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Friday, March 02, 2007
Calendar
3/6 Setting Limits meeting 5 – 6:30 pm
3/7 Science show, 2 pm for Kindergartners & Elementary
3/12 All School Assembly – Michael Katz, Storyteller 10 am
3/14 Core meeting 5 pm
3/21 Mural meeting 5 pm
4/3 All school assembly – Bike Safety on the asphalt yard 10 am
4/9-4/13 Spring Break – Childcare by registration
FIELD TRIP FORMS
If you have not yet turned in the campus field trip form for your child, please do so ASAP. There are quite a few children participating in Tuff Tumblers and the art class that do not have this form completed.
SUMMER DATES & GUESTS
During the summer program there will be part-time, 5 ½ days & 3 full days offered for primary students.
June 15, 2007 will be the last day of this school year
June 18-22 will be staff prep week – no school or childcare for Toddlers & Primary
June 18 - Elementary Summer School/Orientation for 1st graders
June 25 – July 6 will be Session 1
July 9 – 20 will be Session 2
July 23 – Aug. 3 will be Session 3 and Opera/Performing Arts Camp
Aug. 6 – 18 will be Session 4
The week of Aug. 20 - 25 will be staff prep week; again, no school or childcare
First day of school will be Wednesday, August 29.
Some of our guest visitors for the summer:
6/25 – Nemo Jump Tent – all day
7/2 – Jeremy the Juggler – 10 am
7/18 – Wildlife Associates 10 am
8/6 – Fratello Marionettes – 10 am
8/15 – Magician Brian Scott – 10 am
8/17 – Castle Jump Tent – all day
NOTE: If your child does not usually attend school on the day we have an event, they are welcome to join us!
More to come!
SOUND OF THE WEEK Each Wednesday your child is encouraged, with your help, to find an object at home (preferably not a toy) that contains with the sound of the week. Put it in a labeled bag to share with your child’s class. The sound for next week is “V”, as in Vampire, Vitamin, and Velvet.
SETTING LIMITS
GLM is hosting another “Setting Limits” meeting for Tuesday, Mar. 6th , from 5 – 6:30 pm. Childcare is available. Please RSVP with the office to attend and for childcare, 510-836-4313.
GINKGO STAFFING
Mr. Jason Sheen has decided that working in the field of early childhood education is not a good fit for him. He made February 16th his last day. We wish him well in his next career move. Ms. Owens continues to work within Gingko, act as site director for Lake Park, and do art projects with the other classes, 9:30 to 11 am, 3 days a week. Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Moody are weekly in the classroom as well as our new Spanish teacher, Ms. Vergara. We are introducing her to all families little by little and you can read her biography (below).
NEW SPANISH TEACHER
We are pleased to introduce Maria Paula Vergara as our Spanish teacher at GLM. Ms. Vergara moved to America just 6 months ago from Bogata, Colombia, where she was born. She holds a degree in Political Science and Government. Ms. Vergara worked with a government children’s agency setting up special projects through the libraries across the country. It often involved going to unsafe regions. Her mother is a special education teacher and her father is a lawyer in Colombia. She hopes to continue her education here in the Bay Area.
THE SAFETY CORNER
Do you and your family practice fire drills at home? Do your children know what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do should it go off? The United States has one of the
highest fire death and injury rates in the world. Fire -- in the form of flames and smoke -- is the second leading cause of accidental death in the home.
More than 4,000 people die each year in home fires. Every year, there are more than 500,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire departments. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has targeted the principal consumer products associated with fires, namely home heating devices, upholstered furniture, bedding, cigarette lighters, matches, and wearing apparel.
Planning ahead, rehearsing, thinking, and acting clearly are keys to surviving a fire.
Does your family have an escape plan and an alternate escape plan?
Does your family have an escape route and plans that are rehearsed periodically?
Does your escape plan include choosing a place safely outside the house where the family can meet to be sure everyone got out safely?
MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM
Oakland Kajubenbo Kwoon has an amazing martial arts (kung fu) class for children ages 3-5 (there is also a class for 6-12 if elementary students are interested). The teacher, Sifu Kate Hobbs, is a third degree black belt with over twenty-five years experience teaching
children. She teaches traditional martial arts physical skills, and at the same time really focuses on developing community, respect, diversity, verbal self-defense, and grace. The fee is extremely affordable ($1-$12 per class) and it's a wonderfully diverse group of kids. The cost includes a uniform and chances to perform in some great Oakland/East Bay community celebrations.
Classes are held Monday, Wednesday from 3:15-4:00PM and Saturdays from 10:00AM-10:45AM.
To register or for more information contact teacher
Kate Hobbs at katehobbs@comcast.net/ 510-290-8060
Or, for more recommendations from moms of students, contact Rachel Neumann (Luna's mom) at rachelbeatrice@yahoo.com.
WHAT IS A METAL INSET?
Often, children come home excited about a new lesson they received at school and they have no way to describe the work. Every week Monica Mac Donald will attempt to explain work the children do in the classroom and the purposes beginning with the Metal Insets. The metal inset work has an inset and a frame using geometric shapes. This is often the child’s first time to hold pencils. The child traces inside the frame and outside the inset and then using a third color fills in the inside space with lines. The purpose of this work is to prepare the muscles in the hands for writing and geometric design.
SCIENCE SHOW
Wednesday, March 6th, the Bureau of Lectures & Concert Artists, Inc., will present a Science program to the elementary and kindergarten children at GLM. The program begins at 2 pm in the elementary classroom. The children will learn about optics and illusions, chemical magic, a flying saucer that rides on a beam of light, exploding flour, things seen but not there, and electric wonders, just to name a few!
TAKE A BREAK
Forms for the next “round” of Take A Break (TAB), the Friday pizza lunch, have been distributed to parent pockets & cubbies. The form covers Fridays starting March 2nd, and ending May 4th. Extra forms are available in both offices. PLEASE turn the form in no later than the Wednesday before the Friday you wish your child to participate. Pizzas have to be ordered in advance.
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS
This fund-raising event has begun and will run through the 21st of March. Look for the collection containers in all the classes. The class that raises the most money for the Leukemia Society will earn a pizza party.
WHAT’S ELEMENTARY UP TO?
✔ Swimming at the YMCA beginning Mar. 1st
✔ Aftercare sewing class starting Mar. 2nd
✔ Mar. 7th: “Color of Justice”, a TheaterWorks production I the AM; Science show in the PM
✔ Field trip to see “People Like Me” dance performance on Mar. 20th
✔ Monthly library trips
❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●
CLASS NEWS
REDWOOD (ELEMENTARY)
Our class had a great trip to Norden right before the winter break! We were a little concerned that there was not going to be enough snow for the children since it had not snowed all that much. However, luck was with us and there was a storm the weekend prior to us going! We stayed at a lodge and three parents came with us, Mariana and Sean Harris and Heidi Hudson. Thank you to all three of you. The snow trip was our exercise in independent living - the children were responsible for the entire trip. The day before I took four children with me to Costco and Safeway so they could go shopping for the food we needed. The shopping list was put together by 2 other children. The children were given a budget and they managed to only narrowly go over that budget! The children did all of the cooking and cleaning up; we had hamburgers and hotdogs, pasta salad, and pineapple the first night; spaghetti, corn on the cob, and a green salad the second night. They made pancakes, eggs, and sausage for breakfast while we had sandwiches for lunch. The children learned a lot about cooking in a very different altitude from what we are normally used to. When we go camping we turn the little stoves on, start our campfire and our meals take under 45 minutes to cook but in Norden it took twice the time. When we weren't cooking we were playing in the snow. Prior to traveling to Norden the children and I talked about the snowball fights and decided it wasn't a very good idea. Well, by Thursday, we just needed to let the dire need to throw snowballs go...everyone, including the adults participated...of course, it seemed that all the snowballs were directed at Mrs. Gilliam! We had so much fun. It was great watching the children, Mr. Keating, and the parents sled down the hill where the lodge was located. We were soaked but had such a great time. There was actually 2-3 feet of snow so upon arrival the children grew frustrated by sinking in the snow but by the next morning they were out there packing it down, creating new toboggan and sled runs!
JACARANDA
Remember that this time of year, when the weather warms briefly then turns cool again, that your children need to come prepared for winter weather with hats, coats and sweaters; and on rainy days, with hats, boots and raincoats. Imagine being told that you cannot join your friends on a walk in the rain because you need a coat.
There is always focus and concentration in the Montessori classroom, but this is the time of year when we see the many lessons and resulting independent work really come to fruition. Whether the youngest first year child has been working toward being able to sit and focus on a simple task for several minutes or the oldest third years having built up their social and individual concentration to work through a complex golden bead math problem, the children continue to grow at their own pace with the adult's guidance.
Heard on the yard as the children are studying a dead bee: "My mom is a studier."
As part of Jacaranda class study of the needs of humans and of the other life on earth, we read a book called "If You Went to The Moon," and discussed how different the moon is from the earth and how happy one would be to return to the earth's diversity of life, oxygen and gravity!
In February we have also been studying weather. On Tuesday we learned about what causes lightening and thunder: electricity in the water molecules traveling from one cloud to another and the speed of light being faster than the speed of sound causing the rumbling noise shortly after! We learned how to count after we see the lightning to tell how far away the lightning is from us. We learned about all the safe places to be away from 'conductors' when we are close to lightning. We were so lucky to have the lesson turn into a sensorial one (very Montessori!) when we experienced a lightening and thunder storm later in the afternoon! The children spontaneously started counting one, one thousand, two, one thousand...........
Remember "Pennies for Patients", the effort by the Grand Lake Montessori elementary class to help children suffering from leukemia and lymphoma. Thank you, elementary class, for the inspiration and for organizing this effort. The donation box is on top of the children’s' cubbies.
JUNIPER
Throughout the month of March, our cultural calendar will be focusing on the following subjects:
Geography: Africa
Botany/Science: Parts of the flower, varieties of flowers
Geometry: Measurement
Holidays: Spring Equinox, St. Patrick's Day
If you have anything you'd like to share about any of these topics, please let us know. We'd love to have parental involvement for any and all of them!
A big Juniper thank you goes out to David Hardtke for the presentation he gave to the children on his trip to Antarctica. They were so interested by his pictures of airplanes with skis, the south pole, penguins, seals, and heavy cold-weather clothing, that they sat for nearly 45 minutes, listening to every word of his wonderful stories. Thank you, Dave!
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Can you sew? If so, we'd love to have you create heavy-duty, washable table covers for the class to use during lunch. If you'd like to take on this project, please talk to Ms. Koerber about the details.
Also, our class needs 2 recycling containers (one for outside and one for inside), with child-friendly lids. If you'd like to hunt for these containers, let us know and we can talk about the details.
LIVE OAK
Welcome back from Winter Break! Thursday was the first day since the beginning of the year that all of the children in the class were all back at the same time. It was a joyful reunion!
We had several exciting things happen this week. Charlie, our turtle, went to the veterinarian to find out why he was shedding. We thought he was sick, it turns out that turtles shed their scales when they grow and he is a very healthy four or five-year old.
We would like a parent to come help us clean his home once a week.
We have built our family tree and we need family pictures of each child’s family. Please do not feel pressure to have a perfect picture, the child is most excited just to see their own family at school.
We would like each of the children to have slippers or inside shoes that stay at school. The purpose of the slippers are to keep the classroom cleaner, quieter and help ground the children as they enter the classroom. These slippers should meet the following guidelines: They should have a back (not mules), have tread, and they cannot have any cartoon character on them (these are incredibly distracting in class). If you have any questions, please feel free to check with any of the teachers.
We have been working on learning some sign language incorporated into songs. The current song we are working on is “Friends are Nothing”:
Friends are nothing till they play together
They must play all day
They must play the night away
They must play
Together they must play.
The verses only change one word. Play changes to work, laugh, sing, run, cry, etc.
We will have a sign up for volunteers for a variety of tasks next week, please check to see what you can help with.
GINKGO
Welcome back! We hope that everyone had a wonderful break.
On Friday, February 16th, Alan and Glenda Poon, Jocelyn’s parents, came in the class and talked to the children about Lunar New Year! The children enjoyed hearing about traditions and celebrations. The Poon family also gave red envelopes to each child and told the children that during Lunar New Year the older family members give money to the children to wish them good fortune. Also in honor of Lunar New Year, Moira Chapman, Aidan’s mom, came in on Monday, February 26th, to teach the children how to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in Mandarin (a Chinese dialect).
After the song the children began making Chinese lanterns. Samantha and Emily Wu mom’s, Yui Zhu, came in and also helped the children finish making them.
MAGNOLIA
Welcome back, everybody!
The children were all excited to get back into the school routine and have had been doing some very focused work.
This week for Sound of the Week Ethan Feldstein brought a pineapple upside down cake with a pineapple "U" on it! It was a huge hit with the children. Thank you!
Some of the things coming up in March on the cultural calendar are parts of the flower and varieties, invertebrates, and measurements. We will also be celebrating Spring Equinox, and St. Patrick's Day. If you would like to help with any of these activities please let us know.
This week with Mr. Moody the children learned the second part of a Chinese dance. They started with large arm movements and then added wide circle movements with their legs. It was quite entertaining to watch.
MULBERRY
We've had a small group this week, with children away on vacation and out sick. Last week was Winter Break and Mr. Tien, Ms. Kebede and Mrs. Aima painted the kitchen and bathroom. Our handyman extraordinaire, Bill Wright, also installed a new tile bathroom floor. Be sure to check out the new look!
This week Ms. Aima introduced egg peeling, slicing, eating and smashing up the shells with a mortar and pestle. What a great hit (especially the smashing part!)! I'm surprised how many children like eggs.
Outside, the children have been filling a bucket with camellia flowers for composting, along with the eggshells.
This week we resumed Little Chefs on Tuesdays, and added Thursdays. Tuesday the children made vegetable soup and fruit salad with Ms. Lau. On Thursday the children made Jello with bananas slices. Then they stuffed pasta and grated cheese over the pasta. They also spread butter on French bread. Thank you to Kevin (Paul’s dad) for helping with the cooking.
Alex Luce’s dad, Graham, repaired the art easel. Thank you, very much! Next Tuesday, March 6th, we will continue the educational meeting of setting limits, from 5 - 6:30pm in the Rosemary House. Please RSVP if you need childcare.
Song of the week:
Way up high in a tree 3 red apples smiled at me,
So I shook that tree just as hard as I could,
Down came the apples, um, um good.
Way up high in a tree two oranges smiled at me ........
Quote of the week: The use of knobbed puzzles and other toys that call for special finger and hand grips, called the pincer grip, will prepare the child for writing and other fine muscle activities, while it satisfies her need to think and problem solve.
CAMELLIA
Welcome back from what we hope was a wonderful and relaxing winter break.
Everybody has been very busy with their work this week; table washing, polishing, and baby washing. At this age the toddlers are very curious and eager to help. Recently Mr. Tien was getting ready to make snack. A child asked, "What are you doing?”, then "What is the butter for?", and finally "Can I help?" Mr. Tien said "I'm going to make snack and I'm going spread the butter on the bread. Would you like to help?” The child began jumping up and down and announced "I'm going to help Mr. Tien with snack and I'm going spread the butter on the bread!” Remember, if you are doing a project at home inside or outside, invite your child, whether it’s washing the car, folding laundry, setting the table, or taking the trash out.
Little Chefs is going to be two days a week now, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This Tuesday they made vegetable soup and a fruit salad. Thursday they made stuffed pasta shells and Jello salad.
This week’s sound was "U", and we had lots: Umbrellas, a Unicorn, and Upper letters. Next week’s sound is "V", as in Violin, Vase, and Vegetables.
The elementary students are doing a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, called Pennies for Patients. There are boxes in the BC kitchen marked Camellia and Mulberry where you can deposit loose change (or the kind of money that doesn’t jingle). So start checking under your car seats and the pockets of that jacket you haven’t worn for six months.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 6th – Part Two of Taking Montessori Home, "Setting Limits". 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the Rosemary building. Please RSVP to the office.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Continuing with MUSIC AND LANGUAGE
We can tell funny and interesting stories of our lives, recite favorite poems, talk about what we are doing ("Now I am washing your feet, rubbing each little toe to get it really clean") and enjoy ourselves in this important communication. And we can listen: to music, to silence, and to each other.
3/6 Setting Limits meeting 5 – 6:30 pm
3/7 Science show, 2 pm for Kindergartners & Elementary
3/12 All School Assembly – Michael Katz, Storyteller 10 am
3/14 Core meeting 5 pm
3/21 Mural meeting 5 pm
4/3 All school assembly – Bike Safety on the asphalt yard 10 am
4/9-4/13 Spring Break – Childcare by registration
FIELD TRIP FORMS
If you have not yet turned in the campus field trip form for your child, please do so ASAP. There are quite a few children participating in Tuff Tumblers and the art class that do not have this form completed.
SUMMER DATES & GUESTS
During the summer program there will be part-time, 5 ½ days & 3 full days offered for primary students.
June 15, 2007 will be the last day of this school year
June 18-22 will be staff prep week – no school or childcare for Toddlers & Primary
June 18 - Elementary Summer School/Orientation for 1st graders
June 25 – July 6 will be Session 1
July 9 – 20 will be Session 2
July 23 – Aug. 3 will be Session 3 and Opera/Performing Arts Camp
Aug. 6 – 18 will be Session 4
The week of Aug. 20 - 25 will be staff prep week; again, no school or childcare
First day of school will be Wednesday, August 29.
Some of our guest visitors for the summer:
6/25 – Nemo Jump Tent – all day
7/2 – Jeremy the Juggler – 10 am
7/18 – Wildlife Associates 10 am
8/6 – Fratello Marionettes – 10 am
8/15 – Magician Brian Scott – 10 am
8/17 – Castle Jump Tent – all day
NOTE: If your child does not usually attend school on the day we have an event, they are welcome to join us!
More to come!
SOUND OF THE WEEK Each Wednesday your child is encouraged, with your help, to find an object at home (preferably not a toy) that contains with the sound of the week. Put it in a labeled bag to share with your child’s class. The sound for next week is “V”, as in Vampire, Vitamin, and Velvet.
SETTING LIMITS
GLM is hosting another “Setting Limits” meeting for Tuesday, Mar. 6th , from 5 – 6:30 pm. Childcare is available. Please RSVP with the office to attend and for childcare, 510-836-4313.
GINKGO STAFFING
Mr. Jason Sheen has decided that working in the field of early childhood education is not a good fit for him. He made February 16th his last day. We wish him well in his next career move. Ms. Owens continues to work within Gingko, act as site director for Lake Park, and do art projects with the other classes, 9:30 to 11 am, 3 days a week. Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Moody are weekly in the classroom as well as our new Spanish teacher, Ms. Vergara. We are introducing her to all families little by little and you can read her biography (below).
NEW SPANISH TEACHER
We are pleased to introduce Maria Paula Vergara as our Spanish teacher at GLM. Ms. Vergara moved to America just 6 months ago from Bogata, Colombia, where she was born. She holds a degree in Political Science and Government. Ms. Vergara worked with a government children’s agency setting up special projects through the libraries across the country. It often involved going to unsafe regions. Her mother is a special education teacher and her father is a lawyer in Colombia. She hopes to continue her education here in the Bay Area.
THE SAFETY CORNER
Do you and your family practice fire drills at home? Do your children know what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do should it go off? The United States has one of the
highest fire death and injury rates in the world. Fire -- in the form of flames and smoke -- is the second leading cause of accidental death in the home.
More than 4,000 people die each year in home fires. Every year, there are more than 500,000 residential fires serious enough to be reported to fire departments. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has targeted the principal consumer products associated with fires, namely home heating devices, upholstered furniture, bedding, cigarette lighters, matches, and wearing apparel.
Planning ahead, rehearsing, thinking, and acting clearly are keys to surviving a fire.
Does your family have an escape plan and an alternate escape plan?
Does your family have an escape route and plans that are rehearsed periodically?
Does your escape plan include choosing a place safely outside the house where the family can meet to be sure everyone got out safely?
MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM
Oakland Kajubenbo Kwoon has an amazing martial arts (kung fu) class for children ages 3-5 (there is also a class for 6-12 if elementary students are interested). The teacher, Sifu Kate Hobbs, is a third degree black belt with over twenty-five years experience teaching
children. She teaches traditional martial arts physical skills, and at the same time really focuses on developing community, respect, diversity, verbal self-defense, and grace. The fee is extremely affordable ($1-$12 per class) and it's a wonderfully diverse group of kids. The cost includes a uniform and chances to perform in some great Oakland/East Bay community celebrations.
Classes are held Monday, Wednesday from 3:15-4:00PM and Saturdays from 10:00AM-10:45AM.
To register or for more information contact teacher
Kate Hobbs at katehobbs@comcast.net/ 510-290-8060
Or, for more recommendations from moms of students, contact Rachel Neumann (Luna's mom) at rachelbeatrice@yahoo.com.
WHAT IS A METAL INSET?
Often, children come home excited about a new lesson they received at school and they have no way to describe the work. Every week Monica Mac Donald will attempt to explain work the children do in the classroom and the purposes beginning with the Metal Insets. The metal inset work has an inset and a frame using geometric shapes. This is often the child’s first time to hold pencils. The child traces inside the frame and outside the inset and then using a third color fills in the inside space with lines. The purpose of this work is to prepare the muscles in the hands for writing and geometric design.
SCIENCE SHOW
Wednesday, March 6th, the Bureau of Lectures & Concert Artists, Inc., will present a Science program to the elementary and kindergarten children at GLM. The program begins at 2 pm in the elementary classroom. The children will learn about optics and illusions, chemical magic, a flying saucer that rides on a beam of light, exploding flour, things seen but not there, and electric wonders, just to name a few!
TAKE A BREAK
Forms for the next “round” of Take A Break (TAB), the Friday pizza lunch, have been distributed to parent pockets & cubbies. The form covers Fridays starting March 2nd, and ending May 4th. Extra forms are available in both offices. PLEASE turn the form in no later than the Wednesday before the Friday you wish your child to participate. Pizzas have to be ordered in advance.
PENNIES FOR PATIENTS
This fund-raising event has begun and will run through the 21st of March. Look for the collection containers in all the classes. The class that raises the most money for the Leukemia Society will earn a pizza party.
WHAT’S ELEMENTARY UP TO?
✔ Swimming at the YMCA beginning Mar. 1st
✔ Aftercare sewing class starting Mar. 2nd
✔ Mar. 7th: “Color of Justice”, a TheaterWorks production I the AM; Science show in the PM
✔ Field trip to see “People Like Me” dance performance on Mar. 20th
✔ Monthly library trips
❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●❄●
CLASS NEWS
REDWOOD (ELEMENTARY)
Our class had a great trip to Norden right before the winter break! We were a little concerned that there was not going to be enough snow for the children since it had not snowed all that much. However, luck was with us and there was a storm the weekend prior to us going! We stayed at a lodge and three parents came with us, Mariana and Sean Harris and Heidi Hudson. Thank you to all three of you. The snow trip was our exercise in independent living - the children were responsible for the entire trip. The day before I took four children with me to Costco and Safeway so they could go shopping for the food we needed. The shopping list was put together by 2 other children. The children were given a budget and they managed to only narrowly go over that budget! The children did all of the cooking and cleaning up; we had hamburgers and hotdogs, pasta salad, and pineapple the first night; spaghetti, corn on the cob, and a green salad the second night. They made pancakes, eggs, and sausage for breakfast while we had sandwiches for lunch. The children learned a lot about cooking in a very different altitude from what we are normally used to. When we go camping we turn the little stoves on, start our campfire and our meals take under 45 minutes to cook but in Norden it took twice the time. When we weren't cooking we were playing in the snow. Prior to traveling to Norden the children and I talked about the snowball fights and decided it wasn't a very good idea. Well, by Thursday, we just needed to let the dire need to throw snowballs go...everyone, including the adults participated...of course, it seemed that all the snowballs were directed at Mrs. Gilliam! We had so much fun. It was great watching the children, Mr. Keating, and the parents sled down the hill where the lodge was located. We were soaked but had such a great time. There was actually 2-3 feet of snow so upon arrival the children grew frustrated by sinking in the snow but by the next morning they were out there packing it down, creating new toboggan and sled runs!
JACARANDA
Remember that this time of year, when the weather warms briefly then turns cool again, that your children need to come prepared for winter weather with hats, coats and sweaters; and on rainy days, with hats, boots and raincoats. Imagine being told that you cannot join your friends on a walk in the rain because you need a coat.
There is always focus and concentration in the Montessori classroom, but this is the time of year when we see the many lessons and resulting independent work really come to fruition. Whether the youngest first year child has been working toward being able to sit and focus on a simple task for several minutes or the oldest third years having built up their social and individual concentration to work through a complex golden bead math problem, the children continue to grow at their own pace with the adult's guidance.
Heard on the yard as the children are studying a dead bee: "My mom is a studier."
As part of Jacaranda class study of the needs of humans and of the other life on earth, we read a book called "If You Went to The Moon," and discussed how different the moon is from the earth and how happy one would be to return to the earth's diversity of life, oxygen and gravity!
In February we have also been studying weather. On Tuesday we learned about what causes lightening and thunder: electricity in the water molecules traveling from one cloud to another and the speed of light being faster than the speed of sound causing the rumbling noise shortly after! We learned how to count after we see the lightning to tell how far away the lightning is from us. We learned about all the safe places to be away from 'conductors' when we are close to lightning. We were so lucky to have the lesson turn into a sensorial one (very Montessori!) when we experienced a lightening and thunder storm later in the afternoon! The children spontaneously started counting one, one thousand, two, one thousand...........
Remember "Pennies for Patients", the effort by the Grand Lake Montessori elementary class to help children suffering from leukemia and lymphoma. Thank you, elementary class, for the inspiration and for organizing this effort. The donation box is on top of the children’s' cubbies.
JUNIPER
Throughout the month of March, our cultural calendar will be focusing on the following subjects:
Geography: Africa
Botany/Science: Parts of the flower, varieties of flowers
Geometry: Measurement
Holidays: Spring Equinox, St. Patrick's Day
If you have anything you'd like to share about any of these topics, please let us know. We'd love to have parental involvement for any and all of them!
A big Juniper thank you goes out to David Hardtke for the presentation he gave to the children on his trip to Antarctica. They were so interested by his pictures of airplanes with skis, the south pole, penguins, seals, and heavy cold-weather clothing, that they sat for nearly 45 minutes, listening to every word of his wonderful stories. Thank you, Dave!
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Can you sew? If so, we'd love to have you create heavy-duty, washable table covers for the class to use during lunch. If you'd like to take on this project, please talk to Ms. Koerber about the details.
Also, our class needs 2 recycling containers (one for outside and one for inside), with child-friendly lids. If you'd like to hunt for these containers, let us know and we can talk about the details.
LIVE OAK
Welcome back from Winter Break! Thursday was the first day since the beginning of the year that all of the children in the class were all back at the same time. It was a joyful reunion!
We had several exciting things happen this week. Charlie, our turtle, went to the veterinarian to find out why he was shedding. We thought he was sick, it turns out that turtles shed their scales when they grow and he is a very healthy four or five-year old.
We would like a parent to come help us clean his home once a week.
We have built our family tree and we need family pictures of each child’s family. Please do not feel pressure to have a perfect picture, the child is most excited just to see their own family at school.
We would like each of the children to have slippers or inside shoes that stay at school. The purpose of the slippers are to keep the classroom cleaner, quieter and help ground the children as they enter the classroom. These slippers should meet the following guidelines: They should have a back (not mules), have tread, and they cannot have any cartoon character on them (these are incredibly distracting in class). If you have any questions, please feel free to check with any of the teachers.
We have been working on learning some sign language incorporated into songs. The current song we are working on is “Friends are Nothing”:
Friends are nothing till they play together
They must play all day
They must play the night away
They must play
Together they must play.
The verses only change one word. Play changes to work, laugh, sing, run, cry, etc.
We will have a sign up for volunteers for a variety of tasks next week, please check to see what you can help with.
GINKGO
Welcome back! We hope that everyone had a wonderful break.
On Friday, February 16th, Alan and Glenda Poon, Jocelyn’s parents, came in the class and talked to the children about Lunar New Year! The children enjoyed hearing about traditions and celebrations. The Poon family also gave red envelopes to each child and told the children that during Lunar New Year the older family members give money to the children to wish them good fortune. Also in honor of Lunar New Year, Moira Chapman, Aidan’s mom, came in on Monday, February 26th, to teach the children how to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in Mandarin (a Chinese dialect).
After the song the children began making Chinese lanterns. Samantha and Emily Wu mom’s, Yui Zhu, came in and also helped the children finish making them.
MAGNOLIA
Welcome back, everybody!
The children were all excited to get back into the school routine and have had been doing some very focused work.
This week for Sound of the Week Ethan Feldstein brought a pineapple upside down cake with a pineapple "U" on it! It was a huge hit with the children. Thank you!
Some of the things coming up in March on the cultural calendar are parts of the flower and varieties, invertebrates, and measurements. We will also be celebrating Spring Equinox, and St. Patrick's Day. If you would like to help with any of these activities please let us know.
This week with Mr. Moody the children learned the second part of a Chinese dance. They started with large arm movements and then added wide circle movements with their legs. It was quite entertaining to watch.
MULBERRY
We've had a small group this week, with children away on vacation and out sick. Last week was Winter Break and Mr. Tien, Ms. Kebede and Mrs. Aima painted the kitchen and bathroom. Our handyman extraordinaire, Bill Wright, also installed a new tile bathroom floor. Be sure to check out the new look!
This week Ms. Aima introduced egg peeling, slicing, eating and smashing up the shells with a mortar and pestle. What a great hit (especially the smashing part!)! I'm surprised how many children like eggs.
Outside, the children have been filling a bucket with camellia flowers for composting, along with the eggshells.
This week we resumed Little Chefs on Tuesdays, and added Thursdays. Tuesday the children made vegetable soup and fruit salad with Ms. Lau. On Thursday the children made Jello with bananas slices. Then they stuffed pasta and grated cheese over the pasta. They also spread butter on French bread. Thank you to Kevin (Paul’s dad) for helping with the cooking.
Alex Luce’s dad, Graham, repaired the art easel. Thank you, very much! Next Tuesday, March 6th, we will continue the educational meeting of setting limits, from 5 - 6:30pm in the Rosemary House. Please RSVP if you need childcare.
Song of the week:
Way up high in a tree 3 red apples smiled at me,
So I shook that tree just as hard as I could,
Down came the apples, um, um good.
Way up high in a tree two oranges smiled at me ........
Quote of the week: The use of knobbed puzzles and other toys that call for special finger and hand grips, called the pincer grip, will prepare the child for writing and other fine muscle activities, while it satisfies her need to think and problem solve.
CAMELLIA
Welcome back from what we hope was a wonderful and relaxing winter break.
Everybody has been very busy with their work this week; table washing, polishing, and baby washing. At this age the toddlers are very curious and eager to help. Recently Mr. Tien was getting ready to make snack. A child asked, "What are you doing?”, then "What is the butter for?", and finally "Can I help?" Mr. Tien said "I'm going to make snack and I'm going spread the butter on the bread. Would you like to help?” The child began jumping up and down and announced "I'm going to help Mr. Tien with snack and I'm going spread the butter on the bread!” Remember, if you are doing a project at home inside or outside, invite your child, whether it’s washing the car, folding laundry, setting the table, or taking the trash out.
Little Chefs is going to be two days a week now, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This Tuesday they made vegetable soup and a fruit salad. Thursday they made stuffed pasta shells and Jello salad.
This week’s sound was "U", and we had lots: Umbrellas, a Unicorn, and Upper letters. Next week’s sound is "V", as in Violin, Vase, and Vegetables.
The elementary students are doing a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, called Pennies for Patients. There are boxes in the BC kitchen marked Camellia and Mulberry where you can deposit loose change (or the kind of money that doesn’t jingle). So start checking under your car seats and the pockets of that jacket you haven’t worn for six months.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 6th – Part Two of Taking Montessori Home, "Setting Limits". 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the Rosemary building. Please RSVP to the office.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Continuing with MUSIC AND LANGUAGE
We can tell funny and interesting stories of our lives, recite favorite poems, talk about what we are doing ("Now I am washing your feet, rubbing each little toe to get it really clean") and enjoy ourselves in this important communication. And we can listen: to music, to silence, and to each other.
