Blog

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

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes


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. This year we were lucky to have parents volunteer to do a “Cat in the Hat” mask with the children and make a “green eggs and ham” treat for us to enjoy.

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. Hema and I can pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Happy Reading!

Amanda & Hema

Ms. Handibode: Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

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 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!

In our classroom, we call books treasures. Reading is an integral part of each school day. I hope that Miss Maria and I can pass on our passion for literature to your children.

Thank you to Maycie Ralbovsky for the amazing green eggs and ham and for Kim Raia for the fun craft the children did.  We are so grateful for all of the behind the scene time and effort that goes into allowing our classroom to run so beautifully.

Happy Reading!

Michelle & Maria

Physical Education Monthly Update

Posted on by Dylan Fisher

Despite the temps being frigid outside, the students have been keeping plenty warm and active in the gym engaging in various games and activities. 

The kindergartners continue to work on moving safely around one another and remaining in control during physical activity. One recent activity that helped hone these skills was “Line Tag” where students are tasked with evading taggers while navigating around the gym jogging only on the marked lines on the floor. Watching the students’ faces light up as they do their best to avoid taggers while remaining in control on the lines was awesome to see. 

Lower elementary students have been working on improving their sportsmanship and communication. A recent highlight was “Wolves Den,” which asks students to sneak around behind the back of one of their classmates (the wolf), and then freeze when the wolf turns around. If the wolf says they saw one of their classmates moving, that student goes back to the start and tries again. Witnessing the students change their strategy after having to restart was wonderful to watch. 

Upper elementary students came together to tackle “Mission Impossible.” Students were given a bucket of items to use while making their way from one end of the gym to the other without touching the floor. They were required to use all of the equipment in the bucket while ensuring everyone made it across. Seeing the class work together to find creative ways to use the equipment while adopting a no-student-left-behind mentality made the activity a highlight. 

Similarly, middle school students were recently challenged by a team building activity titled “Hoop It Up.” The activity asks students to work in pairs to lift hula hoops off of the gym floor and back to their home base. Students are only permitted to lift and transport the hula hoops using the two jump ropes each team is given. Teamwork is required to wedge the jump ropes under the hoops and balance them as pairs walk back to their home base. It was inspiring to watch the class cheer one another on as they carefully balanced the hula hoops.