Lincoln Elementary Montessori

Montessori Primary #003 – Mrs. Therese Hester

March Parent Letter

Dear Parents,

February just whizzed by.   Valentine’s Day was heart warming as we exchanged our hand made valentines.   We began our trip through the solar system with Ms. Frizzle, finished our study of reptiles, rolled around in every snow storm that came our way and worked on our class auction project!   I truly enjoyed discussing your children’s progress with you during Parent/Teacher Conferences.   I want to thank all of you for your support  

In March we will focus on our next vertebrate, birds and we will continue our trip through the solar system.   Our focus in geography will be the continent of Europe.   In the Practical Life area we will be making ants on a log for our food preparation work.    With the coming of spring Botany will be another focus of the cultural area.   We will be sprouting beans and learning about the growth cycle of plants.   Spring brings much growth in nature and I anticipate much growth as well in our classroom.

NOTES AND REMINDERS

Parent Observations

This is still a great time to observe our class in action.   I find that visiting the classroom always helps parents have a better understanding of their child and the Montessori classroom.   Just let me know when you plan to come.   30 – 45 minutes is usually plenty of time and from 9:15 – 10:30 A.M. is the best time to observe.   I will always take a few minutes to answer your questions.   You may leave a message at school, email me (therese_hester@dpsk12.org) or catch me at your child’s dismissal time to set up an observation.   Thank you to all parents who have come to observe already.

Scholastic Book Orders

Scholastic book orders will be due this Friday, March 9.   Either turn in your paper order forms or order on line.   Our class code is GNGBW.

Thank You

Thanks to Charlie’s Mom for providing our Valentines treat.   Thanks to our faithful reading parents, Amy Traplani-Bowen, Jennifer Reynolds, Cori and Cameron Pope, and Kelly Maestas.   Your dedication has helped all our readers grow in their love of books.  Thanks to the Martino family for donating a fish and tank to our classroom.   Our parents are the best!

Lincoln Auction

Don’t forget that this Saturday is the School Auction.   We have some incredibly cute stools up for grabs that the children have made.   Also, my husband and I and Cori and Cameron Pope will be taking a group of 12 lucky children to the zoo!   Look for all the details in your auction book.   I hope to see you all there!

Spring here we come,

Ms. Therese, Ms. Addie, Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Paula

Lincoln Elementary February Newsletter

Primary Montessori Classroom #003

February 2, 2012

Dear Parents,

January has been action packed and February promises more of the same.   We started the month with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. studies and focused our efforts on ways to be peace makers.   The Chinese New Year came early this year so we went right to preparing for our Chinese New Year parade.   The Kindergarten children made the lion while the preschoolers made shakers to bring good luck to our school.   Thanks to all the parents and family who came to cheer us on.

February finds us finishing our study of amphibians and moving on to reptiles, dinosaurs, and fossils.   We will be focusing on Africa next and will begin the study of the planets.   In the Practical Life area we will be adding cracker spreading and clothes washing to the mix.   It is a good thing that February has an extra day this year as we are going to fill it to the brim.  

NOTES & REMINDERS

Parent Observations

February continues to be a great time to come and observe your child in action in the classroom.   I will always take a few minutes with you to discuss your child’s progress.

Pajama Day to Help the Homeless

Next Thursday, February 9 is a day that we would like to dedicate to helping the homeless in our city.   We are asking children to bring in either a can of food or $1.00 in an effort to provide for the needs of the homeless.   Any child who brings in a contribution will be allowed to wear their pajamas to school that day!

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up at the end of February.   I will be holding conferences after school on Wednesday and Thursday, February 22 and 23 and on Tuesday and Wednesday February 28 and 29.   I will be emailing you the details and how to sign up in the near future. 

Valentine’s Day

We would like to repeat what we did for Valentine’s Day last year.   We will have the children make one valentine in class to exchange at school on Valentine’s Day.   We will put all the children’s names in a basket.   Each child will choose a name of a classmate and give their valentine to that child.   We will use this as an opportunity to practice our manners.   We will have a treat to share at group time.   Anyone interested in providing this treat (strawberries or apples?), please let me know.

Scholastic Books

Scholastic book orders are due Friday, February 10.    You can return the paper order form or order on line at www.scholastic.com   Our classroom code is GNGBW.

Love,

Ms. Therese, Ms. Addie, Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Paula 

Many of you asked for the recipe for the latkes that Jeremy's Mom made with the children before the break.   They were delicious.   Enjoy!

 

Jeremy's Mama's Latkes (pronounce LOT-kuz)

Ingredients (to serve 4 people, about eight 5" diameter latkes):

3 large potatoes (about 1 pound)
2 eggs
1 med or small onion
salt (to taste)
vegetable oil

optional:
1 Tbs finely chopped parsley
1/8th tsp pepper
flour (approx 3 Tbs)
Other grated veggies (carrot, beat, zucchini, spaghetti squash, etc)

1. Grate potatoes.  My family grates them coarsely (e.g. the coarse area of a traditional grater, or the grater attachment that comes standard with the Cuisinart) because there will be lacy, crunchy edges this way.
2. Grate or chop onions. Add to potatoes and squeeze mixture to get out as much liquid as possible.  You can use cheese cloth or just paper towels.  The drier it is, the more crispy the latkes will be.
3. Mix egg with potatoes and onion.  Add parsley and pepper if desired. Mix well.  If still seems wet, you may add flour.
4. Heat 1/4" vegetable oil in skillet on med-high heat.  Less can be used if desired, but oil is the point of the dish!  When oil is hot enough that a drop of water violently sizzles.   Put a soup-spoon worth of the mixture into the pan and flatten to approx 1/2" thick.  Fry until edges start to brown (should be indicator that bottom is well-done), then flip to cook second side.  Both sides should be browned.  Note that this will take time- the only bad latkes I ever make is when they are under-done.
5. Place cooked latkes on paper towels to drain.  Liberally salt the tops.  Latkes are best served hot.  It is traditional to eat them with apple sauce and/or sour cream.

Note: you can make latkes with nearly any vegetable; I like sneaking bits of other veggies into it.  Sweet potato latkes are also very good.

Enjoy and Hag Sameach!

 

Dear Parents,

          Next Thursday, December 15, Jeremy Simon’s Mom, Anna, is coming to our classroom to tell us about Hanukkah.   She would like to work with the children that day and make latkes.   She is asking that every child bring a small potato to school by Thursday.   We will be shredding our potatoes and making them into the latkes during the morning class time and then we will eat them during our line (group) time.   Anna is also asking if there is a parent who could loan us an electric fry pan to use to fry the latkes.   If you can help with this, please let me know ASAP.

          Thanks to all the parents who come in and share with our class.   Otylia's Mom, Patrycia, did a wonderful presentation on Poland and provided some delicious Polish treats for the class.   We learn so much from you.    Thanks for all your help, sharing and support.

Peace,

Ms. Therese

December Parent Newsletter

Lincoln Elementary

Montessori Primary Classroom, #003

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Dear Parents,

I hope your Thanksgiving was full of good food and family fun times.  November was a busy month in our classroom.   It provided many opportunities to learn about our country with our study of the first Thanksgiving and the introduction of the map of North America.   We learned how to work as a community by gathering ingredients, washing, peeling, shaking and chopping, and finally sharing our wonderful ‘stone soup’.  

            December promises to be another busy month.   We are exploring musical instruments including bells, drums, shakers and nature sounds.   Combine that with our winter concert practice and our classroom will be filled with joyful noise.   We will complete our vertebrate study this month with fish and move on to amphibians.   We have many holiday art works planned including one surprise project!    So, December will be a cozy busy time.

Notes and Reminders

Winter Vocal Concert

Kindergarten and Full Day four year olds will be participating in Dr. Brown’s Winter Vocal Concert on Monday, December 12 at 6:00PM.   Our morning three and four year olds won’t be participating in this concert but will be participating in the spring concert.   All are welcome to attend.  Look for more details in upcoming Thursday folders.

Winter Outer Wear

Winter weather is here.   We do go out everyday unless the weather is too wet or too cold.   By too cold we mean, when the temperature, including the chill factor, goes below 20 degrees.   Therefore, children need to be dressed appropriately.   Remember that handling hats, gloves, mittens, boots, coats, and scarves is part of your child’s Practical Life training at the Primary level.   We will help your child learn to handle the extra clothing.   If the weather is wet or there is snow on the ground, all children need to wear boots to school.   It is not good for children’s feet to wear boots all day and our classroom floors don’t need the mess, so all children need a pair of shoes or slippers to wear in the classroom and a separate pair of boots to wear outside.  (Kindergarten and Full Day Fours need a pair of athletic shoes or rubber soled slippers for P.E.)   You may choose to have your child keep their shoes or slippers in their cubby at school or they can carry them back and forth from school to home in their bag.

Volunteer Opportunities

Classroom Pet Sitting - Any family interested in taking our classroom turtles home for the winter break, please let me know.   Food and a clean cage will be provided.

Classroom Laundry - Anyone who would be willing to take the classroom rugs home to launder over the winter break, please let me know.

Thursday Folder Stuffers – The school is always in need of fresh volunteers to help with Thursday folder stuffing every Thursday.   Let the office know if you would like to help or just show up on any Thursday.

Lice Outbreak

There have been a couple of cases of lice in the school.   One case is on our floor and some on the upper floors.

Peace to you and yours this holiday season.

Ms. Therese, Ms. Addie, Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Paula      

       

November 3, 2011

Dear Parents,

I enjoyed meeting with all of you at Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Thanks to all parents for supporting your child's educational experience at Lincoln Elementary by attending the conferences.  As usual, we had 100% attendance.

            The United Nations celebration supported our geography studies and reminds us all that it is a ‘small world after all’.   In the month of November we will focus on the continent of North America.   This will include work with the flags of North America, the story of the first Thanksgiving, placemat weaving, dishwashing and table setting works.  We will also be discussing serving and table manners just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!

NOTES & REMINDER:

No School Reminders

There is no school for all primary Montessori classes next Wednesday, November 9(First Aid/CPR/Universal Precautions training for all primary teachers), and for the entire school Thursday, November 10(Assessment Day) and Friday, November 11, (Veteran’s Day).   Wednesday through Sunday, November 23-27 is no school for Thanksgiving break.

Small Hands Orders

Small Hands orders are arriving.   Information on when and where to pick your orders up will be available soon.

 Change of Clothes Reminder

Just a reminder!   Please don't forget to send warmer clothes for your child's change of clothes here at school. (Please label everything!)   ALL children need an appropriate change of clothes available to them at school.   Thanks for your help with this.

Boots

Now that the snow has started to fly, your child will need to wear boots to school.   Please send a pair of shoes or slippers for them to wear in the classroom.   (Kindergarten and Full Day four year olds need to have a pair of shoes rather than slippers as they go to P.E. in the afternoon and slippers are not safe in the gym unless they have rubber soles.)    Boots are too hot to wear inside and it will help keep the classroom floors clean.   You may choose to have your child either keep the shoes/slippers at school or transport them back and forth in their bag.   Please label all outer wear.   Thanks for your help with this.

Scholastic Book Orders

November book order forms are coming home in your Thursday folder.   Orders are due on Tuesday, November 7.   You may order on line until Friday, November 11.   Our classroom code is GNGBW.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that we are grateful to have the opportunity to work with you and your children.

Peace,

Ms. Therese, Ms. Addie, Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Paula

October Newsletter

Lincoln Elementary Montessori Classroom News

Ms. Therese – Room 003

October 6, 2011

Dear Parents,

  What a wonderfully, busy month September has been.   Everyone has settled nicely into our school routines.   Please know that occasional tears at your departure are still normal and will continue to diminish with time.  

  In the classroom we have been working very hard in the Practical Life area and have perfected many basic motor skills.   From pouring and tweezing to chair scrubbing and window washing, the Practical Life area is a very productive place.  In the cultural area we have focused on invertebrates to start off the year and will be watching our caterpillars transform into butterflies.    We have also been discussing the seasons and have set up a nature table where children are encouraged to bring nature items including signs of fall.   So many wonderful things to experience and discover at this age!

NOTES & REMINDERS

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up this month.   We will be offering evening conferences from 4:00PM-6:00PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 18, 19 and 20 and Monday and Tuesday, October 24 and 25.   Conferences will be 20 minutes long.   We are going to be signing up for conferences online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/mstherese   Just type in your name and email address and choose the conference time that works for you.   If you are unable to come to conferences during these scheduled times, please let me know and we will work out an alternate time.   I look forward to talking with all of you.

Cooler Weather

Cooler weather is just around the corner, we hope!   We want to remind you that we go outside everyday unless it is raining or extremely cold.   Outside time is important for children’s growth and development.   Please make sure that your child has outerwear appropriate to the weather.   Remember to label everything so, if it gets misplaced, it will find its way back home.

Scholastic Book Orders

Scholastic book orders are due next Friday, October 14.   Remember that you can order books online at http://www.scholastic.org/   Our class code is GNGBW.

News

The News procedure is going very well.   Thank you for working with your children and preparing them to give clues about their News items.   There is a sign on our arrival/dismissal door that reminds everyone of the sound for the current week

United Nations Day

We will be honoring United Nations Day on Monday, October 24, time tba.   Kindergarten and Full Day 4’s will be participating in this event.   All parents and morning preschoolers are welcome to attend.

Peace,

Ms. Therese, Ms. Addie, Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Paula