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Mrs. Wilson: Magic of Metamorphosis

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we continued our exploration of the life cycle of a butterfly. The children are not only expanding their vocabulary, but also strengthening their sequencing skills as they learn each stage of the butterfly’s journey. Here is the sequence we have been practicing together:

The butterfly lands on a leaf and lays an egg.
Out pops a tiny caterpillar!
The caterpillar eats the leaf and grows bigger and bigger.
Once it is big enough, it hangs in a “J” shape.
Next, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis around itself.
Then the magic of metamorphosis happens! (Ask your child to say “metamorphosis” — they love this big word!)
When the transformation is complete, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
Its wings are wet at first, so it must rest and dry them.
Once the wings are dry, the butterfly flies away to a leaf, and the whole cycle begins again.

We will continue retelling this story together each school day, helping the children build confidence and familiarity with the sequence. The most exciting part has been observing our real caterpillars in the classroom. The children were able to watch the tiny caterpillars grow and eventually hang in their “J” shape. Two of the caterpillars have already formed their chrysalises, although they did not attach at the top as expected. They are still alive and resting safely on a paper towel while we continue to observe and care for them.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

What a busy week! In addition to daily musical rehearsals of Willy Wonka, Jr., highlights of the week included the Farewell to the Class of 2026 and Spanish Food Presentations.

The Farewell is an FWM tradition when the current 6th and 7th-grade students say their goodbyes and honor their graduating classmates. This year, a speech was given highlighting each of the graduates, superlative awards were distributed, personalized graduation caps and posters were shared, and an individualized Timegussr game was created. The celebration ended with some delicious cake and good conversation. It is clear that the class of 2026 will certainly be missed.

Coming Up:

Spanish

This week in Spanish class, our middle school students presented their hard work in their Spanish Food Presentation. After researching the history and background of each dish from across Spain and Latin America, students did their slide and video presentation. They also included in their presentation a lot of information about culture and flavors. It is fantastic to blend cultural learning with hands-on experience, turning the classroom into a vibrant celebration of Spanish culinary traditions. Students enjoyed every aspect of this project, from making slides to recording and editing a video, and obviously, the cooking and tasting part. All of them waited eagerly for this time of the year. Every presentation was great, showing a lot of work in research, confidence in public speaking, and culinary skills. Great job!

The following dishes were presented:

Arepas con queso, horchata, nachos, flan de caramelo, dulce de leche cake, ensaimadas, tres leches horchata cake, tortilla de patatas, quipes, quesadillas, churros, gallo pinto, patatas bravas, pan con tomate, piña colada, ceviche de camarones, tres leches cake, arroz con pollo guisado, chivo guisado, empanadas de carne, torrijas, y tarta de Santiago.  

 

Humanities

6th and 7th-grade Humanities classes continued learning about the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazism prior to WWII. They also began their final novel, which is a memoir by Marion Blumenthal Lazan called Four Perfect Pebbles. This book gives Marion’s account of her experience during the Holocaust when her family was sent to Bergen-Belsen, a concentration camp in Germany. Additionally, students worked on preparations for the Farewell celebration.

The 8th-grade Humanities class has almost completed their final book, She Came to Slay. Reading this biography about Harriet Tubman allowed 8th-grade students to annotate and lead discussions surrounding the life and legacy of Tubman. Conversations about her achievements, struggles, and ability to persevere made the class realize what a heroine she truly was. Next, the 8th-grade students began writing the final piece of their Fraser Woods career: their graduation speech. It is hard to believe they will be wrapping up their time and memories at FWM.

 

Math

Pre-Transition: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 7 and have shown so much growth in their division skills. They can find quotients of positive and negative numbers as well as solve multiplication and division problems using fact triangles and related facts. Students are also becoming experts with both the short and long division algorithms. They wrapped up the week with a review of Chapter 7 concepts and took the Chapter 7 test. 

Transition: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 8 and practiced several important algebra skills. They learned how to solve and check equations in the form ax+b=c, use inverse operations to solve for variables, graph equations in the form y = mx + b, and solve linear inequalities. Students finished the week with a full Chapter 8 review and will take the Chapter 8 test on Monday, May 18.

Algebra: This week, students continued learning and applying exponent rules in Chapter 8. They can now simplify products, quotients, and powers of powers, as well as rewrite powers of products and quotients. After taking the Chapter 8 quiz, students were introduced to simplifying square roots and cube roots, and they began practicing how to simplify radical expressions.

Geometry: This week, students wrapped up Chapter 6 with the chapter test before jumping into Chapter 7, Applications of Congruent Triangles. Students learned the different triangle congruence theorems and how to apply them to prove whether or not triangles are congruent. They also practiced constructing triangles that satisfy given conditions, as well as determining whether all triangles meeting those conditions would be congruent.

Algebra II: This week, students began their study of quadratic equations and explored how quadratic functions differ from linear functions. They learned how to identify key features of quadratic equations, graph parabolas, and recognize how the coefficients affect the shape and direction of the graph. Students also practiced solving quadratic equations using a variety of methods.

 

Science

Middle School students continued working on lessons from the Discovery Education e-book. This week, 6th and 7th-graders continued learning about atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds. They learned that there could be two types of molecules: elemental molecules (O2) and compound molecules (H2O). Students also learned that compounds could be made of two or more different elements that are chemically combined. The atoms in a compound are bonded together by strong chemical bonds, such as ionic and covalent bonds. An ionic bond is the chemical bond that happens between a metal and a non-metal element and is formed when one atom donates electrons to another to become a positively charged ion. The other type of chemical bond is the covalent bond; this happens when atoms, typically non-metals, share the valence electrons, so each atom attains a full outer shell for stability, like water (H2O).

Eighth graders continued learning about cell division. Living organisms constantly make new cells to replace old or dead cells. The new cells can replace old ones and repair damaged cells. Students learned that there are three main types of cellular division: mitosis, meiosis, and binary fission. Binary fission is an asexual reproduction that occurs in prokaryotes, where a single parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. They also learned that mitosis occurs in complex eukaryotes, and it is the process of cell division that produces two genetically identical cells. In addition, students learned that mitosis has different phases, such as interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. Classwork supported these lessons, and at this point, students can recognize each of the phases of Mitosis. All these science lessons and new concepts are supported by classwork, videos, readings, and explanations in class, followed by weekly science articles where students can practice their critical thinking to answer the questions.

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week we have been enjoying the ever-changing weather from warm sunny days to chilly, cloudy, and rainy ones. No matter the forecast, the children have certainly found plenty of ways to get their energy out!

Outside, the children loved:

  • running around with the dump trucks
  • swinging
  • drawing with chalk
  • chasing and playing with friends

There has been lots of movement, laughter, and fresh air as we embraced all kinds of spring weather.

Inside the classroom, we focused on activities that help build hand strength and coordination. The children practiced:

  • scissor work
  • peeling and sticking different-sized stickers
  • gluing felt clippings onto a caterpillar to create a fuzzy little friend

These activities support fine motor development while also allowing the children to be creative and expressive.

We have also been spending time practicing communication skills and encouraging the children to use their words and voices to let friends know what they need. Learning how to communicate with peers in kind and respectful ways is such an important part of growing together in the classroom community.

For food tasting this week, we tried cantaloupe, and the children really enjoyed the sweet, juicy fruit. There were lots of happy faces and requests for more!

It has been a very productive week full of movement, creativity, learning, and growing friendships. Very busy hands and busy bodies!

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Don’t you sometimes feel bewildered when you think of the millions of things that put life together?’ … ‘I’m not bewildered. I’m filled with the deepest awe and wonder. The miracle is that in its complexity it all works.” -Julie Andrews Edwards, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

We spent most of last week testing, and everyone handled the schedule like pros! Students spent their early mornings rehearsing for the spring musical, followed by our class chapter-book read-aloud, and then testing. After following this schedule Monday through Thursday, we were glad to get back to a more typical routine on Friday with student-led yoga after our read-aloud and some work cycle time before lunch. Students are hard at work on an end-of-the-year biology project, researching and writing reports about the vital functions of animals. Their options for completing the project are either to prepare a presentation with a slideshow about their animal or to write an informational booklet.

This coming week is our last week before we head off to Massachusetts for Nature’s Classroom. We are getting very excited, and students will choose their activities in the next couple of days. If you haven’t turned in your medical forms yet, please do that by Tuesday at the latest. I will be inviting you to join a WhatsApp text group for communication while we are away. I’ll use this group to share photos, in real time when possible, and communicate information about our trip while we are away.

Coming Up!

  • Monday, May 18 – DEADLINE to Order Pilot Lunch Program
  • Thursday, May 21 @ 7:00 – Spring Musical
  • Friday, May 22 – DEADLINE to Order a Yearbook
  • Monday, May 25 – No School: Memorial Day
  • Tuesday, May 26 – Thursday, May 28  – Nature’s Classroom Trip
  • Friday, May 29 – May and Summer Birthday Breakfast

The Next Chapter

Posted on by Jill Skilton

Every improvement we make to this campus is in service of our students—giving them the space, the resources, and the environment they need to grow into independent, curious, and capable individuals.

David Newman, Head of School

What We’re Building

The centerpiece of the project is a new Physical Education and Performing Arts Center, created by transforming a previously underutilized area of our campus. This will allow us to renovate our current PE and Performing Arts space into four new classrooms as well as transforming the current Makerspace area into a new common area featuring lockers and expanded restroom facilities. More than an upgrade to daily logistics—this extends the prepared environment of our school. In Montessori education, the spaces children move through throughout the day are not incidental, they are considered essential to development. Social interaction, the rhythms of transition, and the quiet moments of community that happen in shared spaces provide children the freedom to move, connect, and grow not just in the classroom, but throughout their entire day.

Three Summers. One Vision.

This is the third consecutive summer that Fraser Woods has invested meaningfully in its campus. Each project has built on the last — and together they tell a story about a school that takes its mission seriously enough to keep reaching.

Athletic Field & Campus Grounds | Summer 2024
A new multi-use synthetic athletic field, driveway improvements, and updated landscaping — changing how our students experience the outdoors every single day.

Building Envelope Renovation | Summer 2025
New siding, windows, and roofing — improving energy efficiency, and giving our building the warmth and presence it deserves.

The Largest Project in Our History | Summer 2026
A new PE & Performing Arts Center, four new classrooms, and expanded common areas. The most ambitious thing we have ever built — together.

What to Expect This Summer

Our summer program will run as scheduled. Some activities will use alternative spaces during construction, and there may be small adjustments to traffic flow on campus. We will keep you informed every step of the way — clearly, and well in advance of any changes.

On Gratitude

For more than five decades, the Fraser Woods community has made quiet, consistent choices that put children first. This expansion is the latest expression of that commitment—and it didn’t happen because of any single decision or any single year. It happened because of all of you, over a very long time.

We are proud to be a school that is growing. Not just in the size of our campus, but in what we are able to offer the children who walk through our doors — and in the depth of the community that walks alongside them.

We can’t wait to welcome you into these new spaces.

To learn more about our campus and the environment we are building for our students, visit our Campus page.

Mrs. Sargeant: Sparkling Windows and New Wings

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, we were so proud to share our classroom with grandparents and special visitors.

Back in the classroom, window washing has become one of the most popular Practical Life works this week. It may seem like a simple cleaning task, but it is so much more than that. Window washing supports independence and responsibility, builds coordination and fine motor skills, demands concentration and careful sequencing, and offers the deep sensory satisfaction of a job done well. When a child surveys a streak-free window that they cleaned themselves, that quiet pride is the Montessori approach at its heart.

Our insect study is well underway, and the caterpillars have been a source of daily wonder. We said a bittersweet goodbye to our chicks this week. If you would like to visit them or pick up some eggs and other goodies — Palmieri Farm is the place to go.

The week also brought a sweet treat: watermelon and kiwi were shared in the classroom, and many of the children tried both with great enthusiasm.

We are deeply grateful for the heartfelt cards, gifts, and delicious treats that made Teacher Appreciation Week so special. Thank you, sincerely, for your generosity and kindness.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Invite your child to wash a low window or mirror at home — give them a spray bottle with water and a cloth, and watch their focus and pride in action.
  • Look for insects together on a walk or in your backyard. Ask your child to describe what they notice about each creature’s body, movement, or habitat.
  • If you visit Palmieri Farm, let your child lead the way — they may have more to share about life cycles than you expect!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

  • Monday, May 11 — Eliana: Flowers, Food, and Sharing Bag
  • Tuesday, May 12 — Jeannine: Recess Volunteer
  • Wednesday, May 13 — Lacy: Guest Reader

Looking Ahead

  • Tuesday, May 19 — Flanders Farm Kindergarten Field Trip. All children need a parent driver and chaperone — please respond to the earlier email regarding this.

Big Work and Independent Discovery in Lower El

Posted on by Carlie Taveras

One of the many roles of the Montessori teacher is to guide children on their own individual journeys of discovery. We aren’t meant to teach in a traditional sense by imparting knowledge, but rather to guide children toward finding answers for themselves, recognizing patterns, making connections, and allowing them to come up with their own strategies. There truly is nothing better than witnessing that “aha” moment when a child lights up after making their own discovery.

The Montessori materials support this process by giving children enough sensorial experience to derive formulas, rules, and understanding from their own work. Through repeated experiences with the materials, children begin to build generalizations based on the patterns and relationships they discover for themselves.

The elementary child is naturally drawn to “big work.” Big work is work that completely absorbs the child in a large endeavor of time, space, or complexity. It may be physically large in size, deeply detailed, intellectually challenging, or all of the above! We provide the child with essential details and guidance, while we encourage them to go further and research, explore, and discover more on their own.

Big work can happen in any area of the curriculum; it is not limited to one subject or one type of material. It is really about the child entering into work that fully captures their attention and invites them to go further than what was initially presented. This week was filled with beautiful examples of big work unfolding naturally with math work in the classroom.

A group of children began working with multiples and quickly moved far beyond the scope of the original lesson. What started as simple follow-up work to a presentation they were recently given turned into an enormous mathematical investigation that required the children to work through every box of bead bars in our classroom. When we ran out, the children eagerly borrowed more from Upper El so they could continue the work. Their excitement only grew as new patterns emerged and they made new discoveries. The school day ended before their work did, and the children pleaded to leave the work out so they could continue discovering more multiples on Monday. Their concentration, collaboration, and pure joy in the work were a reminder that children are capable of far more than we often imagine when they are given the freedom to follow their curiosities.

Another child experienced a similar moment while working with test tube division. After successfully working through the material as it was presented, there was a sudden pause followed by an excited realization of being able to go beyond the material. That single moment led to an entirely new exploration. The child realized they could borrow the racks and boards from other test tube division sets in order to create dividends beyond the millions and divisors greater than four digits. This was a powerful reminder of how the materials are usually far more limited than the Elementary child’s reasoning mind.

In the beginning stages of working with a material, we often need to support the child in creating equations or problems that are appropriate for their level of understanding. However, once a child has developed a solid understanding and a strong level of independence with the material, it becomes important to step back and allow them to create their own problems. This is often when the most meaningful learning happens. This allows the child to take greater ownership of their work and a much deeper connection to it.

It is common for elementary children to create elaborate work and extensive mathematical equations that are far beyond what an adult may have assigned. To the second plane child, the bigger the work, the better. When work comes from their own interests and ideas, they take a much greater sense of ownership in it. They are more invested, more connected, and more motivated to see the work through to completion.

This self-directed approach to learning, paired with thoughtful guidance from the adult, is at the heart of the Montessori elementary environment. While our role is to ensure balance across subject areas and support children in meeting academic expectations, it is essential to protect the child’s freedom to engage deeply in meaningful work. Within this balance, children develop independence, confidence, concentration, and a genuine love of learning.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Posted on by Jill Skilton