The Saplings Times

This fall, we had a lot of fun learning about fungi by going on fungi hunts and using various classroom materials that focused on the parts of a mushroom and types of mushrooms. This year, our exhibition topic will focus on the fungi kingdom and how it interacts with all of the other kingdoms of life on Earth. One of our guiding questions will be "What is a field guide?". Here is your invitation to clean off your bookshelves of any field guides you might have on any topic that you don't need or want anymore! We will be learning about the features found in a field guide to guide our fungi projects. Any donations of field guides will be greatly appreciated! I know I'll be scouting the local thrift stores for resources!

In addition to the school-wide Winter Solstice celebration, we also enjoy a classroom celebration before break that includes the famous Saplings Sweet & Salty Solstice Snack Mix, Wassail, making pomanders, and a viewing of the Snowman. We added another pre-break tradition this year of cozying up with our pillows, blankets, and pjs the day before break to watch a movie together. This year's movie was Ice Age, as a little note to the Timeline of Life which we had just been presented shortly before break. Moments like this are all about community building and memory making!

The Saplings have been doing a great job coming in prepared to be outside on these frigid days! Because everyone has been geared up properly, we've been able to continue our outdoor adventures as usual. As the saying goes, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing". If you are in need of winter gear for your Sapling, please reach out to us. We have a small collection of extra gear available and have some generous offers to provide gear to anyone in need. Thanks for your help making sure that we are ready for the day!

We are learning about nouns at the moment. Grammar is a major area of focus in the Montessori language curriculum. We have lots of fun learning about the parts of speech through different materials and lessons. Of course, we love music in the Saplings classroom and take any opportunity to include it our learning. Not sure if the students or teachers were more excited to listen to some Schoolhouse Rock this week, but here is what was shared with the Saplings. They were promised that the video would be in the newsletter this week, since we only listened. Enjoy!

• Jan. 15 Staff Meeting- No ASP
• Jan. 16-Winter Program begins
• Jan. 20 MLK Day- No School
• Jan. 20 FC Ice skating event 10:00-11:45 (This is MLK Day. School is closed.)
• Jan. 29 Staff In-Service Day-Half day- Dismissal at 11:45. No ASP.
• Jan. 31 Re-enrollment forms are due
• Feb 19 Staff Meeting- No ASP
• Feb 20 MVCS Exhibition (evening LE 5-5:45, UE/MS 6-6:45)- Yes ASP (3-5)
• Feb. 24–28 Winter Recess – No School