It's January

Happy New Year!  We are all excited to be back in the classroom and eager to begin learning about this new season of winter.  All three classes will take a look at how the weather is changing and how animals adapt.  Of course, I'm sure the children are hoping for a little of the "white stuff" so it really feels like winter!

January will be busy!  Montessori I will be exploring the smallest continent, Australia, where it is summer now.  They will take a look at the land and especially all the unique marsupials living there.  Montessori II will be looking south as well.  They will be studying South America, and in particular, the largest rain forest in the world.  They will take a look at the fantastic animals--mammals, reptiles, birds, frogs and insects that call the Amazon their home.  Montessori III will travel north and south, first exploring the arctic region, home to polar bears, seals, and whales, and then comparing that biome to Antarctica, one of the coldest, windiest, dryest places on earth. They will meet many breeds of penguins and seals along the way. All classes will be doing some science experiments with water, an essential ingredient, in all these habitats.

Reminders:
* The Audubon Naturalist Society will be here to help the Lunchers explore "Wonderful Worms" on Jan. 10.
* Woods Open Houses are January 16, 23, and 30 from 9:00-10:30.  Invite friends and family to come visit our wonderful school.
* Father-Child Breakfast is Thursday, January 17 from 8:00-9:15.  Parking is on campus so please follow the directions of Coach and his staff.
* Founders Day is Friday, January 25.  Luncher will attend Mass.
* Next newsletter is Wednesday, January 23rd.
* Please send spare clothes for cubbies. Remember to check the snack calendars.
* Mark your calendars: Friday, March 1 is testing for first grade.  All Lunchers as well as all our applicants will take the Metropolitan Readiness Test from 8:30-11:30.  (It is a first Friday half day.)There is no school for morning children and Owls that day.  There is Extended Care for registered students.

Please welcome Isobel Coutanche and her family to The Woods.  Isobel arrived from the UK over the holiday and has joined the Owls/Green Team in M III. We are delighted to have her!

Mrs. Kornegay is back! We want to thank Mrs. Nancy Palmer for so ably stepping in for Christina Kornegay while she was out on maternity leave. We hope she will come back to sub again!

Lastly, we have "good news" times two!  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are expecting a new baby girl in May. (Mrs. Sheila Novokov, former long time assistant, will sub while Mrs. Smith is on maternity leave.)  And, Mrs. Mustard-Scott and her husband are expecting their new little one in July. Congratulations all around!

Merry Christmas

Maria Montessori, as a survivor of two world wars and countless conflicts, was a staunch and outspoken advocate for peace and justice. She said,  "The child is both the hope and the promise for mankind."  She also believed, "The child brings us great hope and new vision. There is much we can do to bring humanity to deeper understanding, to a higher well-being, and to a greater spirituality."
Your children have been busy with Christmas projects as well as math, art, and geography work.  They have enjoyed "singing peace around the world" along with our other Christmas songs and poems.

                             Light a candle for peace. Light a candle for love.
                            Light a candle that shines all the way around the world.
                           Light a candle for me. Light a candle for you
                          That our wish for world peace will one day come true.

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, the Montessori teachers and children want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and many blessings for the New Year. Thank you for all you do for us! We look forward to lots more learning and growing in 2013. See you in January!

Parts of a reindeer book 

 Counting candy canes

 Making bead candy canes

Sewing Christmas trees

                                                             Sewing gingerbread men

 

 

KayDee Puppets

KayDee Puppets came to The Woods library today with their Christmas show, "Mortimer's New Job."  Mortimer, the mouse, was helping Santa with lots of jobs at his North Pole workshop because he could not remember his new job, and then he couldn't remember the safe combination--until he retraced his steps. He was the keeper of the list of all the "good boys and girls" for Santa! We enjoyed the show and loved meeting Mortimer to "high five" or get our ears tasted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units, Tens and...Santa?

The Lunchers have been reviewing place value, especially units and tens, in Everyday Math this month.  They have also been counting dimes and pennies.  One day last week the blue table was full of math--"bundles" game, grouping tens and ones, ten bars and units, etc.--everyone doing math with the exception of one child who was reading a phonetic book about Santa. The following was overheard:
Child #1--"I'm going to see Santa this weekend."
Child #2-- " Santa is not real--He's just Coach."
Child # 3--"How do you know?"
CHild # 2--" I can see his face!"
Child #3--"He could be a mall Santa. They are really just Santa's helpers since he is so busy packing toys for Christmas."
Child #1--Well, I'm going to see the real Santa on Saturday.  Know how I know?  Mrs. Claus is coming with him!"

  

December in Montessori

The holidays are coming! There's excitement in the air!  The Montessori children are busy with sewing and craft projects to help celebrate the season.  We hope all will be ready December 21st when Christmas break begins--and not a moment sooner!

What's up in Montessori?

• The Montessori coffee for prospective families is Wednesday morning, Dec. 5.  Please invite friends and neighbors to stop by to a visit our Montessori Program.
• The Montessori children will attend the first grade Library Theater performances on Dec. 13.  We look forward to seeing our grader friends on stage!
• Please volunteer for Luncher Hot Lunch using the following link. To view the sign up, go to:
  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080F4EABAC229-montessori/924980
• Lunchers will attend Mass Dec. 7 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
• KayDee Puppets is bring their Christmas show to our library for Montessori and first grade on Friday, Dec. 14.
• Lunchers will be singing in The Woods Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 1:00. They should wear "Sunday Best." Parking is off campus at the Orthodox Church of St. George on Bradley Blvd. Shuttles will run continuously from 12:00. Please join us or sign up for livestreaming via the link in the e-folder.
• Save the Dates:  Father-Child Breakfast is Thursday, January 17 from 8:00-9:15(1/24 snowdate). Mother-Child Breakfast is Thursday, February 7 from 8:00-9:15 (2/14 snowdate). Woods Winter Open Houses are January 16, 23, 30 from 9:00-10:30.
• Please make sure your child's cubbie has weather appropriate clothes including socks. If your child borrows our extras, please wash and return asap. Your child also needs coat, hat, mittens, and, if there is any snow, boots.  We play outside everyday unless it is raining. We love shoveling snow and building snowmen!  The Montessori adage from Germany is,"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."  Layers work well.  Sending hats and mittens in school bags means being prepared, especially for the morning temperature.
• Please check the course pages for snack calendars, newsletters and photos. The next newsletters will be posted on Dec. 5.
• Don't forget to send in your child's pictures--one as a baby and one "right now"-- for our January board.
• Winter sessions for PEP classes are now available. Check out the website for workshops and classes and learn some useful strategies for parenting. www.PEPparent.org
• Lastly, the Student Council is collecting canned goods and personal items for the Little Sisters of the Poor. While we are not part of the Green/White Challenge, we can help them fill their pantry by sending some of the needed items. "Tis the season" for love and peace!

                                                                                            Sewing Christmas trees on burlap.

                                                             Sewing gingerbread men.

Good Vibrations

All three Montessori classes are exploring the science of sound and also learning about musical instruments.  They have discovered you can actually see, hear, and feel vibrations using a tuning fork or when dropping a penny into a bowl of water. The violin's strings vibrate.  The air inside the flute vibrates. All these vibrations can make beautiful music--or noise!

 

 

 

 

Apples, Apples

All three Montessori classes tasted apples from our local farmer's market.  Afterwards they chose their favorites and created class graphs.  Each class had a different favorite!! They also chopped Jonagold  apples to make applesauce for their traditional Thanksgiving feast.  The halls smelled like warm apples and cinnamon all day--and it tasted delicious!