Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

This Thursday was our 100th day of school! In the afternoon, we celebrated this momentous occasion with our Kindergarten crew.

Students counted and brought in 100 items from home; we had a 100-item snack, played many games, and did crafts.

My favorite game is “Race to 100!” In it, children play side by side, rolling a die and continually adding a number to their last until they reach 100!

Kindergarteners are experts on our beloved 100 Board in the classroom, and this tradition is such a fun way to celebrate their hard work!

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

We have been discussing how harsh the winter can be for animals. The weather and lack of food can make their survival difficult. To help ensure their survival, animals hibernate, migrate, or adapt to their surroundings.

Animals that hibernate for the winter go into a deep sleep. Their body’s temperature drops, their heartbeat and breathing slow down, and they use very little energy. We’ve learned which animals hibernate as well as where they hibernate. Places where animals hibernate can be above ground, such as a cave, nest, or den, or they can be below ground, such as a burrow, a hole, or deep down in the mud. We explored which animals migrated or traveled to other places where the weather was warmer and where they would be able to find food. We also examined why animals might migrate and where they may go. Animals that adapt remain and stay active in their environment. They adapt to the changing weather, and their behavior and bodies may change, too. We talked about what changes animals may make to ensure they will have enough food for the winter.

On Thursday, we celebrated the 100th day of school. From the very first day of school, the kindergarten children have been learning to count by 1s, 5s, and 10s to 100. They spent the afternoon going to different stations that revolved around 100. They drew pictures of what they would like when they were 100, what they would buy with $100, and what they wished they had a hundred of, made a 100 headband, and then played a game called Race to 100. They even did 100 exercises and learned how hard it was to sit quietly for 100 seconds. They also had 100 snacks! Many thanks to Eliot’s family for the amazing ”snackle boxes” and special 100th-day snacks!

We’re hoping the ice and snow will melt over the weekend so we can get outdoors next week. Wishing you all a week filled with sunshine!

Christine & Fatima

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at the Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Each time we study a new continent, we first find it on the globe, then locate it on the world map, and lastly, we study the individual continent using the specific continent maps. Currently, the children are learning about the continent of Africa. We learn about its geography, culture, weather, animals, and people.

We are learning lots of fun and fascinating facts about the continent of Africa.

  • Africa is the second largest continent, with 54 countries.
  • The longest river in the world, the Nile, is in Africa.
  • Over one thousand languages are spoken by the people in Africa.
  • The Sahara, the world’s largest desert, is located here.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is so tall that glaciers can be found at its summit, even though the mountain is near the equator.
  • Africa is the most centrally located continent in the world—both the prime meridian and the equator cut across it.
  • The world’s tallest animal, the giraffe, and the largest land animal, the African elephant, are found in Africa.

This past Thursday, we celebrated the 100th day of school. From the very first day of school, the kindergarten children have been learning to count by 1s, 5s, and 10s to 100. They spent the afternoon going to different stations that revolved around 100. They drew pictures of what they would like when they were 100, what they would buy with $100, and what they wished they had a hundred of, made a 100 headband, and then played a game called Race to 100. They even did 100 exercises and learned how hard it was to sit quietly for 100 seconds. The highlight was bringing home a delicious 100th-day-of-school snack and eating 100 snacks from their “snackle” box. As always, thank you for all our parent volunteers’ behind-the-scenes help in making these memories possible.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Amanda & Hema

Ms. Handibode: All About Africa

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Each time we study a new continent, we first find it on the globe, then locate it on the world map, and lastly, we study the individual continent using the specific continent maps. Currently, the children are learning about the continent of Africa. We learn about its geography, culture, weather, animals, and people.

We are learning lots of fun and fascinating facts about the continent of Africa.

  • Africa is the second largest continent, with 54 countries.
  • The longest river in the world, the Nile, is in Africa.
  • Over one thousand languages are spoken by the people in Africa.
  • The Sahara, the world’s largest desert, is located here.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is so tall that glaciers can be found at its summit, even though the mountain is near the equator.
  • Africa is the most centrally located continent in the world—both the prime meridian and the equator cut across it.
  • The world’s tallest animal, the giraffe, and the largest land animal, the African elephant, are found in Africa.

This past Thursday, we celebrated the 100th day of school. From the very first day of school, the kindergarten children have been learning to count by 1s, 5s, and 10s to 100. They spent the afternoon going to different stations that revolved around 100. They drew pictures of what they would like when they were 100, what they would buy with $100, and what they wished they had a hundred of, made a 100 headband, and then played a game called Race to 100. They even did 100 exercises and learned how hard it was to sit quietly for 100 seconds. The highlight was bringing home a delicious 100th-day-of-school snack and eating 100 snacks from their “snackle” box. As always, thank you for all our parent volunteers’ behind-the-scenes help in making these memories possible.

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

This week has been all about love and friendship! A huge part of our classroom learning is what we call “Grace and Courtesy.” We practice grace and courtesy with each other by using our kindest words (even if the message may be a difficult one), always respecting and listening to each person’s viewpoint, tucking in chairs, getting work ready for the next friend, and taking care of our classroom for the greater good of the community.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to highlight grace and courtesy. A holiday that is about love, family, and friendship helps us to reflect on the things we do on a daily basis that not only benefit ourselves but those around us.

The children took great care in passing out their special Valentine’s Day cards and even used supplies in the classroom to make special cards for people at home.

We hope your holiday was as special as ours!

Marissa & Sue

Ms. Handibode’s Class: Animals in Winter

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been learning that winter can be very harsh for animals. The weather and lack of food can make their survival difficult. To help ensure their survival, animals hibernate, migrate, or adapt to their surroundings.

Animals that hibernate for the winter go into a deep sleep. Their body’s temperature drops, their heartbeat and breathing slow down, and they use very little energy. We’ve learned which animals hibernate as well as where they hibernate. Places, where animals hibernate, can be above ground, such as a cave, nest, or den, or they can be below ground, such as a burrow, a hole, or deep down in the mud.  We explored which animals migrated or traveled to other places where the weather is warmer and they will be able to find food. We also examined why animals might migrate and where they may go. Animals that adapt, remain and stay active in their environment. They adapt to the changing weather, and their behavior and bodies may change too. We talked about what changes animals may make to ensure they will have enough food for the winter.

So, as the cold weather is becoming more frequent, how many of us are thinking about hibernating or migrating?

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

A large part of our work with young children  is to lay the foundation for developing emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and express emotions. Cultivating emotional intelligence in children is crucial for their social and emotional well-being.

Teaching children to identify and name emotions is the first step in teaching children about their own emotions and the emotions of others. Being able to identify and name their feelings can help children to feel heard and understood. Introducing children to a diverse range of emotions through books, stories, and discussions will develop their emotional vocabulary. Since children often mimic the actions and attitudes of the adults around them, demonstrating healthy ways to express and manage emotions is crucial – such as taking deep breaths to calm down when feeling frustrated. One of our favorite books this month was In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek. We have read it numerous times, and it has inspired discussions about times when we’ve felt a variety of different emotions. The children especially enjoy hearing the anecdotes that I share with them about times when I have felt brave, happy, sad, etc. 

The children decorated their Valentine’s Day bags this week, and we’ve been reading Valentine’s books that celebrate friendship. They were so thrilled to exchange Valentines! We shared a group snack of berries and whipped cream, and marshmallow cereal treats. Thank you, parents for providing the snack and decorations for their bags!

We also played the Compliment Game, where we pass around a heart and whoever is holding it when the music stops receives a compliment from a classmate. This teaches children how to politely give and receive a compliment. They love it!

We asked the children what love means. Their answers are sure to bring a smile to your face. (A few friends were either missing, or weren’t ready to share)

Aira- You can’t see love, but you can feel it inside your body.

Anaya- Love is giving my Mom and Dad and sister a picture with a heart.

Ava- Love is what you give to people and fill up their buckets and that means your heart makes other people feel happy.

Cameron- I love my family and I hug them.

Divya- Love is Mommy because she cares about me all the time.

Eliana- Love is giving kisses to Mommy and Daddy.

Eliot- Love is when I hug my Mommy after school and it feels like I’m never going to be afraid.

Ethan- Love means that your heart is happy!

Hayes- Love is all about loving people and giving hugs and sharing toys.

Ivy- I love you and my Mommy and my little singing rabbit that I’m saving for Easter.

Katie- Love is something that you feel, and it feels happy!

Luke- Love makes me feel happy.

Matteo- Love is a feeling and it fills up your bucket.

Olive- I love my friends and family and cute pets and all the flowers- especially roses, poppies, and sunflowers.

Olson- You can love on your Mom and on your Dad but you can’t see it!

Oscar- My Mom loves me and Valentine’s Day means love.

Otto- Mommy and Daddy got married because they love each other.

Rayna- I love Mommy and snow.

William- Love means giving hugs.

Wishing you all a lovely week,

Christine & Fatima

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

 

A large part of our work with young children is to lay the foundation for developing emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and express emotions. Cultivating emotional intelligence in children is crucial for their social and emotional well-being.

Teaching children to identify and name emotions is the first step in teaching children about their own emotions and the emotions of others. Being able to identify and name their feelings can help children to feel heard and understood. Introducing children to a diverse range of emotions through books, stories, and discussions will develop their emotional vocabulary. Since children often mimic the actions and attitudes of the adults around them, demonstrating healthy ways to express and manage emotions is crucial – such as taking deep breaths to calm down when feeling frustrated. One of our favorite games in the classroom is the “Silence Game”.  This is a fun way to teach the children how to meditate and center ourselves when the classroom begins to get too noisy or boisterous.  During the Silence Game, we reinforce how much self control it takes to keep our bodies quiet and still, to “make silence”.  After playing the game, I encourage the children to share what they heard or noticed while being quiet and also notice how their body feels after taking the time to sit quietly.  This reinforces how we can sometimes miss a lot of what is going on around us if we don’t take the time to center ourselves.  

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love,

Amanda & Hema