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Hope Montessori Newsletter

 Spring, 2007

 

The child is both hope and a promise for mankind.”.                        

                  –Maria Montessori

 

 

 

 

To celebrate Earth Day, we let the Painted Lady butterflies go! It was fun watching the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.  There seemed to be daily changes. It is amazing how quickly caterpillars grow! Our Spring Break was timed just right. We saw the caterpillars through the cocoon stage, and then as soon as we came back, the cocoons started to wiggle… were so lucky to be here to witness the butterflies emerge!  Some of us were sad to set them free… but I told the children that they don’t really belong to us; they belong to Nature.  Anyway, old friends always come back to visit…  When we go outside, look for those butterflies!       

 

Remember Cora?  Cora’s mom called, and had two dozen extra eggs for us to use, if we were interested.  Interested?  Of course you know the answer I gave her…  Yes!   So…

we are now hatching chicks in the classroom!  Hopefully, they will hatch during the second week of May.   The children are taking turns turning the eggs.  They have to be turned three times a day.  The eggs are kept warm (100 F) in an incubator. When the chicks are born, they will be kept in a storage box container with heat lamps, until they are big enough to take to the farm…  

The children are excited to see the “birth” that is spring. We are taking short walks, looking all around… occasionally stopping and listening.  The world is alive!  Besides animal life, we observe and wonder about plant life.   We are noticing the budding green that is magically appearing.    Our gardens are bursting with life.  We feed the birds and water the plants… Every child should have a patch of garden to nurture…

This Spring, we have been celebrating by planting seeds.  We have made good use of a new mini- greenhouse. The children really enjoy watching the various plants sprout. We are sowing a variety of plants to compare and contrast.  A transparent root vegetable setup that Ms. Ann brought allows us to watch the roots grow under the surface… very interesting.   

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thanks to everyone who donated to our Change for Change Jar.  We raised $87.83 to donate to organizations which are helping to build schools in South Africa!

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE POP CAN TABS DRIVE

Again, thanks to all the families who have supported this drive in support of a wonderful organization.  We will continue to collect those tabs!  Please keep sending them in!  You can send them in Ziploc bags if you no longer have a box…Spread the word and have your friends and relatives pitch in and help you collect them, especially at those summer get-togethers where cans are being popped.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

    Saturday, May 19th, 9-11 am Outdoor Workshop

    There will be no school on Friday, May 25th or Monday, May 28th.

    School Spirit Week: June 4-8

    Last Day of School: June 8

    School Picnic on June 9th, 10-1

 

OUTDOOR WORKSHOP

Our Outdoor Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 9-11 am. 

       The whole family is welcome!  We will be beautifying our outdoor spaces, weeding our gardens, and filling our borders and patio planters with annuals.  We will also be adding to our herb/peace garden, vegetable garden, and butterfly gardens… So bring your garden tools and gloves… together we will accomplish so much!  Many hands together will make light of heavy work.

    Sign up at Dismissals. This year we will be pre-assigning families to certain areas. If you wish to donate something for our gardens, just let us know. Plants, wind chimes, gazing balls, stepping stones, garden gnomes… are all welcome gifts for the gardens.  As always, I look forward to seeing you here!

 

Outdoor Workshop Garden Wish List:

Herb Garden  

Nasturtium seeds, Thyme, Wild Bergamot, Fennel, Anise                             

North and East Gardens     

Begonias, Sweet Pea, Snapdragons, Spike, Ivy, Potato Vines

West Gardens- Butterfly (Full Sun)

Honeysuckle, Trumpet vine

Butterfly Garden-Yard (part shade)

Lupine, Columbine, Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, Lantana, Sweet Pea, Snapdragon

Front Door Planters

???????????????????????

Vegetable Garden

Sunflower seeds, Tomato, Green pepper, Grapevines, Strawberry Plants

Etc.

Compost, Iris, Ribbons, Bird Seed- sunflower hearts and chips, fruit and sunflower mix

 

SCHOOL SPIRIT WEEK       

     School Spirit Week will be on June 4th-8th.  Children can show their school spirit by participating on the days they normally attend:

 Monday:   Tea Party Day.  Bring out the dress up trunk, or do creative second-hand/garage sale shopping.  Yes, we’re talking boas and bow-ties!

Tuesday:   Sport’s Day.  Wear a jersey, hat, uniform etc.-or your favorite team’s colors.

Wednesday:  Plushy/Doll/P.J. Day. Bring your favorite stuffed animal or baby doll to school and wear your jammies!

Thursday:  Crazy Hair Day.  Do the do!

Friday: We are the World Day.  Bring something for “Show and Tell” or wear clothing from a different part of the world, representing your family heritage… or a place you would love to explore.            

 

SCHOOL PICNIC *

     We will end the school year with a Family Picnic on Saturday, June 9th from 10-1pm at Lewis Park.  Lewis Park is our favorite neighborhood park, located on Riverside Drive. 

    Please sign up for Pot Luck. We will have a clipboard out at arrivals/dismissals.

     Besides sharing food and conversation, we are planning to play games, have relay races, face painting, and an award ceremony.  There is also a very nice playground for the children.

     Some of the children will be moving on to new schools in the fall, so it is a chance to celebrate friendships with our class one last time, and in some cases…a time to say goodbye, (at least, for now).  So, bring your family, your picnic blankets, and be sure to wear sunscreen!

-Let us know if you have a bean bag toss game that you can bring to the picnic.

 

 * If our picnic is rained out, (stormy at 945am) we will instead have a gathering for Hope Students and their parents only, at 11-1230 at the school.   

 

Thank you all for such a wonderful year!  We have really enjoyed working with your children and getting to know everyone!

                         Traci