April 2025
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear Families,
April has been a vibrant and purposeful month in our Montessori environment, rich with meaningful work, discovery, and connection. The children have been deeply engaged in their lessons finding joy in the process of learning and the rhythm of the classroom. Our time in the garden with Ms. Laura, whose gentle guidance has helped the children explore the wonders of nature, continues to be a highlight of the children’s experience. Through planting, nurturing, and observing, we have come to understand the quiet lessons of patience, responsibility, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
This month also marked a beautiful step forward in our journey toward independence. Our neighborhood walks became more than just movement—they offered space for quiet reflection, observation, and growing awareness of ourselves and the world around us. These peaceful explorations served as gentle preparation for our much-anticipated Big Trip to the mountains.
The Big Trip was a joyful extension of our Montessori work into the natural world. The children rose to each challenge with courage and excitement—hiking together, enjoying meals together, sharing stories by the campfire, and supporting one another with kindness and respect. These moments of adventure and connection helped us strengthen our sense of community and deepened our appreciation for the beauty around us.
As we look ahead to the final weeks of the school year, we hold deep gratitude for the continued trust and support of our families. Together, we look forward to more meaningful experiences and lasting memories.
With warmth and appreciation,
Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
April 2025 Peek Inside
April has been a busy and rewarding month in our classroom. With the arrival of spring, students enjoyed spending time outdoors, tending our classroom garden, observing blooming flowers, and harvesting kale and tomatoes to create healthy snacks.
Academically, we’ve been reviewing key concepts from earlier in the year while building on that foundation with new lessons. Some of our focus areas this month included factors, fractions, grammar, angles, and a variety of hands-on science experiments. Students have been enthusiastic and motivated as they prepare to showcase their learning at Show Me Night.
This time of year also marks important developmental growth. Our third-year students are taking on more leadership and applying their skills independently. Second-year students are stepping into mentoring roles, and first-year students are showing a strong eagerness to learn.
A highlight of the month was our Big Trip, which offered valuable opportunities for both social and academic growth. It was inspiring to see the students step outside of their usual routines and support each other so naturally. Whether it was helping a friend tie their shoes, offering a hug when someone missed home, or working together during group activities, their compassion for one another was evident throughout the trip. They also participated in science-based games, explored nature, and observed Arizona’s local wildlife, extending their classroom learning in meaningful ways. The camp staff consistently commented on what a mature, responsible, and kind group they were, and we couldn’t agree more.
Thank you for your continued support. We’re excited to head into the end of the school year with even more opportunities for growth and learning.
Warmly,
Ms. Samantha & Ms. Evelyn
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Families,
What an incredible month it has been! April was full of adventure, growth, and hands-on learning, and we’re thrilled to share the highlights with you.
✈️ Big Trip Adventures
We kicked off the month with some essential trip preparation. Our visit to Sky Harbor Airport gave the children a chance to practice moving as a group through a busy space, setting the tone for safe and confident travel. We followed this with a trip to San Tan Mall where the students practiced riding escalators and staying alert to sudden changes in direction—skills they’d soon put to good use!
And then, the big day arrived! The children truly shined—from calmly navigating security to showing respect and responsibility throughout the flight. Upon arriving in San Francisco, we took a scenic bus ride to NatureBridge, where the adventure continued. Highlights included a peaceful night hike up the mountain, group teamwork challenges, exploring tidal pod creatures, relaxing at the beach, hiking to the lighthouse, and winding down with songs and stories around a campfire.
On our way home, we had the special treat of seeing a preview of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival—an absolute delight! We are so proud of the students for their resilience, teamwork, and joyful spirit. They embraced each challenge and returned beaming with pride. We already can’t wait for next year’s trip!
🏛️ In the Classroom: Ancient Greece
Our classroom has been buzzing with excitement as we explore the world of Ancient Greece. Each student conducted a mini-research project, wrote a five-paragraph essay, and created a visual model to bring their topic to life. So far, we've covered city-states, historical events, assemblies, and early theater.
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner families,
This feels to be the busiest month yet! Balancing multiple big projects seeking a culmination as we near the end of the school year. We finalized preparations for our Big Trip with meetings and outings as a whole group with Upper Elementary. In working with such a group size, the children found flexibility and determination to master skills for a successful travel experience. The children found grace and comfort in the company of each other while faced with new and uncomfortable situations that required patience and group work. Some examples of this were practicing safety measures walking through high traffic areas as a long line when it was hot outside but getting to enjoy a snack and light conversation during a break when we visited San Tan Mall. Another was sitting in silence and patience as they heard each other out as we recreated an Assembly meeting for our Ancient Greek simulation, then getting to cheer like a Greek for each other after well written statements were presented.
The Big Trip went by quickly, but as always, a beautiful scene full of deep explorations and a deep sense of transformation in the children. The children were actively involved in keeping to a steady pace as we hiked and explored a variety of coastal scenes (the beach, a lagoon, disused military look out towers and dorms, a hand carved cave that led to a light house, a coastline filled with wildflowers blooming and so much more!). We are extremely proud to share that the children were so respectful, thoughtful and ready to receive everything Nature Bridge had to offer. We highly encourage you to keep your child’s curiosities from this experience alive and burning by sharing eagerness in learning more about the wildlife they saw firsthand, garbology and the strides and efforts humans are taking to reduce our waste on earth or researching more untold stories about the positive impacts of the work of immigrants like the ones who hand dug the lighthouse tunnel at great peril. You can also start simply by asking them to teach you the Nature Bridge song or try your hand in writing poetry about nature with them.
This month we have also thoroughly enjoyed the firsthand experiences while learning and sharing our collective knowledge about the daily life and of the ancient Greeks. Students were stunned to explore how different the educations system looked back then as well as the social class differences. We enjoyed getting to share some insight into our studies with our “Show Me Night” where the children were able to present their work on their Festival Project.
Lessons were interwoven with language and math skills while the children explored multiple science and historical concepts. Thank you, as always for your support!
Best,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
