November 2023
Peek Inside our Children’s House Community
Hello Bobcat families,
Hello Bobcat Families,
Last month we had our book fair at the gym. We wanted to say thank you for your kind contribution to our Bobcat library. We got many beautiful and meaningful books that will continue inspiring our children their love for reading and writing. At circle time, we have been reading “Questions and Answers about Nature”… Super interesting. The children have enjoyed learning and answering questions about animals, weather, and plants.
Thank you so much for coming to our Classroom Social! We did have a great time together. It was a beautiful opportunity to get to know each other a little bit more while enjoying some yummy food. Time seems to fly fast when we are having such a good time. Thank you for all help!
Last month, we also had our conference meetings. I enjoyed meeting with each one of you and sharing valuable information. So many of you asked if there is something we need for the classroom. thank you! We are fortunate to have all the materials and goods we need, but we would welcome small bags (1/2 or 1 lb) of coffee beans, both caffenaited and decaf. The children get to grind those beans as a practical life work and use it to make fresh coffee when we have visitors in our classroom!
I would invite you to place take a few minutes to read the following publication by The Harvard gazette. It is about later risks for sleep deprived kids.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/03/study-flags-later-risks-for-sleep-deprived-kids/
I encourage you to have a structured bed time routine at home. Consider the number of hours your child should be sleeping according to his/her age so you could modify the time when your child should be in bed. FYI, nap time at school is from 1:15 to 2:40. Please, keep in mind that some children can go to sleep in 10 mins while other might need 30 mins.
May this month be loaded with thankfulness and lots of rest
Ms. Hany and Ms. Joselyne
CACTUS WREN
Dear Cactus Wren Families,
Dear Cactus Wren Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! The children have been working hard in the classroom this month, learning and growing. This past November, they have been working in the garden with and have begun harvesting leafy greens to share in class. The cooling weather has been a joy for the children to work outside and explore the natural world. The children have been harvesting arugula and kale and a favorite snack among the children has been kale chips. Below is the recipe used in class and we hope you and your family enjoy them too!
Kale Chips
Ingredients
Kale (pre-chopped or kale bunch)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Optional: garlic, basil, and other seasonings to your taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
With scissors or using your hands, remove kale leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite sized pieces.
Wash and thoroughly dry kale.
Drizzle kale leaves with olive oil and toss to combine. Spread out in an even layer on the baking sheet without overlapping and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic and basil to taste.
Bake until the edges start to brown but are not burnt, 20 to 30 minutes.
It was also wonderful meeting with families for our Fall conferences and talking with you about each child’s progress in class this past semester. We are excited for the upcoming month of December, especially for our Community Parent Night on December 6th, at 5:30 p.m. We will be discussing your child’s journey through language in the Children’s House, and we hope to see you there! If you will need childcare for the event, please click the link below.
Thank you, families, for sharing your children with us and all your support! Ms. Tania and I truly appreciate all that you do and are so thankful to be a part of each child’s Montessori journey!
Warmly,
Ms. Laura and Ms. Tania
Hello Gray Fox families,
I trust this newsletter finds you all well and enjoying the beautiful November weather! It's been an exciting month in our classroom, filled with engaging activities and learning experiences. I appreciate your ongoing support and involvement in your child's education. Here are some highlights from our November adventures:
1. Gratitude and Thanksgiving: In the spirit of the season, we took time to reflect on gratitude. The children shared heartwarming expressions of thanks, reminding us all of the little joys in our lives. From family dinners to cherished moments with friends, the discussions were both touching and insightful.
2. Sensory Exploration with Pumpkins: Our classroom transformed into a pumpkin patch of creativity! From dissecting and carving to painting, the children immersed themselves in a sensory experience exploring the life cycle of pumpkins. Witnessing their joy as we lit candles inside the decorated pumpkins was truly magical.
3. Winter Preparations: With colder days approaching, please continue to label your child's belongings and practice proper garment application. This small effort ensures that your child remains comfortable and ready to thrive in the classroom environment.
4. Embracing the Season: As we enter the holiday season, it's important to note that our focus remains on the joy of family and the spirit of togetherness. We celebrate the season in a way that respects the diverse beliefs within our community, avoiding specific religious or fantasy concepts at school.
Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones. Thank you for being an integral part of our Gray Fox family.
Warm regards,
Ms. Rama and Ms. Rocio
JACKRABBIT
Hello Dear Jackrabbit Families,
We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed the holiday weekend. We are grateful for each and one of our families.
Thank you to all the families who were able to attend to our Fall Socia. It was lovely to see you there. It was also heartwarming to see the children’s big smiles as they had fun running around with their classmates. Thank you for bringing delicious food. Our next Social will be held in the Spring.
During the month of November, the children set up an “Altar de Muertos” and learned about the Mexican tradition of “El Día De Los Muertos”, we also read a book about different traditions around the World. We had the opportunity to visit the Falcon’s upper elementary classroom where some children demonstrate their “Altar de Muertos” and explained what each item symbolized.
During this Fall Season, the children were excited to make popcorn. We learned about corn stalks. The children carefully removed each kernel off the corn and placed them inside a paper bag to proceeded heating it up using the microwave… they enjoyed listening as the popcorn popped!
It was wonderful to see you during conferences and had a chance to discuss your child’s progress. I enjoyed having this time with you. Our next conferences will be held on spring. On December 6th we have our Jackrabbit Community Meeting wHere we will be talking about the Language journey in the Montessori classroom, we hope to see you there!
Welcome to Hayden and Lucrecia into the Jackrabbits, we feel so lucky to have you.
We have been baking Bagels in the classroom, here is the recipe if you would like to bake at home:
Bagels
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
1 egg , beaten
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 F. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. If using parchment paper, spray with oil to avoid sticking.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk well. Add the yogurt and mix with a fork or spatula until well combined, it will look like small crumbles.
Lightly dust flour on a work surface and remove dough from the bowl, knead the dough a few times until dough is tacky, but not sticky.
Divide into equal balls. Roll each ball into 1/2-inch thick ropes and join the ends to form bagels.
Top with egg wash and sprinkle both sides with seasoning of your choice. Bake on the top rack of the oven for 25 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting.
Kindly,
Ms. Yadira and Ms. Karen
