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Middle School: An Exciting Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Wow! What an incredible week! 

Before we get to Finding Nemo, Jr. and Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day, please take note of the important dates below (more details will follow): 

  • MEDICAL FORMS FOR THE MS TRIP ARE NOW PAST DUE. Please turn in your forms ASAP. ALL students traveling must submit!
  • Wed., 5/14 @ 6 pm: 8th Grade Expert Presentations Culmination of 8th Grade Research Projects. MS students are encouraged to attend
  • Fri., 5/16 @ 6:30-8:30pm: Middle School Spring Dance 
  • Fri., 5/23 @ 5pm: Spring Concert & Picnic
  • Tues., 5/27-Fri., 5/30: MS Trip 
  • Week of 6/2: Spirit Week 
  • Wed., 6/4 @ 5pm: 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

Finding Nemo, Jr.

If you loved the MS performance, consider signing up for Mrs. Kirk’s Theater Intensive Program offered this summer in Session 3!! Click HERE to REGISTER!

After rehearsing for months in their Performing Arts classes with Mrs. Kirk, the Middle School students, along with their Upper Elementary peers, put on two fantastic performances. From the music to the set and the brightly colored costumes, the FWM school community was captivated by the student actors. While it was a product of hard work and dedication, MS students (and teachers) had a lot of fun as well! Thank you to the MS families for all of their support.

Grandparents & Special Friends’ Day

We enjoyed having guests visit the Middle School on Friday. After a few songs were performed by the Upper Elementary and Middle School, visitors headed to the MS classrooms for some rotating activities. They visited Math, Science, Humanities, Art, and MakerSpace. It was wonderful to see returning faces as well as meet new ones. Thank you for attending!

May Family Connection Newsletter

Posted on by Karen Sankey

This month’s edition of the Family Connection is about the Montessori Decalogue, a set of ten guiding principles for interacting with children. The article dives into each principle, providing clear explanations and practical tips for fostering those important interactions, which promote respectful and meaningful relationships between adults and children.

  1. Never touch a child unless invited by them (in some form or another).
  2. Never speak ill of them in their presence or absence.
  3. Concentrate on developing and strengthening what is good in them.
  4. Take meticulous and constant care of the environment.
  5. Be ever ready to answer the call of the child.
  6. Respect the child who makes a mistake without correcting directly.
  7. Respect the child who takes a rest or observes others.
  8. Help those who are in search of activity without finding it.
  9. Be untiring in repeating presentations.
  10. Always treat the child with the best of good manners.

Ms. Mollie: Hello May! Welcome Grandparents and Special Friends!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

What a fun week we have had here at Fraser Woods! We started our week off with a visit to baby chicks from Mrs. Lopes’ classroom! We also got to meet one of the chicks and practice our patience in observing and touching the chick! The children were absolutely delighted!

The children have been helping to plant, both our planters and on our toddler playground! We love exploring insects, dirt, and the blooms our flowers have. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle has been an instant hit; we read it daily by request! The favorite word in the room right now is “chrysalis”, and the children love talking about what he eats!

The highlight of the week has been preparing and having our grandparents and special friends in our classroom! The children were so happy. We had a buzz of excitement from both grandparents and children, and overall joy! We are so grateful that so many grandparents and special friends could join us and have a little glimpse into the magic of Fraser Woods Montessori!

With Full Hearts,

Ms.Mollie, Ms.Lizette and Ms.Anabelle

Makerspace Monthly Update

Posted on by Carl Frisk

As the school year winds down, these students’ journey of creativity, curiosity, and skill-building continues.

Middle schoolers built a stomp rocket launcher and then designed and built their own rockets. They used altimeters to determine the angle to the rocket’s peak height, which we then used to calculate the altitude, with the highest rocket going 72 feet high. Of course, Upper and Lower El saw this and wanted to get in on the action, so they built and launched their own rockets as well.

Kindergarteners continue to explore handwork with sewing, knitting, and weaving, but we’ve also introduced the ChompSaw cardboard cutters to give them an additional tool and skill to use going forward. They practice using it by drawing shapes with paper and then cutting them out, with the intention of doing this with cardboard in the future once they get the hang of it.

Middle school has also begun work on the stuffies they will gift to kindergarteners at the end of the year. This has involved learning how to thread and use our sewing machines, making patterns with all the necessary colors, and working out the order of construction so that the stuffies will be as cozy as possible.

The school year might be winding down, but the work in Makerspace never does! I look forward to seeing what these incredible students can make in the weeks we have left.

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

This week has been filled with so much excitement as our classroom experienced two very special events.

First, after weeks of anticipation, our chicken eggs have hatched! The children have been observing the incubator with great care, tracking the days and learning about the life cycle of a chicken. Witnessing the tiny chicks break free from their shells brought joy and amazement to us all. It was a beautiful lesson in patience, responsibility, and the miracle of life.

Adding to the joy, we also welcomed our beloved grandparents and special friends into the classroom. Their presence brought warmth and stories that connected generations. The children were proud to share their work, from bead chains to puzzles to painting – and the grownups’ eyes lit up with curiosity and pride. It was a reminder of the powerful role family and friends play in our children’s learning journeys.

Both moments—the hatching of new life and the gathering of generations—beautifully reflect the heart of Montessori education: nurturing wonder, connection, and lifelong learning.

Have a great weekend!

Marissa & Sue

Lower El: Grandparents Day and The Aristocats Play

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

This Friday’s Grandparents Day was nothing short of magical. It was so lovely to see such a huge turnout of proud grandparents, special guests, and parents, all gathered to support our incredible students. The energy in the room was full of joy, and the love these children felt from their audience was unmistakable.

The students have been pouring their hearts into The Aristocats play for weeks, and their hard work absolutely paid off. From the first note to the final bow, they were outstanding—confident, creative, and full of life. Watching them shine on stage was a moment I’ll never forget.

This week, I felt especially grateful to be the Lower Elementary teacher at Fraser Woods. To be with these children five days a week, watching them grow, take risks, and support one another—it’s a gift. I’m honored to be a safe, steady presence for them during their school days, and Friday reminded me just how meaningful that role is. Their performance was a beautiful reminder of the joy and purpose in this work. I left feeling deeply humbled and incredibly proud.

I’m excited for all that’s still to come in our final five weeks together—it’s a special time, and I’m loving every bit of it.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

 

Upcoming UE Important Dates

  • Wednesday, May 7: Section 5 of Fish in a Tree Due
  • Wednesday, May 14: Section 6 of Fish in a Tree Due
  • Friday, May 16 at 8:30: May & Summer Birthday Breakfast (this is a change of date from the original date of May 9)
  • Tuesday, May 27 to Thursday, May 29: Nature’s Classroom Big Trip!

What an incredible night we had on Friday! After a five-year break from performing musicals, the Upper El and Middle School students, under the excellent direction of Megan Kirk, amazed us with an outstanding performance of Finding Nemo Jr. All of the students should be very proud of themselves and the weeks of hard work they put in. Bravo!

We also enjoyed a wonderful Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Friday morning. Students proudly showcased their hard work, with a strong emphasis on math materials. Several students even enthusiastically gave tours of the school to their guests.

Mrs. Sargeant’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

This week was full of excitement, hands-on learning, and joyful moments. Here are some of the highlights:

Bug Hunt Adventure
 We kicked off the week with a bug hunt, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm as the children explored the outdoors and discovered tiny creatures in their natural habitats.

Tasty Activities
 The children practiced their fine motor skills by slicing strawberries and spreading butter or cream cheese on bagels—delicious and fun!

A Trip to the “Theater”
 We had the pleasure of attending the Upper School’s truly phenomenal production of Finding Nemo. The children were an amazing audience and all enjoyed the performance.

Chick Hatching News!
 Our much-anticipated chicks have finally hatched! We welcomed five fluffy friends—one more than we expected after candling. Next week, they’ll be heading to Palmieri Farm in Easton, where their journey began.

Grandparents & Special Visitors Day
 To finish the week on a high note, the children proudly welcomed their grandparents and special visitors into our classroom. Thank you to everyone who came to visit with us!

Enjoy the week, Happy May!

Christine & Hailey