LEW Newsletter 4-7-2017

Hello LEW Families!

Hope you are all going to get the chance to bask in the sunshine this weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed our outside time and have every started our Yoga specialist (which happens on Tuesdays) outside with mats on the playground.  Our art specialist, Jenny Kordosky, will be doing specialist with us on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.  Glad to hear some of you got the chance to go some the children's artwork at Can Can Wonderland!

Work from this week...

Some specific Big Work that's happening includes various timelines, including the Timeline of Life through the history of the Earth and the Timeline of Plant Evolution and the Coming of Life to Land.  I told the story of how life has developed since the Earth came to be.  (This is one of Montessori's "Great Lessons," that aims to add fuel to the fire of a child's interest.  It seemed to successfully echo a few of the lessons of the week.)  There has also been some activity around used and broken electric objects, which have been meticulously dissected and examined.

First Years:

- Knowledge of Animals (classification work)

- Money Equivalence (different the ways to make 10 cents, 25 cents, etc. See if you can practice this with them!)

- Ecology webs

- Parts of a River

- Addition Math Facts

Second Years:

- Stamp Game Division

- Fraction Addition

- Timeline of Life (Huge work!)

- South America Political Map Study

- Subtraction Math Facts

Third Years:

- The Story of Plants coming to Land

- Final Algebra Work, using equality through subtraction

- Writing Dialogue

- Mississippi River Study (A fun study that ends with a trip to the Mississippi River Exhibit at the Science Museum!)

- MCA Math practice - the children will take that last MCA Math test on Wednesday, April 12th. 

- Also there's an enormous checkerboard multiplication problem occurring right now ---- pictures to follow :) 

Friendly Reminder

Water Bottles - With the weather warming up, it's especially important to send a water bottle with your child if you haven't already.  

Have a wonderful 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    

LEW Announcements. Welcome back!

Hello LEW Parents!

Spring has sprung and we are all back in the swing of things. Hope you all had a chance to relax and rejuvenate last week.  Here are a couple of time-sensitive announcements...

1. Volunteers are needed for...

- May Snack

- April Flowers 

- Food for Gex in April and May

If you're interested, please sign up here.

2. An invitation to see elementary artwork at Can-Can Wonderland from Jenny Kordosky, our art specialist.

What - A low-key reception at Can-Can Wonderland for the GRS community, students with art in the show will get a little treat and a Can-Can button for participation, some chose a different piece to share, so there will be a sweet mix of projects along with UE's homage to the Guerrilla Girls and LE's homage to women-identified artists. (FYI: not all elementary students wanted to have their art in the show but all GRS students are welcome to attend the reception, and all elementary students will get a button.) This show will be up for a full month, displayed on a floating wall near the mural that A2 student, Olivia Reinhart painted, so if folks can't make it on Thursday they'll have other opportunities to check out the show!

When - Thursday, April 6th from 6-7:30pm

Where - 755 Prior Ave N, St Paul, MN 55104, in the large hallway just to the side of the main entrance.

Hope some of you can make it!

Warm regards and welcome back!

--

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    

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