PROJECT: Summer To-Do Lists

Hello Sunflower parents!

This week, the Sunflower kids in Ms. Indima's and Ms. Sam's class are working with me to create a summer to-do list.  In making this project, the children will get yet another chance to increase their awareness of the four seasons and how they are different.  We have had so much fun talking about what is (and what isn't) fun to do in the hot weather!  

The project itself involves some basic sewing skills.  Be sure to ask your child how they felt about using a "real metal!!!" needle.  The needles we are using are tapestry needles, and are quite safe.  It was delightful to see the surprise and excitement on the faces of some children who did not know that some needles don't need to be off-limits to children- a true Montessori moment.  We also got to use a special star-shaped hole-punch, and had another opportunity to work on writing our names.

I encourage you to extend the use of this project at home in the following ways:

1) Please hang your child's list in a visible spot.  As activities are completed, tear them off the string.  In two weeks, we will be making a summer journal which would make a perfect spot to glue the cards that have been torn from the string.  You may wish to include a brief summary of how that activity went, or even a picture or photograph.  

2) Use this list as a way to encourage further conversation about how we measure time.  Many children feel a new sense of security when they can talk with ease about "tomorrow" and "next week" in a knowledgeable way.  

3)  Feel free to add your own family's favorite summer activities to the list.  All you need is a bit more string, a hole punch, and a few more index cards cut in half.  

As always, thanks for sending such lovely little faces to school each day.  They are so much fun to work with!

Ms. Melodie

Summer At Sunflower

I hope everyone's excited for tomorrow, when this year's Summer Session at Sunflower begins. Here's some info you might find helpful:

POLLEN, SEEDS & SPROUTS

The younger students will continue their normal Montessori curriculum, with classroom work and outside time continuing as usual. 

SUNFLOWERS AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

The first two weeks of the program are an "orientation" period, with kids getting to know one another, and taking practice walks to the park. 

The schedule for the summer is as follows:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be normal at-school days, with a mix of Montessori classroom work and plenty of outside time. 

Beginning the week of June 17th, swim lessons and field trips will begin. 

Tuesdays (beginning June 18th) - 

• Sunflowers walk to Currents Aquatic Center for swim lessons. 
• Elementary students go on a field trip. 

Thursdays (beginning June 20th) - 

• Elementary kids walk to Currents Aquatic Center for swim lessons. 
• Sunflowers go on a field trip.

WHAT TO BRING / OTHER INFO:

• Please bring a child-sized backpack with your child - we'll be using these from Day 1.
• On swim days, kids should wear their swim clothes to school under their street clothes for an easy change at the Aquatic Center. 
• Please include a plastic bag inside the backpack for bringing home wet swim clothes.
• Towels will be provided - no need to bring one from home. 
• Kids can bring a water bottle if they want one - but we'll be providing cups and water on all outings.
• Sunflower will be providing lunch every day (we're no longer doing the Friday boxed lunch from home, in case you're familiar with that from previous years).
• All Field Trips are in walking distance from the school. Scheduled locations include Orange Street Food Farm, Natural History Center, The Boone and Crockett Club and the Missoulian. Sunflowers will tour a location on Tuesday, with Elementary kids taking the same trip on Thursdays. A full schedule will be posted at the sign-in tables; our hope is that parents will sign up to help chaperone these trips. 

Any questions? Chances are, if you're confused about something, someone else is, too, so let us know by sending an e-mail and we can clear it up for everyone!

Happy Summer, everyone!

-Brooke

Undefeated

Sunflower Softball's first game was a win against the Sno Pros. There were so many obstacles to overcome: The rain and wind. The fact that we didn't have enough players until the last second, and almost had to forfeit. That the team had never practiced together before. But the team triumphed in the face of adversity, making us the Rocky Balboa of Missoula Co-Ed Novice Softball teams.

Calia's face summed up the weather conditions nicely:

I hope more of you can join us to cheer on the team as the season progresses. The weather has to get better, right? RIGHT?!?

-Brooke

June Lunch Menu

What You're Doing This Wednesday

Greetings, Sunflower families:

Hope you're enjoying your Summer "break." Are you enjoying sun and fun with your family, relishing the chance to commune with each other and share some delightful quality time? Or, are you counting the minutes 'til Sunflower re-opens like no one I know?

In light of everyone's varied and hectic summer schedules, our monthly family dinner nights are going on hiatus. Instead, may I suggest a more fun, outdoorsy, trash-talking alternative? Sunflower has a softball team, and their season begins this Wednesday evening at Fort Missoula. Pack a cooler, wear something green in support of your new favorite team, and let your young'uns run wild in the grass.

"Are we any good?" you ask. "Did you miss the part about bringing a cooler?" I reply.

Here's the schedule. Hope to see you and yours there:

Wed 5/29 7:15pm

vs. Sno Pros

FT Missoula Field 6

Wed 6/5 6:00pm

vs. Montana Peterbilt

FT Missoula Field 6

Wed 6/12 7:15pm

vs. The Iballers

FT Missoula Field 5

Wed 6/19 6:00pm

vs. Baseliners

FT Missoula Field 5

Wed 6/26 6:00pm

vs. A Cruel World

FT Missoula Field 3

  
No game 4th of July week.

Wed 7/10/12 7:15pm

vs. WSP Dead Pixels

FT Missoula Field 6

  

Wed 7/17/12 7:15pm

vs. Village Peeps

FT Missoula Field 3

  

Wed 7/24/12 7:15pm

vs. Villagers 

FT Missoula Field 5

Here we go, Sunflower, here we go!

-Brooke

Graduation / Michaelmania

I hope everyone had fun at the graduation ceremony & potluck yesterday. As always, I put all the pictures I took on the school Shutterfly site. My official and very, very scientific method for labeling the photos is to bribe my three year-old with a bowl of ice cream to sit next to me at my desk so I can point to my computer screen and say, "Do you know this kid's name?" Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't, and sometime she makes one up. I just put that out there in case you click on a photo of your young'un only to discover she's been renamed Sarsparilla Gonzales. 

The funniest thing about the party in the park to me was the crowd following Mr. Michael. Remember that scene in A Hard Day's Night when the Beatles were pursued through London by a crowd of crazy, screaming fans? 

It was just like that, with Michael in the role of Paul McCartney:

A special thanks to the parents who helped with some of the last-minute set-up tasks. And thanks to everyone for bringing delicious dishes to the potluck. Being from Alabama, I assumed that, by law, everything at a potluck had to involve cream of mushroom soup, Ritz crackers and Velveeta. Color me shocked. If you're the parent who made that barley thing, holler at me; I want to know how you did it. 

Best of luck to the new kindergarteners and their families!

-Brooke

"Walk Around The Sun" - A Montessori Birthday

Posts on the Montessori Method are a recurring feature on the blog, written by Crystal Herzog, mom to Iris (Sunflower) and Margot (Elementary)

Summer birthdays are coming and my sweet Margot turns six this week, so today’s post focuses on birthdays.  The traditional birthday celebration for children in a Montessori classroom includes the “Walk Around the Sun,” a powerful, special, and educational Montessori tradition.  The basic form is used by Sunflower Montessori: to place a lit candle in the center of class floor to represent the sun, while the birthday child’s classmates form a large circle, or an ellipse, on the floor surrounding the candle, to represent the Earth’s orbit.  The birthday child holds the continent globe and begins to walk a circle around the sun, while her classmates surrounding her sing:

 “The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And then Margot was one…

“The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And then Margot was two…

(And on until the child’s age)

“The earth goes round the sun,

  The earth goes round the sun,

  It takes 12 months for the earth to go around the sun,

  And now Margot is six!”

At Sunflower, classmates of the birthday child help count and talk about significant stages or developments that happen in each year.  Ms. Correy notes the tradition is extra meaningful when a child brings photos of themselves at each year for their teacher to share with the class as they circle the sun.  The “Walk” has many variations and each teacher at Sunflower adds their personal flair.  A common variation is laying down the months of the year around the sun, allowing the birthday child to start their walk on their birth month and step from month to month as she circles the sun.  A variation of the birthday song lyrics can be sung to the tune “Happy Birthday,”

“We celebrate your birth
  And your place on the earth.
  May the sun, moon, and stars
  Bring you peace where you are.”

In addition to the “Walk Around the Sun,” Sunflower welcomes a child bringing treats from home (if he wishes) to share with his class, but asks that the treats not be edible.  Past ideas include pencils, tattoos, little wooden trains, and glow-sticks.  If you would like to send your child to school with treats for the class, please be sure to give them to Ms. Katie or Ms. Correy at drop off so they can remind the lead teachers to celebrate at circle time.  If you need help figuring quantities, Ms. Katie and Ms. Correy are happy to provide a head count as well.  Happy Birthdays!