The Quailblazer Times is the monthly newsletter for Children's House Montessori School.

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                            November 2022

Volume X, Issue #2

FYI: The photos and articles in this newsletter are best viewed on a computer screen or an iPad.
But please use anything... we really want you to read it!
Oh, and please read it with your children!

Happy Autumn Everyone!

We keep getting glimpses of our cool fall air and yellowing leaves and this reminds us that the holiday season, with our children, is near. This is such a special time.

School routine has definitely settled in and with two new students last week, our classrooms are complete and joyful. Sadly, we have had many colds and although we miss your children when they aren’t here, we so appreciate you having your children stay home to keep from spreading those germs to others. Luckily, knock on wood, our school has been virtually Covid free since the beginning of school and we couldn’t be more grateful. It is a huge sigh of relief to be back to a school year full of hugs and smiles.

With Autumn in the air, we are looking forward to our wonderful Buddy Trip to John’s Tree down the street. This tree is beginning to show its full fall colors and once it reaches its peak, the Primary through Upper El buddies will walk hand in hand with their paper and pastels to draw a plein-air composition of this gorgeous tree. We can’t wait!

We are also very excited to see you all on November 18th at our annual Thanksgiving performance. Even our adorable toddlers will be on stage singing! In addition to a number of delightful songs, our Upper El students will be performing a short 20-minute play about the life of Maria Montessori. The performance will be followed by a potluck brunch before we all break for our Thanksgiving holiday week. We hope you will sign-up to bring something!

I have so much to be thankful for and I count you all in my blessings. Thank you for all you do and for sharing your beautiful children with us.

Korey

Friday, November 11th

Friday, November 18, 2022
9:15 am to 12:00 pm

We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a family gathering. We will all meet in Steve’s Barn. The upper elementary children look forward to performing a play, "The Life of Maria Montessori" and all children in all classes will be singing songs. The show will begin at 9:30. You are welcome to drop off your children at the regular time. When you are ready to find a seat, please enter through the big gate. Bring your food directly to the back patio tables before the performance and continue on to the barn.

Following the performance, we will gather for a lovely Thanksgiving brunch. Please bring a brunch/breakfast item, such as quiche, French toast, eggs, bacon, breads, muffins, fruits or beverages. Don’t forget to pick up your plates, platters, bowls and utensils when you leave.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING, BY SIGNING UP ON THE GOOGLE LINK or at the front desk.

•There will be NO morning care.

•Toddler children MUST be accompanied by a parent or other adult for the entire event (9:15 to 12:00pm).

•For all other classrooms, if you cannot attend with your child, please make arrangements to have your child picked up by 12:00 pm.

•School will close at 12:00 pm, immediately following our potluck. School will be CLOSED from November 21st to November 25th.

•School resumes Monday, November 28th.

THANK YOU!

We look forward to spending this special holiday together!

Angelica, Amanda, Bill, Christina, Dana, Deborah,
Jamie, Jennifer, Jessica, Korey, Roz, Sasha, Tori, and Valentina

~TODDLER~

As all of you probably know, October is Fire Safety Month!

Our Toddler students and their Kindergarten Buddies had a wonderful time together while learning all about fire safety from the Atascadero Fire Department.

A huge shout out to all the firefighter families we know, and to the crew who came out and shared their morning with us here at Children's House!

~PRIMARY~

October has been a busy month for Primary! So many fun things to study! We have learned about bats, spiders, pumpkins, the solar system, fire safety, and the skeleton!

He brought in a bat and the book Stellaluna for sharing.

He is reading a spider book to a tarantula friend, that came to visit our classroom for sharing.

She is learning the names of the planets in our Solar System. We have a special song to practice them in order “Mercury, Venus, Earth so blue, Mars and Jupiter, Saturn too. Then comes Uranus, Neptune also. Revolving around the Sun.”

He is cutting flowers for our bouquet work! The children have loved having this work on the shelf this week.

~KINDERGARTEN~

I'm doing Pink reading. I'm saying the word and putting it in its place.

I am spelling the words on the pictures. And I made a book and cleaned up.

I went to the bank and I got the beads. She checked my work.

I was showing my little buddy how to glue a bat.

I'm looking at the teeth. I am trying to think what animal this skull is. I think it's a hyena!

~LOWER ELEMENTARY~

In mid-October, we finished our study of North America. 7 teams (consisting of a combination of Level 3s, Level 2s and Level 1s) were assigned 1 of the 7 major biomes, researched 7 living organisms (one from each vertebrate class plus a plant and an invertebrate) and wrote and illustrated a page for each. The highlight of this process was inviting our Primary buddies to a “Wildlife Tour of North America”. At the end of every continent study, we’ll invite our buddies to come in and learn a certain topic we have chosen to teach. We are now "down" in South America where we’re learning about cultural groups from the 6 major biomes and how they meet their basic needs of people, their folksongs, folktales and other aspects of their culture. To prepare for our Winter Play, we’ll teach about their lives in dramatic skits. At every continent we form new teams, forge new bonds, and test these bonds in teamwork games and challenges. By the end of the year, we will have had a chance to mentor (and be mentored by) everyone in the class.

from the Upper Elementary:

     One of the most amazing activities the Upper El gets to participate in is our trip to Catalina Island with the CI Marine Institute. This last month we spent an entire week snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and getting to know the marine life found around Catalina Island. Our studies included taking a variety of water measurements including salinity and turbidity, and learning about and getting some one-on-one time with some sharks, rays, and kites.

     In addition to all those amazing adventures, we also got some downtime and we were able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Choosing a breathtaking rock outcropping to lunch upon was certainly memorable.  A little recreational foosball, volleyball, and rock art were wonderful breaks in our activity-filled days!

Please consider a donation of a
NEW, UNWRAPPED toy or book
with a value of $15.00 or more,
or your tax-deductible check,
to Toys for Tots.
The collection box
should be here soon.

Extended Care - After School

Art Club has started this month with Lower Elementary students. Students have been making Matisse-inspired pop-up cards, origami birds, and painting their own beach-themed cameras!

Sewing Club has started this month for third years and Upper Elementary. Students have been busy learning how to use the sewing machine and planning what they want to do for their first project. This week you will find tote, embroidered, and drawstring bags in the sewing room!

Did you know...

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70 Avocado Recipes So You Never Waste One Again!

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