// Weeks of May 27 (Field Day!) and Jun 3 //
// Curriculum Update, Mid-May //
Week of May 20
This week in Square, we tasted pineapple and watermelon. During any food tasting presentation, we introduce a fruit, talk about its color, shape, size, weight, and how it grows. Then we slice open the fruit to see the inside and discuss how it may taste. After cutting a small slice, a teacher demonstrates tasting the fruit as all the children observe. The teacher describes the taste and texture of the fruit and sometimes the children ask questions or comment if they have tasted the fruit before or are eager to try it after the demonstration. We had the pineapple for snack and agreed it was sweet and juicy. The next day we sliced small triangles of watermelon and packed to have as a treat outside in the park during a picnic. The watermelon we agreed was juicy but not so sweet. We will continue to enjoy more fruits to cool off with the warmer weather outside.
We hope you have a pleasant long weekend ahead and look forward to seeing you back in school next Tuesday.
Week of May 13
We are continuing to witness growth in the Square Room - as the children are growing more capable in their ability to use varying materials and being more adept in their care of self while practicing dressing independently. We are also witnessing the caterpillars grow into the next stage of forming a chrysalis while we patiently wait for them to transform into beautiful butterflies. Another life form in which we observed growth are the plants within the room that the children regularly care for. Each day, some of the children eagerly carry on the task of filling the watering can in the bathroom then walking throughout the classroom to water all the many plants. They have now begun to first test the soil by touching to see if it feels wet or dry to determine if the plant needs to be watered. All this growth gives assurance that spring is indeed in the air!
// week of May 20 //
Parent Association Meeting Notes
May 10, 2019
Ø HUGE, HUGE, HUGE THANK YOU FOR THE THOUGHTFUL AND CREATIVE TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK CELEBRATION~ STARTING THE DAY WITH CURBSIDE HELP AND THE ENDLESS TREATS HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED!!!!
Ø HUGE THANK YOU TO HOLLY (JETT’S MOM) AND JENNIFER (LUCAS AND ARI’S MOM) FOR ORGANIZING THE WEEK AND BEING INCREDIBLE PA COORDINATORS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. HUGE THANK YOU TO JULIA (HARRISON’S MOM) AND YASSMIN (AIDAN AND NOAH’S MOM) FOR AGREEING TO THE BE THE PA COORDINATORS FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR
Ø THANK YOU for supporting the Book Fair ($6,500 was raised) and donating boots!
Ø CONGRATULATIONS to the HPMS Basketball Team for playing an incredible game verses Village Montessori~ we finally won (46 to 18). The UE team won against Stevens (18-16).
Ø Please enjoy the video on the HPMS balloon launch (yes, that’s really the curve on the Earth from the balloon launched by HPMS students). This project has been happening for four years:
· Year 1 ~ focus was on altitude
· Year 2~ focus was on creating an environment for an insect to go into space (balloon had a hole and ended up in a lake)
· Year 3~ focus was on creating an environment for a small mammal to go into space~ students had ethical concerns if it didn’t work so they changed it to using the air supply to launch a rocket (but no trash was to left in space)
· Year 4~ focus is on communication~ there will be a live stream on the 6th floor for K students and up to watch on May 21
Ø Upcoming Events (it’s that time of year!!!) ~ EOY Celebrations begin at 9:15 on the 6th floor unless otherwise noted:
· May 21~ Blue/Red Room EOY Celebration
· May 22~ Indigo/Yellow Room EOY Celebration
· May 23~ Orange/Silver Room EOY Celebration
· May 24-27~ School Closed for Memorial Day Weekend
· May 28~ Homework Discussion ~ 6 pm
· May 31~ Field Day (PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE SUG!!!!)
· June 4 ~ Earth Room EOY Celebration at 9:30
· June 5~ Sky Room EOY Celebration at 9:30
· June 6 ~ Ocean Room EOY Celebration at 9:30
· June 11 ~ UE/MS EOY Celebration & 8th Grade Graduation at 6 pm on the 6th Floor
· June 12 ~ Last day of School
o PA Meeting ~ 9 am
o WEE & Bridge EOY Celebration at 11:15 am for Wee and Square, 11:00 for Circle and Triangle
o End of the Year Picnic~ “BYOB”~ Bring Your Own Basket & Blanket at 5 pm in Hamilton Park
o HPMS will provide plates, utensils, water and treats.
o Please bring food for your family (or buy dinner at the Farmer’s Market!)
· June 19 ~ Silverman Golf Tournament supporting HPMS
Ø Year Book is now available for purchase~ please keep an eye out for the SUG
Ø Discussion for next year…thoughts about fruit as the go to birthday snack (child shares their favorite fruit with the class) and changing the snack sign up (parents bring in one item once a week instead of enough snack for the class for an entire week).
// Week of May 6: Curriculum Update //
We felt an abundance of warmth thanks to the generous appreciation by all the parents this week - the bouquet of flowers, thank you cards, delicious offerings of food, and treats. We are humbled and honored to be in a community of such loving and caring families - a very heartfelt Thank you on behalf of all of us teachers!
As the warmer weather was ideal to spend more time exploring outdoors, we took some work outside! Children scooped soil into small glass jars and dropped some flower seeds then more soil, and finished by spraying water on top of the added soil. These seeds will grow colorful flowers in a matter of weeks and we hope they can witness this process as they take them home at the end of the week. Another project included using crumpled tissue paper to glue onto a flower shaped card. As this work included repeating the task numerous times, it was a great practice in squeezing the glue bottle and crumpling little squares of paper- all fine motor exercises that lead to a decorative creation. For all those celebrating Mother’s Day this weekend - we hope you have a memorable time!
// Teacher Appreciation Week //
// curriculum update: May 3 //
As we meet for Parent -Teacher Conferences this week, it is a pleasure to share with you anecdotes and observations of the children’s progress through the course of the year. They have all grown - a few inches in height and much more so in their capabilities, confidence, and a bonding with the wonderful community they call friends. In relation to growth, we welcomed a troop of caterpillars to our classroom this week, whom we will care for and observe as they grow and will transform into beautiful butterflies. The growth of the children in the classroom is similar to the metamorphosis of these tiny creatures that in such short time, transform and take flight with independence.
// week of April 29 //
// before & after spring break: look how much we have grown! //
// Week of March 25: Curriculum Update //
As the weather gradually begins to feel warmer than the frigid winter days, we begin to see signs of Spring blossoming in our neighborhood. This week, we looked at daffodils - the first flowers of Spring, and viewed pictures of clothes that are worn in this season - including rain boots, rain jackets, and t-shirts or dresses. Along with the seasonal cards, we placed other new works in the classroom that the children are readily exploring. On Music day, the children practiced beating on Mr.Sebastian’s drum and during Movement, we danced with vibrant scarves. As we add furniture to our dollhouse, Ms. Solange helped identify some of the furniture pieces - bed, tub, lamp, table, basin, and more in Spanish. Observing the children placing the dolls and furniture in the dollhouse is exciting as they narrate short scenarios using the dolls.
// Week of March 25 //
HPMS is celebrating World Down Syndrome Day on March 20! Wear your jeans and/or silly socks, too.
// This week.... //
This week, we offered parents the opportunity to come into the classroom for “Work With Your Child”. It was wonderful to see the children engage in activity while proudly showing off some of the works to their parents. At this point of the year, children have been practicing completing a work cycle from beginning to end and are able to gradually use activities that require multiple steps. Engaging in extensions of an activity helps build the child’s focus and prepares them in the natural progression of more challenging tasks.
// Week of March 11 //
Thank you to all who joined us for the HPMS Winter Gala! It was a BLAST!
// What we have been up to these days... //
As we celebrate Montessori Week, the children in the Square Room give glimpses of what an environment in which respect, independence, curiosity, and discovery are the ingredients to a flourishing community of capable and motivated children. A child offering clementine slices to their peers, a child offering a tissue to another who just sneezed, another child quenching their thirst by finding the glass with their name and picture, and a group of children expressing joy and cheer as they gather into a Circle. The wonder, perseverance, and empathy expressed by the children is captivating and contagious! As proud citizens of a nurturing community, we are glad to be practicing the principles that Maria Montessori helped us recognize within ourselves.
// Weeks of Feb 25 & March 4 //
For any Birthday Celebrations.... please be aware:
// Curriculum Update: Week of Feb. 18 //
This shorter than usual week included some more cold weather, snow, rain, slush, and sun. We like to explore the outdoors whenever possible so the children can witness the varied forms of nature. Taking a walk around the neighborhood and noticing the coffee shop, pharmacy, garage, restaurants, doctor’s office, salon, and residences- all give us ample to talk about. The children also point out what they observe - a helicopter flying above, a fire truck driving by, a puddle on the street, or a dog out on a walk. It is always an adventure, each time, even through the same route. To continue our explorations, we request that on snowy days or those after, the children bring in snow pants and other accessories to keep dry and enjoy the varied forms of nature.
// Presidents' Day Week //
