October 2024
Peek Inside Lower Elementary
BLACK BEAR
Dear Black Bear families,
We are delighted to reflect on another fun and productive month! The children have been deeply engaged, creatively applying their lessons through research projects, dioramas, clay sculptures, baking and going outs.
Although it took longer than usual, October finally brought cooler weather, inviting us to extend our learning into the outdoor environment.
Ms. Laura continues to enrich our outdoor space, sharing her knowledge and nurturing our gardens with the help of the children, as the children make connections with their Botany lessons.
Ms. Carmen continues to foster a sense of community, communicating in Spanish and giving Spanish lessons, as well as inspiring a love for sewing and baking among the children.
We continue to truly appreciate your trust and support as we journey together in our vibrant Black Bear community!
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca and Ms. Carmen
COYOTE
Hello Coyote Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful and restful fall break. It’s been great to see the children return to the classroom with enthusiasm, ready to dive back into their work. They’ve continued exploring and deepening their understanding in the different subject areas we’ve worked on so far this year, from math to language and beyond.
This month, I’d like to share a bit about why we place such a strong emphasis on repetition in our Montessori classroom. Repetition is not only key to mastering a skill; it is also a pathway to independence and self-confidence. When a child chooses to practice a piece of work repeatedly, they are truly internalizing the concept and growing comfortable with their own capabilities. As we discussed in our recent community meeting, repetition is a powerful sign of a child’s respect for the freedom they are given here. With freedom comes the responsibility to pull out work independently, engaging with it over and over. This process helps children deepen their focus and reinforces their understanding in a way that is both joyful and empowering.
With the cooler fall weather settling in, the children have been excited to spend more time on the playground! Please remember to label any jackets (hats, gloves, etc.) that come to school, as we want to make sure everyone can keep track of their belongings during this season!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to a fantastic month ahead with them!
Warmly,
Ms. Shelby
Peek Inside Upper Elementary
FALCON
Dear Falcon Families,
We’ve had an exciting and productive month in the classroom, and I am thrilled to share some of our recent accomplishments with you!
Island Project Presentations
The students recently completed their island project presentations, and I wanted to extend a huge thank you to all the parents who came to see them! The day was a huge success, and the students were so proud to showcase their creativity, research, and presentation skills.
Learning to Type and Research
Many students are learning how to type their final written drafts on the computer, which is a big step toward enhancing their writing and technology skills. In addition, we’ve been focusing on how to look for reliable sources for research, which is an important part of our academic growth.
Language: Descriptive Writing
In language, we are working on descriptive writing by composing spooky stories and adventure stories. The students are using their imaginations to create vivid characters, settings, and events. As part of this project, they are also designing their own creatures, which others will attempt to draw based on the detailed descriptions they’ve written.
Going Outs
Students continue to plan exciting trips, including a hike to connect with nature and a paleontology class to learn more about fossils. We appreciate these opportunities to expand our science and environmental studies.
Theater Production
A small group of students is preparing to perform a short play that they have written and choreographed themselves. It’s been wonderful to see their creativity and teamwork come to life, and we look forward to watching their performance soon!
Math Milestones
In math, we’ve made great progress learning about fractions and decimals. We are working hard to bridge the gap between testing language and the hands-on work we do with materials, ensuring that students build a strong foundation in their mathematical understanding.
Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda
To celebrate Dia de los Muertos, we have prepared an ofrenda (altar). We invite you to send in photos of your passed loved ones to add to our display, as we honor and remember those who have passed away.
Ancient Egypt Study
We are beginning a deep dive into the fascinating world of ancient Egypt. The students have started creating clothing and accessories inspired by the time period, as well as maps of the Nile River and its surrounding features. We're excited to explore more about this ancient civilization over the coming weeks.
I am looking forward to another wonderful month in the Falcon classroom. Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our learning journey!
Sincerely,
Ms. Emily and Ms. Carla
ROADRUNNER
Dear Roadrunner Families,
I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable Fall Break! Though October was a shorter month, it was packed with wonderful learning experiences and community events.
We started the month with our fantastic Island Project presentations, and I want to thank everyone again who joined us. It was such a joy to see the children so engaged, enthusiastically sharing their work with their audience. Your support means so much to them and to our classroom community!
Recently, we have begun an immersive study of Ancient Egypt. The children are diving into the geography, culture, and history of this fascinating civilization. Beyond content knowledge, this project also emphasizes essential group work skills, such as collaborating with new partners, dividing large tasks into manageable parts, and balancing different roles within a team.
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce that our Big Trip this year will be with Nature Bridge at their San Francisco location! This exciting trip will involve air travel, and the children will host several fundraisers to help cover some of the expenses. A much-anticipated event will be the **Taco Tuesday Fundraiser**, which is becoming a beloved Roadrunner tradition.
Taco Tuesday started as a way to build community when our classroom was new just a few short years ago and has grown over the years. What began as an event for our classroom has expanded to include administration, teachers, and now, the entire parent community and Lower Elementary students.
This year’s Taco Tuesday will take place on **Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024**.
Lower Elementary children will have their plates delivered to their classroom, and parents will be invited to join us for lunch with their children. The children hosting this event have been working hard on logistics and they will be sending out an online survey they created by the end of October. This will help them accurately estimate portions and materials needed for the event. We are all excited to see everyone in December for this special day!
The children have also wrapped up their auction project, which is a chessboard side table, complete with gold and silver resin pieces. Be sure to check out the sneak peek of our item the last week of October. The children have had such a high interest in the process of making the chess set, a group has decided to make a set for our classroom inspired by the Timeline of Life.
In addition to our ongoing projects, the 6th-grade students have been making great strides with their Capstone projects. They have conducted research on multiple topics and are now narrowing their focus to a single subject. Another group of children have been busy memorizing the Periodic Table through a fun song, which they hope to present to other classes and record for parents to enjoy.
Throughout the month, the children have also been engaging in their usual math and language work. We've placed special emphasis on note-taking skills and descriptive writing, and it’s been wonderful to see their growth.
It has been a pleasure guiding the children and we are so proud of all the hard work they’ve put in. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in December for Taco Tuesday!
Best,
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Juany
