January 2026
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear Families,
We are very happy to be back together and to see the children settled, joyful, and engaged in their work. Over the past three weeks, the classroom has returned to a steady rhythm filled with purposeful activity, meaningful lessons, and many shared moments of joy.
We have resumed our nature walks, during which the children demonstrate growing independence, order, and mindfulness. They move with confidence and care, showing respect for one another and for their environment as we prioritize both safety and peaceful exploration.
We have also begun our preparations for the upcoming sleepover. The children are working collaboratively in small groups to organize meals and sleeping arrangements. It has been wonderful to observe their leadership, responsibility, and willingness to contribute to the community.
With the warmer weather and the generous rain we’ve received, our garden is thriving. Ms. Laura is offering lessons connected to the garden and planning cooking activities that allow the children to participate fully in the harvest, deepening their connection to nature and practical life.
Thank you, as always, for your continued trust and support. We are grateful to partner with you in supporting your children’s growth and independence.
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca & Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Dear Coyote Parents and Families,
It has been a pleasure welcoming the students back to the classroom after Winter Break. They returned with enthusiasm and excitement, eager to reconnect with their work and dive deeper into new and familiar lessons.
In mathematics, many students have been exploring concepts related to multiplication. This has included practicing skip counting, learning the laws of multiplication, and beginning introductory work with square and cube roots. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they engage with these increasingly complex ideas.
During language lessons, students have been practicing creating and writing their own complete sentences. They have also been working with parts of speech and learning to identifythe subject and predicate within a sentence, strengthening both their writing and grammar skills.
In biology, we have been spending time exploring our campus gardens as part of our nature walks in preparation for our upcoming trip. Students have been learning about plants, seasonal changes, and the natural environment around them. Some students even had the opportunity to harvest fruits and vegetables from around campus and use them to make food, including kale chips and lemon tarts. This hands-on experience allows students to see the full process from seed to food, which has been both meaningful and exciting for them.
This month’s big event has been the preparation for the upcoming sleepover. The students are incredibly excited for this special experience and have been working diligently on planning and organization. From deciding where they will sleep to calculating how many portions are needed for dinner and breakfast, they have shown strong communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. It has been beautiful to watch their teamwork and organizational abilities come together as they prepare for this memorable event.
January has been a full and joyful month of learning, collaboration, and growth, and I am looking forward to all that lies ahead.
Warmly,
Ms. Samantha and Ms. Maria
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Families,
Here is a snapshot of what we have been learning and working on together in the classroom recently. It has been a full and engaging season of growth across all areas of our work.
Math
Students have been spending time reviewing key math concepts at their individual grade levels while also diving into new lessons using hands-on Montessori materials. We have been exploring square roots with the pegboard, practicing multiplication with the checkerboard, and strengthening problem-solving skills through material-based lessons that build conceptual understanding.
Language
In language, students have been immersed in poetry. We have studied and written a variety of poetry forms, including couplets, quatrains, limericks, lanternes, haikus, and cinquains. Students are compiling their work into a book of original poems. We have also begun spelling lists and explicit spelling strategies, and students continue to keep book journals to support thoughtful discussion during book clubs.
Science
In science, each student is studying an animal of their choice. They are researching habitats, adaptations, and behaviors, and are working to create a card material to teach others about their animal. As a culminating experience, students are hoping to plan a “going out” to observe their animal in person, applying their research to the real world.
Music & Art
As a community, we are singing together every day, which continues to build connection and joy in our classroom. In art, students are beginning to plan recycled art projects in preparation for our Art Walk in April. These projects emphasize creativity, sustainability, and thoughtful design.
Sleepover Planning
Sleepover planning is well underway and has provided many real-world learning opportunities. Students are working on budgeting and meal planning for dinner and breakfast, organizing activities, considering sleeping arrangements, and developing cleaning systems and routines. They are also practicing setting up and taking down tents and participating in fire safety training, including how to safely light and fully extinguish a campfire.
Community Note
Our recent bake sale was a wonderful success. Thank you so much to all the families who contributed baked goods, time, and support. We truly appreciate your generosity and involvement.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner Families,
January has been such a thrilling and meaningful month in our classroom as our work has culminated in our upcoming community-building experience in our sleepover campout at the Larry Forbis group site. The children have worked incredibly hard to plan and prepare for this event with great thoughtfulness, carefully considering everyone’s needs, wants, and well-being. One of the most beautiful aspects of this process has been observing the children support one another. Many have stepped in to help peers who found certain parts of the planning or practice challenging, demonstrating empathy, patience, and teamwork. Students have worked diligently to create and follow a budget while thoughtfully planning meals and activities that accommodate the nutritional and dietary needs and wants of others. This looked like many surveys and time spent creating thorough calculations.
This experience has also provided a powerful opportunity for our sixth graders to step more fully into leadership roles. Some of our sixth graders were selected as tent leaders. Half of them learned how to set up our 16’ x 11’ tents and then taught these skills to their peers, taking on the responsibility of ensuring everyone could successfully participate. Others had the opportunity to visit our campsite to take measurements and sketch the layout to bring back and share with their peers to ensure their plans worked out with our environment. It has been wonderful to observe the confidence and maturity with which these students have stepped into these roles. They have guided younger students within their groups, modeled responsibility, and taken initiative throughout the process.
Academically, this month we have focused on reviewing and applying abstract concepts in mathematics, particularly operations and problem-solving, in preparation for assessments next month. In history, students revisited the Timeline of Human Beings and the Fundamental Human Needs, connecting these studies to conversations about desert environments. In science, we reviewed botany nomenclature and the functions of plant parts, building knowledge that will support our outdoor learning experience. These lessons have helped students make meaningful connections between classroom learning and real-world application.
We are so excited for the culmination of this experience and look forward to the memories we will create alongside the children. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.
Warmly,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
