Last week brought exciting new learning to our classroom as we embarked on a study of Antarctica, the frozen continent at the bottom of our world. The children explored different types of penguins and seals through books and photographs, learning about how these remarkable animals thrive in one of Earth’s harshest environments. We also discussed the scientists who travel to Antarctica to study this unique ecosystem, sparking conversations about exploration and discovery.

To support this cultural study, we introduced a large penguin floor puzzle that has quickly become a classroom favorite. The children work together to assemble it, developing both their problem-solving skills and their collaborative abilities. We also added cinnamon grating to the practical life area, which the children can then sprinkle onto the apples they cut—a sensory experience that brings warmth and comfort during our winter studies.

In our mathematics area, the children have been exploring geometry through hands-on materials. Using the Triangle Box, they discovered the names and properties of different triangles: equilateral (all sides equal), isosceles (two sides equal), and scalene (all sides different). They also worked with geometric solids, learning to identify and name three-dimensional shapes like the cube, sphere, cone, and rectangular prism.

Grace and Courtesy: Caring for Our Community

This time of year brings particular attention to health and hygiene practices. We have been encouraging the children to properly blow their noses and wash their hands thoroughly, and to catch their coughs in their elbows. When we notice a child needs to blow their nose, we guide them to the mirror where they can independently take care of themselves. This builds both self-awareness and confidence in managing their own health needs.

As a reminder, we kindly ask that children please leave all toys at home. This helps maintain our classroom community and ensures that children remain engaged with the rich Montessori materials available to them.

Extending Learning at Home

• Look at a globe or map together and locate Antarctica—talk about what it means to be at the “bottom” of the world
• Watch age-appropriate documentaries about penguins and polar animals
• Practice identifying triangles in everyday objects around your home (sandwich halves, road signs, roof peaks)
• Model and practice proper hygiene routines, making handwashing and nose-blowing part of your regular routine

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
This Week

Monday, December 15: Hanukkah Reading and Latke Tasting
Tuesday, December 16: Kaiya’s Half-Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, December 17: Maaz’s Half-Birthday Celebration
Thursday, December 18: Arrindell Christmas Reading
Friday, December 19: Winter Showcase* (Buses begin at 9:15 a.m., Concert begins 10:30am), Half-Day Dismissal for All Students 11:30am
* All Primary children participate in the Winter Showcase. Please check the dashboard for more information.

Winter Break
Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2026

Last week, the children demonstrated beautiful examples of grace and courtesy as older students naturally stepped in to help their younger classmates with zipping coats and putting on mittens. These spontaneous moments of mentorship show how our mixed-age classroom creates a caring community where children look out for one another.

The children are also showing impressive problem-solving skills during snack time. When they encounter a challenging package—whether it’s a bag of goldfish or a granola bar—they independently seek out scissors to open it rather than asking an adult for help. This simple act represents a significant step in their growing confidence and resourcefulness.

Holiday Traditions and Wonder

The children returned from Thanksgiving break eager to share stories about their family celebrations, sparking rich conversations about different traditions, customs, and holidays. We read about St. Nicholas and discussed how some cultures celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. The following morning, the children’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight when they discovered candy canes waiting in a pair of boots by the door!

The Art of Bubble Making

One of the most popular activities this week has been bubble making using soap and an egg beater. This seemingly simple work involves an impressive sequence of steps that require concentration, coordination, and care of the environment. The children put on their smocks, fill the pitcher at the sink, walk carefully back to their workspace, pour water into the bowl, and use a dropper to squeeze just the right amount of soap. Operating the egg beater takes considerable hand-eye coordination as they work to create satisfying suds.

Once complete, the children pour the soapy water into a bucket, carry it carefully to the sink to discard, then use a sponge and towel to ensure the work is clean and dry for the next friend. This multi-step activity beautifully integrates practical life skills with sensorial exploration and grace and courtesy.

Extending Learning at Home

• Building independence with outerwear: Leave extra time in the morning for your child to practice putting on their jacket independently without feeling rushed. We always tell the children to leave the gloves until last, as this helps them manage the process more successfully.
• Holiday traditions: Talk with your child about your family’s special holiday customs and traditions. Ask them what they’ve been learning about different celebrations at school.
• Multi-step activities: Encourage your child to help with tasks that have several steps, like setting the table or helping prepare simple snacks. These activities build executive function and independence.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

***Winter Weather Reminder: Please make sure your child has snow boots, pants, gloves, winter coat, and hat. It is so helpful if each piece of clothing is labeled! Also, please let us know if you would prefer your child’s snow gear to go home each day or stay in their locker at school.

This Week
Tuesday, December 9: Junia Playground volunteer
Friday, December 12: Marissa guest reader

Next Week
Tuesday, December 16: Celebrate Kaiya’s Half Birthday
Thursday, December 18: Liz A. reading
Friday, December 19: Winter Showcase (PA Breakfast 10am, Half-Day Dismissal for All Students 11:30am

Winter Break
Monday, December 22, 05 – Friday, January 2, 2026
School resumes on Monday, January 5, 026

Last week, we continued our focus on practicing gratitude and exploring what it means to be grateful. Each child made a special Thanksgiving placemat and shared with us what they are grateful for. Their heartfelt responses reminded us of the simple joys that fill children’s lives—family, friends, pets, favorite foods, and the freedom to play.

Ivy’s mom came to our classroom to bake pumpkin bread with the children, which will be our contribution to next week’s school-wide Thanksgiving bread-breaking ceremony. The children took turns measuring ingredients, mixing the batter, and learning about how heat transforms ingredients. This hands-on experience beautifully connected mathematics, science, and cultural studies while fostering our classroom community. We are so grateful to Ivy’s mom for her time and generosity.

New Works and Growing Independence

Several exciting new works appeared on our shelves this week. Yoga cards with a yoga mat invited children to practice mindful movement and body awareness. Cucumber cutting provided a wonderful opportunity to develop knife skills and hand-eye coordination. Soap grating engaged the children’s senses while building fine motor strength.

A stethoscope and matching miniature human organs captured the children’s scientific curiosity. They took turns listening to their heartbeats and learning to match the miniature organs to corresponding pictures, building vocabulary and understanding of the human body.

Adventures in Reading

Our older students were thrilled when we started a new book in the Magic Treehouse series: Afternoon on the Amazon. This chapter book introduces children to the Amazon rainforest through the adventures of Jack and Annie, building their listening skills, vocabulary, and knowledge of world geography and ecology. We even listened to the sounds of the Amazon on Spotify.

Extending Learning at Home

Talk with your child about what they are grateful for. Create opportunities for them to express gratitude to family members and friends. These conversations help children develop empathy and appreciate the kindness around them.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

This Week
Monday, November 24: Rayna’s sharing bag
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal AND Shafia Playground Volunteer
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Next Week
Tuesday, December 2: Eliana Birthday Walk
Wednesday, December 3: Alex H. Guest Reader

 

Last week marked the beginning of an exciting new unit of study: the human body. The children’s eyes widened with wonder as they discovered X-rays showing the human skeleton from skull to phalanges. They carefully assembled these puzzle-like X-rays, learning the names and locations of major bones while developing their fine motor skills and spatial awareness. This study connects perfectly to Fraser Woods’ mission of helping children become “the best version of themselves”—understanding our bodies helps children appreciate the amazing capabilities they possess.

The sensorial area drew significant interest this week. Children gravitated toward the triangle box, knobbed and knobless cylinders, binomial and trinomial cubes, and geometric solids. These self-correcting materials allow children to refine their visual discrimination and develop their mathematical minds while building confidence through independent problem-solving.

Grace and courtesy flourished during our food preparation activities. This week, children carefully cut clementines, apples, and pears, then walked around the classroom offering the fresh fruit to their peers. These moments beautifully demonstrate compassion in action—children taking care to prepare something special and generously sharing with their classroom community.

We welcomed two middle school visitors this week who helped our children complete their work. The children loved receiving guidance from these older students, and our visitors were impressed by the focus and capability of our young learners. 

The children continued building their understanding of North American geography, learning the names and locations of countries while working with the map. We’ve also been reading books and having rich discussions about gratitude and the things we’re thankful for, perfect for this season of appreciation.

A bit of excitement arrived on Tuesday afternoon when a very quick snow shower blew through! The children rushed to the windows to watch the flurries dance through the air.

Extending Learning at Home

• Talk about body parts and their functions during bath time or bedtime routines
• Practice gratitude by sharing one thing you’re each thankful for at dinner
• Let your child help prepare snacks for the family, emphasizing the joy of serving others

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, November 17: Ellie’s flowers, food, and sharing bag
• Thursday, November 20: Bread baking

Next Week

• Monday, November 24: Rayna’s flowers, food, and sharing bag AND Shafia Playground Volunteer
• Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal
• Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

It’s starting to get chilly, so please make sure your child has a warm coat to wear outdoors!

Last week, our classroom community gathered with all the Primary classes for a beautiful Diwali celebration in the gym. The children listened intently to a story about this five-day festival observed around the world. They learned that Diwali represents new beginnings and the victory of light over darkness, good over evil—the triumph of righteousness and knowledge over ignorance.

The experience came alive through the sights, sounds, and colors of Indian culture. Ms. Paromita, along with several parents and students, wore traditional Indian attire, and the children were mesmerized by the beauty of what they witnessed. They tasted traditional foods—rice pilaf and gajar ka halwa—and each child decorated their own rangoli design to take home. We are deeply grateful to all the families who shared their culture with us!

Our kindergarten students continued their impressive work with Number Rolls, practicing linear counting, place value, and proper numeral writing formation. The anticipation is building—in June, we’ll take these down to the gym, unroll them, and see just how long they’ve become! This work beautifully demonstrates the mathematical mind at work, as children make abstract numbers concrete and visible.

Magnets joined our shelves this week, sparking curiosity and scientific exploration. The children discovered which objects attract and which don’t, developing early hypotheses about the properties of different materials.

We also welcomed the Botsford Fire Department, who taught us valuable lessons about fire prevention. The children asked thoughtful questions and learned important safety practices they can use at home.

Extending Learning at Home

• Celebrate light in your own way—light candles at dinner and talk about how light helps us see and feel safe
• Practice counting by ones, fives, or tens during everyday activities like setting the table or climbing stairs
• Explore magnetism using a refrigerator magnet—see what it sticks to around your home and what it doesn’t

Last week, the classroom was buzzing with fall celebrations and exciting learning experiences. The children were deeply engaged in both our special Halloween activities and the new materials that appeared on our shelves.

A new sifting spoon work joined our practical life area this week. The children use this special spoon to gently shake sand through tiny holes, transferring split peas from one bowl to another. Watching them discover this work has been mesmerizing—the careful concentration on their faces as they slowly shake and watch the peas separate from the sand is like watching them uncover hidden treasures!

We were so grateful to Ivy’s mom for carving a pumpkin with us. The children had the wonderful opportunity to see, smell, and touch the inside of a real pumpkin, engaging all their senses in this exploration. Our lit jack-o-lantern has been glowing in the classroom all week, adding to the festive atmosphere. Thank you to Gabriel and Madison’s families for supplying pumpkins and helping set up our pumpkin patch on the playground—the children loved finding and exploring them.

The Halloween parade brought pure joy to our classroom. The children were thrilled to see their mentors, book buddies, siblings, and former classmates in their costumes while proudly showing off the pajamas they wore for Pajama Day. We enjoyed a delicious Halloween cake baked by Ava’s family. Although we planned to celebrate outside, the rain had other plans! We moved our party into the Aftercare room, which turned into a fun adventure and a wonderful lesson in flexibility. Thank you to Autumn’s family for the pumpkin drink holder party favors.

A highlight of the week was watching all 21 kindergarten students work together to create a “veggie skeleton,” which they democratically voted to name Skelly. The children peeled and chopped vegetables with great care, and many of them tried vegetables they’d never tasted before—olives, cauliflower, and different varieties of tomatoes. The collaboration, fine motor practice, and willingness to try new foods made this project a true success.

Extending Learning at Home

• Practice transferring skills using everyday kitchen tools. Try using a slotted spoon to separate pasta from water or a strainer to wash vegetables together.
• Continue the vegetable exploration by visiting a farmers’ market or grocery store. Let your child choose a new vegetable to try and help prepare it at home.
• Take advantage of the fall season by going on nature walks to collect leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures. Sort and classify them by size, color, or type.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Recess Volunteer: Jacob
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader: Ortner
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Last week, the classroom was alive with geographical exploration! The children were captivated by our globe work, learning the names of the seven continents. They traced their fingers across the blue oceans and colorful landmasses, beginning to understand the vastness of our world. Many students progressed to the beautiful work of pin-pricking, carefully creating their own maps of the continents. This meticulous work develops fine motor control and hand-eye coordination while building early map-reading skills and spatial awareness.

We also touched upon the holiday of Diwali, one of the most important celebrations in Hindu culture. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The children were fascinated to learn that Diwali is celebrated over five days and that people wear new clothes and exchange gifts during this joyful time. We will continue our exploration of this beautiful tradition with a special celebration early next month.

New Works in the Classroom

Two delightful new works appeared on our shelves this week. The rock “painting” activity uses only water and a thin paintbrush, allowing children to see how rocks change color when wet—a simple yet magical demonstration of transformation. The clementine peeling work supports independence and fine motor development while providing a healthy snack that the children prepared themselves!

Learning from Each Other

Our Kindergarteners took a field trip to New Pond Farm in Redding last week, where they visited a working farm and discovered the differences between dairy cows and those raised for meat. They explored the barn and chicken coop, cleaned wool from a sheep, and used tools to make wool bracelets. The children learned that sheep serve as natural lawn mowers and even got to practice milking a cow!

The kindergarten students were absolutely thrilled to share what they learned with their younger classmates. The most fascinating fact? Sheep have more than one stomach! This beautiful example of our mixed-age community shows older children building confidence through teaching while younger ones look up to their mentors with admiration.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground & Daly Playground visit
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving & Driscoll Guest Reader
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference

This past week was filled with autumn discoveries and beautiful moments of growing independence!

New Works and Popular Activities
The flint corn (Indian corn) tweezing work was a huge hit on our shelves this week! The children carefully used tweezers to sort the colorful kernels, strengthening their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while exploring the natural beauty of the autumn harvest.

Celebrating Independence
One of the most rewarding observations this fall was watching children master the simple yet significant task of opening their own snack and lunch containers. Some began the year struggling with lids and zippers, but through daily practice and gentle perseverance, they beamed with pride as they exclaimed, “I opened it all by myself!” These moments of independence built confidence that extended far beyond the lunchroom.

Grace and Courtesy in Action
I received several heartwarming emails from parents sharing stories about their children talking about “filling others’ buckets” and showing kindness at home. It was wonderful to see how our classroom work with grace and courtesy rippled outward, helping children become compassionate members of their families and communities.

Cultural Studies and Learning
Our autumn theme continued with songs, stories, and explorations of the season. The children could not get enough of their new favorite song, “I’ve Got a Skeleton Inside Me”—perfect timing as we approach Halloween! We read about planets, sang songs about pumpkins and autumn leaves, and in the afternoon, our 4 and 5-year-olds were captivated by The Magic Tree House series. We began book number 4 this week, “Pirates Past Noon,” which sparked wonderful conversations about adventure and history.

Caring for Our Environment
Last week, when making our applesauce, we filled our compost bucket with apple scraps. The children were thrilled to participate in this care-of-the-environment work! Each day this week, they eagerly watched as the Upper Elementary students came to collect our fruit and vegetable waste. This simple routine helped children understand their role in caring for the earth and connected them to the larger school community.

Extending Learning at Home

• Practice Independence
  Let your child open their own containers, zip their own jackets, and put on their own shoes. The pride they feel from these accomplishments is priceless!
• Autumn Exploration
  Take a nature walk and collect interesting leaves, acorns, or seeds. Talk about the changes you notice as the season shifts.
• Bucket Filling
  Continue conversations about kindness and how we can “fill buckets” by using kind words and helpful actions with family members.

Your children’s growth, kindness, and joy continued to fill our classroom with warmth!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 24: Parent Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 24: No School – Parent Teacher Conferences

Next Week
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference