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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
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