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Ms. Mollie: Experiences, Big Moments

Posted on by Mollie Smith

And just like that, our last week of school has wrapped up! Our last week of school was filled with many new experiences! The class enjoyed Field Day, Nini’s Bees, and Moving Up all this week! Field Day was split into two different days; we were able to watch, celebrate, and cheer on our older students with pride and admiration! Our mini toddler field day was filled with fun, skills, and laughter! We had the ball toss, bean bag launch, and relay race. 

Margot’s, Nini came to our classroom and showed us her spectacular Bees! Her patience and kindness are admirable; she took time explaining how bees gather nectar to help create delicious honey. The children were able to “spot” the queen bee and watch the amazing bees work in the live cell! They all enjoyed the honey tasting and asked for more! It is my sincere hope that this experience will imprint on the children forever to be protectors of bees. 

Moving up…this day is such a proud day! This day is a great celebration of pride. Your children have grown physically, mentally, academically, and socially. It’s a day that recognizes not only their growth and work, but also your commitment as parents to give them such a beautiful Montessori experience. 

Lizette, Anabelle, and I cannot put into words our gratitude and thanks for a splendid year! It was a joy to be with your children, love them each day, and give them all that Montessori has to offer. We see you as parents and how far you have come too, putting your trust in us, and we are so thankful for it! We wish you the best summer, filled with adventures, lots of play, and love!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie, Ms. Lizette, and Ms. Anabelle 

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

We asked the children what they loved about summer and /or what their plans were for this summer.  We hope you enjoy their answers as much as we did!

  • Amelia–
  • Arhan–  Arhan is planning on looking for frogs in his yard.
  • Arian–  Arian is looking forward to going to Florida this summer.  He is excited about going to the space museum there.
  • Ben– Ben is planning on spending a lot of time in his pool with his family.  He likes to swim and play with the pool noodles.
  • Brisa–  Brisa is looking forward to going to art camp and performing in The Lion King play.
  • Brooke–  Brooke is excited for her birthday this summer.  She is also looking forward to playing Barbies and Polly Pocket with her Mom.
  • Casey–  Casey is excited for summer camp at school because there are Legos and you can go really high up in the tree.
  • Declan–  Declan is excited to spend a lot of days at home over the summer.  He’s looking forward to playing on his swing set and swimming in his hot tub.        
  • Enzo–  Enzo is excited to go to the water park at Quassy and climb up the stairs where the big bucket of water will spill on his head.
  • Evie– Evie is planning to go swimming at her grandparents pool.  Her favorite thing to do is jumping in the pool.
  • Fiona–  Fiona is excited to go to New Jersey this summer.  She plans to relax and maybe have a coconut drink.
  • Helena–   Helena is excited about going to the library over the summer and playing outside.
  • Kaiah–  Kaiah is planning to make a few key chains over the summer.  She is also looking forward to going to summer camp.
  • Kimberlin–  Kimberlin is looking forward to going to G-mom and Daddio’s house in Texas.  While she is there she plans on swimming in the pool and is excited about going swimming in the night and having fruit toast.
  • Love– Love is planning to sleep in late and go to the beach to watch the waves.
  • Nicolas–  Nicolas is looking forward to the hot days when he gets spray his Dad with his water sprayer.
  • Olivia– Olivia is looking forward to going to summer camp for the first time.  She is also excited about her birthday and becoming a big sister over the summer.
  • Ryder–  Ryder is excited for his vacation to Hawaii.  He’s going to go to the beach, a museum under a sunken battleship, and he hopes to see a tsunami.
  • Sadie– Sadie is planning to make activities up with her Mom and Dad and also make lemonade together.
  • Scotlyn– Scotlyn is looking forward to eating a lot of ice cream and swimming in the pool.
  • Zion– Zion is excited to go swimming in the pool and eat popsicles.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love!

Amanda & Hema

Mrs. Hood’s: Creating, Celebrating, and Cherishing Our Final Days!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

 

This week was bursting with creativity, celebration, and hands-on exploration.

One of the highlights of the week was Art Exploration Day in Mrs. Reid’s classroom. She created a beautiful environment that sparked curiosity and encouraged creative exploration. The children were given the freedom to choose from a variety of unique art experiences, each offering a different way to express themselves:

  •  The “Art Cave”: A cozy space beneath a table where large sheets of paper were taped underneath, inviting children to lie down and draw above them. The children were fascinated by this new way of creating!
  •  Rolling Art with Marker Cars: In this station, toy cars had markers attached to them, allowing children to race across large sheets of paper, leaving colorful trails behind. This playful technique introduced the concept of movement in art, turning motion into markings. It was a big hit and invited a lot of collaboration and giggles.
  • Textured Easel Painting: Children explored different textures while painting on a wall constructed from recycled materials. They used brushes and even their hands to experiment with how paint behaves on different surfaces. It was a wonderful way to blend art with sensory exploration and environmental awareness.
  • Clay Exploration: With a variety of fun tools, the children dove into working with clay. They discovered how to transform a simple lump into something entirely new. Clay work offers so many developmental benefits, from strengthening fine motor skills to encouraging focus and imagination.

We truly appreciated Mrs. Reid’s creativity in bringing this inspiring day to life!

The children also worked together on a very special class project—a collaborative piece that will be part of our Field Day dedication next Monday. Though we were so engaged that we forgot to take pictures, the children worked with such joy and focus. This meaningful piece will be placed inside a time capsule to be opened years from now as a reminder of this special time in their early childhood.

In addition to our artistic adventures, we had the joy of celebrating the second birthday of the youngest member of our class! Our little friend was beaming with pride as he walked around the sun, and we all enjoyed singing and sharing a delicious treat together.

For food tasting this week, we tried dragon fruit—and it was a total hit! The children were intrigued by its bright yellow and spiky exterior and speckled inside, and many came back for second (and third!) tastes.

Lastly, our butterfly habitat continues to be a source of excitement and wonder. The children are carefully observing the chrysalises each day, waiting patiently for our butterflies to emerge. We can’t wait to witness their transformation and celebrate the beauty of nature right here in our classroom.

As we soak in these final days of the school year, it’s been heartwarming to see the children so engaged, joyful, and connected. Each moment reflects just how much they’ve grown and how special our time together has been. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

As the school year comes to a close, our classroom is full of quiet pride and joyful reflection. Each child is moving forward in their journey – our youngest are now confident explorers, ready to welcome new friends next fall. Our second year children have found their rhythm and will return as leaders, eager to guide with gentle hands and kind hearts.

And our Kindergarteners – how beautifully they’ve grown. With grace and strength, they’ve stepped into their roles as mentors and models, showing us what it means to care, to work hard, and to lead with joy. Now, they spread their wings and move on to Lower Elementary, ready for new challenges and adventures.

Watching each child grow at their own pace, in their own way has been the greatest gift. We will miss our graduates dearly, but we send them forward with love and confidence, knowing their roots are strong.

Have a great weekend,

Marissa & Sue

FWM Middle School Takes Manhattan… and Philadelphia Too!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Announcements for the week ahead:

  • Week of 6/2: Spirit Week-      Monday, 6/2: Field Day
    Tuesday, 6/3: Sports Day (Wear your favorite sports jersey/team shirt/uniform/medal)
    Wednesday, 6/4: Beach Day (Beach-themed clothing and accessories)
    **Weather permitting, we will also have water fun at the end of the day. Swim suits, towels, and water squirters will all be permitted!**
    Thursday, 6/5: Pajama Day
    Friday, 6/6: Red Carpet Day (Time to dress up for the end of school)
  • Wed., 6/4 @ 5 pm: Farewell to the Class of 2025. An event hosted by 6th and 7th-grade students to honor their graduating classmates. Please plan on attending with your student(s)
  • Thurs., 6/5 @ 5pm: 8th Grade Graduation For 8th grade families and friends at the Newtown Meetinghouse
  • Fri., 6/6: Last Day of School/Dismissal @ 11:30 am

It was an amazing week traveling with the Middle School to New York City and Philadelphia. There were many firsts for our students, from the first Broadway show to riding a trolley. In addition to walking 15+ miles over 4 days, here’s a list of the fun places where students traveled:

  • American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium
  • Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where we heard Broadway-quality singing right at our tables
  • Wicked at the Gershwin Theater
  • Times Square at night for photos
  • Times Square for shopping on our second day
  • Reading Terminal Market for delicious food (including cheesesteaks)
  • Guided Evening Tour of Philadelphia
  • Philadelphia Zoo
  • The Franklin Institute and its special exhibit, BODY WORLDS: Vital
  • Landmarks include the Rocky Steps, the LOVE Sculpture, Independence Hall, & the Liberty Bell
  • Phillies Game @ Citizens Bank Park
  • National Constitution Center

The benefits of allowing adolescents to have experiences such as riding public transportation, being responsible for their own belongings, making purchases, budgeting money, and sharing a hotel room with others are some of the best ways to learn important life skills. Some of those are flexibility, patience, promptness, responsibility, perseverance, and both independence and interdependence.

We are grateful to have the opportunity to travel with your children. Thank you for all the support (and yummy snacks!) to make this trip possible.

Art, Art, Everybody Loves Art! 🎨

Posted on by Mollie Smith

“Art is as natural as sunshine and as vital as nourishment” – Ana Kohl

This week we were in for a treat! All year, we incorporated art into our daily rhythm in our classroom, but this week, we pulled all of the skills we learned into a masterpiece! With the help of Mrs. Reid, our fantastic Artist-in-Residence here at Fraser Woods, the children were able to explore many different mediums, which encapsulated our skills throughout the year. The children were able to independently explore, create, and enjoy the process of making art. The different experiences included a textured canvas, clay, an art cave…think painting looking up, and the favorite truck art…which allowed the children to see the cause and effect of moving the truck with markers attached. A HUGE thank you to Mrs. Reid, who made this day possible, and for always being a consistent, friendly smile to each child that passes her art studio, and inspiring with the freedom of creativity!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie, Ms. Lizette and Ms. Anabell

Upper Elementary

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

This week at Nature’s Classroom, Upper Elementary really showed what they are made of: kindness, strength, curiosity, resilience, and leadership skills! They took on tremendous challenges in teamwork, and they learned about ecology and the importance of good stewardship in protecting the Earth. They pushed themselves physically on rigorous hikes all over the beautiful 70-acre campus! They sang, they laughed, they roasted marshmallows on a fire that they built together, they formed deep bonds and core memories that will last a lifetime! We are so proud of them!

The Week Ahead:

Monday, 6/2  Field Day! Wear sneakers and consider bringing a change of clothes as students may get wet!

Tuesday, 6/3 Sports Day- Wear your favorite sports team gear.

Wednesday, 6/4 Beach Day-  Dress like you are on an island getaway, but please no bathing suits without cover-ups.

Thursday, 6/5 Pajama Day!- Bring a stuffy, and come to school in your jammies!

Friday, 6/6 Red Carpet Day- Say, “See you later,” in style! Dress up in more formal attire for our annual Moving Up Ceremony at 10 am. (Early Dismissal for all students is at 11:30 am)

Lower Elementary- The Adventure Park

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

What a fantastic way to end the school year! Our class had an unforgettable trip to the Adventure Park, filled with rope courses, ziplines, and lots of laughter. It was inspiring to see everyone step out of their comfort zones—climbing high, cheering each other on, and pushing past fears. The teamwork and support were amazing, and the day was full of bonding and bravery.

A big thank-you to our wonderful chaperones for coming along and making this trip possible!

This was the perfect way to celebrate our year together—challenging ourselves, building confidence, and having a blast as a team.