Mrs. Lopes: The Future is So Bright We Need Shades

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

It’s always a little startling to realize that the end of the school year is quickly approaching. May is an amazing month because we look back to see all that we have accomplished and take stock of what we have left to do. Each child’s learning at this point is very much cumulative and continues to build upon all of the skills that have been mastered since August. A perfect example of this is the kindergarten animal research project the children have been working on for several weeks. We start this project in late spring because we need a foundation of reading, writing, geography, science, and even math in order to be successful. I was ‘interviewing’ the kindergartners for the About The Author section of their books, and, as typically happens, several other children quickly wanted to be interviewed and share their future career aspirations. Their answers are sure to brighten everyone’s day.

  • Advay:  Wants to be a construction worker and build a New York bridge.
  • Annie:  Wants to be a princess and live in a castle.
  • Arjuna: Wants to be a cop so he can chase bad guys and put them in jail.
  • Ayan:  Wants to be a scientist because he likes to do experiments.
  • Brisa:  Wants to be a princess so she can marry a prince.
  • Carmen: Wants to be an art teacher at Fraser Woods and teach kids how to paint.
  • Daniel:  Wants to be a police officer so he can chase bad guys with his police car.
  • Desi:  Wants to be a scientist so he can make things explode.
  • Eleanor: Wants to be a scientist so she can make potions.
  • Evie:  Wants to be a mommy and take care of her babies
  • Fiona: Wants to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex so she can stomp around with sharp claws.
  • Isabella:  Wants to be a chef and make french fries.
  • Jack: Wants to be a soccer player for the red team.
  • Kian: Wants to be a teacher and teach kids how to write numbers.
  • Nava:  Wants to be a mommy and have five kids.
  • Noelle:  Wants to be a florist and grow flowers.
  • Owen: Wants to be a geologist because he likes rocks and wants to learn all of their names.
  • Parker:  Wants to be a firefighter so she can put out fires.
  • Rowan:  Wants to be a ninja, skateboarder, guitarist, drummer, and video game programmer.  She said she will have plenty of time for all of these jobs by doing one every day.
  • Sara: Wants to be a princess so she can wear fancy dresses.
  • Sullivan: Wants to be a geologist and study gems.

Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love!

Amanda & Hema

Mrs. Doyle: The Future’s So Bright You Need To Wear Shades

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

It’s always a little startling to realize that the end of the school year is quickly approaching. May is an amazing month because we look back to see all we have accomplished and take stock of what we have left to do. Each child’s learning at this point is very much cumulative and continues to build upon all of the skills that have been mastered since August. A perfect example of this is the kindergarten animal research project the children have been working on for several weeks. We start this project in late spring because we need a foundation of reading, writing, geography, science, and even math to be successful. I was ‘interviewing’ the kindergartners for the About The Author section of their books, and, as typically happens, several other children quickly wanted to be interviewed and share their future career aspirations. Their answers are sure to brighten everyone’s day.

  • Ainsley:  Wants to be a ballerina who dances all over the world.
  • Alex: Wants to be a soccer player and play on the same team as his brother.
  • Angie:  Wants to be a vet who helps all types of animals.
  • Bodie:  Wants to be a mail person who trucks a white truck.
  • Ella: Wants to be a teacher that helps everyone learn to count to 100.
  • EmmaJo: Wants to be an artist or a ballerina.
  • Greyson: Wants to be a teacher who teaches people how to become an artist or a paleontologist.
  • Harper:  Wants to be a Mom who can do all sorts of grown-up things.
  • Isla:  Wants to be a vet who helps dogs.
  • Jonathan:  Wants to be a Daddy with 78 kids or a Super Hero.
  • Landon: Wants to be a video game designer who creates exploring games.
  • Leo:  Wants to be a police officer who catches bad guys.
  • Noah: Wants to be a doctor who helps people that are sick.
  • Melina: Wants to be a Princess who lives in a castle.
  • Olivia:  Wants to be a teacher who helps people learn all different kinds of things.
  • River: Wants to be an artist who draws unicorns and ponies.
  • Saanvi: Wants to be a ballerina who does dance shows everywhere.
  • Stephen: Wants to be a scientist who mixes all kinds of things together to see what happens.
  • Tommy: Wants to be a constructor man who builds everything.
  • Zara:  Wants to be a Mom and a Teacher.

“Thank you” seems so little to say for the outpouring of love and kindness during Teacher Appreciation Week. We felt the love all week long and count ourselves truly blessed to have the relationships we do with each of you.

Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love!

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Doyle: Fun At Flanders

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. We began by taking 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, newts, giant water bugs, and salamanders. We observed turtles resting on a rock, fish swimming, and even found one of those elusive frogs. When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and climbed aboard for a tractor ride. We were able to get up close to a beaver lodge and get a peek at a nest with three-day-old baby birds. It was informative and impressive to speak with a Flanders volunteer, who explained how and why the beavers dam up a culvert each night. 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 Thursday, we released our Painted Lady butterflies in the butterfly garden. Watching the different stages of the butterfly life cycle was a wonderful experience for everyone to observe.

Wishing you all a week filled with much peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Semmah: Fun At Flanders

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. We began by taking 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, newts, giant water bugs, and salamanders. We observed turtles resting on a rock, fish swimming, and even found one of those elusive frogs. When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and climbed aboard for a tractor ride. Finally, we were able to get up close to a beaver lodge. It was informative and impressive to speak with a Flanders volunteer, who explained how and why the beavers dam up a culvert each night. 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.

Wishing you all a week filled with much peace and love.

Kaoutar & Sue

Mrs. Lopes: Fun at Flanders

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

On Monday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury. We began by taking 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, newts, giant water bugs, and salamanders. We observed turtles resting on a rock, fish swimming, and even found one of those elusive frogs. When we were done, we released any living thing we had collected and climbed aboard for a tractor ride. Finally, we were able to get up close to a beaver lodge. It was informative and impressive to speak with a Flanders volunteer, who explained how and why the beavers dam up a culvert each night. 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.

Wishing you all a week filled with much peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Doyle: Nature’s Classroom

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Continuing our study of insects, we are thrilled to welcome five caterpillars to our classroom. It is so exciting to observe each step of the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Right now, our caterpillars are busy eating and growing bigger every day. During this incredible period of growth, they will shed their exoskeletons four times and grow more than ten times their original size! When they have finished growing, the caterpillars will climb to the top of the cup. Once there, they will hang from the paper disk in a “j” shape under the lid. Finally, they will shed their exoskeletons one last time before they pupate and form a chrysalis. Ask your children to update you on what is happening each day with our caterpillars. The discussions taking place among the children about the caterpillars are amazing.

Spring is the perfect time to go for a nature walk and bug hunt, and that’s exactly what we did this week. Going on a nature walk is a simple, fun, and meaningful way to spend time outdoors. A bug hunt is a really fun way to help incorporate what we are learning about insects inside the classroom and what we observe outside in nature. The best thing about a bug hunt? Once the children get in the habit of learning, observing, and studying insects, their reaction is less likely to be, “Aarrghhhh, a bug!”

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love,

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Semmah: Nature’s Classroom

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Continuing our study of insects, we are thrilled to welcome five caterpillars to our classroom. It is so exciting to observe each step of the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Right now, our caterpillars are busy eating and growing bigger every day. During this incredible period of growth, they will shed their exoskeletons four times and grow more than ten times their original size! When they have finished growing, the caterpillars will climb to the top of the cup. Once there, they will hang from the paper disk in a “j” shape under the lid. Finally, they will shed their exoskeletons one last time before they pupate and form a chrysalis. Ask your children to update you on what is happening each day with our caterpillars. The discussions taking place among the children about the caterpillars are amazing.

Spring is the perfect time to go for a nature walk and bug hunt, and that’s exactly what we did this week. Going on a nature walk is a simple, fun, and meaningful way to spend time outdoors. A bug hunt is a really fun way to help incorporate what we are learning about insects inside the classroom and what we observe outside in nature. The best thing about a bug hunt? Once the children get in the habit of learning, observing, and studying insects, their reaction is less likely to be, “Aarrghhhh, a bug!”

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love,

Kaoutar & Sue

Mrs. Lopes: Nature’s Classroom

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Continuing our study of insects, we are thrilled to welcome five caterpillars to our classroom. It is so exciting to observe each step of the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. Right now, our caterpillars are busy eating and growing bigger every day. During this incredible period of growth, they will shed their exoskeletons four times and grow more than ten times their original size! When they have finished growing, the caterpillars will climb to the top of the cup. Once there, they will hang from the paper disk in a “j” shape under the lid. Finally, they will shed their exoskeletons one last time before they pupate and form a chrysalis. Ask your children to update you on what is happening each day with our caterpillars. The discussions taking place among the children about the caterpillars are amazing.

Spring is the perfect time to go for a nature walk and bug hunt, and that’s exactly what we did this week. Going on a nature walk is a simple, fun, and meaningful way to spend time outdoors. A bug hunt is a really fun way to help incorporate what we are learning about insects inside the classroom and what we observe outside in nature. The best thing about a bug hunt? Once the children get in the habit of learning, observing, and studying insects, their reaction is less likely to be, “Aarrghhhh, a bug!”

Wishing you a week filled with peace and love,

Amanda & Hema