Head of School Newsletter: April 2021

PFM Families,

This April sure is a far-cry from last April and we are so thankful that is the case! Most of us teachers have all completed our vaccinations and are so happy to see some light at the end of this tunnel. Like you all, we cannot wait to travel, see friends and family and get back to more normalcy. Thank you all for keeping us safe this last year and for caring so much for our school community.

We are happy to welcome Lihai’s sister, Mei into our infant room! She is already fitting right in and making friends. Adeline begins in the toddler room in mid-April as well as her older sister, Irene, in South Pre. Our online learners Alex & Eddie have moved back to their schools and are no longer attending PFM. It was fun to have them here but we are excited for them to join their schools again – they will do great!

I am in the final stages of completing the 2021-2022 school calendar. Thank you for your patience on this. It should be ready to share by midweek next week. We are all waiting on pins and needles for travel restrictions to improve and promise to keep you posted along the way. Go away quarantine – we need to travel!

Looking forward to a great month ahead.

Teddi Blades

Director & Owner, PFM

April South Preschool Newsletter

Hello April~

This month, the South Preschool students will learn about flowers. We will discuss the different parts of a flower, the life cycle of flowers, and incorporate flowers into art and practical life projects.

“There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness.”--Maria Montessori

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Dates to remember:

• Tiny Tots on April 12, at Benaroya Hall

Quick Classroom Reminders:

• Please be sure your child has extra clothes in his/her cubby

April Birthdays:

Olivia (4) April 25 ; Jane (4) April 28

April North Preschool Newsletter

Hello April~

This month, the North Preschool students will study frogs! They’ll learn about the life cycle of a frog, its different body parts, and complete several frog-related art projects. North Preschool will also welcome two new students, Camilla and Frida!

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”--Maria Montessori

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Dates to remember:

• Tiny Tots on April 12, at Benaroya Hall

Quick Classroom Reminders:

• Please be sure your child has extra clothes in his/her cubby

April Birthdays:

Jackson (4) April 1 ; Ivan (3) April 18 ; Taani (3) April 30

April Toddler Newsletter

Hello April~

This month, as our weather improves, the toddler students will learn about spring! This includes discussing the change in season, learning about flowers, and naming different bugs. During circle time, we will sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

“The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.”--Maria Montessori

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Dates to remember:

• Tiny Tots on April 12, at Benaroya Hall

Quick Classroom Reminders:

Please check to see that your child has extra clothes and diapers in the classroom.

April Birthdays:

Coming soon!

April Infant Newsletter

Hello April~

This month, we welcome a new child to our classroom—Max. Isabella will transition to the toddler classroom! We know she will do well in her new environment. Our theme for the month of April is weather. We have weather flash cards, books, and fun decor for the infants to enjoy. We hope to spend as much time as possible outdoors, and our teachers will talk to the students about weather patterns!

Weekly focus—

• April 1–5: Sensory

• April 8–12: Practical Life

• April 15–19: Fine Motor/Cognitive

• April 22–30: Object Permanence

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“An authentic child is one who feels secure, autonomous, competent, and connected.
When we help a child to feel secure, feel appreciated, feel that ‘somebody is deeply, truly interested in me,’ by the way we just look, the way we just listen, we influence that child’s whole personality, the way that child sees life.”

— RIE Principal

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Dates to remember:

• Coming soon!

Classroom reminder:

Please label your child's bottles and/or food with their first and last name, date, and the type of milk or food. Let us know if your child has dietary restrictions! We'll update thier file and ensure these are monitored during communal snack times. Thank you!

April Birthdays:

Michael (1) April 5 ; Cruz (1)

Coping with Aggression and Teaching Self-Control

Young children, including toddlers, may exhibit seemingly aggressive behaviors. Around 12-18 months of age, children are learning how to separate from their caregiver(s). This can be a stressful time! Additionally, it is a critical point in child development as their language skills expand. While toddlers and young preschool students become increasingly verbal, they may continue to rely on body language—such as hitting or biting—to express stress, anger, sadness, etc.

When working with young children, it is important to remember the specific child’s age when assessing aggressive behavior. For infants—from 0-12 months—it is helpful to redirect unwanted behavior after acknowledging how the infant may feel. For example, if a baby pulls your hair, you can say, “Ouch, that hurts my body.” Then, direct the infant towards something positive they can do with their hands.

This process of redirecting is relevant for toddlers, too. However, you can also provide the child with language surrounding the behavior. A few other tips include: staying calm, recognizing the child’s feelings, offering alternatives, and encouraging the child to take a break. These tips are practiced by PFM staff and can be emulated in the home environment.

For additional information and support, we invite you to read this article. Throughout the month of April, we will host parent-teacher conferences. This is an opportune time to discuss your child’s behavior and how best to support their physical and emotional development.

Toddler Newsletter

Hello April Families!

Monthly Unit : Spring!

 With winter finally over, we will be exploring the changes in nature that come with spring. This means some nature finding city walks, natural sensory experiences, and talking about different creatures that make their appearances in the spring! 

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature”

— Maria Montessori

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Weekly lesson plan:

Week 1: Insect Sorting
Week 2: Grassy Field Sensory Bin
Week 3: "Flower Planting" Playdough
Week 4: Rainy Day Window Art  

Happy Spring!