Blog

Ms. Mollie: Spring…….Almost!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Spring is just around the corner, and we are all eagerly awaiting its arrival. You can feel the shift in the air as the days slowly grow longer. This week, we began planting seeds together, a quiet and hopeful reminder that growth takes patience and care. The children loved helping with this work, scooping soil, placing seeds gently, and watering them with such concentration.

We have also been enjoying more time outside whenever we can. Fresh air, movement, and connection with nature help ground the children and bring a beautiful sense of calm to our days.

With the time change this weekend and spring break approaching, it is also a time to be especially mindful of our little ones. Changes in routine can feel big for toddlers. You may notice larger emotions, extra tiredness, or a need for a bit more patience and connection. This is very normal. Consistency and gentle rhythms help children feel safe and regulated.

As we move toward spring, we continue focusing on slowing down, caring for our environment, and supporting the children through these seasonal transitions with love, grace, and understanding. 🌱✨

With Full and Hopeful Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Marissa: Rainbows, Rain, and the Water Cycle

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

Last week, the classroom was filled with wonder as we began our study of rainbows and the water cycle. The children were amazed to discover that light itself splits into seven colors — and that rainbows are waiting to be found in the rain, in mist, after a storm, and even in the spray of a garden hose!

We also explored the water cycle, learning how water moves in a continuous circular journey — from evaporation to condensation to precipitation and back again. This cyclical concept resonated beautifully with the children’s natural sense of pattern and order.

Several new materials were added to our rainbow and water cycle shelf to support this study. Non-fiction books help children build vocabulary and deepen their understanding of these natural phenomena. Open-ended play activities — including rainbow blocks, rainbow art, and cut-and-paste projects — invite the children to revisit and internalize the colors of the rainbow in creative ways. A highlight has been the water cycle wheel: children color, cut, and assemble their own turning wheel that shows each stage of the cycle in motion. It is a wonderful blend of fine motor work, science, and artistic expression.

Extending Learning at Home

The next time it rains, invite your child to look for a rainbow and name the seven colors in order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. On a sunny day, try holding a garden hose at an angle in the sunlight — you may just make your own rainbow! You can also fill a clear glass with water and place it near a sunny window to observe how light passes through and casts colors on the wall.

Research Night in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

What an incredible last few weeks it has been in our classroom! Over the past several weeks, the children have been hard at work preparing their unique research projects. They showed so much dedication as they explored topics that truly interested them, spending time reading, writing, organizing their ideas, and creating beautiful displays to share.

Research Night was a wonderful celebration of all that hard work. It was amazing to see the students stand proudly beside their projects, presenting their learning with such confidence and enthusiasm. Each child became an expert on their topic and did a fantastic job sharing their knowledge and passion with families and visitors.

The energy in the room was truly inspiring. The children were so excited to talk about what they had learned, answer questions, and show off the projects they worked so carefully to create. Moments like these highlight not only their academic growth but also their confidence, curiosity, and pride in their work.

Thank you to all the families who came out to support the students. Your presence made the evening even more special and meaningful for the children. We are so proud of their dedication and accomplishments, and Research Night was a beautiful way to celebrate all they have achieved!

Wishing all of our families a wonderful Spring Break! We hope you enjoy a relaxing and fun time together and look forward to seeing everyone back soon.

Middle School: Research Projects

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Wow! What a great (and busy) week before break for the Middle School.

6th and 7th-grade students presented the culmination of a 5-week research project surrounding the theme, A Moment in History. Students gave 5-6 minute presentations about a time or event of historical significance that they chose to research, which contained interesting graphics, research, and multimedia. The evening was a big success, and all of the students should be proud of the work they did preparing and the bravery they showed in delivering a presentation of this scope.

Also, 8th-grade students finalized their research for this year’s Expert Project. Additionally, some have completed interviews with their experts or will be completing them over the break. The 8th-grade class has been working hard on these projects since our return from winter break and looks forward to presenting on April 22nd!

We hope you and your family have a rejuvenating two weeks. We look forward to welcoming you back to school on Monday, 3/23.

Mrs. Wilson: March’s Magic

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

The month of March focuses on colors, color mixing, zoo animals, and St. Patrick’s Day. Over the next couple of weeks, the children will have many opportunities to explore these themes through hands-on work and stories.

This week, the children have been exploring the color tablets, learning the names of the primary colors. We are also reading the story Mouse Paint, which tells the tale of three white mice who discover the magic of mixing primary colors to create new ones. When we return from break, we will revisit this story, and the children will get to experience the magic of color mixing in real time through their own exploration.

In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, we have several works on the shelves that highlight the color green, shamrocks, and gold coins.

The children were also introduced to a pouring activity in the Refinement of the Hand area. This work helps strengthen the hands while developing eye-hand coordination and concentration. The children can choose between dry pouring with colorful rice or wet pouring with green water. Along with learning to pour comes the opportunity to learn how to care for our environment when spills happen. The children are practicing cleaning dry spills with a small table crumber and wet spills with a sponge.

Food Tasting: This week’s tasting was asparagus. The children were first given a raw asparagus spear to hold and explore before tasting it. Afterwards, they were offered roasted asparagus. While everyone was willing to try it, the class seemed divided—about half preferred the raw asparagus, while the others enjoyed the roasted version more.

Love and Light,
Cynthia and Sara

Miss Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week, we welcomed March by refreshing our classroom shelves with new activities focused on colors. The children have been exploring many new puzzles and fine motor works that encourage color identification and matching.

One of the most loved new activities was filling a wooden rainbow with pom-poms. The children used their pincer grasp to pick up small pom-poms and carefully push them, one by one, into the matching colored arches. It was so satisfying to watch the rainbow slowly fill up and become a bright, fluffy masterpiece!

Another activity that sparked lots of curiosity was matching colored locks with their keys and unlocking them. The children worked patiently with the tiny locks, trying different keys and figuring out how to turn their wrists just enough to make them work. When they finally heard the little “pop” of the lock opening, their faces lit up with excitement and pride.

It has been wonderful to watch the children persevere, focus, and celebrate their successes as they explore these new materials. We are looking forward to continuing our colorful discoveries when we return from break!

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become.” -Henry David Thoreau

What a full and amazing week! It was the perfect send-off for our two-week break.

Our week began with a presentation by our seventh-grade friend, Bella, who spoke to us about the effects of social media on our brains. This timely presentation engaged everyone, and the children asked some very thoughtful questions afterwards. A special thank you to Bella!

The rest of our week was dedicated to preparing for Thursday’s Research Night, which involved a lot of printing, cutting, and gluing. Emotions ranged from determination to frustration and joy as we learned about the rewards of intense focus and the challenges of modifying the presentation boards. I noticed students really “locked it in” this week, a concept we’ve been discussing a lot in class lately. When Thursday night arrived, the children radiated pride and confidence! I am so proud of each of them for their hard work and accomplishments.

We ended the week with February’s Birthday Breakfast, which had been rescheduled due to snow days. Thank you, Erin and Malcolm, for sharing doughnuts with us, and thank you, Tim, for joining us for yoga!

We hope you all have a wonderful two weeks with your kiddos! Happy Spring Break!

Looking Ahead

  • Wednesday, March 25 @ 8:30 – March Birthday Breakfast
  • Thursday, April 9 @ 9:30 – Sandwich Making for the Soup Kitchen

Montessori Education Week 

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori

It seems like these words are more important than ever. 

Montessori Education Week takes place February 23-27, 2026 – a special time to honor the values, philosophy, and enduring beauty of a Montessori education inspired by Maria Montessori.

This week invites our community to reflect on the heart of Montessori: a student-centered approach that nurtures independence, curiosity, confidence, compassion, and purposeful work. More than a series of events, Montessori Education Week is a celebration of the everyday moments that shape capable, thoughtful learners.

Throughout the week, we intentionally:

Highlight children’s voices and work
Sharing reflections, artwork, storytelling, and demonstrations of learning that showcase growth and discovery.

Celebrate Research
Research begins in the Montessori classroom as early as age five and continues through eighth grade. At each level, students build upon prior experiences, developing critical thinking, inquiry skills, and confidence in presenting their learning.

  • Lower Elementary Research Night: Took place on Thursday, February 26- congratulations Lower El students!
  • Upper Elementary & Middle School Research Night: Rescheduled to Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 PM

Montessori Education Week is a celebration of the work, growth, and limitless potential of every child. We look forward to sharing meaningful moments with you during this week of learning, connection, and joy.

When communities celebrate together, our collective voice raises awareness of the transformative power of Montessori-prepared environments and the joy of purposeful discovery.

Thank you for being an essential part of our FWM community!