We said goodbye to our almost 2-week old chicks in May. Our students got to see them grow, their feathers change, get messier and much more active! We even had an escapee or two from the brooder! Now the chicks are in the care of a school family who knows how to keep them growing into healthy, thriving chickens. For our next unit, all Montessori students sprouted a corn seed in a plastic bag, so we could see the sprouting process. We checked on the little greenhouses every day for signs of growth. After they sprouted, everyone planted their own seed into the garden, where we will watch them grow into tall, full corn plants. We'll see over the summer and into fall how big they get! The next two weeks, we will be learning about our solar system. We are also preparing for Kindergarten graduation and our Montessori Potluck Picnic, both on June 10th. Montessori Kindergarteners, please dress in Sunday best. Everyone else, please be in uniform, as we will all attend Mass together. Graduation is a short ceremony with a song and handing out diplomas. Then we will meet on the lawn outside of the Montessori classroom, sing a song for all the families, and then picnic! If you have blankets, we can use them to eat on. If you haven't already, please RSVP via the sign-up genius link to let us know how many will come and to sign up to bring food and supplies to share. Thank you for your support of this wonderful tradition! June 10th is a noon dismissal, so after the picnic, you may enjoy the playground with your young ones, or simply take them home. Our "Summer Adventures" program is filling up fast. If you're interested in a week-long morning program of outdoor and indoor Montessori fun for your child, please contact a Montessori teacher or the office for details.
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Hello again from the Montessori Children's House! We have 7 new lives to celebrate this week! Seven of our twelves incubating eggs hatched. On Monday morning, we found 2 eggs pipping (cracking), and by the end of the day, two more were pipping, but none were really hatching. We heard cheeping coming from the eggs, and occasionally, one would shake slightly.
Well, overnight, seven chicks hatched, and it was crowded in the incubator by Tuesday morning. What a wonderful surprise to see when we come to school! Our class will care for the chicks until the end of next week. Our students have already observed how much stronger they seem to be, how much they are now eating and drinking, and the mess they are making in the bedding in their brooder. Feel free to come by whenever you can to visit them! Friday's early dismissal would be an ideal time! The end of the school year is coming up quickly. We will be holding our End of the Year Potluck Picnic. This will be scheduled for June 10th, after Mass and Kindergarten Graduation, lasting until the noon dismissal. Our whole class will attend Mass to watch their Kindergarten friends graduate, and then we will go to the Montessori Children's House to have a picnic on the lawn. Mark your calendars! And keep an eye out for a Sign-Up link to contribute food or supplies to the picnic. It's a cherished Montessori tradition, that unfortunately, was disrupted by Covid, but we're glad to bring it back. Continuing in the month of May, our class will continue to observe the chicks. We will also learn about plants and seeds for our gardening unit. Later in the month, we will explore work with the Solar System. Finally, thank you for all who gave gifts, treats, and kind words for Teacher Appreciation Week We love our Montessori families! Hello again from the Montessori Children's House! Last week, we celebrated Earth Day (a bit belatedly) by recycling paper! Each child made their own piece of paper using unwanted paper from our classroom, following the steps of our "assembly line" paper factory.. We learned that we could make it new again, rather than letting it go to a landfill. Here are some photos of the process: We have also been quietly and carefully incubating chicken eggs, in the hopes of having baby chicks 7 days from now. Our students know not to touch the table that the incubator sits on, and to observe quietly. Of course, right now, there's very little going on that we can see! The signs above the incubator reminds us of the sound that we use for quiet (sh), and the number of days the eggs have been incubating. Please say a prayer that we will see new life emerge next Tuesday, May 10th! For the month of May, we will focus on plants and seeds, and also learn about the Solar System. We anticipate going outside much more often with warmer, gentler weather!
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Ms. Teresa is just one of the three fantastic teachers in St. Mary's Montessori Children's House! |