February 2025
Honeybee
Spring is coming, Honeybees!
The warmer months are coming faster than we anticipated, but we are ready for anything! We are overjoyed to take advantage of the mornings where we soak up the sun outside. Taking the time to move our bodies is an experience we cherish.
This new season brings us new life, both to the environment and to the children. We've witnessed so many new phases of infancy, including first steps, first foods, and even first words. Alongside the new leaves and grass growing around us, the children are eager to grow too! Have you noticed your child excited to crawl around outside? Expect lots of curiosity surrounding your child as spring blossoms around us. We recommend taking the opportunity to introduce new language by describing what you see and hear.
"The child has a different relation to his environment from ours... the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul. He incarnates in himself all in the world about him that his eyes see and his ears hear." (The Absorbent Mind, p.56)
Thank you to all who came and joined our Nido/Toddler Social! We love seeing our community gather and spend quality time together. Please keep an eye out for any emails regarding future school events.
We love our Honeybee family! If you have any questions or comments, please contact Susan@creoschool.org or Nido@creoschool.org.
Butterfly
Good day to all!
We find ourselves in awe of how peaceful and engaged your sweet toddlers have become! We give every opportunity to work on an activity for as long as they like. The children interact with one another and move freely throughout the class. As adults, one of our main goals is to make sure each child stays engaged and interested in the classroom, daily. We keep the children connected with their environment, and protect their concentration once they have found it in a work. The child will recognize his/her purpose in the classroom and in life out of the classroom. It doesn’t come all too easily! As adults and as guides to the child, it is our job to show peace and to show genuine happiness in the environment and show the role of the adult in the classroom. We show the child to walk in the classroom, to walk around a rug that is being used on the floor, how to clean up the water we spilled, with a towel. We are able to give children the words and the tools for resolving conflicts peacefully and ways to cultivate peace for a productive learning environment. This is how we demonstrate grace and how we demonstrate courtesy.
How can we keep Peace at Home? Cultivating peace at home can simply come from maintaining a daily routine in the mornings before school and coming back from school. A routine builds a sense of security. There are no surprises to the child and he begins to anticipate his expectations at home everyday and will begin to feel in control of this routine and do it independently. When we do break routine, we must understand the child’s emotions, it’s tough to have a change in routine at this age! We must understand where the child is coming from and have patience with them and especially with ourselves. We are learning together alongside our growing children.
Things you can incorporate into your daily routine…
Observe nature outside. Listen to the sounds coming from wildlife or the rustle of trees when the wind blows
Practice “please” and “thank you”, “goodbye” and “hello”.
Establishing a bedtime that fits the age of each child. Along with having pajamas ready ahead of time, setting out small amount of toothpaste ready and available before heading off to bed. Arranging pillows, dolls/toys, curtains, lights, bedtime story. They will get the routine down in no time if it is consistent and they are capable of doing it on their own.
But always remember to cherish the moments of peace that do come on a daily basis and the time spent together makes the work easy.
Warmly,
Ms. Rebeca & Ms. Daisy
Hummingbird
Dear Hummingbird Family,
We are pleased to welcome a new friend to our class. Her name is Ryder. The children welcomed her with warm and open hearts. Toddlers are known for using their senses to investigate all that is in their environments, whether it be a new person, new material, or new food. They are always eager to check things out. Anytime we switch up even just a small bowl or a small basket from a “work,” the children notice the small differences and examine it like it’s new again. Depending on their personality some children approach cautiously while others jump right into exploring.
Our spring observations and conferences started earlier than the rest of the school before Ms. Dafne takes her maternity leave. We are very eager to have parents come into the class to observe. It is a great opportunity for parents to see the children and teachers all working in the classroom. Even if your child sits with you during your observation, it is still important to observe how the rest of the children work because it can help you have another perspective and hopefully deepen your understanding of toddlers.
Every child is unique, and it is very obvious to see that through observation. Observation is the main tool we use to help us adjust our approach to each child’s unique traits. Some children can handle more freedom on some days and other days they may not be able to handle it. We adapt to each situation as needed. At home, there may be days that your child is willing to do all the tasks on their own, and the very next day they seem overwhelmed or unwilling, which is typical for toddlers. For some, learning involves ups and downs and isn’t exactly a linear process. To support them we meet the child where they are on that particular day.
Lastly, we have a new and temporary addition to the Hummingbird team. Her name is Ms. Kayla, she speaks fluent Spanish and will be covering Ms. Dafne’s maternity leave. Ms. Kayla has been training with us for the past several weeks and has been getting more familiar with the children. She will continue to work closely with us every day so that the transition is as smooth as possible. We hope you have a safe and restful spring break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and meeting Ms. Dafne’s new baby girl soon!
Warmly,
Ms. Kat, Ms. Dafne, and Ms. Kayla
Squirrel
Hello Squirrel Community Families!
As February comes to a close, we’ve had an exciting month of growth, connection, and learning in our Montessori environment. This month, we focused on fostering meaningful connections with one another—reminding the children to use gentle hands and kind words as they interact. It’s always so heartwarming to see them practicing empathy and care!
We also welcomed a new friend to our community—Adeline! The children have been amazing at making her feel at home, showing her around the classroom, and even comforting her when needed. It’s beautiful to witness how they’re building their friendships and supporting each other.
As we move into March, a few friendly reminders:
Labeling Belongings: Please remember to label all items with both your child's first and last name. This helps keep everything organized, especially as they continue to learn about responsibility for their belongings.
School Uniform Policy: Make sure your child’s tops have the required logo as part of the uniform. It’s a great opportunity to practice independence and make sure they’re getting familiar with the dress code!
Weather Changes: With the weather warming up, please keep in mind the fluctuating temperatures when dressing your child for the day. Layering is key for those chilly mornings and warmer afternoons.
Art Folder: Don’t forget to bring back your child’s art folder! We love sending home their creative masterpieces, and it’s always fun for them to reflect on their progress.
On another note, it was wonderful to see so many of you during our social this month! It was great catching up and enjoying some time together. We have conferences coming up soon, so keep an eye out for the sign-up details—more info to come!
Lastly, as always, we encourage you to provide opportunities for your child to take the lead in their learning. One thing to keep in mind is when they’re deeply focused—avoid interrupting their concentration with praise or comments like "Good job." Instead, try to acknowledge the specific action they’re engaged in. For example, “I see how carefully you’re stacking those blocks!” This approach not only respects their concentration but also encourages them to focus on the process rather than the result.
If you have any questions or would like to chat, feel free to reach out to me at nadia@creoschool.org. I’m always here to help!
As always, thank you for your continued trust and support.
Warmly,
Ms. Nadia & Ms. Bri"
