Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Happy Summer!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

In the blink of an eye this challenging, as well as rewarding, school year has come to a close.  As we watch each child leave our classroom for the summer Mrs. Sharlene and I can’t help but remember their first days with us. It is always humbling to be a witness of the children’s growth and development throughout the school year.

While many of our children and families are returning, some will be moving on. To everyone, we wish you the best of summer and the best in the years ahead. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and cooperation throughout this journey of a school year that has been unlike any other.  We are so thankful to have gotten to spend this time with your children and know they will always have a special place in our hearts.  I will leave you with a poem that sums up our feelings at the end of the school year:

I have worked with your flower, and helped it to grow.

I’m returning it now, but I want you to know

This flower is precious, as dear as can be.

Take care of it, and you will see

A bright new bloom, with every day.

It grew and blossomed, in such a wonderful way.

In August, just a bud, then January, a bloom, now a lovely blossom

I’m returning to you.

Remember, this flower,

As dear as can be.

Though rightfully yours,

Part will always be with me!

Wishing you a peaceful, restful summer full of unforgettable memories!

Love,

Amanda and Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: What A Year!!!

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we accomplished and how much each child has grown.  This year it was nothing short of amazing!!!  The 2020-21 school year was a historic one and we all deserve a summer with time to just be. We wish all of you a summer filled with peace, love, happiness and the chance to make beautiful memories.  Enjoy the time with your loved ones and may you all have a chance to relax and enjoy a calmer time of year.  Thank you for sharing your children with us and thank you for all the behind the scenes help that made our year so much smoother!

We leave you with a poem that resonates deeply with us every single year.

Whose Child Is This?      

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play.
“Mine,” said the parent with a tender smile.
“Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should.”

“Whose child is this?” I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in.
“Mine,” said the teacher with the same tender smile.
“Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school.”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door.
“Ours,” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child.
“Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever.”

—–Author Unknown

With much love,

Michelle & Lizette

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Field Day!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Field Day 2021

We had the perfect weather for Field Day this week!  The children enjoyed participating in 7 different stations set up on the field.  Thank you Coach Pam for organizing this fun event.  We saw many smiles and heard “This is the best day ever!” more than once.  Enjoy the pictures of our fun filled day!

Have a great weekend,

Amanda & Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Field Fay Fun

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

 

Field Day 2021

Field day was a great success!  Thank you Coach Pam for organizing such a fun event for everyone.  We hope you enjoy the pictures.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Michelle & Lizette

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Reptile or Amphibian?

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

We are continuing our studies on the different classes of animals. So far, we have learned about mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles. Currently, we are studying amphibians.

We are learning that:

  • The word amphibian means two-lives. This makes sense because amphibians spend part of part of their lives in the water and part of their lives on land. Most amphibians begin their life in water with gills and tails. As they grow, they develop lungs and legs for their life on land.
  • Amphibians are cold-blooded, which means that they are the same temperature as the air or water around them.
  • There are more than 4,000 different kinds of amphibians. Members of this animal class are frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts.
  • Most amphibians have thin, moist skin that helps them to breathe.
  • Amphibians have a backbone so they are vertebrates.

We have also been learning about the life cycle of a frog and what happens at each stage of development.

The easiest way to answer the question, “What exactly is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?,” is you need to look at their skin. Reptiles have dry, scaly skin and amphibians have moist skin that can be either smooth or rough.  Other differences include their eggs and relationship with water. Both reptiles and amphibians hatch from eggs, although their eggs are very different from one another.  Amphibian eggs are transparent and jelly like.  An amphibian goes through a metamorphosis to look like its adult self. Reptile eggs can be leathery or have a delicate coating. Newborn reptiles are a miniature version of their adult self.  Amphibians need a habitat that includes water, as they spend part of their life cycle in the water. Most amphibians will also lay their eggs in water. However, a reptile does not need water for its habitat, although it will often live near water.

Our Kindergarten children have been meeting with their ‘reading buddy’ once a week.  It is a time they ask for repeatedly and has been a huge success.  This past week, they were able to go hike the outdoor classroom with their older friend.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love!

Michelle & Lizette

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Enjoying the Outdoors

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature,”- Maria Montessori 

Being outdoors ignites a unique excitement and curiosity in children that cannot be replicated in the classroom (unknown).

Every day your children spend time learning, working together, and exploring our natural playground. Daily outdoor learning helps to develop healthy, active lifestyles and routines for the children, while providing them with hands-on experiences in our natural world. Our beautiful natural playground provides unique experiences to stimulate the children’s creativity and contribute to their appreciation of nature.

Helping children develop an appreciation for the outdoors is one of the significant benefits of regular outdoor play. The outside world is full of beautiful sounds, sights, textures, and life. Exposing children early on to the beauty of the world around them can be the perfect way to boost the aesthetic development of a child, allowing them to be more aware of all the beauty around them.

The first few photos are from our Kindergarteners’ “reading buddies” program.  Once a week the Kindergarten children have had the opportunity to spend time outdoors reading or hiking with a middle student student.  They have all really enjoyed this time together!

Here’s to rising temperatures, longer days, and the opportunity to spend time exploring the outdoors!

Until next week,

Amanda & Sharlene

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: A Busy Week in Primary!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

This year’s FWM sweatshirt, designed by the 8th grade class, is available! Order by Monday to receive yours before the end of the year! 2021 FWM Sweatshirt- Order Here!

We have had a busy and exciting week here in Primary!  Completing our butterfly life cycle study, beginning our last continent study unit of the school year, and the Kindergarten students went on a field trip for a pond and insect study!

Last weekend our caterpillars finished their metamorphosis and came out of their chrysalis as beautiful painted lady butterflies.  We finished up our study of the butterfly life cycle this week by observing our butterflies for a few days and then releasing the butterflies out on the playground.  It was so fun to watch the butterflies flutter away and the children enjoyed tracking where they all flew off to.

As we finished up the study of the butterfly life cycle, we also began our last continent unit of the school year, Australia.  Australia is such an interesting continent due to its size and the fact that many of its native animal species are only found in Australia.  We will be exploring the animals, culture, and landmarks of Australia over the next few weeks.

On Monday, our Kindergarten students took a field trip to Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury, CT.  This was a great introduction to amphibians and the life cycle of a frog.  The students took a hike through the woods to a pond.  Once at the pond they were introduced to some of the species that live there and were given nets to do some exploration on their own.  We had so much fun catching tadpoles, newts, dragonfly nymphs, and even a giant water bug!  At the end of the program, we explored a large open field with butterfly nets to try to catch some insects.  The highlight was a toad found in the grass!  I would encourage you all to visit Flanders Nature Center for a fun outdoor family activity: flandersnaturecenter.org.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Amanda & Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Fun at Flanders

Posted on by Michelle Doyle

This year’s FWM sweatshirt, designed by the 8th grade class, is available! Order by Monday to receive yours before the end of the year! 2021 FWM Sweatshirt- Order Here!

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury.  First, we gathered our nets and took a hike through the woods to the Botany Pond. The children then had the opportunity to catch and identify amphibians, reptiles and insects. We found tadpoles, beetles, giant water bugs, and salamanders.  We observed turtles resting on a rock, fish swimming, and we never gave up searching for those elusive frogs.  When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and headed back to the field to begin searching for insects.  Walking back, several children shared what a great day it was!  Flanders is open to the public and we encourage you to take advantage of this amazingly beautiful nature center.  They also offer several summer programs.  You can find more information on their website.

On Wednesday, we were able to release our Painted Lady butterflies.  It has been a fun learning experience to observe the metamorphosis that took place from the time our tiny little caterpillars arrived.

Miss Lizette and I would like to thank all of you for outpouring of love and support for Teacher Appreciation week.  We are so incredibly grateful for the relationships that we have with each of the children and their families.  It truly takes a village and we are blessed to have such an amazing one.

Wishing you a week filled peace and love.

Michelle & Lizette