Middle Elementary students have recently had many serious and heartfelt discussions about fairness, justice, and equality - what these concepts mean to us personally and in our society. In one of our recent discussions we had a demonstration of the difference between equality, in which everyone gets the same thing, and justice, in which everyone gets what he or she needs. We had a large curtain held up in front of three children of differing height. At first, when everyone was on the same level, only the tallest child could see over the curtain. Next, we gave everyone an object on which to stand, which raised each child to the same level so they could all see over. Three of the children made the following statements:      "Justice is a right for everyone. Everyone deserves it. Even if you've been bad, it's everywhere. Maybe it's in your heart or maybe in the deepest ocean or in the tallest mountain. You just have to look hard enough. ...

As we continue to observe our classroom butterflies go through metamorphosis, we reflect on this past school year and all of the growth and change that has occurred. The LE students have worked hard to reach goals and overcome challenges. This personal growth in the students is analogous to the life cycle of a butterfly.  The butterflies undergo so much change in such a short amount of time - from a tiny larva to a chrysalis that has fought to remain hanging from the top of our butterfly habitat, and which will eventually transform into a beautiful butterfly. It is so exciting to watch! Change and personal growth include discovering the inevitability of change and the need for one to clarify a vision for the future. As a Montessori classroom, we strive to instill in the students the importance of achieving one's personal goals, regardless of whether those goals are equal to those of his or her peers. Our mantra for this week in yoga is, "change is good....

Group class pictures are ready to view! To take a look at the photos, click here . To order a 5x7 print for $10, please use the PayPal button below. Note: If you would like to order a photo of more than one class, make your first selection and hit "add to cart" (you will then be redirected to the PayPal checkout page). Then return back to this email, make your next selection, and click "add to cart" again. The second selection will be added to your original PayPal cart.  Order Your 2014-2015 Class Photo Below! The ordering period has ended. Thank you!

Abintra's annual picnic is May 22 right after early dismissal on the last day of school. You are welcome to bring your own lunch to the picnic, but if you would like to order the self-serve build-your-own Baja Burrito taco bar, click on the PayPal link below. Lunch orders are due Monday, May 11! The Baja Burrito build-your-own taco bar includes: Tortilla: Corn or Flour Fillings: Beans, Rice, Chicken, or Steak Toppings: Cheese, Pico, Lettuce, Sour Cream, Olives, Jalapenos, Tortillas, and your choice of Salsas. Other treats included: Chips & Salsa Bar; Tea, Lemonade or Water; Cookies $8.25 per adult (approximately two large tacos) $6.25 per child (approximately two small tacos) Use the PayPal button below to pay. Once you click "Add to Cart," you will be directed to the PayPal website where you can edit the quantities of each item you order. The period for ordering has ended. Thank you! 

Chances are, if students enjoy the story or activity that is part of the lesson, they will be more inclined to remember.   La Primavera- Spring LE students work with vocabulary like: primavera -spring, flores - flowers, pajaritos - birds, etc. They also work with parts of the plant and what it needs to survive. They learned a poem, made paper flowers, wrote sentences, and performed a play.  ¡ Viva la Primavera!  The play was called  Los 5 Amigos - The 5 Friends .  ME is working on parts of the plant and vocabulary related to things that we see in the springtime. Students are labeling parts of the plant and making sentences related to spring.  ME students worked on a story about traveling in South America in which they used many props to help students follow the story in a visual way. Students learned names of places in  South America in Spanish. Musical Chairs Retell is...

Large motor skills, more commonly referred to as gross motor skills, are the ability to control the large muscles of the body. These are the muscles involved in activities such as running, jumping, lifting, and reaching, as well as in maintaining proper posture and balance. Riding a tricycle is great for the development and exercise of those large muscles, and recently our EC students have been all smiles as they motor their vehicles on the porch. Children on tricycles learn how to pedal and steer at the same time. The dual wheel in the back offers balance as the child learns the rhythm and coordination of feet pushing the pedals while steering the handlebars. This activity enhances bilateral motor coordination and spatial awareness. The need to travel safely, accelerating or decelerating as needed, helps build motor planning ability. In celebration of spring's arrival, we have been taking our large motor skills into the woods of Abintra! Our walks through the w...

The Sylvie Stewart Coin Drive has been taking place during the month of April at Abintra. Students are encouraged to bring in loose change to support the Tuition Assistance Fund. Each classroom has a collection jar so students can see the coins collected. This fundraiser was created by former student Will Stewart in memory of his sister, Sylvie, an Early Childhood student who passed away from brain cancer in 2000. The guides have shared the Sylvie Stewart story with each classroom in an age-appropriate way so the children understand what their coins support. Early Childhood students have  received lessons on counting money and have been involved in the process of keeping up with their totals.    We appreciate those of you who have contributed to the coin drive thus far. The drive runs through August 22, so there is still time to participate!