The children have settled into the routines of the classroom so beautifully. Their days are now filled with busy, purposeful work cycles, and it has been wonderful to see their concentration and collaboration blossom. With this strong foundation in place, we have been able to begin something very exciting: the “big work” of Cosmic Education.

Cosmic Education, the heart of the Elementary curriculum, begins with the Great Lessons. These are a series of impressionistic stories meant to spark curiosity, admiration, and interest while opening the doors to all areas of study. The stories are told with rich language and a sense of mystery to really capture the children’s imagination and interest.

We began with the Coming of the Universe, which tells the story of the beginning of the cosmos. This lesson sparks wonder about the vastness of space, the birth of stars, and the formation of our planet. The third years had the very special role of doing the experiments that went along with the story, while the rest of the children watched in excitement.

Next, we shared the Timeline of Life. This lesson unfolds the incredible journey of living beings across millions of years. From the tiniest unicellular creatures to mighty dinosaurs, from the first plants to the earliest mammals, the children begin to see how life has adapted and evolved. The timeline gives them a beautiful, concrete impression of the grand interconnected story of life on Earth.

These lessons are really just the beginning. Each story opens countless doors for exploration in biology, history, geography, language, and more. In Montessori, learning is not divided into isolated subjects and does not follow a strictly linear path. Instead, everything connects like threads woven into one larger whole. One curiosity sparks another, and learning naturally unfolds like a web. Stay tuned as we will be sharing three more Great Lessons in the coming weeks.

This is a truly magical time in the elementary years, and it is so inspiring to watch the children dive into their work with so much enthusiasm and curiosity. Every year, we feel just as excited as the children when we revisit these lessons together!

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Curriculum Night on Thursday. Jill will be sending out the slideshow for you to look over ahead of time. We hope you will join us for an Open House-style evening where we can chat and answer any questions you may have. It is always a wonderful chance to connect and share more about the classroom. See you then!

What an amazing start to the school year! Lower Elementary has been full of energy as we welcomed new classmates and reunited with familiar friends. To help everyone feel connected, we jumped right into fun activities like name games, bingo, and a classroom scavenger hunt. These games made it easy to learn each other’s names and sparked plenty of laughter, setting the stage for a warm and collaborative classroom community. We also tapped into our creativity by crafting peace doves and self-portraits to be displayed in the classroom as symbols of the harmony we’re building together this year.

Starting last week, you’ll also notice Friday Folders coming home with your child. Each Friday, your child will bring home a folder labeled with their name that contains some of the work they’ve completed during the week. Please take a moment to look through and enjoy their work with them, then remove the contents before sending the empty folder back on Monday. It’s important to note that the work you see in these folders is just a portion of what your child is doing in the classroom. Students also complete work in notebooks, workbooks, and through lots of hands-on, sensorial materials. The Friday Folders give you a small window into their week, and we really appreciate your help in keeping this routine going smoothly!

Looking back on this first week, it’s clear that we’re off to a wonderful beginning. The enthusiasm, creativity, and kindness already shining through make us excited for everything ahead. Here’s to a year filled with learning, friendship, and growth!

As the school year comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about this group of students and the time we’ve spent together. It’s wild how fast the year has gone—it really does feel like we were just getting to know each other a few weeks ago.

Looking back, I’m proud of how much they’ve grown—not just academically, but in the way they’ve learned to work through challenges, take care of each other, and find their voice. We’ve had plenty of laughs, some challenging moments, and a lot of laughter and growth along the way.

I’m lucky to have had the majority of these students for a few years; it’s always a little hard to say goodbye, but I’m excited for all the things they’ll carry with them into the summer and beyond. I hope they head into the break feeling proud, rested, and ready for whatever’s next.

Here’s to a well-earned summer!

What a fantastic way to end the school year! Our class had an unforgettable trip to the Adventure Park, filled with rope courses, ziplines, and lots of laughter. It was inspiring to see everyone step out of their comfort zones—climbing high, cheering each other on, and pushing past fears. The teamwork and support were amazing, and the day was full of bonding and bravery.

A big thank-you to our wonderful chaperones for coming along and making this trip possible!

This was the perfect way to celebrate our year together—challenging ourselves, building confidence, and having a blast as a team.

Friday evening’s Spring Concert was nothing short of magical. Weeks of dedication, practice, and passion came to life on stage as our incredible students performed with heart and enthusiasm. From the very first note to the final performance, it was clear just how much effort each child had poured into preparing for this moment.

The joy and pride on their faces said it all—they weren’t just performing; they were sharing something they truly love. Their commitment over the past few weeks, the countless rehearsals, and their growing confidence all culminated in a performance that moved and inspired everyone in the audience.

We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and spirit. Thank you to the families, staff, and community members who came out to support them. It was a night to remember!

Recently, we’ve launched our poetry unit, and the classroom is already buzzing with creativity! To ease into the world of verse, we began with “-ing” poems—a playful and accessible way for students to explore action, emotion, and imagery. These poems help students focus on verbs and vivid language, all while tapping into their own experiences and observations.

After experimenting with “-ing” lines like dancing, swirling, dreaming, we introduced similes—comparisons that bring writing to life by showing how one thing is like another. Students practiced using “like” and “as” to add depth to their poems, trying lines like floating like a feather or as loud as a thunderclap.

It’s been a joyful and imaginative start, and we’re excited to see where our poetic journey takes us next!

In our Montessori lower elementary classroom, I see every day how important social-emotional development is to a child’s overall growth. At this age, students are so curious—not just about the world around them, but about each other. They’re learning how to be part of a community, how to express big feelings, and how to solve problems with increasing independence. One of my favorite parts of our work together is watching them use tools like grace and courtesy lessons or finding a peaceful spot on campus to talk things through. Whether it’s a quiet conversation between friends or a group decision about how to share materials, I see these moments as just as important as any academic lesson.

Rather than jumping in to fix things, I try to support children in working through conflicts themselves. We practice using respectful language, pausing to listen, and thinking about how our actions affect others. These skills don’t develop overnight, but over time, I see students grow into thoughtful, kind members of our classroom community. When they help a classmate clean up a spill or talk through a disagreement, I’m reminded that learning to live and work together is at the heart of what we do here. Watching them grow socially and emotionally—alongside their academic work—is one of the greatest joys of teaching in this environment.

This Friday’s Grandparents Day was nothing short of magical. It was so lovely to see such a huge turnout of proud grandparents, special guests, and parents, all gathered to support our incredible students. The energy in the room was full of joy, and the love these children felt from their audience was unmistakable.

The students have been pouring their hearts into The Aristocats play for weeks, and their hard work absolutely paid off. From the first note to the final bow, they were outstanding—confident, creative, and full of life. Watching them shine on stage was a moment I’ll never forget.

This week, I felt especially grateful to be the Lower Elementary teacher at Fraser Woods. To be with these children five days a week, watching them grow, take risks, and support one another—it’s a gift. I’m honored to be a safe, steady presence for them during their school days, and Friday reminded me just how meaningful that role is. Their performance was a beautiful reminder of the joy and purpose in this work. I left feeling deeply humbled and incredibly proud.

I’m excited for all that’s still to come in our final five weeks together—it’s a special time, and I’m loving every bit of it.