Welcome to the 2025–2026 School Year!
The new school year began with excitement and curiosity. New students adjusted well to the classroom routines, and returning students continued to build on their growth from last year. Together, the children have been settling into the rhythm of learning and community life.
This month, the children were introduced to the Five Great Stories—a cornerstone of the Montessori elementary curriculum. For the first-year students, these stories were brand new, sparking wonder and imagination. For the second- and third-year students, hearing them again brought new layers of understanding, and they showed continued interest and engagement.
Over the summer, the class pet Angel passed away. During the first week of school, the children held a farewell ceremony to honor her. This meaningful moment gave the children an opportunity to reflect on the cycle of life and to express compassion, empathy, and gratitude.
To support academic growth, the beginning-of-year reading assessments were completed. Many children demonstrated strong skills, and additional support has already begun for those who need it. With consistent practice, the children will continue to make steady progress throughout the year.
Grade One
- Math: Introduced to foundational lessons such as counting, writing numbers, and learning basic addition and subtraction. These lessons are laying a solid foundation for future work.
- Language: Daily phonics practice, reading activities, and the introduction of cursive writing. The children are eager to form their letters and take pride in careful handwriting.
- Science: Began exploring our universe and Earth by building solar system models, studying plant needs, and learning about the Timeline of Life. These lessons sparked curiosity and hands-on exploration.
Grade Two
- Math: Reviewed long multiplication with the checkerboard and large bead frame. Continued practice with multiples and reviewed the concepts of congruent, similar, and equivalent figures.
- Language: Reviewed nouns and adjectives, and began using dictionaries to look up word meanings as well as synonyms and antonyms. This practice supports independent learning and vocabulary growth.
- Science: Created volcano models and observed leaf stomata with microscopes, combining creativity with scientific observation.
- Novel Study: Reading Freckle Juice. The humor and characters in this story have captured the children’s imaginations.
Grade Three
- Math: Reviewed the distributive law, long multiplication, and long division. Continued learning about divisibility, angles, and decimal fractions. These reviews and extensions support deeper mathematical understanding.
- Language: Reviewed prepositions and adjectives and continued studying adverbs. Writing has become a favorite activity, with students composing stories, poems, and letters that reflect both creativity and personal voice.
- Novel Study: Currently reading Because of Winn-Dixie. The story has become a classroom favorite, and the children are eager to share their thoughts and predictions.
- Science: Explored practical experiments, such as making glue from flour. These activities provide opportunities to see science in everyday life.
Classroom Community
This month, the class celebrated eight birthdays, a joyful way to honor each child and strengthen community bonds. The children also came together to remember and celebrate Angel, the class pet, with a farewell ceremony, showing care and empathy for one another.
Throughout August, the classroom has been full of discovery, creativity, and cooperation. Students are not only building academic skills but also developing important life skills such as compassion, independence, and collaboration.
Important Dates
- September 3 – First Community Meeting
- September 12 – Picture Make-up Day
- September 18 – Early Release (No Extended Care)
- September 19 – Staff Development Day (No Extended Care)
- September 30 – Potluck Day
We are grateful for the partnership of all families as we begin this journey together. The children have already shown joy and growth in so many areas, and we look forward to the months ahead.
Warmly,
Ms. Hellen and Ms. Bahareh