Ms. Marissa: Swinging Into a New Year!

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

What a wonderful first week! We are already getting into the swing of things! During Phase In, we go over very important parts of our classroom life here at Fraser Woods. The small groups allow us to spend time with each child individually to introduce students to as many activities as possible – granting them freedom of choice within the classroom and time for children to get to know each other. We have individual lessons on activities as well as group instruction on Grace and Courtesy, which are things like “walking around someone’s work, tucking in your chair, getting work ready for the next friend, and getting a teacher’s attention.”

We really see the classroom come alive when the whole crew is here! Thursday’s first full day was filled with palpable excitement and forward momentum! We moved through our day, which was filled with activities. Much of the morning is spent exploring the classroom and the different curriculum areas. Teachers give lessons as children find things that interest them, and as the days and weeks move along, we plan for one-on-one lessons that will keep students moving steadily on their academic journey.

During Phase In, we nurture relationships (between teacher and student and between children), set up the classroom environment to allow children to be as independent as possible, and create connections between students and materials. These three things are at the heart of a Montessori classroom, and we are already seeing all of them bloom! We are so excited to watch the children grow.

Have a wonderful week!

Marissa & Sue

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

  • Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
  • Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
  • Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
  • Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Mrs. Lopes: Swinging Into a New Year!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Welcome to a new school year!  We know that the phase-in schedule can be challenging to manage, but it does allow us to set the tone for the year. We are grateful for your patience and understanding. While it was a busy week, it was a very successful one!

In just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment and the routines of our day. This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over the year. We had a very smooth start, and we are so excited to be part of this journey with all of the children and all of you!

The adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

Thursday, September 26th, from 5:30-7:00, is Curriculum Night. This is a great time to spend some time in our classroom and get a sneak peek into how our days are spent. We will discuss each area of the classroom, the structure of our days and have some time to answer all of your questions.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

As a gentle reminder, to streamline our dismissal process, please stay in your car while a teacher brings your child over. The teacher will assist the child in the car. Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling your child in. Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Lopes & Mrs. Hema

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

  • Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
  • Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
  • Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
  • Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Mrs. Sargeant: Swinging Into a New Year!

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Welcome to a new school year!  We know that the phase-in schedule can be challenging to manage, but it does allow us to set the tone for the year. We are grateful for your patience and understanding. While it was a busy week, it was a very successful one!

In just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment and the routines of our day. This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over the year. We had a very smooth start, and we are so excited to be part of this journey with all of the children and all of you!

The adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

Thursday, September 26th, from 5:30-7:00, is Curriculum Night. This is a great time to spend some time in our classroom and get a sneak peek into how our days are spent. We will discuss each area of the classroom, the structure of our days and have some time to answer all of your questions.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

As a gentle reminder, to streamline our dismissal process, please stay in your car while a teacher brings your child over. The teacher will assist the child in the car. Please pull forward to the gravel area at the front of the building before exiting the car and buckling your child in. Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Sargeant & Ms. Tima

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

  • Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
  • Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
  • Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
  • Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Ms. Handibode: Swinging Into A New Year!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

 

Welcome to a new school year!  We know that the phase-in schedule can be challenging to manage, but it does allow us to set the tone for the year. We are grateful for your patience and understanding. While it was a busy week it was a very successful one!

In just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment and the routines of our day. This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over the year. We had a very smooth start, and we are so excited to be part of this journey with all of the children and all of you!

The adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

Thursday, September 26th, from 5:30-7:00, is Curriculum Night. This is a great time to spend some time in our classroom and get a sneak peek into how our days are spent. We will discuss each area of the classroom, the structure of our days and have some time to answer all of your questions.

We look forward to seeing everyone!

As a gentle reminder, to streamline our dismissal process, please stay in your car while a teacher brings your child over. The teacher will assist the child in the car. Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling your child in. Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Ms. Handibode & Ms. Maria

Dismissal Reminder
Thank you for adhering to your assigned arrival and dismissal times to help arrival and dismissal run smoothly and to reduce your time waiting in line. 

  • Toddler: arrival-8:30, dismissal-2:45
  • Primary: arrival-8:20, dismissal-3:00
  • Elementary: arrival-8:10, dismissal-3:10
  • Middle School: arrival-8:00, dismissal-3:10

Families with children at multiple levels can arrive at the oldest child’s arrival time and dismissal time.

Please form only one line in the morning when dropping off, leaving the left lane open for toddler families to pull through.

In the afternoon, please form only one line on the left before 3:00, leaving the right lane open for toddler families to pull through. Starting at 3:00, form two lines. 

Ms. Marissa: In June I Saw A Charming Group…

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

…Of roses all begin to droop

I pepped them up with chicken soup!

Sprinkle once,

Sprinkle twice,

Sprinkle chicken soup with rice!

Well, another year has gone by! Each and every child has grown so much right before our eyes, and we consider ourselves so lucky to have watched it all happen. We ended our last work cycle of the year watching Carole King’s rendition of Maurice Sendak’s Chicken Soup With Rice, which we have been reading and learning all year long!

The children were overjoyed to see all the drawings animated and were singing along to the words!

Thank you for a wonderful first year at FWM.

Have a wonderful summer,

Marissa & Sue

Mrs. Lopes: Whose Child Is This?

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Continuing with a long-standing FWM tradition, our Kindergarten friends began working on their number rolls early in September and had the opportunity to unroll them on Wednesday.  It is always a much-anticipated event that brings great joy to everyone. Each year, several middle school students will stop by and say, “I remember doing this, and I still have my number roll!”

Thank you to all for the generous end of year class gift!  Mrs. Hema and I feel so grateful to have such a supportive and kind community in our classroom.

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we have accomplished and how much each child has grown. To our Kindergarten students, those moving on, and their families, we wish you all the success you have worked so hard for. You will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we sincerely hope you will keep in touch throughout the years. To our returning students and families, we can’t wait to hear all about your summer and to experience the 2024-25 school year together. 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,

Amanda & Hema

Mrs. Sargeant: Summer is here!

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

I guess it’s true what they say, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” What an incredible school year we have had with your children. Thank you! We feel so lucky to have spent our days with such an incredible bunch of kids. They have kept us on our toes, made us laugh, and reminded us how fortunate we are to be a part of their first school experience. The transformation in toddlers is so amazing to witness during the course of the school year. 

It has been a busy week. The squirrels continue to eat from our birdfeeder. We witnessed what appeared to be a squirrel squabble over which squirrel was going to eat their lunch first. It is fun to watch the children’s reactions. Some children were concerned that the squirrels would take all the food from the birds. Others watched in awe, observing the squirrels’ every move. And others belly-laughed in delight as they observed. We really have so much fun!

We celebrated our friend Emma’s upcoming big move to Germany. The children learned that her family will take an airplane to their new home. We looked at photographs of Germany, and we ate pretzel bites (cupcakes, too). We told the children that when they miss their friends this summer, that they could draw pictures for them and ask their parents to send them, either by text, email, or mail. 

We also celebrated the last week of school by enjoying some orange cake pops that our friend Oscar so thoughtfully shared with all of us!

Another huge highlight of our week was that Margot became a big sister! We were all so thrilled to hear her news! Congratulations, and welcome to the world, sweet baby!

This is it, the last weekly update for this school year. Have a wonderful summer. Enjoy it because time really does fly! See you soon.

Peace & love, Christine & Lizette

Mrs. Doyle: Whose Child Is This?

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Continuing with a long-standing FWM tradition, our Kindergarten friends began working on their number rolls early in September and had the opportunity to unroll them on Wednesday. It is always a much-anticipated event that brings great joy to everyone. Each year, several middle school students will stop by and say, “I remember doing this, and I still have my number roll!”

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we have accomplished and how much each child has grown. To our Kindergarten students, those moving on, and their families, we wish you all the success you have worked so hard for. You will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we sincerely hope you will keep in touch throughout the years. To our returning students and families, we can’t wait to hear all about your summer and to experience the 2024-25 school year together. 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 & Maria