Guess Who?!

Dressing up is lots of fun!  The Montessori children enjoyed lovely Halloween snacks this morning with all their classmates. Then, this afternoon many dresses up for the parade.  There were super heroes, Star Wars characters, princesses, witches, policemen, fire fighters, military soldiers, cheerleaders, Dorothy, clowns, cats and Tigger.  Mr. Powers was the Woods Owl!  We played Halloween bingo, too.  Now we can't wait to trick-or-treat tonight!

PS: Don't forget to bring some candy for House of Peace.  Sharing is caring!

School Closed, Minds Open!

Hurricane Sandy has closed schools and offices but it has given us the gift of time! Quick, bake some favorite cookies or make playdough.(We like to create gingerbread families at my house.)  When the wind come up and the power goes off, go "low tech" and dig out all those board games like Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Clue, Chess, Checkers, Dominoes, and Mancala. They teach strategy, number, pattern, and turn taking. Pull out the playing cards or make teens or puzzle word cards to play "Fish" or Memory.  Use a flashlight to play "light tag" to practice puzzle words, colors, sounds or numbers. Play categories. Write letters or storm stories to share. Curl up fireside to tell riddles or stories about when you were small.You can even make up a story with family members as the characters.  Enjoy reading aloud together.

Then, after the storm, work together to clean up the yard.  Who can find the longest stick? Who can find the heaviest branch?  Who can find ten yellow leaves?  "Many hands make light work" they say! And, children all feel more competent and confident when they've taken on the responsible role of helper.

See you Wednesday!

Do Not Eat!

Montessori students will be collecting leftover Halloween candy in addition to contributions from trick or treating for their community service project.  Sharing and caring are so important!  We will sort, count, and graph our candy collection before creating gift bags for Mother Teresa's House of Peace in Washington, DC. Last year we sent 100 gift bags for the sisters to distribute to children and adults for the holidays.  We will have a candy box in each classroom from Nov. 1 through Nov. 12.  Please encourage your child to select some of his/her candy as a donation from the heart.  And, we promise not to eat any!

All Kinds of Pumpkins!

The Lunchers had a glorious day at Homestead Farm!  They met a family of goats, including one very ambitious fellow that had climbed overhead to a rather tall lookout post.  They met Pinky and Stinky, two spotted pigs who love to eat pumpkins, but do not share!  They loved finding the witch  on top the chicken coop and patting the wooly sheep to feel the lanolin.  They also met a guinea hen, spotted and small, who loves to eat stinkbugs! The highlight, however, was taking a haywagon ride to the pumpkin patch to select a pumpkin.  Decisions, decisions...  After lunch, those pumpkins were weighed, measured, compared, (We had to sneak in a little math!) and finally carried home.  Many thanks to all our chaperones.  It was a great morning!

Parent-Child Breakfast

Parent-Child Breakfast  was wonderful.  We all enjoyed the fruit, bagels, and company!  It was so nice to see all our "teachers" showing their parents how everything works in a Montessori classroom from Bow Frame to Cube Chains to Moveable Alphabet. Remember Father-Child Breakfast is January 17 and Mother-Child Breakfast is February 7 so mark your calendars now for a return visit.  We love having our parents at school!

"At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the

positive involvement of parents."  Jane Hull

Wonderful News!

Welcome to Alexander Kornegay!  Alexander arrived Tuesday, October 16th at 10:38--early, but  happy and healthy.  He weighed 6lbs, 6 oz. 

We are happy to have Mrs. Nancy Palmer subbing in M II while Mrs. Kornegay is on maternity leave.  She has spent the last three weeks "learning the ropes" as part of our Montessori team.  Mrs. Palmer brings over twenty years of experience in early childhood education, including many years at The Primary Day School, to Woods.  She is looking forward to cooking, sewing, and Hands On Science with the Owls as well as time in the classroom. Please welcome the Palmers to Woods!

October in Montessori

 

Parent-Child Breakfast

Thursday, October 18 from 8:00-9:15 is Parent-Child Breakfast in Montessori. We are looking forward to breakfast treats of course, but we also can't wait to show our moms and dads our work and introduce them to our friends. Will they like polishing, numbers, maps, or art?!

The Woods Academy Open House

Open House is Sunday, October 28 from 12:00-2:30.  Invited friends and neighbors to come check out our wonderful school!

Halloween

Wednesday, October 31st will be "spooktacular!"  Montessori will celebrate with a special morning snack, Halloween poems and songs and lots of  holiday art.  Owl and Luncher witches, ghosts, and goblins as well as assorted princesses and superheros will participate in The Woods parade at 1:45 on the back field. They should bring their costumes in their bags so they can change at 1:15. In an effort to provide safe travel along the opoutside parade route, please do not send weapons or masks. We invite morning children and parents to dress up and join the fun.  Off campus parking is required. Park at the Orthodox Church of St. George on Bradley Blvd. beginning at 12:45 and take the Woods Shuttle to school.

Did You Know?

1. October is fire safety month.  Be sure to make an emergency plan and rehearse it with your family.

2. The State of Maryland has updated the car seat law.  All children under four and forty pounds must be in a child safety seat with a 5-point harness.  Children over four/forty and under eight years old must use a seat belt with a booster seat.  This is no longer optional.