Mrs. Semmah: Greetings

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

We welcomed new friends and families this year. The first week of the phase-in period helped the children with the transition to the new classroom. It is an absolute pleasure meeting your children, seeing their smiles, and getting some heart-warming hugs. This phase-in period is so helpful for a smooth transition for your children and for feeling safe in a new environment and getting to know their new teachers. The children were curious to explore the Montessori materials and share them with their friends. It was amazing to observe the children’s transition during this first week.

Our Curriculum Night is next Thursday, September 15th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. This year’s event will be in-person in your child’s classroom. All parents are invited to attend and get a closer look and feel of the Montessori environment at FWM. This will be an opportunity to see the classroom environment and the daily learning materials. We will also talk about the Montessori approach and describe the different areas of the classroom, and the daily structure. We are excited and look forward to welcoming you to your child’s classroom.

Thank you for all your support and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year!

Enjoy these back-to-school pictures!

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Warm regards,

Kaoutar and Michelle

Mrs. Semmah: Welcome Summer!

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Saying goodbye to our children is always a difficult moment after spending a whole year growing up together, learning, and bonding. It is so precious to hear the children say “I love you.” or “I’m going to miss you in summer.” Some children express love with a warm hug and a sparkle of joy in their eyes. Others show love with big smiles that shine on their adorable and happy faces. It is a very satisfying and joyful feeling to watch our children share their passion and confidence with us. I also want to thank each child for all the warmth, beautiful memories, and learning we have shared throughout the year.

Thank you, parents, for allowing us to be your child’s teachers. It has been a wonderful and rewarding year for us.

Lots of love,

Kaoutar and Sara  

Mrs. Lopes: Happy Summer!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

In the blink of an eye this challenging, as well as rewarding, school year has come to a close. As we watch each child leave our classroom for the summer we can’t help but remember their first days with us. It is always humbling to be a witness of the children’s growth and development throughout the school year.

While many of our children and families are returning, some will be moving on. To everyone, we wish you the best of summer and the best in the years ahead. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and cooperation throughout this journey of a school year. We are so thankful to have gotten to spend this time with your children and know they will always have a special place in our hearts. I will leave you with a poem that sums up our feelings at the end of the school year:

I have worked with your flower, and helped it to grow.

I’m returning it now, but I want you to know

This flower is precious, as dear as can be.

Take care of it, and you will see

A bright new bloom, with every day.

It grew and blossomed, in such a wonderful way.

In August, just a bud, then January, a bloom, now a lovely blossom

I’m returning to you.

Remember, this flower,

As dear as can be.

Though rightfully yours,

Part will always be with me!

Wishing you a peaceful, restful summer full of unforgettable memories!

With Love,

Amanda and Heather

Mrs. Doyle: Make Your Summer An Unforgettable One!!!!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Field Day was on Tuesday and it was an awesome day!  Thank you to Coach Pam for putting together a great event for the children.  We finished it off with a visit from an ice cream truck!

Continuing with a long standing FWM tradition, our older friends begin working on their number rolls early in September and had the opportunity to unroll them on Wednesday.  This year, one number roll was so long, it stretched all the way across the gym and onto the playground!

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we 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 2022-23 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 & Liset

Mrs. Semmah: Ocean Theme

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Summer is almost here. This is our favorite time of the year. One way to start the season off is to talk about the ocean theme and care for the environment. Soon we can start heading to the beach and the children always have been fascinated with sea creatures, shells, and of course, playing in the sand.

At our nature table, we include a natural large shell and a magnifier for the children to explore its details. This is also an important sensory experience for the children to hold, touch, and feel the shell in their hands. Our water sensory table looks like an open aquarium. It has manipulative fish, sea shells, blue beads, scooping cups, and blue water. The children take turns to cool down with the water sensory table and feel each piece in the ocean bin. We also have seashell sorting cards with labels. It includes a beautiful shell collection and matching cards. The cards have the name of the shell which introduces new terminology for the child. There is something very special about seashells and the children enjoy these activities.

We have our Field Day planned for Tuesday, June 7th. Just a reminder to have your child dressed in comfortable clothes and sneakers and not to forget their water bottles! We’re looking forward to a whole morning outside with lots of fun activities planned by Ms. Pam.

Wishing you a peaceful  weekend,

Kaoutar and Sara

Mrs. Doyle: Are You Ready For the Summer?

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

We asked the children what they loved about summer and /or what their plans were for this summer.  We hope you enjoy their answers as much as we did!

  • Anchor:  Likes to go swimming in a pool.  He tried the beach once but it didn’t work out so well because he kept stepping on shells and it hurt.
  • Everly:  Loves to swim in her pool because it’s so nice and cool and you can relax in there.
  • Lily:  Likes to connect the hose to her splash pad and kiddie pool and get soaking wet.
  • Marin:  Likes to go for bike rides with her family and is hoping to go to the Galapagos too.
  • Wilder: Likes to swim in the deep end of the pool where it is almost 1000 feet deep.
  • Emma:  Can’t wait to visit with all of her friends and play together.
  • Greyson:  Likes to play outside with his family and his dog.
  • Landon: Likes to go to Grammy’s pool and swim.  You have to go on a far walk to get there but when you do you just jump right in and have fun.
  • Luca:  Likes to get in his hot tub and relax.  This summer he is hoping to travel to South America or Asia.
  • Olivia: Likes to go the beach with her cousins.  They play in the water for a really long time and then get out and eat lots of snacks.
  • Theo:  Likes to jump in the pool every single day and eat dinner outside.
  • Virginia: Can’t wait to go to Florida to celebrate her birthday. She is so excited because she is getting her ears pierced and her hair colored.
  • Bodie: Likes to play with his mommy and daddy all day long.  They play in the pool and then do lots of cannonballs.
  • Emma Jo:  Can’t wait to open her pool and just sit in the water all day long.
  • Isla: Likes to swim in her inflatable pool and use the water squirters.  She is looking forward to visiting her grandpa and grandma in Rochester.  Grandpa tells lots of jokes and Grandma just loves to spend time with her.
  • Micaela: Likes to swim in the pool and play with her toy worms in the grass.
  • Saanvi:  Likes to go to the playground with her sister and climb on everything they can.
  • Stephen:  Likes to go down the slide in his pool and go underwater.  Luckily he has all new bathing suits because he grew so much.
  • Zara: Likes to go to the beach and make sand castles and play in the water.
  • Mrs. Ray: Likes to go swimming, hiking, fishing and camping with her family.
  • Mrs. Doyle:  Plans to sleep, take a road trip with her family, sleep, read, sleep, find new hiking trails to take her dogs on, spend time with her friends, and sleep.

Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love!

Michelle & Liset

Mrs. Lopes: One More Week to Go!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

As the school year winds down, we reflect on how much the children have grown and matured over the last 10 months.  The last few weeks of school are always a little chaotic, but we try to enjoy these last few moments we have as a classroom family.  We cannot believe there is only one more week of school left in the school year!

Looking forward to next week, we have our Field Day on Tuesday, June 7th.  Please remember to send your child in comfortable clothes and sneakers with a full water bottle.  They will enjoy a whole morning outside with fun activities and games set up by Ms. Pam.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Amanda and Heather

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Fun At Flanders

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

On Thursday, the Kindergarten children spent time at Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury.  First, we gathered our nets and took 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 then climbed aboard for a tractor ride.  We observed a blue heron flying and landing and got up close to a beaver lodge.  It was both 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 & Liset