SWMA Newsletter April 11, 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 4

Wow!  I am amazed that it is almost Spring Break.  We have been extremely busy the past few weeks.  At least it certainly feels that way too me!  Ms. Debbie will be joining us back in the classroom on Monday after Spring Break.  I know the children have missed her and I will be very grateful to have her back!  Flower arranging, silver polishing, and rock painting have all been favorite works recently. 

As requested by some of the parents I am including a few of "circle" songs.  Toddlers love repetition and routine, so we sing these songs everyday in the same order.  I know some of the parts get left out when the children bring them home, so here they are. 
 

"Open Them, Close Them" 
 

Open them, close them (hands reaching towards ceiling, open and close)

Give a little clap (clap)

(Repeat)

Creep them, creep them (fingers walking down legs)

Place them in your lap 

"Right Hand, Left Hand" 

This is my right hand.  I raise it up high.

This is my left hand.  I reach to the sky.

Right hand, left hand. (raise each when said)

Roll them round and round. (roll hands around each other like "Wheels on the Bus"

Right hand, left hand.

Pound, pound, pound. (fists pound each other)

 

"Good Morning"

 

Good morning, good morning, hello and how are you? (sung to each child and they are given a chance reply)

 
 

"Seven Days"

 

There are seven days.

There are seven days.

There are seven days in a week.

Sunday, Monday

Tuesday, Wednesday

Thursday, Friday

Saturday

 

This month we are focusing on Earth Day and talking about our planet. We are learning the 7 continents, singing songs, planting seeds, and cleaning up the school yard. Seeing the Disney Earth Movie at the end of the month is on the back burner. This is an important time in the school year for revisiting all of the skills the children have been practicing. This is also a special time for the 2^nd years because they will be our leaders next year. Our three hour work cycle is now almost all ‘brain stretching work’ and it’s amazing to see how independent the class has become. On some days the teachers could slip out and many of our friends wouldn’t even notice. Our academic work time is mostly silent as the older children are engaged in their most challenging works of the day. We have welcomed another new student this month, a second year named Ranger. He’s settling in nicely! If you would like to come in and observe your child working, please email Natalie to set up a time.

In our last newsletter, I forgot to thank Jaden Joodi and his parents, Hamid and Rhonda for the amazing Persian Breakfast! Jaden had just returned from a week in Iran and he wanted to share with us what he learned about the culture. We had a delicious breakfast on blankets on the floor and then we watched a slide show of Jaden’s adventures. Everyone really enjoyed the breakfast and the pictures. Thanks, Joodi family!

 

Toward the end of the school year, Lower Elementary starts some exciting new works. The first year students have just started cursive and they are loving it! I know many of you have seen them come home eager to practice their new letters for you.

 

We also start our study of Fundamental Needs. In this study, we learn how all people, across time and geography, have the same basic needs. We learn how several different civilizations met these needs in their own ways. We also learn the difference between what is a need and what is a “want.” This always sparks some great class discussions

 

We recently made some Easter and Spring cards for patients at Sacred Heart hospital. We look forward to sending some joy their way!

 

Our Parent Listening program is going well. This is a great program for getting to learn about our students and their works as well as listen to some great reading. Please let me know if you would like to join us – we’d love to have you!

 

If you have a child who may be moving up to elementary next year, I will be scheduling a time for you to come observe our classroom. Also, I will be hosting a session for all “rising parents” to learn more about the elementary classroom. I look forward to meeting with each of you.

 

Happy Friday! 

“Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems.”  (Rainer Maria Rilke)   Spring is a time of reawakening. It is an exciting time not only for our school, with a new facility and wonderful things on the horizon, but also for the entire planet. Humanity is shifting to a more world conscious view. Only through education and knowledge can we find peace for our planet.   Montessori’s Cosmic Plan is the soul of the Montessori philosophy. It teaches the child that everything is connected and that they are a part of something greater than themselves. It shows them that there is interrelatedness within the universe, the earth and all humans. It teaches children that they have a duty and a function here on this planet and that their actions can, and do change the world.

Learning is the key to understanding our universe. Our purpose is to light a fire of learning in the child so that “The child’s mind will no longer wander, but becomes fixed and can work…his intelligence becomes whole and complete because of the vision of the whole that has been presented to him, and his interest spreads to all, for all are linked and have their place in the universe…The stars, earth, stones, life of all kinds form a whole in relation with each other, and so close is this relation that we cannot understand a stone without some understanding of the great sun! No matter what we touch, an atom, or a cell we cannot explain it without knowledge of the wide universe…It becomes doubtful whether even the universe will suffice…A greater curiosity arises, which can never be satiated; so will last through a lifetime.” (Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential) 

This week and next students in the Elementary classroom will be putting the finishing touches on their paper mache Easter eggs. They have all done so well working with the plaster clothe and I hope to bring it back before the end of the year. When we return from Spring Break, Elementary will start their group project to be entered into the ArtsQuest Student Art Show which is the weekend of May 8th. The Primary classroom is studying the Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse and we will concentrate on that in art as well during the month of April. So far they have made adorable beach mouse name tags to wear on their field trip and next week will begin on our gift for the Topsail Preserve. Spring has definitely been a fun time for Friday Art. 

  

March 20 PE, we practiced more ball handling skills. In toddler and 3 yr. old pe, we roll balls to friends, through targets, etc. Self catching and self catching/clapping is another skill we continued to try and master. Tossing and catching with a friend. Bouncing and catching which leads to dribbling is another practiced skill. The 4/5 yr. old pe practiced self catch and friend catch. They also focused more on bounce/catch and dribble. Elementary pe continued their basketball skills. Some friends actually played some 2 on 2 tournaments since our basketball goal arrived.

 

March 27 PE was a washout. Since we didn’t have enough materials to build an ark J, we got real creative. The 3 yr. olds visited the toddler room. We had extended pe and had a really big dance party. It was real nice for some of our friends to visit their old room. Thanks for your help Ms. Jessica. The 4/5 yr. olds practiced yoga (thx Ms. Sarah) and played letter bingo. Our elementary friends played an old fashioned game of Bingo. 

 

April 3 PE, the toddlers and the 3 yr. olds had a modified Easter egg hunt. We had to use our locomotor skills learned (jump, hop, skip, etc.) to find the eggs. The 4/5 yr. olds learned some line dances. Ask your child to show you the Macarena or The Hamster Dance. Elementary friends also learned line dancing. They learned the Macarena, The Hamster Dance as well as the steps to Cotton Eyed Joe.

 

This first year at our new campus has flown by! After we get back from Spring Break, we only have five weeks left of school. This is such a fun and busy time of the year. Be ready to schedule a time for a conference with your child’s teacher on Monday, May 4. There is no school that day as we have dedicated it to meet with you about your child’s progress.

 

After we get back from Spring Break, we will be having our Annual Spring Fling on Friday, April 24.. Each class will be preparing a special performance for that day. I can’t wait for you to see what we have been working on for weeks! We will have early dismissal at 1pm after the performances.

 

The day after our Spring Fling, Saturday April 25is our first SWMA Yard Sale! Most of you have already gotten involved, and I anticipate a great event! Also, many thanks to Jill Daiberl who is working on our venue for this year’s Torre Rosa, scheduled for Saturday May 9. This is an adult event, celebrating the end of another successful school year. We will have music, food, and a raffle of some great items. If you have anything to add to the raffle, let me know!

 

We are also busy getting ready for our Soccer Tournament to be held mid June. These events should all be a blast and raise some funds at the same time.

 

As always, I am available via phone, email, or in person during carpool or scheduled appointments. Happy Friday and have a safe and relaxing Spring Break!