Sunnybrook Montessori School

Reading a funny book

Our first week was full of meeting new friends, reuniting with old friends, exploring the classroom and materials, learning the expectations, and getting into the routine of the day.

We welcomed 12 new students and 8 returning students.  We also welcomed a new after care teacher, Tricia Fox.   The children quickly made introductions and spent a lot time getting to know each other.  It will take some time to learn everyone’s names, but there will be plenty of opportunities to practice.  The returning students were very welcoming.  They helped the new students remember the routines, find spots to return materials, and assisted them when needed.

floor work

folding washcloths

painting

plant care

play dough

practical life work

letter sound game

cutting

In the classroom the students did a lot of play dough work, cutting, gluing, and painting at the art table, scooping and spooning, raking in the small Japanese sand garden, observing the monarch caterpillars that Grammy Boop brought in, playing sound games, building towers and stairs, and using the farm.  There was a lot to see and do all day long.  Everyone worked well together at the end of the morning getting the classroom cleaned up.  Children put away their materials, swept the floor, cleaned the carpets, washed the tables, and wiped the chalkboard.

art

constructive triangles

caterpillars arrive

observing the caterpillars in the tank

During circle we learned some new songs and sang some familiar ones.  We read lots of stories about families, friends, and the earth.  All of the children enjoyed meeting Henrietta and Wolfgang, who taught us about manners and making introductions.

raking

Outside everyone was busy playing chase, raking leaves and sticks, digging in the sandbox, climbing on and in the tunnel, and running, running, running!  There was a lot of excited energy to let out by the end of the morning and the afternoon, and we were grateful for the warm summer weather.

riding on the tunnel

working with the farm

Friday students were all engaged working on puzzles, playing with the farm, building with blocks, and creating art.  We noticed that the caterpillars had turned into chrysalises overnight.  We had a wonderful last day together at the end of a busy week!

Next week we will continue to focus on friends, family, and community.

We are excited to once again be offering play dates for two and three year old children, their caregivers, and siblings.  We welcome you to join us the first Monday of each month, October to May, from 10-11AM at Sunnybrook Montessori School.  Children and their caregivers may explore the classroom, meet Lyn, create some art, enjoy a snack, and participate in a circle time with songs and a story.  We look forward to seeing you!

creating art

Come play with us

May 4

Please Note: If White Mountains Regional School District closes due to inclement weather, we will close as well.  Closings are posted on the WMRSD website.

Funny Kids

What a wonderful year we have had together at Sunnybrook!  It has been such a joy to watch the children grow and develop as they became comfortable and confident  in the classroom, with each other, and with themselves.

finger painting

Our last week was filled with finger painting, finishing up last minute projects, singing and dancing, practicing for our last day performance, visiting with friends, sprucing up the classroom, baking special South American cookies, and enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

balancing

bouncing

boys and maps

sweeping up

cookie making

outside play

more finger painting

parts of a frog

sliding with friends

pouring

pre-lunch exercises

reading

scent bottles

swinging at Colonel Town

Spanish vocab

wiping down the chalk board

art work

The children put on a spectacular performance on our last day, singing songs, reciting poetry, and demonstrating games from each of the continents.  It was exciting to see our kindergarten students graduate, but hard to say goodbye to them and the other friends that are moving on.  We enjoyed yummy snacks and visiting together before saying our farewells.

We wish everyone a fabulously fun summer and look forward to seeing all of our returning friends in the fall, and hope our graduates will come visit!

Friends

Everyone is counting down the days to the final day of school.  It will be hard to say goodbye to our friends that are moving on!

leaf drawings

blowing up a frog belly leaf

We had some indoor recess time this week with rainy weather, but when we were able to make it out, we did some exploring and adventuring.  We spent time gathering and examining plants and leaves.  We enjoyed comparing them then drawing and coloring examples of the different specimens we collected.  Thursday afternoon students enjoyed an outdoor lunch, then got really excited to explore behind the playground, climbing down the bank, over trees and logs and through the bushes.  It was great to spend some time checking out all of the spring plants popping up and putting our motor skills to work navigating the tricky terrain.

adventuring

indoor recess activities

During circle time everyone shared what they loved most about school this year and each child drew a corresponding picture.  We learned more about the South American country, Brazil, and everyone got to try a special Brazilian candy sent in by a native Brazilian friend.  We have really enjoyed learning about all of the continents this year, including the climates, the customs, and the animals.

handwriting work

k, l

continent map

bank game

Popcorn

letter sound sort

reading to a friend

puzzle map

reading with friends

relaxed painting

favorite snack and story time

fun hats

At the art table several of the children made fun bowler hats that they decorated with colored tissue paper squares.  Many students also continued to work on their spring dioramas, creating more animals out of clay, and writing or narrating descriptions of what they made.

clay animals for dioramas

Spanish story

During Spanish we practiced our songs and read a Spanish story.  Students continued to work on their Spanish vocabulary during the morning work times.  We made empanadas with Zeanny by mixing masa and water, forming it into a ball, then placing it in a bag and flattening it into a circle with a pan.  We placed some cheese inside, folded it over into a pocket, then cooked it on the griddle.  They were so yummy!

mixing the masa and water and forming it into a dough ball

flattening the empenada

yummy!

volcano fun

Friday students chose to do a baking soda and vinegar volcano to celebrate our last day of science.  We also examined the parts of an apple blossom and an apple.  We found where the sepals are on the blossom then located the sepals on the apple.  We counted the petals, and noticed that there are five, just like there are five seed pockets that form a star inside the apple.

The students were excited to take their science notebooks home to share, as they have worked hard documenting all of our experiments this year.

apple blossom examination

reading with Gerrie

Gerrie Scott joined us for a story on our final Friday, with three stories about two friends, dog and bear.  She had some help reading from a friend.