Blog

Mrs. Wilson: Joyful, Muddles!

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

To wrap up the month of February, we practiced identifying emotions by making facial expressions that matched each feeling. Enjoy this collage of the children’s expressive faces!

The highlight of our week was an unforgettable sensory experience—exploring the glorious muddles on Tuesday. The children fully immersed themselves in sensory play, collecting muddy water in buckets and transporting it across the playground. They used large snow shovels to fill dump trucks and delighted in jumping and splashing in the wonderfully gooey mess. It was pure, unfiltered joy!

Food Tasting: The children explored another root vegetable, the radish. Their reactions were mixed, with some enjoying its crisp texture and peppery flavor while others were less enthusiastic.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Middle School students are getting closer to spring break and feeling some warmer temperatures creep in. Here are some announcements for the coming week:

  • Thursday, 3/6, at 5:30 pm: Research Night for 6th & 7th-grade students. 8th-grade students are encouraged to attend in support of their classmates. Parking is on campus.
  • Friday, 3/7, 9:30 am- 2 pm: Field Trip to the Yale Peabody Museum. Please bring a bagged lunch (there will be no microwave available).
  • Spring break 3/10-3/21
  • Classes Resume Monday, 3/24

Humanities

6th & 7th Grade Humanities were dialed in and focused on their research projects. With the completion of their research essay drafts, they moved on to their presentations. Students discussed ways to make interesting presentations both visually and through their voices. On Monday, they will go through their practiced presentations for the first time and receive written feedback. Then, they will make any necessary revisions and practice until Thursday night’s final presentations. The students can’t wait to see you on Thursday @ 5:30 pm!

8th Grade students were busy on their internships Monday through Wednesday this week. Upon their return, they talked about their favorite moments and what they found challenging. Then, they finished up their projects, which included a daily journal, reflection, and a presentation. They will speak to the rest of the MS community and share their experiences on Tuesday.

Science

This week 6th Grade students worked more intensely with The Globe Project, an environmental initiative to share data globally. We also investigated weather patterns, looking at cloud and wind data as well as temperature data to make predictions about why certain weather events are more common in various areas. Students looked at data taken from a Mid-Atlantic storm and compared their predictions to an actual event. The class concluded by examining what may happen to weather patterns as the Earth warms. Students used their PQA approach from literacy labs to apply their findings and share their results with the larger class.

This week, the 7th Grade class finished their unit on atomic structure and the periodic table with discussions about electron behavior and radioactive decay. Once finished, they began work on a study guide for this unit in preparation for an upcoming unit test, which will take place this coming Thursday. Students have had two class periods to work on their study guides with Ms. Pickard to oversee their work. The class will go over the study guide early next week, and any questions will be answered in full at that time.

This week the 8th Grade students continued working to understand meiosis. This is a complicated process, and students have really risen to the challenge! Ms. Pickard was impressed with their ability to understand a complex conceptual life function. The class ended the week by examining the benefits of sexual reproduction as compared to asexual reproduction and began work on the importance of genetic diversity in ensuring the survival of a species. Next week, students will continue this current topic, and this will end the unit on cell division.

Math

It was another exciting week in Middle School Math! While the 8th Grade was interning, 6th and 7th grade students dove into some Project-Based Learning! Students were given a budget and had to plan a dream vacation that did not exceed that budget. They chose a location, researched flights and hotels, factored in the cost of gasoline and a rental car, and even researched restaurants to budget the cost of meals. It was so much fun watching them work together to problem-solve and make compromises to be able to complete the task successfully.

To round out the week in Pre-Transition, students jumped into Chapter 5, titled “Using Multiplication.” Students learned about the Array Model for Multiplication and learned how to multiply fractions and mixed numbers.

The Transition class moved forward in their learning of Chapter 6 this week. They continued exploring translations of images and became experts at rotating figures about a point and on a graph.

Algebra students continued their journey in Chapter 6. They practiced finding the slope of a line on a graph as well as through two given points. They can also use the definition and properties of slope.

Finally, the Geometry class continued on with Chapter 6. They can now apply theorems about isosceles triangles to find angle measures and segment lengths. They can also calculate the measures of inscribed angles from the measures of intercepted arcs and vice versa.

The Middle School is ready for an action-packed final week leading into break! See you Thursday night!

Ms. Mollie: Goodbye February!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Goodbye February!

What a wonderful, short, cold, and cozy month it’s been. In celebration of Read Across America, on Thursday, we wore our favorite PJs and got cozy with our favorite books. In our pictures this week, you will see some older pictures of the children with books; they are some of my most treasured memories. Reading is a love that is fostered in the early years of childhood and stays with them for life! Keep reading daily to your child!

We continue to do great work in the classroom that strengthens our hands, concentration, and social skills, all while having fun! Some of the photos captured of the children look so serious, which indicates deep concentration and connection with the activity!

With Full Hearts,

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

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Upcoming Events

  • Research Night: Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30 in the Performing Arts Room
  • Field Trip to the Yale Peabody Museum: Friday, March 7, 9:00 to 2:00. Pack a bagged lunch – no food that needs to be heated.

What an amazing week we’ve had in Upper Elementary! Each research group dove into finalizing their papers, putting together slide presentations, and building some incredible three-dimensional models of their ancient civilizations. I was so impressed with the effort, focus, and teamwork everyone showed while gearing up for research night.

During this project, Upper El students took charge of their learning by exploring their assigned ancient civilizations and gathering lots of information to share with their classmates. Not only did they learn about their specific civilizations, but they also sharpened their research and teamwork skills. By the time we wrap this up on Wednesday, they’ll walk away with some valuable experience on how to research a broad topic.

For me, the biggest takeaway from this project has been their growth in collaboration. They’ve worked together before on smaller assignments with one or two classmates, but this time, it’s on a much bigger scale and includes the excitement (and nerves!) of presenting to an audience. Each group figured out how to use their strengths and work through differences of opinion.

By the end of the week, everyone had tackled these challenges with grace and joy. I can’t wait to see you all on Wednesday night!

Mrs. Hood: A Week of Furry, Scaly, and Fluffy Friends!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

As we wrap up this lovely month of February, our focus this week was on a topic close to many hearts—pets! Throughout the month, the children have been learning about different kinds of pets, their names, and the unique characteristics that make each one special. Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of children learning to live with animals, as it fosters responsibility, empathy, and a deeper connection with nature. Experiencing firsthand interactions with pets allows children to develop kindness, patience, and a sense of care for other living beings.

This week, we had the joy of meeting some of our students’ beloved pets!

🐱 Monday: We welcomed Quentin, a super cute and curious orange domestic cat who was beyond excited (or terrified—it’s difficult to know with cats!) and wanted to explore the classroom. Aruna happily demonstrated how she fed him treats in front of her classmates and brushed his fur.

🐹 Tuesday: After exploring lettuce as our food-tasting lesson of the week, we introduced the children to Mrs. Sankey’s guinea pigs: Teddy and Houdini.  The children were thrilled to feed them and observe them as they played, ate, and drank water. Their gentle nature brought so much joy to the class!

🐶 Wednesday: We had a visit from Elmo, the sweetest senior pup! (A mix of Jack Russell, Beagle, and Mini Pinscher.) He happily wagged his tail as he sniffed around, greeting each child with excitement. Evie was over the moon, proudly introducing her dog and having her dad join us in the classroom. We all had a good laugh when Dad commanded him to sit multiple times—and he didn’t! We think he felt at home, surrounded by toddlers. 😊

🐶Thursday: Everly’s gigantic puppy, a Great Pyrenees, made quite the impression! Looking like a friendly polar bear, he amazed the children with his size. We learned that he loves peanut butter sandwiches and has a knack for reaching kitchen counters! The children cheered as he followed commands and enjoyed petting him gently.

🦎 Friday: Lizzo and Scooter, Ms. Mollie’s leopard geckos, came for a visit! The children were in awe of their beauty, and most of them really enjoyed watching and feeling Scooter crawl all over them. Since Lizzo is pregnant, we gave her some space, but she still joined the bath the children gave them both.

It was truly a memorable week filled with excitement, learning, and hands-on experiences with animals. We are so grateful to all of you who helped make these visits possible, enriching the children’s understanding of pets and fostering meaningful connections. It truly takes a village!

🍊To end the week, the children participated in a hands-on food preparation lesson—juicing an orange! Engaging all their senses, they squeezed, tasted, and proudly enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Enjoy the pictures from this week, and have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

You can find magic wherever you look. So sit back and relax, all you need is a book.  

—–Dr. Seuss

Read Across America is a national event celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This initiative was created by the National Education Association and implemented to encourage a love of reading in children. At FWM, we also turn that day into Pajama Day, and the children bring their favorite book to share. We read Green Eggs and Ham, and the children were treated to their own green eggs and ham sandwiches! Once again, huge thanks to Eliot’s family for preparing the amazing snacks. The eggs were dyed green using spinach, and most of the children thoroughly enjoyed this fun snack.

An online article from nationaldaycalendar.com has some beautiful ideas on how to motivate children to read wherever they are.

  • Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of the house, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible.
  • Visit the library often. Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide.
  • Get caught reading. Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. Whether they see you read a magazine, newspaper, or novel, let them know reading is the cool thing to do.
  • Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens up opportunities for discussion.
  • Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn!

Reading is an integral part of each school day. We hope to pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Happy Reading!

Christine & Fatima

Blossoming Minds: Growth in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

This time of year brings remarkable growth in our Lower Elementary students, both academically and emotionally. Skills that once seemed challenging—reading complex texts, solving multi-step math problems, and writing detailed stories—are now tackled with confidence and independence. Their persistence has strengthened, and they are beginning to take ownership of their learning. In addition, their ability to navigate friendships and social dynamics has matured, with more kindness, patience, and self-advocacy emerging in daily interactions.

Another exciting shift is their increased sense of responsibility within the classroom community. They are taking initiative in class routines, demonstrating leadership in group activities, and stepping into mentorship roles. These changes highlight their growing maturity and awareness of how their actions impact others. Witnessing these developmental leaps is a rewarding reminder of why I love teaching this age group—they are becoming more capable, thoughtful, and engaged learners, setting a strong foundation for future success.

We are so excited for next week’s Research Night! I hope to see everybody at 5:30 for the event on Tuesday, March 4th!

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

Read Across America is a national event celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This initiative was created by the National Education Association and implemented to encourage a love of reading in children. At FWM, we also turn that day into Pajama Day, and the children bring their favorite book to share. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

An online article from nationaldaycalendar.com has some beautiful ideas on how to motivate children to read wherever they are.

  • Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of the house, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible.
  • Visit the library often. Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide.
  • Get caught reading. Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. Whether they see you read a magazine, newspaper, or novel, let them know reading is the cool thing to do.
  • Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens up opportunities for discussion.
  • Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn!

Reading is an integral part of each school day. I hope that Ms. Sue and I can pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Happy Reading!

Marissa & Sue