Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

Oh boy, this week brought some very hot days! We still enjoyed plenty of outdoor time, but in shorter chunks to help everyone stay cool and avoid overheating. Thankfully, popsicles helped make the heat a little more fun!

This week, we brought out the car mat, and it quickly became a favorite activity. The children had so much fun zooming around toy cars, buses, and emergency vehicles.

We also introduced a new colored salt activity to our shelves. The children traced shapes with glue, then carefully sprinkled colorful salt with salt and pepper shakers. This was wonderful practice for hand control, coordination, and concentration. The finished creations were beautiful!

We were lucky enough to attend two school performances this week! Upper Elementary and Middle School performed Willy Wonka on Thursday, and Lower Elementary performed Jungle Story on Friday

The children did an amazing job being part of the audience. They stayed quiet during the performances, loved clapping for the actors, and excitedly shared their favorite parts once we returned to the classroom. It was such a great practice in learning how to be a respectful and engaged audience member.

It has been a busy week filled with creativity, imagination, and exciting new experiences.

Important Reminders:

  • No school on Monday
  • Next week is Toddler Activity Day! Thursday, May 28, is coming fast. Make sure your child has a bathing suit and a towel ready to go!
  • Next week, the weather will warm up again. Please bring water shoes or sandals for outside play and extra summer clothes in case we do water play.

Magical May with Ms. Mollie

Posted on by Mollie Smith

May is truly the most magical time of year in a toddler Montessori classroom. The days are filled with outdoor adventures, gardening, joyful play, and watching all of the skills we have nurtured throughout the year begin to blossom together. The children move with such confidence and purpose now — helping one another, caring for their environment, and engaging deeply in meaningful work.

As Maria Montessori once said, “Play is the work of the child.” In these beautiful spring days, we see that work unfolds effortlessly and calmly around us. From digging in the garden beds to imaginative outdoor play and collaborative friendships, the growth happening before our eyes is nothing short of amazing.

May reminds us to slow down, soak in these moments, and celebrate just how far our little learners have come.

With Full Hearts,

Ms.Mollie and Ms.Lizette

Mrs. Wilson: Magic of Metamorphosis

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we continued our exploration of the life cycle of a butterfly. The children are not only expanding their vocabulary, but also strengthening their sequencing skills as they learn each stage of the butterfly’s journey. Here is the sequence we have been practicing together:

The butterfly lands on a leaf and lays an egg.
Out pops a tiny caterpillar!
The caterpillar eats the leaf and grows bigger and bigger.
Once it is big enough, it hangs in a “J” shape.
Next, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis around itself.
Then the magic of metamorphosis happens! (Ask your child to say “metamorphosis” — they love this big word!)
When the transformation is complete, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
Its wings are wet at first, so it must rest and dry them.
Once the wings are dry, the butterfly flies away to a leaf, and the whole cycle begins again.

We will continue retelling this story together each school day, helping the children build confidence and familiarity with the sequence. The most exciting part has been observing our real caterpillars in the classroom. The children were able to watch the tiny caterpillars grow and eventually hang in their “J” shape. Two of the caterpillars have already formed their chrysalises, although they did not attach at the top as expected. They are still alive and resting safely on a paper towel while we continue to observe and care for them.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week we have been enjoying the ever-changing weather from warm sunny days to chilly, cloudy, and rainy ones. No matter the forecast, the children have certainly found plenty of ways to get their energy out!

Outside, the children loved:

  • running around with the dump trucks
  • swinging
  • drawing with chalk
  • chasing and playing with friends

There has been lots of movement, laughter, and fresh air as we embraced all kinds of spring weather.

Inside the classroom, we focused on activities that help build hand strength and coordination. The children practiced:

  • scissor work
  • peeling and sticking different-sized stickers
  • gluing felt clippings onto a caterpillar to create a fuzzy little friend

These activities support fine motor development while also allowing the children to be creative and expressive.

We have also been spending time practicing communication skills and encouraging the children to use their words and voices to let friends know what they need. Learning how to communicate with peers in kind and respectful ways is such an important part of growing together in the classroom community.

For food tasting this week, we tried cantaloupe, and the children really enjoyed the sweet, juicy fruit. There were lots of happy faces and requests for more!

It has been a very productive week full of movement, creativity, learning, and growing friendships. Very busy hands and busy bodies!

Mrs. Wilson: Insects and Pond Life

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

As we welcome the month of May, the children will begin exploring the fascinating world of pond life and insects. Around the classroom, they will discover works and activities inspired by our six-legged creepy crawly friends, as well as the creatures that live in and around ponds. The children have shown so much curiosity and excitement while learning about these living creatures.

Our outdoor time will also become an opportunity for discovery as we search for insects in their natural environment. Through these experiences, the children are learning the importance of caring for living things and practicing gentle hands with our tiny friends.

This week, we introduced the life cycle of a butterfly. Much to the children’s excitement, our caterpillars arrived! Each day, we observe them closely as they grow longer and plumper, eagerly waiting to see the changes that will come next.

For food tasting, we began our series of melon explorations with a sweet and juicy cantaloupe. The children explored the melon’s size, texture, scent, and weight before tasting it. Finding the perfect ripeness made all the difference, and it was a big hit with the children!

Wishing all our mamas a very lovely Mother’s Day!

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

Cars, Trains & Planes… Oh My! 🚗✈️🚂

This week, we began learning about different vehicles and community helpers, and the classroom has been full of movement, building, and creativity!

The children have been especially excited about our wooden train tracks and new Magna-Tile roads. They worked together to build tracks, roads, and pathways while using their imaginations to create busy little worlds filled with vehicles and transportation.

We also explored different ways to “paint” and decorate vehicles:

  • Dot stickers were used to decorate cars
  • Yarn was used to create textured busses
  • Red paint helped bring fire trucks to life

The children loved experimenting with these materials while strengthening fine motor skills and creativity.

For food tasting this week, we explored a watermelon. Before cutting it open, the children knocked on the outside and wondered why they couldn’t smell anything yet. There were lots of smiles and excitement when we finally sliced it open and revealed the bright red inside, instantly filling the classroom with that sweet watermelon scent. The children enjoyed eating triangle slices, carefully noticing where the juicy red part ended and knowing to stop biting once the fruit was gone. It was such a fun sensory and tasting experience!

It has been a wonderful week full of building, creativity, and curiosity. We can’t wait to continue learning about the many helpers and vehicles that keep our communities moving!

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our wonderful mamas! We hope your weekend is filled with love, snuggles, and special moments with your little ones.

Toddler Activity Day is almost here! Art. Water. Sunshine. Thursday, May 28, from 9-11. Start thinking about where you packed that swimsuit and towel!

Ms. Mollie: Big Moments, Little Moments, and All the In Between!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week in our toddler classroom was filled with movement, wonder, and so much growth. We turned up the music and had an energetic dance party to Laurie Berkner’s beloved song “We Are the Dinosaurs.” The children stomped, roared, marched, and giggled their way through the classroom, practicing coordination, rhythm, and joyful self-expression together.

Our little learners also began exploring the fascinating life cycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. From tiny caterpillars to beautiful butterflies, the children are learning patience, observation, and the wonder of transformation. Watching their excitement and curiosity bloom has been such a beautiful reminder of how naturally children connect with the world around them.

In the kitchen, we worked together to make carrot cake step by step. From measuring and pouring to mixing and tasting, the children practiced patience, sequencing, independence, and teamwork. Cooking experiences offer so many opportunities for hands-on learning while building confidence in everyday life skills.

We also spent plenty of time outdoors enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and opportunities for imaginative play and movement. Springtime continues to invite us outside to explore, discover, and connect with nature.

As we move through this season, we have been taking time to reflect on just how far the children have come. Their growing independence shines through in so many ways — caring for their environment, helping one another, communicating their needs, and confidently completing tasks on their own. It is such a privilege to witness their growth, resilience, and blossoming personalities each day.

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Mollie: Hello May!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

Hello, May—you arrived so quickly.

It’s hard to believe how fast this school year is moving. The days feel full and rich, yet somehow they slip by in the most beautiful way. In our classroom, time is marked not by the clock, but by growth, tiny hands becoming more capable, friendships deepening, and curiosity blooming all around us.

This week has been especially special as we prepare for Grandparents Day. There is something so meaningful about bridging generations. Watching our toddlers share their space, their work, and their joy with the people who love them so deeply. These connections matter. They ground our children in a sense of belonging and remind us all how important it is to slow down and simply be together.

Adding to the excitement, our Primary Students have welcomed baby chicks! The children have been absolutely captivated. Observing these tiny, delicate creatures has sparked so many conversations about gentleness, care, and the wonder of new life. It’s hands-on, real learning at its best. Watching the children approach them with such tenderness is a reminder of how naturally empathy lives within them.

As we move through May, we’re soaking up every moment, more time outside, more exploration, more laughter. The rhythm of our days feels light and joyful, yet purposeful. Even as time seems to fly, we’re doing our best to stay present in it. Because these moments, the small, quiet, meaningful ones, are what truly matter.
🌱💛

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette