Care for Gex over spring break :)

Hello Families,

We are looking for any family that would be willing to care for Gex, our beloved bearded dragon, over spring break.  If you are interested, please let me know.

Warm regards,

--

Jessy Eaton Fabel

Lower Elementary Guide

"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori    

LEW Newsletter 3/19 A Note of Thanks

Hello, Dear Families,

Erik and I are so grateful to have had the chance to meet with so many of you last week. The both of us look forward to conference time -- to have the chance to reflect about each child, their growth, to laugh about a funny anecdote, to feel touched by challenges overcome, or to move forward and be ready to continue to guide the children to tackle on new challenges. We feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you and your children.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.  

Dates and Reminders

iRace - Wednesday, March 22

On Wednesday, March 22, we will celebrate our unique iRace (Identity, Race Awareness, Cultural Education) event at Great River.  From 12:00 to 1:00 there will be a potluck lunch, featuring dishes derived from cultures all over the world.  Each year, the event would not happen without generous volunteering from parents and community members like you.  It is a time of celebrating community and being together with good food.

If you are able, please send a healthy dish to share with our community.  A main dish or side is appreciated.  Items could reflect your cultural heritage or be a favorite family recipe.  If you wish for your dish to be returned, please send it to school in a clearly labeled container. Crock pots needing heat are fine...just send heating directions along.

Spring Break - March 27-31 - No School

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend and here's to the beginning of Spring! 

With Gratitude, 

--

Jessy Eaton Fabel

Lower Elementary Guide

"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori    

Reminder: Noon Dismissal today!

Good Morning!

Just a friendly reminder that the students will be dismissed at noon today! Buses will be coming, but no Big Canoe. 

Apologies if this was not clear.

All the best,

--

Jessy Eaton Fabel

Lower Elementary Guide

"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori    

Elementary iRace Potluck - Wednesday, March 22nd

Dear LEW families,

🌎       🌍       🌏

On Wednesday, March 22, we will celebrate our unique iRace (Identity, Race Awareness, Cultural Education) event at Great River.  From 12:00 to 1:00 there will be a potluck lunch, featuring dishes derived from cultures all over the world.  Each year, the event would not happen without generous volunteering from parents and community members like you.  It is a time of celebrating community and being together with good food.

If you are able, please send a healthy dish to share with our community.  A main dish or side is appreciated.  Items could reflect your cultural heritage or be a favorite family recipe.  If you wish for your dish to be returned, please send it to school in a clearly labeled container. Crock pots needing heat are fine...just send heating directions along.

On this day, a few special things will happen.  Adolescents will be coming in to read a story about peace and equity and create a mural with the class.  The third years will eat with upper elementary students...a time to bridge the transition that will occur at the end of this year.  And the first and second years will eat with their same grade level peers as a way to mix things up!  We will end the day with a visit to the park in the same configuration.

We're all looking forward to this day very much and thank you in advance for your support (and delicious food). 🍜

Warm regards,

--

Jessy Eaton Fabel

Lower Elementary Guide

"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori    

LEW Newsletter 3-3-2017

Hello Families!

We just got back from the Ordway and watched a performance called "Dancing Earth." There were themes of the circle of life, birth, nature, conservation, and more. The dancers used hula hoops to carry the circle theme and did incredible choreography. We also got to see aerial silk performers do impossible-looking moves on a line of silk, suspended in the air. When we got back to school, the children journaled and reflected on what they saw and it was wonderful to see the pictures and writing that the children produced.  

On another note, this week was Montessori Education week! The Montessori Network of Minnesota (or MNMN) has loads of resources for guides and parents to use as we reflect and rejoice about the work of Dr. Maria Montessori.  Next week, I hope to show some pictures of Dr. Montessori to the children and have discussions about Montessori education and prompt them about what makes our school different or similar to a traditional school. Something like, "I like Montessori because..." or "Montessori education helps me to..."   If you feel inspired, check on the MNMN website at MNMN.org and have a discussion about Montessori at home :)

This week's lessons

First Years:

- Introduction to number lines and using them for addition and subtraction facts

- Vertebrate Classification

- Prepositions (ask them about the post-its)

- Indigenous Symbols

Second Years:

- Create a Culture Final Project (ask them about this!)

- Triangle Detectives

- Adverb Grammar Box

- Indigenous Symbols

- Trip to Rainforest Exhibit at Como Zoo next Friday 3/10 to follow up on their rainforest study. I will contact chaperones this weekend.

Third Years:

- A Different Way of Life

- How to take notes for research

- Input/Output boxes

- Introduction to Algebra

- Editing special program proposal to work with Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)

Reminders of Upcoming Dates and Requests

- Parent/Teacher Conferences on March 16-17:  Noon dismissal on Wednesday, March 15th. No school on March 16th & 17th. 

- Donations for school supplies: if you are willing and/or able, the LEW community would greatly appreciate the following items:

1. Packs of pink, pearl erasers
2. Table wipes
3. Child-sized scissors
4. 4 x 7 Notecards (need lots of these)
5. Black sharpies
6. Scotch tape refills

If you are interested in donating something to our class, just let Jessy know and Thank You in advance :)

Enjoy your weekend!

--

Jessy Eaton Fabel

Lower Elementary Guide

"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori