Last week, our classroom was alive with bird activity! The children have been engaged in a rich study of birds — doing scavenger hunts to practice handwriting, creating bird badges to use outside as they look for different species, working on puzzles, matching eggs, and painting birds. We also listened to a variety of bird calls together, which sparked wonderful conversations and lots of careful listening.

A new class favorite song, “Jenny Jenkins,” has been a hit all week. It tells the story of Jenny’s friends — a cardinal, a goose, a blue jay, a crow, a hummingbird, and a mourning dove — each asking Jenny if she’d like to wear the color of their feathers. She insists no, no, no… until the very end, when we discover her eggs have hatched and she is simply too busy! The children loved the surprise ending.

We were also so fortunate to welcome Aruna’s mom to our classroom, who taught us all about Holi — the Hindu celebration of spring. To honor the vibrant colors of the season, the children threw colored powder at each other while wearing white shirts. It was joyful, colorful, and completely unforgettable.

Extending Learning at Home

Go on a bird walk in your neighborhood! See if your child can identify any birds by sight or sound using what they’ve been learning. You might even set up a simple bird feeder to bring the birds a little closer to home.

Welcoming Spring Through Science, Song, and Cultural Celebration

Last week, our classroom was buzzing with curiosity about the world around us — both near and far. We continued our study of rainbows and the water cycle, and the children have been eagerly tracking whether the old saying holds true: Does March really come in like a lion and go out like a lamb? We have been watching closely!

The beautiful weather has brought some wonderful observations about the early signs of spring. One of the most exciting? The return of the robin! We have been singing “The Red Red Robin” together and keeping our eyes peeled for those bright orange-red chests out on the campus.

One of the most memorable moments of the week was a special lesson on Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, generously shared by Norah’s mom. We lit lanterns to represent the meal eaten at sundown — a beautiful, hands-on way to bring this meaningful cultural celebration into our classroom. Lessons like this one remind us that learning about the world’s traditions fosters empathy, curiosity, and a deep respect for one another — core to Fraser Woods’ mission of cultivating compassion.

Extending Learning at Home

Keep the conversation going at home! Ask your child what signs of spring they have spotted, and see if March did indeed go out like a lamb. Look for robins together on your next walk, or try singing “The Red Red Robin.” If your family celebrates any cultural traditions or holidays, we would love for you to share them with our classroom community.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Friday, April 3
  ⋅ No School | Good Friday
  

Last week was full of discovery! We kicked things off with a beloved classroom experiment: sink or float. The children were genuinely surprised by just how many objects sank and how few they could find that floated. What makes this experiment so special is that it isn’t just a quick demonstration — it requires the children to follow many steps from start to finish, building concentration, patience, and careful observation along the way.

The rainy weather kept us indoors more than usual, but that didn’t slow us down. When we couldn’t head outside, we made our way to the gym for movement time with hula hoops and balls. We also took full advantage of our Primary Open Space, which has quickly become a favorite. This space is rich with sensorial activities, gross motor opportunities, and even fort building with the nugget foam pieces. It has been a wonderful setting for practicing turn-taking and building community.
We were also happy to celebrate a half-birthday this week! If your child has a summer birthday, a half-birthday walk at school is a beautiful way to mark the occasion.

Extending Learning at Home

Try a sink or float experiment at your kitchen sink! Gather a mix of small household items — a coin, a sponge, a grape, a plastic spoon — and ask your child to predict before dropping each one in. Talk about what the items that float have in common. You may be just as surprised as we were!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

Next Week

• Tuesday, March 3
  ⋅ Read Across America Day and Pajama Day
  Bring your favorite book and wear your pajamas to school
• Thursday, March 5
  ⋅ Taekwondo Demonstration at 9:30 a.m.
  

Looking Ahead

• March 9—March 20
  ⋅ No School | March Break
    As a reminder, the Bridge to Spring program is available during March Break. Click here to register.
  

Last week, our morning circle time was dedicated to celebrating Black Americans in history. Throughout February, we’ve been learning about remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to our world. The children discussed Lonnie Johnson, Garrett Morgan, and Katherine Johnson, learning about their incredible achievements and innovations. The children were especially amazed by Lonnie Johnson’s Super Soaker invention! 

Valentine’s Day provided a wonderful opportunity to focus on friendship, grace and courtesy, and love for our families. The children made cards for one another, practiced noticing the kindness of others, and learned how to be extra special friends. This celebration beautifully reinforced the care and compassion we cultivate in our classroom community every day.

This time of year, we’re really seeing the mixed-age classroom thrive in beautiful ways. The kindergarteners have fully settled into their roles as classroom leaders—now in the final stretch of their Primary years. They model grace, courtesy, and mastery of materials for their younger friends. First-year children have developed so many skills, but still benefit from guidance from their older friends, who are always happy to step in and help. The second-year children have the best of both worlds! They know the lay of the land and are looking forward to their time as classroom role models next year. This dynamic creates a supportive, family-like environment where everyone has something to offer and something to learn.

After experiencing sub-zero temperatures, last week felt like spring! The children truly enjoyed getting outside, and the warmer weather has given us more opportunities to explore our beautiful campus and connect with nature.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Kindergarten parents please look for a letter in Thursday’s take home folder, explaining the 100th day of School celebration.
We will be celebrating this big day on Tuesday, February 17th.

This Week

• • Monday, February 16
    ⋅ No School | President’s Day
    
  • Tuesday, February 17
    ⋅ Kindergarten 100th Day Celebration
    

Last week, the math area captured so much enthusiasm in our classroom. The children have been deeply engaged with the concept of exchanging. We introduced The Exchange Game, where children roll a dice, count out unit beads, and exchange them for 10 bars. This playful work lays the foundation for dynamic addition (addition with carrying over). The children also learned The Snake Game, where they created a rainbow snake using the bead stair with addends of 10, and watched as the snake “sheds its skin” and transforms into a golden snake when we exchanged for 10 bars. The delight and excitement this work generates is wonderful to see!

During one lesson on four-digit addition with the golden beads, a child declared at the end that she wanted to do this work every day—a perfect example of the pure joy that comes from mathematical discovery and mastery.

With all the practice putting on snow gear, we’re all getting better at the routine! We’ve been repeating the order together: snow pants, boots, jacket, hat, and gloves. The growing independence and confidence in this practical life skill have been remarkable.

Our zoology shelf is currently featuring dinosaurs, and the children have been exploring this work with great interest. Next week, we’ll begin reading more scientific books on the topic and start our Black History Month lessons, focusing on celebrating the great accomplishments of Black Americans.

Extending Learning at Home

Practice counting and exchanging with everyday objects. Count out 10 pennies and exchange them for a dime, or count 10 dimes and exchange them for a dollar. Even organizing small objects like buttons or pasta pieces into groups of 10 reinforces the mathematical mind’s natural attraction to order and pattern.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, February 9
  ⋅ Moving Up Day for Students (Kindergarten students visit Lower Elementary)
• Tuesday, February 10
  ⋅ Welcome to Kindergarten! Talk at 8:45 a.m. (for parents of P4 students)
  ⋅ Moving Up Night at 5:30 p.m. (for parents of K students)
• Thursday, February 12
  ⋅ Classroom Valentine Exchange
  
• Friday, February 13
  ⋅ No School | Teacher Professional Development Day
  

Next Week

• Monday, February 16
  ⋅ No School | President’s Day
  

Last week, frigid temperatures kept us indoors, but we made the most of our indoor spaces! The children got excellent exercise in the gym and our Primary Open Space, using wobble boards, stationary bikes, climbing cubes, and more. This indoor time also provided wonderful opportunities for the children to strengthen their classroom community. One of the most beautiful developments we observed was how naturally the children are supporting one another. We always suggest to the children to “ask three friends before you ask a teacher” for help with work. This has been working beautifully, as we are seeing our little classroom community working together and collaborating. Watching older children guide younger friends through work and seeing peers problem-solve together demonstrates the power of our mixed-age environment. The children have easily adjusted to having me back from maternity leave, and I have really been enjoying getting to know all my “new” students! Their warmth and adaptability continue to impress me daily.

In mathematics, we were busy practicing skip counting by 10’s, working on The Snake Game, exploring addends of 10, and building numbers with The Golden Beads. These foundational math materials support the children’s development of their “mathematical mind” and help them understand abstract concepts through concrete, hands-on experiences. Looking ahead, we are excited about Valentine’s Day! February also brings us Black History Month, and we will be celebrating Black Americans throughout history.

Extending Learning at Home

Practice skip counting during everyday activities—count by 10’s while putting away toys or going up stairs. Look for groups of 10 items around the house (silverware, toys, books) to reinforce this concept. Encourage your child to help siblings or friends with tasks, reinforcing the “ask three friends” approach we use in the classroom.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday–Friday
  – Book Loan Month: Quinn & Leo
  – Moving Up Classroom Observations
  – Food & Flowers: Eowyn
• Monday, February 2
  James’ Birthday Walk
• Wednesday, February 4
  Isle of Skoo Assembly for Primary–Upper Elementary students at 9 a.m.

Next Week

• Tuesday, February 10
  Welcome to Kindergarten! Talk at 8:45 a.m. for parents of P4 students
  Moving Up Night at 5:30 p.m. for parents of K students
• Thursday, February 12
  Classroom Valentine Exchange
• Friday, February 13
  No School | Teacher Professional Development Day

Last week, the classroom was filled with multi-step practical life activities. Baby washing emerged as the biggest hit, capturing the children’s attention with its sequence of careful steps. This work involves so much more than it appears—children must follow a precise order, maintain focus throughout the process, and leave the materials ready for the next friend. Next week we will introduce table scrubbing, always a fan favorite in our classroom!

We have witnessed remarkable growth in the children’s ability to care for their belongings and prepare themselves for outdoor time. At drop-off, we encourage you to step back and allow your child to unpack their own things, change their shoes, hang up their coat, and decide what to bring into the classroom. Even if they make mistakes along the way, this is essential work for their independence journey. As Maria Montessori reminds us, “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” The classroom is the child’s world, and bringing what they need into it builds confidence and self-reliance.

Kindergarten Adventures

Our Kindergarten students began reading their first chapter book together: My Father’s Dragon. Each Friday, a kindergarten child takes home a stuffed dragon and a journal to record their adventures—a treasured rite of passage in this pinnacle year!

The whole class has been practicing syllable work, clapping out each child’s name to discover how many syllables we all have. This playful activity serves as a wonderful transition tool as we prepare for line time or head to recess. Letter sound recognition continues to be a focus across many levels, and our embedded mnemonics approach has proven extremely beneficial. If you hear your child saying “a apple /a/” or “z zebra /z/” at home, now you know where it comes from!

Extending Learning at Home

Support your child’s growing independence by creating opportunities for multi-step tasks at home. Let them help wash vegetables for dinner, set the table following a specific sequence, or care for a special toy or plant. The key is allowing them to complete the entire process and leave materials ready for next time.

For kindergarten families with the dragon journal, embrace this special ritual! Help your child document their weekend adventures together, but let them lead the storytelling and illustration.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

Next Week

• Wednesday, February 4
  Isle of Skoo Assembly for Primary–Upper Elementary at 9 a.m.

Looking Ahead

Thursday, February 12
Valentine’s Day at Fraser Woods is a cherished friendship celebration in our Primary classrooms! On Thursday, February 12, the children will exchange valentines with their classmates, marking a special part of their school experience that emphasizes expressing love and gratitude for one another. This celebration beautifully combines the joy and excitement children naturally feel about Valentine’s Day with important developmental skills like writing, independence, and expressing kindness toward others.

Preparing Valentines at Home: We encourage you to involve your child in preparing their valentines. Please have your child sign their own name on each card—whether that’s their full name, just one letter, or their own special mark, every effort is meaningful and developmentally appropriate! Please allow ample time for this name-writing process, which serves as wonderful practice. (If writing their full name, remember to use uppercase only for the first letter.)

Important: Please leave the “To:” area blank. Do not address envelopes or cards with specific names. This allows children to distribute valentines independently without needing to read each classmate’s name, supporting their sense of capability and confidence. Note: If your child is able to read their classmates’ names, they may write names on the envelopes as additional reading practice—but this is entirely optional.