlers were invited to walk through our mini pumpkin patch, choosing a pumpkin of their own. It was wonderful to see the independence and pride as each child carefully selected one — big, small, bumpy, smooth — all perfect in their eyes.

We also enjoyed a special treat as the older students led a Halloween parade. Our toddlers watched with wide eyes and big smiles as costumes and music filled the air. Experiences like this gently introduce our younger learners to community traditions and help them feel connected to the larger school environment.

Back in the classroom, we moved from observing to creating! Each child had the opportunity to paint their pumpkin, exploring color, texture, and process at their own pace. True to Montessori principles, we focused on independence and creativity — little hands worked hard, and the results were both beautiful and joyfully unique.

This week reminded us how magical the world is through a toddler’s eyes. Thank you for sharing these moments with us and for supporting your children as they explore, discover, and grow!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Mollie: Halloween Excitement!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

As we move closer to Halloween, the excitement is in the air! The children are enjoying festive crafts, songs, and stories that celebrate imagination and creativity in a gentle, joyful way.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful parents for taking the time to meet with me during parent-teacher conferences. These conversations are so valuable—they allow us to work together to support each child’s growth and celebrate their individual progress. Your partnership truly enriches our Montessori community here at Fraser Woods!

Here’s to a season of discovery, gratitude, and joyful learning! 🍂🎃

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette