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Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It was an exciting week with both a field trip and a snow day! Our field trip to the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, CT, was a huge success. It is of no surprise that educators there were impressed not only with the knowledge of FWM students’ art techniques but of their critical thinking skills and ability to speak so profoundly about art.

Announcements:

  • Please continue bringing in weather-appropriate apparel. Thank you for your effort with this!
  • No School: Monday, 2/17 for Presidents’ Day
  • 8th Grade Internships: Monday, 2/24- Wednesday, 2/26

Humanities

It is Black History Month, so all humanities classes this month will begin with a brief presentation on influential Black Americans. They will also be working with Ms. Sara and Ms. Reid on a project inspired by contemporary artist, Nick Caves.

Additionally, all humanities classes began their research projects this week!

6th graders chose their topics for their research topics, developed goals, and wrote questions to launch their research. They also had lessons in finding reliable resources and well as taking research notes for the project. Next week, students will learn how to develop their thesis statements and complete their research. This is their only homework for the week, so they should be working on it each night.

7th graders also chose their research topics and completed topic proposals with rough thesis statements and questions to guide their research. They received a brief review in finding reliable resources as well as taking research notes. Finally, they are picking up their Utopia Projects and will complete those over the next week in conjunction with their research. Research is their only homework, so they should be working on it nightly.

8th graders finished their topic proposals and drafts of their thesis statements for Expert Projects. This is an exciting capstone project for FWM Middle School students that will carry them into mid-May. Students are also seeking out opportunities for their internships at the end of the month. Finally, in their US history class, 8th graders are studying the evolution of White Europeans beginning with the Age of Exploration.

Science

6th graders started a new unit this week, Earth’s Systems. The focus this week was Energy Transfer and the Water Cycle.  Students learned the roles the sun and wind play in the water cycle and how Earth has a specific amount of water that goes through a constant cycle. Next week, students will work on an experiment to demonstrate this cycle.
7th graders reviewed basic atomic structure and began exploring the periodic table. They learned how the periodic table is arranged into rows and columns, periods, and families. The class also discussed the major groupings in the periodic table: metals, metalloids, non-metals, and noble gases. Next week, students will conduct experimentation to explore the properties of each of these groupings.
8th graders reviewed the cell cycle and mitosis. Students reviewed the importance of Interphase in preparing the cell for cell division and discussed how cells spend the majority of their time in this preparation stage. They then reviewed the phases of mitosis and what occurs during each. Next week, students will work on an experiment looking at mitosis in onion root tip cells, and they will begin to discuss what can occur when cell division goes awry or unregulated.

Math

It was an incredibly productive and engaging week in Middle School math! After an action-packed January filled with the excitement of the Math Carnival and the Middle School Play, students in all four math courses were eager to dive back into the curriculum. The week kicked off with a fun review session that helped students refresh their math skills. Through whole-class discussions, students revisited key concepts learned prior to the Math Carnival, with plenty of opportunities to actively engage. They practiced problem-solving on their whiteboards, collaborated in pairs to tackle more challenging problems, and wrapped up the week with an independent “show me what you remember” assignment. This assignment will be invaluable for assessing which concepts have truly “stuck” and which will need further attention before moving on to new material. It’s been a great balance of reinforcing prior learning while preparing for the exciting challenges ahead!

Ms. Mollie: Hello February!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

The month has only just begun, and it’s been filled with so much fun! We have had so many different adventures throughout the Fraser Woods Campus! We have enjoyed playing on the field, playing in the gym, learning to weave with Mrs. Reed in the Maker Space, playing in the snow on our Toddler playground, and, as always, exploring new works and lessons in our classroom! 

The books Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Eric Carle have been instrumental in helping children understand how to use our eyes to see and our ears to hear. In helping our young friends develop the skill of listening and watching, it’s always great to use literacy as a fun way to connect. The children have asked each day that we take out our felt “story” and they love to hunt for the different pieces. 

This month has so many wonderful experiences that lay ahead, next week we have a pink pancake breakfast where we celebrate the friendships in our classroom! I want to say a sincere thank you to all the parents who were able to observe this week in the primary classrooms, it truly is a window into what is next for your child’s journey here at Fraser Woods and I know that the magic of primary is truly special. 

With Full Hearts, 

Ms. Mollie, Ms.Lizette and Ms.Anabelle

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

 

 

Last week we took a trip to the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, and it was amazing to see the world of art come alive. The exhibits were fascinating, especially the works of Wen Liu and Martha Diamond. Their unique styles really inspired us and got our creative juices flowing. We even had the chance to create our own wet-on-wet paintings, channeling some of Martha Diamond’s techniques. It was a fun and enlightening experience, allowing us to play with colors and textures.

This week also marked our third round of Book Buddies, which just keeps getting better and better. It’s so heartwarming to see the students becoming more independent as they eagerly connect with their buddies for reading time. The friendships forming between our Upper El students and the Kindergarteners are really something special—they’re bonds that will last beyond the classroom!

Looking ahead, we have an exciting week planned. On Monday, we’re thrilled to welcome Donna from the Brian O’Connell Homeless Project. She’ll be speaking to both Upper El and Middle School students about the important work they do, plus we’ll be putting together Brian Bags later in the week alongside our Middle Schoolers. And we’re excited to welcome a new student, June, to our classroom! We can’t wait for her to join our community!

As Friday gets closer, our excitement builds for Valentine’s Day! We’ll be exchanging cards and having a little party to celebrate. But before all that fun, we’re dedicating part of our morning to making sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen. It’s a great way to mix our festivities with a meaningful cause, reminding us all about the importance of community and kindness.

Ms. Handibode: All You Need is Love!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

We asked the children what love means. Their answers are sure to bring a smile to your face. In similar posts that we’ve done in the past, we always say the world would do well to listen to these children. It rings true with this post as well. We hope you enjoy their responses as much as we did!

  • Arya–              Love is helping people when they need it.
  • Connor–        Love means lots of hearts and playing with people you like.
  • Ella–                Love is sharing my toys with my little sister.  I only share some of them with Mila though, not the really special ones.
  • Hadley–         Love is building princess castles with my Mommy and Daddy.
  • Hannah–       Love is playing robots with my brother Luke.
  • Harper–         Love is playing with other people even when they are upset or alone.
  • Jacob–            Love is helping Mommy do puzzles that have more than 100 pieces.
  • Jaxxon–          Love is when we give hugs.
  • Joseph–          Love is helping Mommy and Daddy take care of the house.
  • Maayan–        Love is building Legos with my Daddy. We build lots of different houses.
  • Melina–          Love is sharing toys with my cousin.
  • Morgan—        Love is giving someone lots and lots of hugs.
  • Oliver–           Love is giving my Mommy and Daddy lots of hugs.
  • Reagan—         Love is being kind to everyone and sharing things with other people, even my Teddy Bear and heart pillow.
  • Remi–             Love is playing race cars and Hot Wheels with my Mommy and Daddy.
  • River–             Love is washing the dirty dishes.  I just have to remember to use cold water so I don’t burn myself with hot water.
  • Ryan–              Love is giving my Daddy hearts and my Mommy lots of hugs.
  • Tommy–         Love is letting my little brother follow me all around.
  • Wilder–          Love is something you show other people, and you share your toys.
  • Zaki–               Love is being with your friends.
  • Zion–              Love is teaching my little sister how to be kind to people and to respect Mommy and Daddy.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

We asked the children what love means. Their answers are sure to bring a smile to your face. In similar posts that we’ve done in the past, we always say the world would do well to listen to these children. It rings true with this post as well.

  • Amelia– Love is playing with my friends Kimberlin and Elanour.
  • Arhan– Love is dinosaurs.
  • Arian– Love is kissing and hugging my Mom.
  • Ben– Love is riding my bike with Dad and Kian.
  • Brisa– Love is cooking with my Mom.
  • Brooke–Love is playing with my sister Taylor.
  • Casey– Love is Friday Fort Night with my brothers.
  • Declan–Love is hugging my Mommy and Daddy.
  • Elanour–Love is cupcakes and birthdays.         
  • Enzo– Love is when I play Legos with my Mom.
  • Evie– Love is “Daddy Night” and playing Daddy Dinosaur.
  • Fiona– Love is making my Mom a paper heart.
  • Helena– Love is giving Mom a big hug.       
  • Kaiah– Love is making a card for my sister when she is sick.       
  • Kimberlin– Love is snuggling with my Mama.
  • Love–Love is playing tag with my Mom.
  • Nicolas– Love is playing games with my sisters.
  • Olivia–Love is seeing my sister Vanessa.
  • Ryder–Love is kissing my Mom on the forehead and showing her pictures of rocket ships, houses, and pipes.
  • Sadie– Love is playing Barbies with my Mommy.
  • Scotlyn– Love is hugging my brother, River.
  • Zion– Love is playing ball with my brother and sister.              

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Amanda & Hema

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

We have had a busy week filled with birthday celebrations, visitors, snow and mud, and lots of talk about Valentine’s Day. We have been hoping and wishing for Spring and have discussed some of the first signs of the lovely season – my favorite being the sighting of robins! We have been singing “Red Red Robin” – ask your child to sing it for you!

We have begun our study of Africa for the month of February. We were amazed and excited to hear that there is a Lake Victoria (the same name as one of our classmates!) in Africa.

Next week, we will begin decorating our Valentine’s Day bags in anticipation of the arrival of many cards. Please send in your child’s cards any day before Friday (we’ll celebrate on Thursday).

Have a wonderful weekend,

Marissa & Sue

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

“Help me to do it myself” is the core of the Montessori classroom. Maria Montessori said that these words reveal the inner needs of the child.

Maria Montessori once recounted an incident where she had given a nose-blowing lesson in front of a group of children at the Casa de Bambini. She observed that the children were fascinated by the lesson and expressed gratitude by clapping and thanking her afterward. This experience led her to realize the significance of teaching self-care to children. Dr. Montessori recognized that children have a natural inclination to learn and practice self-care tasks. She understood these skills are essential for preserving a child’s dignity and building self-esteem.

We encourage children to do things for themselves each day: hanging their backpacks, removing their shoes, washing their hands, opening their lunchboxes, and even wiping or blowing their noses. Of course, jumping in and doing these tasks for the children is easier and quicker. However, the time spent teaching the children to do something independently will not only build their self-confidence and concentration but will eventually save time and increase your family’s happiness!

Since entering the season of colds and runny noses, we have been focused on showing the children how to use a tissue independently. If you’d like to encourage this at home, it is helpful to have an accessible tissue box and mirror. We have shown the children to pick one tissue from the box, look in the mirror, deliberately pinch their nostrils, and then pull it away. Next, they throw the tissue in the trash and wash their hands. 

This week, we have introduced apple cutting. There are many steps involved in this practical life activity- from slicing the apple, offering the slices to classmates, cleaning and drying each of the materials at the sink, and finally returning the tray back to the shelf. The children are so capable and filled with pride upon completion of this activity.

Fostering independence in young children is a gradual process that evolves as they grow. It is essential to find a balance between providing support and allowing them to take on more responsibility as they become more capable. This approach helps them to develop the skills and confidence they need to become self-sufficient individuals.

This week, we finally had the chance to build a snowperson! We have been observing its transformation ever since bringing it indoors. The children were excited and amazed to see how much of the melted snow had evaporated after missing school yesterday due to the snow.

Best wishes for a fabulous week!

Christine & Fatima

Explorations in Clay!

Posted on by Jen Reid

The Art Studio has been buzzing lately with lots of wonderful clay work from kindergarten through middle school students! Students have been exploring a range of clay processes and techniques, such as coil building, slab rolling, pinching, and throwing on the pottery wheel.

Working with clay has many benefits for children of all ages. It is a complex sensory experience that encourages self-expression, helps promote self-confidence, and develops problem-solving and motor skills. Because clay is highly responsive to touch, children become engrossed in their work: they are able to express and articulate their ideas through shaping clay and learning to repair mistakes. Clay is different from other art mediums in that it requires an understanding of the three-dimensional world. While working on their projects, students must move around to see their creations from all sides. From this, they begin to understand shape, form, and perspective and gain knowledge of planning methods and problem-solving as they map out their creation.