Classroom News.......2

A Montessori-Inspired

Winter ..........3

IN THIS ISSUE:

Announcements..2

School Activities.....2

Safety and Security4

Special Thanks ...4

January 2015 Newsletter 35699 Niles Blvd., Fremont, CA

Our Mission Statement: Learn and Play Montessori School provides a superior quality toddler, preschool and Kindergarten education, assisting each child grow to his/her fullest potential by recognizing each stage of development and creating an environment that nurtures and facilitates growth using the Montessori philosophy.

Dear LAPMS Families, Happy New Year to all! Feliz Ao Nuevo! We hope you enjoyed some quality time with your loved ones this past winter break.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to all our LAPMS families who came to our Winter Concert to support our children. Our collective hope for the rain to hold off until the evening was granted, and our courtyard was filled with proud and happy parents!

January is a time of new beginnings. In the classrooms, children continue to grow and learn, their skills in all curriculum areas improving with daily Montessori work. Teachers and parents are working in harmony with each other. The time and effort spent with your child at home, such as reading to your child, working on homework, or simply talking about your childs day, all create a positive impression in your child and in the way he/she perceives school. We continue to strive to improve our school, and we aim to provide the highest quality of education for your child. We welcome your suggestions and comments. Our suggestion box is located in the lobby by the front office.

Thank you for your support as our LAPMS family.

Sincerely,

Aurelia C. Florendo

Mark Your Calendars! Jan. 1- New Years Day: No School Jan. 5- School Resumes Jan. 7-8 Parent-Teacher Conferences (Rm. 5) Jan. 9, 12- Parent-Teacher Conferences (Rm. 4) Jan. 13-14- Parent-Teacher

Conferences (Rm. 3) Jan. 15-16- Parent-Teacher Conferences (Rm. 2) Jan. 19- Martin Luther King Day, No School Jan. 20- Fire Drill @ 10:00 A.M. Jan. 20-30- Talent Show Audition and Registration (Children 4-6 years old only) Plan Ahead! Feb. 5- Students 100th Day of School Feb. 13- Valentines Day Celebration Feb. 14- Valentines Day Feb. 16- Presidents Day: No School Feb. 17- Distribution of Childs Success Summary Report II (CSSR) Feb. 19- Chinese New Year Feb. 23- Return of CSSR II Feb. 26- Talent Show Feb. 27- Talent Show Encore for Student Audience Only

The teacher must derive not only

the capacity, but the desire, to observe natural phenomena. The teacher must understand and feel her position of observer: the activity must lie in the phenomenon.

-Dr. Maria Montessori

Learn and Play Montessori School LLC

January Newsletter

January 2015 Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 11

January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

Parent-Teacher Conferences will continue this January, starting on Wednesday, January 7th. Please check below for your childs classroom schedule.

Every year, LAPMS hosts a Talent Show showcasing the unique talents of our students! This year, our Talent Show will be on Thursday, February 26

th! Talent Show

guidelines will be available in your childs classroom. Performances will be limited to 2-3 minutes in length only in order to accommodate all participants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Our Annual Talent Show is scheduled for Thursday, February 26

th! If your child is 4

to 6 years old and would like to participate, please sign up for an audition. Talent show auditions will be held in your childs classroom, and will begin on Tuesday, January 20

th. Children who have

auditioned may register for the Talent Show with the childs head teacher. Auditions and registration will be open from January 20

th through 30

th.

LAPMS GOT TALENT!

ANNUAL TALENT SHOW AUDITIONS

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule

Room 5: January 7th

and 8th

Room 4: January 9th

and 12th

Room 3: January 13th

and 14th

Room 2: January 15th

and 16th

Parents are advised to call the school when their

child is absent or ill. If a child has been absent

due to illness and has been seen by a doctor, a

doctors note is needed upon the childs return. A

sick clearance slip or excise slip will be filled out at

the front desk upon receipt of the doctors note.

The sick clearance slip must be turned in to the

classroom teacher.

Medication

Illness

Medication should be in its original container with

the childs full name, and it must not be expired.

An authorization form and medication log must

be filled out completely for every new medication

and signed by a parent.

Winter Safety

Please dress your child warmly this winter season. Ensure that the child has a jacket or coat to wear for outdoor play. Children need to stretch and energize their bodies, so playtime outside is encouraged if it isnt rainy or wet. If it is too cold, windy, or rainy, teachers engage the children with activities in the classroom such as games, story time, and crafts.

Dear Room 2 Parents, December was a celebration of peace for Room 2 children, as they learned about different holidays and traditions around the world. They learned how to reuse and recycle as they created ornaments made of plastic bottles! Thank you to all the parents who came to watch our students perform in the Winter Concert! All the children enjoyed being Christmas bells, and they loved our songs so much they are still singing it in class, days after the performance! Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts!

- Room 2 Teachers

Dear Room 3 Parents, In the month of December, children did a science experiment on how plants absorb water and minerals through their roots and transport it to different parts of the plant. Children had fun observing how the stem and leaves of celery changed colors day by day as we placed it in two different-colored water containers. Children had a blast making their own edible Christmas tree craft. During the process of making the craft, children learned self-control and they used their imagination and creativity to make their own Christmas tree. Thank you to all the parents for your donations and wonderful gifts.

- Room 3 Teachers

Dear Room 4 Parents, The teachers of Room 4 would like to thank the parents for coming to our Winter Concert. The children worked really hard in preparing for this performance, and it makes them very happy and proud when their parents come and show their support. We hope you all had a happy and safe holiday!

- Room 4 Teachers

Room 2

Room 3

Room 4

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January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

light under the microscope?

The child who said she saw the rainbow then said,

Well, a rainbow has different colors and layers. So

maybe the fish scale also has layers?

Needless to say, the child later drew the fish scale

with amazing accuracy, after having only a few

minutes of observation using the microscope.

Parents can take advantage of teachable moments

such as these by asking the right questions. Here are

a few more tips:

Show enthusiasm and wonder. Whether

it is a discussion on why it rains or why

the sky is blue, children can often sense

your enthusiasm and will mirror it by

asking questions.

Encourage observation. As you walk

through the park, or even on your way to

school, ask what kinds of sounds are

present, or point out the different bird

songs.

If a child shows interest in something,

build upon it by offering to help in a

special project, like building a birdhouse

or researching books at the library on a

topic of choice.

Parents are the childrens first teachers, and, more

than anything academic that they learn at school,

they begin to thirst for knowledge and crave

answers about the world around them. Through our

attitude and enthusiasm, parents and teachers pave

the path towards a lifetime of learning.

By R. Juarez

Winter is once again knocking on our doors with its frosty fingers! In such wet and chilly weather, it becomes a challenge to plan

new, engaging activities to enjoy with our children.

A day indoors could feel like a week for a child if there are no activities prepared for him/her. And while staying indoors might not

sound too inviting after a few days of rain, there are plenty of indoor activities that could be enjoyable and productive!

Arrivals at School

Water-themed Experiments

By R. Juarez

If the sun is out on a winter day and it is warm enough to play outdoors, bundle up and bask in the crisp aroma of winter!

Here are a few ideas for outdoor winter fun:

Digging Up Dinosaurs: Place small toy animals such as dinosaurs inside a small container of water before freezing it. When it is frozen, have your child dig the dinosaurs out by rubbing the surface of the ice with a toothbrush, and record how long it takes to dig up the dinosaur. Not only will your child be learning about the properties of ice, this activity also strengthens their small hand and wrist muscles. You could also try freezing other toy animals such as polar bears, and talk about hibernation!

Books, Board Games, and Crafts:

Cuddle up with your child and read together. Try some classic literature, such as The Wizard of Oz, or Dr. Seuss books.

Play board games! Older children might enjoy the Orchard Game or Twister. Guessing games such as I Spy is also a favorite!

Winter is perfect for arts and crafts! Make snowflakes with folded coffee filters. Create a snow globe with an empty pasta jar filled with water, white or clear glitter, faux snow, and a family picture glued to the inside of the jar.

Winter Scavenger Hunt: A brisk walk around the neighborhood could be fun and energizing for you and your child! Have a scavenger hunt, and plan to save your winter treasures in a paper bag. Make a list of natural objects to collect, such as acorns, maple leaves, pine cones, and flowers. For younger children, instead of writing out the list, you could draw the objects and check them off one by one as you find them. Place your collection in a nature basket to display on a shelf or on the mantle!

Silly Songbird Game: Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with your child and listen to different bird songs in your own backyard or at a local park. Encourage your child to imitate the sounds and pinpoint where the bird songs are coming from.

Exploring Ice Experiment: Bring the outdoors inside by exploring ice! Discover the properties of ice with your child by experimenting with a variety of materials and observing its effects on a cube of ice. For example, ask your child what he/she thinks would happen if water is poured over the ice. You could also try water tinted with food coloring, or a teaspoon of salt on an ice cube. Ask plenty of why questions to get your child thinking!

Page 3

January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

Only an authorized parent/guardian may drop-off and

pick-up the child. If someone other than the parent is

picking up the child, please sign a parent authorization

form, and turn it in to the front desk.

When checking in and out from ProCare at the front desk,

the computer plays a short sound when the procedure is

finished. Please wait for this sound to ensure that you

have successfully completed the signing-in or signing-out

process.

Late Pick-Ups: Please call us if you are going to be late in

picking up your child. Please note that a fee of $2.00 per

minute will be applied.

The school opens from 7:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. The school director

gives tours at 9:00-11:00 A.M. during the Montessori activity

period. This is the best time to observe the children at work with

different subject areas. Orientations are scheduled at 1:30-3:30

P.M. daily. You may bring your child to the tour, and the child

may observe the classroom during the Montessori activity

period. Please call the front desk to schedule a tour.

An important part of our admissions process is the orientation

where the parents and the child are invited to meet with the

director.

Tour Time: 9:00-11:00 A.M. Daily Orientations: 1:30-3:30 P.M. Daily

Our Winter Concert was a very memorable event!

A special thanks to all the parents for taking the time to attend our concert and for showing your support!

Thanks to all the teachers for your time and effort in practicing songs with the children, and for making

wonderful, creative costumes for them!

Thank you to Ms. April for designing our Winter Concert program and for taking photos of the

children!

We would also like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Ms. Rex, our music teacher, for the piano accompaniment on our Winter Concert. Her

musical talent and enthusiasm was a key component in the success of our event.

Our warmest thanks also go to Ms. Kim and Ms. April for our festive winter stage decoration!

Many thanks to all the parents who gave goody bags to share with their childs classroom!

Page 4

Learn and Play Montessori School Irvington Campus will

open in January 2015! Learn more by emailing us at

irvington@learnandplaymontessori.com or call us at

(510) 299-5054.

LIC #: 013420604

WE OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE HOLD YOUR CHILDS

HAND DURING DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP, ESPECIALLY IN

THE PARKING LOT.

A 30-day notice is required if your child will be going on

vacation, or if you are withdrawing your child. Please

ask the front desk for a 30-day notice form.