Blog

Mrs. Wilson: A Spontaneous Spring Surprise!

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week began like any other, with the children continuing their exploration of spring and birds. But Thursday brought a delightful surprise during our time on the playground—a visit from a special spring bunny!

Mr. Bunny came by to greet the children and hand out sweet treats. The little ones welcomed him with high fives and hugs. Even those who were a bit hesitant at first couldn’t help but be drawn into the excitement—it was a joyful moment for everyone!

Later, we also participated in a fire drill. The children were happily playing outside when the alarm sounded. They quickly gathered at the walk rope and calmly made their way to the field, where we joined the rest of the school. After the drill, we stayed a bit longer to enjoy the sunshine and chase bubbles across the turf.

To those who celebrate, we wish you a joyful and peaceful Easter and Chag Pesach Sameach!

Love and light,
Cynthia and Sara

Birds and Pines: A Springtime Study in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

This week, our Montessori students began new studies that connect beautifully to the season.

Our first-year students are exploring the external parts of birds, identifying features like wings, beaks, and feathers. They’re observing real-life examples and sharing connections to birds they’ve seen in their everyday lives.

Second-year students are diving deeper into bird body functions, learning how birds breathe, digest, and fly. They’re fascinated by how a bird’s body works so efficiently in the air.

At the same time, our third-year students have turned their attention to pine trees, studying both the external parts—like needles and cones—and the internal systems that help these trees grow and thrive.

It’s inspiring to see each age group engage with nature through a Montessori lens, deepening their understanding at just the right level.

A quick reminder: Parent-teacher conferences are coming up on Friday, April 25th. You can sign up by visiting the Parent SignUps module at myfwm.org and clicking on the appropriate field. I’m looking forward to connecting with you all and sharing more about your children’s progress and achievements!

Mrs. Sargeant’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

It was an exciting week in the classroom. We explored different types of insects and flowers, discovering some of their unique characteristics. We’ve been keeping track of the days until our chicks hatch and looking at pictures of the development that is happening inside the eggs. We added to our Spanish vocabulary by practicing how to name different items of clothing. Each student had the opportunity to make their creative mark on our auction item, a gorgeous vase that was painted collaboratively by each of the students in our classroom. Big thanks to Ms. Sara for organizing this project and visiting us with a beautiful array of paint options. The children have been enjoying learning new yoga poses and the game of Charades. To end the week, we participated in a fire drill and practiced staying safe and calm when necessary. The children truly did an amazing job following directions, and we all gave ourselves a pat on the back!

Enjoy the long weekend with your families. Happy holidays to those who will be celebrating Easter or wrapping up the celebration of Passover.

Christine & Hailey

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

In addition to watching our eggs form into baby chicks, we’ve begun a study on backyard birds! This study ties together a variety of subjects, including biology, art, and geography, as the children learn to classify birds by species, understand their unique characteristics, and even compare different types of birds that can be found in our local environment.

Through this process, the children are learning about bird anatomy, habitat, and behavior. They are also beginning to understand the importance of birds in our ecosystem, their role in pollination, and how we can take care of our local wildlife. The children have been excitedly pointing out birds they see outside the classroom and sharing bird stories from home (like seeing robins hop in front yards!).

If you want to encourage some bird love at home, here are some things you can do with your child:

  • Going on nature walks: Take time to observe birds and other animals in your neighborhood. See if your child can identify the birds using their new knowledge.

  • Setting up a bird-watching station: If you have a backyard, try creating a simple bird feeder or birdhouse. This will give your child the opportunity to observe and care for the birds in their own environment.

  • Reading bird books: There are so many beautiful picture books and field guides about birds that can help reinforce what they are learning.

Have a lovely weekend!

Marissa & Sue

Mrs. Hood: Clucking, Cackling and Crowing!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Even with a short week, our toddlers had a wonderful time exploring, learning, and connecting with the world around them in so many meaningful ways.

Our chicken study continued to spark curiosity and conversation. This week, the children observed and compared the differences between a hen and a rooster. They noticed that roosters are often bigger, with more colorful feathers and a tall, bright red comb, while hens are usually smaller and more subtly colored. Using pictures and vocabulary cards, we talked about the different parts of a chicken, like the beak, comb, wattle, feathers, and feet, and we also practiced the sounds hens and roosters make—they seemed to really enjoy this!

As part of our study, we also introduced one of a chicken’s favorite foods: worms! The children were fascinated to learn about how chickens love to peck around for worms, and we brought that idea into the classroom with a sensory bin full of realistic, wiggly worm replicas. There was lots of laughter and pretend play as little hands explored the squishy “worms” in the soil.

Another hands-on activity this week involved learning to use a mortar and pestle to crush clean, dried eggshells. The children took turns gently grinding the shells into smaller pieces, then helped sprinkle them into the soil of our classroom plants. We talked about how eggshells give the plants nutrients, especially calcium, to help them grow strong. This was a beautiful example of caring for our environment and connecting life cycles—chickens, eggs, and growing plants—all in one meaningful activity.

For our weekly food tasting, we explored snap peas! Some children dove right in, enjoying the satisfying crunch and slightly sweet flavor, while others watched curiously before taking a brave bite.

We also celebrated a birthday this week! As always, a favorite activity in our environment, as it gives the birthday child a moment to feel seen and special. The class always enjoys singing together and hearing a few sweet moments shared about the birthday child’s journey around the sun.

As we wrap up the week, we want to wish a very Happy Easter to those who celebrate. May your weekend be filled with peace, joy, and time with loved ones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Middle School: A Scientific Week

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

MS Upcoming Announcements:

  • Friday, 4/25: MS Conferences Students attend these with parent(s). Sign up using MyFWM.
  • DUE Friday, 5/2: All Medical Forms for the MS Trip due (See RESOURCES on MyFWM for forms.)
  • Friday, 5/2: Grandparents & Special Friends Day Buses will run from 9:30-11:30. MS classrooms will be open from 10-11 am (more details to come).
  • Friday, 5/2 @ 7 pm: Spring Musical: Finding Nemo, Jr.
  • Tuesday, 5/6 @ 8:15 am: High School Placement Meeting for RISING 8th grade families.
  • Wednesday, 5/14 @ 6 pm: 8th Grade Expert Presentations
  • Friday, 5/16 @ 6:30-8:30: MS Spring Dance (more details and an evite coming soon)

This week, the Middle School was jam-packed with all things science,  and we couldn’t be prouder of our students for tackling it all with enthusiasm and grace.

Science Fair

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual Science Fair! It was wonderful to see the students show off their work. The teachers loved seeing the students shine while presenting their projects. They worked so hard over the last two weeks to make their projects come to life. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.
Grades 6 & 7 Field Trip to The Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point
It was a memorable day filled with birdwatching, beach exploration, and hands-on learning! Students had the opportunity to observe a variety of coastal wildlife in their natural habitats, explore the tidal marshes, and learn about the importance of protecting our local ecosystems. Students also had the opportunity to observe shorebirds in their natural habitat and learned how to identify different species. We spent time walking along the beach during low tide, discovering shells, tracks, and other signs of coastal life. Although the chilly weather meant fewer animals were out, students saw firsthand how climate and seasonal changes impact the presence of wildlife. The breathtaking views of Long Island Sound and the chance to connect our learning with real-world experiences made this trip a highlight of our year!
Grade 8 Field Trip to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Eighth grade ended the week at the Maritime Aquarium, where they got a behind-the-scenes tour before the aquarium opened to the public. Following the tour, students dissected sharks, toured exhibits at the aquarium, and ended the trip with a 4D film.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Upcoming Dates

  • Friday, April 25:
    • No school – Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
    • 9:30-12:30 – All Cast Rehearsal for Finding Nemo
    • 12:45 – 1:30 – Improv & Acting for UE & MS
  • Friday, May 2:
    • 11:30 Early Dismissal
    • Grandparents and Special Friends Day
    • 7:00 pm – Spring Musical for UE and MS – Finding Nemo
  • Saturday, May 3: 5:00-8:00 pm – Springfest!

We had a great week in Upper El! We wrapped up our testing on Monday and got back into our regular routine. We kicked off the week with a class meeting where we brainstormed ways to keep our closet area tidy—a need the students noticed and took the initiative to address.

On Tuesday, we had a great time at the middle school science fair. It was awesome checking out all the different topics and experiments and chatting with our sixth to eighth-grade friends about their findings.

We also had a fun trip to the Audubon Society in Milford on Thursday with the sixth and seventh graders to wrap up our short week. We spent time on the beach looking for crabs, slipper snails, jellyfish, and all sorts of shells. Then we moved away from the water and used binoculars to spot the many birds in the area. It was a fantastic week overall!

Performing Arts!

Posted on by mkirk

These past few weeks in performing arts have been full of music, acting, and lots of dancing! All classes have been working on their new repertoire for the Spring Concert, which will be on May 23 at 5 pm! We cannot wait to share all of our music with you. Primary students have really enjoyed the acting game “magic curtain!” Students stand behind a “magic curtain,” and when the curtain rises, they become different characters and show these characters to their audience through their actions. Students have also been doing an excellent job being music detectives with tempos! Students have been having a lot of fun identifying and moving to different tempos of music. Students have been playing many musical games and learning many new songs! Two new favorites have been “Charlie Over The Ocean” and “Bluebird, Bluebird”.

In LE, students are very excited to have added another performing arts class to their weekly schedule! Once a week, the entire LE class comes to the performing arts room to work on our mini musical! Students are singing, dancing, and acting up a storm! We will present this project on May 2nd at 10 am during Grandparents and Special Friends Day! All parents are invited to join us as well! LE has also been working hard on their rhythm and pitch-matching skills. Our rhythm and pitch exercises are getting much more advanced, and the students are doing so well!

UE and Middle School students are also doing amazing work in performing arts! It is so impressive to see how hard the students are working on putting together a full-scale musical, as well as continuing to do all their work on choral music and music theory! We have been working very hard on learning all of the music, choreography, and blocking for our show, which we will be presenting for the community on May 2nd at 7 pm! Students have been hands-on in helping create sets and props as well!