Blog

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Welcome to 2025, Middle School families! We hope you had a nice new year an are excited for what’s to come in 2025.

Here are some dates to keep in mind:

  • Friday, 1/17: Math Carnival in the Gym from 1:30-2:30 pm
  • Tuesday, 1/21- Thursday, 1/30: Middle School Immersion
  • Thursday, 1/30: Middle School Play at 7 pm in the Gym

Math

This has been an exciting week for Middle School math! Students returned from the break eager and refreshed and jumped right into a unit on Probability. Students discovered the difference between theoretical and experimental probability. They calculated the theoretical probability of choosing each color of an M&M and then took data of which color M&M they drew from the bag to calculate the experimental probability. Students worked diligently all week to brainstorm an idea for their own probability game, created a blueprint, and then worked to create the physical game. The Math Carnival will take place on Friday, January 17th, and students cannot wait to put their games to the test.

Humanities

In Humanities classes this week, students worked together to write the plot for this year’s Middle School play. The overarching idea for this full-length play is first decided by the 8th-grade class. This year, the play is about a solved mystery about an object in a museum and the backstory to this object. Then, students created a plot line with the skeleton of the play and scene-by-scene summaries. Next, they developed their characters. This involved writing their personality traits, any particular traits in appearance, an example of what they might say, and how their role contributes to the plot. Next, any relationships between characters are established. Finally, the classes began writing the scenes. Next week students will have the opportunity to write in mixed-grade groups as well as with their class. By next Friday, the script will be drafted!

Beginning on Tuesday, 1/21, the Middle School will spend most of the day immersing themselves in the play they wrote. They will create the set, gather/create props and costumes, block the scenes, and put on a final performance for you on Thursday, Jan. 30th, at 7 pm.

Science

6th grade:
Students this week worked on further understanding earthquakes with the introduction of learning about seismic waves.  They looked at how the energy of an earthquake travels through Earth, what scales are used to measure the strength of an earthquake, and began discussing how scientists locate the epicenter of an earthquake.  Students are excited to begin a lab early next week using slinkies to see P waves, S waves, and surface waves in action. They will also learn how to calculate the epicenter of an earthquake using triangulation.
7th grade:
Students completed work constructing their molecules and posters for their molecule project this week.  The projects came out fantastically well, and every one of them was original, with unique creative design and construction.  Students will proudly display these 3D molecules and posters within the Science classroom as they use the information learned to move into the period table and atomic structure next week.
8th grade:
This week, students finished their work on cellular respiration and photosynthesis.  Students completed and hung their posters within the Science classroom and finished their work by writing formal lab reports for the experiments they conducted showing the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration.  Next week, the class will begin working on cell division.  This will be their last subunit on cells before moving into genetics.

Spanish Class December 2024-January 2025

Posted on by Liset Ray

Primary and LE: “Dias de la semana, Navidad y Los Meses del Año”; UE: “Las Estaciones del Año, Navidad y La Ropa”; MS: SOMOS UNIT2 “El Encierro de San Fermin, La Carrera de San Silvestre” y “La Cumbia.”  FWM students learned about the Christmas (Navidad) celebration, which is a traditional holiday in Latin America.

During this couple of months at FWM, students kept working on their usual conversations about feelings, Spanish greetings, the calendar, and weather descriptions. They are continuously improving their Spanish listening and vocabulary. Students from Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School listened carefully to Spanish books and songs and participated in interactive games that were displayed during class.

Primary students focused on learning about “Dias de la semana” (Days of the Week), Navidad (Christmas), and “Los Meses del Año” (Months of the Year). They learned these lectures through Montessori lessons that were left on the language shelves of each class for the students to practice for a couple of weeks.

Lower Elementary students also learned about “Dias de la semana” (Days of the Week), Navidad (Christmas), and “Los Meses del Año” (Months of the Year).  They learned these lectures through Montessori lessons and worksheets to support the lessons learned in class.

Upper Elementary Students put in hard work learning the ABCs in Spanish, they are learning the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet that is leading them to get better pronunciation of the words, increasing their vocabulary and understanding. They also learned about “Las Estaciones del Año” (Seasons), “Navidad” (Christmas), and “La Ropa” (Clothing). UE students are practicing the writing and pronunciation of a lot of new vocabulary through songs and worksheets to support the acquisition of these new words.

Middle Schoolers learned about “El Encierro de San Fermin y La Carrera de San Silvestre.” These are two famous races that are very important traditions and are very popular, the first one in Spain and the other one throughout Latin America. Also, students were able to learn new vocabulary and started the construction of sentences using nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  They also learned about “La Cumbia,” which is a very popular dance and rhythm that is traditional and characteristic in all Spanish-speaking countries.

I am very pleased by the progress accomplished in Spanish class at every level. All the students from FWM are doing an amazing job in Spanish.

Ms. Mollie’s Class: Hello January!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Hello January! 

As I watch the snow gently fall this morning, I can’t help but reflect on the wonderful week we have had in our classroom. The first week back after a long break would seem like it was harder than most, the children have been absolutely resilient, they have come into school with grace, and the children crave order, routine, and structure,e all of which are in the very fiber of what we do and provide daily here at Fraser Woods. 

This week, we welcomed two new children and our second assistant, Ms. Anabelle, into our classroom, which has allowed us to open our classroom environment, practice our communication skills, and, most importantly, open our hearts to new friends who help complete our classroom. The children have been so enthusiastic to welcome them each day, wanting to help and play with them. Having our new children join us has really enforced grace and courtesy, practicing our kindness and thoughtfulness. It’s been very heartwarming to watch the children with such open arms welcome the new children.

Many things this week needed to be flexible due to the weather, so we were able to enjoy the gym each day! One thing I have recognized with toddlers is the need to run, climb, and chase daily. With more flexibility, we were also able to start our weekly baking! The children were so happy to make blueberry scones; the children helped with each step of the process and were very happy to enjoy the eating part, too! Our daily classroom work allowed the children to practice their skills, enforce concentration, and simply be content. 

With Full Hearts and Wishing you all a Happy New Year, 

Ms. Mollie, Ms. Lizette, and Ms. A

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. The first question was, ‘Did you bring joy?’ The second was, ‘Did you find joy?’ -Leo Buscaglia

Upper Elementary students returned to school this week, enthusiastic about our new history studies on Ancient Civilizations.

We began our study with discussions about the definitions of society and civilization, followed by an introduction to the building blocks of civilization. We learned that each stage in the evolution of human culture builds on the foundations of previous societies, with each stage showing advancements from earlier ones. The stages we examined included big game hunting, foraging, farming, trading, and the formation of cities.

Next, we looked at the timeline of the Holocene Epoch, divided into 500-year segments, and features a map highlighting some of the world’s earliest civilizations. The upper part of the timeline focuses on Eurasia and Africa, while the lower part emphasizes developments in the Americas. The Africa-Eurasia map highlights the Mesopotamian civilizations along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East, the Egyptian civilization along the Nile in northwestern Africa, the Indus River civilization in northwest India, and the Shang civilization north of the Yellow River in China. Meanwhile, the Americas map highlights Mesoamerica and the highlands of Peru. This timeline clearly illustrates that civilizations developed in various ways and at different rates, depending on the conditions of their environments.

Upper Elementary students study ancient civilizations to understand them as an evolutionary stage and to relate to the process of civilization development. They are encouraged to challenge the notion of a simplistic, linear progression of human advancement and to identify significant events in civilization’s history. We will explore the contributions of different cultures, hoping to inspire each student’s curiosity for further studies in this area. As we learn about the development of civilizations, we will examine how each group addressed specific fundamental needs and expressed basic human tendencies, comparing and contrasting different societies. Each study will focus on geography, cultural activities, everyday life, and political and economic systems.

Next week, we will choose four ancient civilizations, and students will begin work in small groups, each focusing on one civilization. Over the next seven weeks, they will collaborate to complete their research at school and will present their findings to peers and parents at Research Night on Wednesday, March 5, at 5:30.

This upcoming Wednesday, Upper El students have been invited to participate in National Hat Day by wearing their favorite hats to school.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.” -Margaret Atwood

Upper elementary students had an exciting week as they prepared for the Winter Concert. They worked incredibly hard and showed great enthusiasm during our practices and the performance as we welcomed families and friends to celebrate the holidays with us.

We want to thank everyone who contributed treats to our class party and for your incredibly generous and lovely gifts. We greatly appreciate your support throughout the year. A special thank you goes to the McCann family for caring for our class guinea pigs over the break!

It is no coincidence that we have such an amazing group of students, thanks to their wonderful families. We feel very fortunate to guide these remarkable individuals, and we are grateful to you for trusting us with their care.

Wishing you joyful and peaceful holidays filled with love,

Karen and Sara

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!
-Susan Cooper

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

As Montessori teachers, we embrace the knowledge that one way we can promote peace and understanding of cultures around the world is to find age-appropriate ways to introduce the children to different traditions and celebrations.  While doing so in a very introductory way, it still allows us to highlight the similarities and differences of people everywhere.  These past few weeks have provided the opportunity to talk about Hanukkah, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.  We do this by engaging the children through literature, sharing artifacts, and conversations.

A huge shout-out to parents who always help in any way they can.  I know there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to afford us these opportunities.  It is so very much appreciated.  As always, if there is anyone who may have different traditions or customs to share with us, please reach out.

Thank you to everyone for contributing to such a special week!

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Warmly,

Marissa & Sue

Mrs. Hood: Tis’ the Season!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

And just like that, our first trimester comes to a close, leaving us with so many cherished moments and heartwarming stories. Your children are truly blooming, and their joy, curiosity, and laughter bring so much love and life to our classroom. We are deeply honored to witness their growth and to see each of them unfolding so beautifully.

Thank you for your unwavering support and trust—it means the world to us. We are so grateful to partner with you on this incredible journey. A special thank you as well for your generous and thoughtful gifts; your kindness is truly appreciated!

This week, we celebrated with an amazing pajama holiday party, and it was a morning filled with laughter and fun! The children enjoyed games like “Pin the Nose on Frosty the Snowman,” a friendly snowball fight, a reindeer ring toss, and an epic dance session. We also gathered together for a cozy breakfast, delicious hot cocoa, a mini picture session, and some holiday storytime. But the most special part of all was simply being together as our own little classroom family.

As we continue to enjoy the beautiful holiday season, we wish you and your family light, joy, and peace. May 2024 bring health, happiness, and countless moments of love and connection to us all.

Enjoy the pics of your beautiful children, and have a safe and joyful holiday break. We can’t wait to see you in the new year!

Mrs Hood and Ms. Patty

Ms. Mollie’s Class: Happy Holidays

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week, sharing the magic of holidays has been truly magical to see through the eyes of the children. This week, the children explored, played, and experienced the holidays through a variety of different materials and experiences. The children were able to experience Hanukkah traditions through play and taste! We are so thankful that Kat and Jeremy (Margot’s mom and dad) came to play dreidel, told us the traditions of Hanukkah, and made potato latkes for all of the children to try. The children absolutely loved the latkes, especially the applesauce and sour cream! We are so grateful and thankful to Kat and Jeremy for sharing such wonderful traditions with the children! We also got to experience our first Fraser Woods holiday concert! The children clapped, danced, and sat so beautifully.  

As always, parents, Lizette and I thank you for all of your support, kindness, and help in making our holiday pajama party so much fun! We could not have done it without you! We were so happy to snuggle up, read great books about the holidays, and simply be together drinking our hot cocoa!

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette