Resources

March 2026

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:57:37 GMT

March Recap

During March, our school community came together for a month full of creativity, exploration, and joyful learning experiences. Across all classrooms, students immersed themselves in the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss, enjoying a variety of hands-on activities and art projects inspired by his beloved stories. From creating Thing 1 and Thing 2 to projects inspired by Put Me in the Zoo, the children brought these classic books to life. Storytime favorites included The Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and Green Eggs and Ham, sparking imagination and a love of reading throughout the school.

We also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with lots of excitement and school-wide fun. Classrooms buzzed with creativity as students worked together to design and build leprechaun traps, hoping to catch a mischievous visitor. While the leprechaun managed to escape, he left behind playful surprises—tiny footprints, turned-over classrooms, and even green water in the toilets! The laughter and wonder shared across the school made it a truly memorable experience. Many classrooms also enjoyed festive green-themed potluck lunches, adding to the sense of community and celebration.

Throughout the month, our students explored the diverse and fascinating continent of Asia. They learned about different cultures, traditions, famous landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, and unique animals found across the region. Classrooms expressed their learning through creative projects like Asian lanterns and tiger art, blending cultural understanding with hands-on exploration.

In addition, our younger learners continued building foundational skills through engaging letter-of-the-week activities, getting creative with projects like making paper pizzas for the letter P and designing crowns for the letter Q.

Overall, March was a vibrant and enriching month across our entire school. We are so proud of the curiosity, creativity, and collaboration our students showed each day. We look forward to continuing our journey in April as we explore the continent of Australia and discover even more about the world around us!

February 2026

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:33:19 GMT

February Recap

Dear Families,

We are happy to share some of the wonderful experiences that took place throughout our school during the month of February. Our classrooms focused on themes of friendship, kindness, and community, with many meaningful conversations about how we treat one another and how our actions help create a positive environment for everyone. Valentine’s celebrations brought an extra dose of joy, as students enjoyed exchanging cards and practicing thoughtful gestures toward their peers.

As part of our literacy focus, students explored the story Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. This engaging book provided opportunities to talk about relationships, emotions, and how differences can come together in beautiful ways. Activities connected to the story encouraged creativity, collaboration, and self-expression.

Our cultural studies this month took students on a journey to Africa, where they were introduced to the continent’s rich diversity. Children learned about various traditions, artistic styles, music, and languages, while also discovering animals native to different regions. Hands-on projects helped bring this learning to life, including art activities that strengthened fine motor skills and allowed students to express what they had learned in creative ways.

It has been a month full of discovery, connection, and growth across our school community. We look forward to continuing this momentum as we move into the spring season

January 2026

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:27:42 GMT

January Recap

We are off to a fantastic start to the year and are so proud of all the learning taking place throughout the school. This month, classrooms engaged in a variety of meaningful themes, including the lifecycle of a butterfly, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and an exploration of world cultures, with a special focus on Europe.

Students participated in hands-on lessons that helped them understand growth, change, kindness, and diversity. Through science activities, children learned about living things and their lifecycles. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, classes discussed fairness, respect, and helping others, reinforcing the importance of community and compassion.

Our global studies introduced students to different countries, foods, music, plants, and animals from Europe, encouraging curiosity about the world around them. Literacy remained a strong focus as students enjoyed shared stories, including beloved classroom books that inspired creative discussions and artwork.

Across the school, children expressed themselves through art projects, music, cooking activities, and language exploration. Spanish lessons introduced new vocabulary, music classes brought joyful songs, and cooking projects allowed students to experience learning in fun, hands-on ways.

Thank you to our teachers for creating engaging learning environments and to our families for your continued support. We are excited for all that lies ahead and look forward to another wonderful month together!

December 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 19:22:07 GMT

December 2025

As we wrap up the month of December, we want to take a moment to express how truly thankful we are for our wonderful families. Your continued support, partnership, and trust mean so much to our school community, and we are incredibly grateful to share this journey with you.

December was filled with joy, learning, and special memories. We loved celebrating the season together through our Winter Recitals, festive Spirit Week, and the excitement of Santa’s visit. Seeing the children’s smiles, confidence, and enthusiasm during these events made the month extra special for our staff and families alike.

Along with all the celebrations, the children continued to grow and learn in meaningful ways. Throughout the month, they explored cultural celebrations and holidays from around the world, learned about different traditions, and strengthened important skills through hands-on classroom activities. From developing language and math skills to expressing creativity through art and music, the children showed curiosity and excitement every day.

As we head into winter break, we hope you enjoy this special time together as a family, creating memories and getting some well-deserved rest. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026, ready for another year of learning, growth, and fun.

Thank you again for being such an important part of our school community. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year! ��✨

November 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:27:15 GMT

November 2025

This November, our classrooms have been busy exploring, learning, and celebrating! The children engaged in a variety of activities across all areas of the classroom. In Practical Life, they practiced skills like sweeping with child-sized brooms, using a dustpan and brush, and zipping jackets and coats. In Math, students worked with golden beads, the stamp game, and solved real-life addition problems. In Language, they explored CVC words, word families, blends, and began reading common sight words such as a, the, is, and and. In the Sensorial area, children practiced texture matching, flower scent exploration, and mystery bag activities.

Our social-emotional learning included reading Fill a Bucket, a book that teaches kindness, empathy, and positive behavior. The children learned how actions like sharing, saying “please” and “thank you,” and giving hugs can fill both their own and others’ invisible buckets, fostering thoughtfulness and awareness of the happiness of those around them.

In Science, students explored the four seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—and observed changes in daylight, weather, and plant life. They learned about roots, their roles in supporting plants and absorbing nutrients, and even discussed edible roots such as carrots, potatoes, and garlic. Our Animal Classification lessons introduced mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, highlighting characteristics such as fur, feathers, scales, and habitats.

During Circle Time, children explored aspects of the United States, including its culture, history, animals, plants, and the flag. Our Thanksgiving celebrations focused on gratitude, family, and sharing. Students learned about traditional foods eaten by Native Americans, participated in themed crafts and coloring activities, and had a wonderful time making turkey hats. The highlight was our Harvest Feast, where children enthusiastically tried a wide variety of seasonal foods, sharing in the joy of tasting and exploring together.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our global explorations by learning about South America—its countries, animals, cultures, flags, and rich traditions. We are thrilled to continue supporting the children’s curiosity, creativity, and love of learning!

October 2025

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:22:17 GMT

October 2025

October was filled with excitement, learning, and plenty of seasonal fun across all of our classrooms! From exploring the beauty of Fall to celebrating together at our annual Harvest Carnival, it’s been a wonderful month of growth and community.

Throughout October, students learned about the continent of North America , discovering its geography, landmarks, food, and music. They created colorful art projects inspired by their studies—everything from bison crafts to bright orange cacti paintings! Our young learners also continued developing important grace and courtesy skills , such as greeting others politely, caring for their environment, and showing respect for friends and teachers.

In the spirit of the season, many classrooms enjoyed lessons on the Lifecycle of a Pumpkin and the changes we see during Fall Harvests . The book We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger was a favorite across several classrooms, inspiring children to head outdoors for leaf hunts and nature walks.

Our enrichment programs added to the fun—students practiced Spanish colors and greetings, sang songs like This Land Is Your Land, and cooked up delicious treats, including apple fruit yogurt donuts and “mummy” pizzas.

We ended the month with our Harvest Carnival , complete with games, face painting, a bounce house, and a petting zoo—followed by our festive Halloween Potluck and Costume Parade . It was a joyful way to celebrate all the hard work and creativity our students have shown this month.

As we look ahead to November, we’re excited to continue this wonderful journey of learning and discovery together!

September 2025

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 21:19:09 GMT

September 2025

September in Our Classrooms

From the Office of Stars Montessori

Welcome to a brand-new school year! September set the tone for an exciting journey of growth and discovery. Our students are finding their rhythm, exploring new ideas, and learning how to care for themselves, their classmates, and their environment.

Building Daily Habits

Independence has been a key focus. Children practiced practical skills—sweeping with a broom, using a dustpan, and wiping tables—to keep their spaces clean and organized. These small routines nurture confidence and responsibility.

Communication & Community

Social-emotional learning is just as important. Students worked on expressing feelings and asking for help when an activity felt challenging, whether speaking with a friend or a teacher.

Story of the Month

Our featured book was The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. After sharing the story, children created their own “kissing hands,” stamping a handprint and adding a bright heart to symbolize the love and comfort of family.

Letters & Literacy

Alphabet exploration began with A, B, and C. Students practiced dotting both uppercase and lowercase letters and created fun art projects inspired by each letter.

Science Meets Art

Science lessons introduced the fascinating life cycle of a frog and its unique body parts. In art, students discovered Andy Warhol’s vibrant pop-art style and designed colorful handprint pieces that truly popped.

Looking Ahead

October promises even more excitement, from alphabet songs to creative art projects and seasonal celebrations.

—The Stars Montessori Office Team

May 2025

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 21:35:43 GMT

May Recap and June News

May was filled with exciting and enriching activities! One of the highlights was the arrival of our caterpillars—the children were thrilled to observe the life cycle of a butterfly up close. They had a blast giving each caterpillar a unique name, and it was a magical moment when we released the butterflies after they emerged from their crystals. While some children felt a little sad to say goodbye, they were also proud and happy to see the butterflies take flight. We also explored the chicken life cycle, which was an unforgettable experience! The children observed the eggs in the incubator, eagerly waiting for them to hatch. It was so much fun watching the chicks break out of their shells, and the excitement grew as the children got to hold the baby chicks and gently interact with them. It was a wonderful hands-on learning moment full of joy and discovery.

Our Mother’s Day celebration was a joyful event! We were so grateful to have so many wonderful moms join us. We hope you enjoyed the special gifts and had a great time at our little party.

As part of our curriculum, we explored the theme of Whales and Migration. The children learned about different types of whales and why they migrate. We also began a fascinating journey through South America, discovering various countries, cultures, and languages. Some classrooms focused on places like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and the kids were amazed at how far whales travel each year.

We also took time to celebrate our amazing staff members who helped make our school a welcoming and nurturing part of your child’s life.

June is shaping up to be an exciting and eventful month, and we hope you’ll be a part of it!

Father’s Day Celebration – On Thursday, June 13th, we’ll be celebrating our awesome dads! Join us from 9:00–10:00 am for coffee, juice, and donuts. The children will create special gifts and hand them out that morning.
Progress Reports – Progress reports will be sent home on Thursday, June 20th. Please keep an eye out for them in your child’s folder or backpack.
Graduation Celebration – Our graduation performance and celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 26th, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Invitations will be sent via email. After the ceremony, we’ll be hosting a graduation potluck for our graduates and their families. Be sure to check your child’s classroom door for the potluck sign-up sheet.

While we’re sad to say goodbye to our graduating class, we are incredibly proud of how much they’ve grown. We know they’re ready for the exciting adventures ahead in “big kid” school. We’ll miss every one of them, along with the cherished memories we’ve created together.

Looking ahead, our summer fun activities will begin in July, stay tuned for more details!

April 2025

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:46:36 GMT

April Recap and May News

April was a vibrant and exciting month here at Stars Montessori Academy! Our young learners were full of curiosity and enthusiasm as we embarked on a journey across the globe to explore the fascinating country of Australia. We discovered the incredible wildlife native to the land down under, including kangaroos, wombats, platypuses, and dingoes. The children were especially intrigued by the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system—home to countless colorful fish and marine life. Through interactive maps, stories, and hands-on activities, the children truly immersed themselves in the wonders of Australia.

We also took a deep dive into the fiery world of volcanoes and islands! The children learned the difference between magma and lava, the different parts of a volcano, and how volcanic activity helps form new islands over time. Through fun experiments and creative projects, they gained a deeper appreciation for the power and beauty of Earth's geology.

As part of our science studies, we also explored the life cycle of a plant. The children enjoyed planting seeds and observing how they grow while learning about some of the unique plants found in Australia’s diverse ecosystems.

In literature, we enjoyed the rhythmic and playful book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault. This lively story sparked plenty of giggles as the children followed the adventure of the alphabet letters racing up the coconut tree. It was a wonderful way to reinforce letter recognition and rhythm in a fun and engaging way.

Our music time was filled with joy as we listened to the classic lullaby “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” We combined our musical exploration with an art activity, where the children colored beautiful stars using primary colors, reinforcing both color theory and creativity.

We also celebrated Easter in a special way by learning about the holiday’s traditions and symbols. The highlight for many was our joyful egg hunt on the playground, where the children eagerly searched for colorful eggs and shared excitement with their friends.

Looking Ahead to May

The month of May promises to be just as thrilling! This month, we will be diving into the oceans to learn about the majestic world of whales and their fascinating migration patterns. The children will explore the different species of whales, their behaviors, habitats, and the incredible distances they travel.

Our focus will also shift to the rich and vibrant continent of South America. We’ll be exploring its lush rainforests, diverse plants and animals, and some of its most famous landmarks. From the Amazon River to Machu Picchu, the children will learn about the culture and natural beauty that make South America so unique.

Our literature book for May will be the beloved classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Through this story, children will learn about butterflies and their magical transformation through the life cycle. We’re especially excited that this month, our class will have the chance to observe this process in real life as we welcome caterpillar eggs into the classroom and watch them grow, change, and finally emerge as beautiful butterflies!

As part of our enrichment activities, we will be exploring the dreamy and colorful world of Claude Monet, learning about his life and unique Impressionist art style. Children will have the opportunity to create their own Monet-inspired masterpieces.

In music, we’ll be listening to the lovely compositions of Fanny Mendelssohn, whose expressive works will help us understand how music can tell stories and stir our imaginations.

We are so proud of all the learning and creativity happening in our classroom. Here’s to a magical month of May filled with discovery, growth, and inspiration! ��

March 2025

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 22:31:40 GMT

March Recap and April News

March was filled with excitement and adventure, with fun events like Dr. Seuss’s birthday, St. Patrick’s Day, and our Dinosaur theme. The children created colorful and lively artwork to celebrate each occasion, and our classrooms were beautifully decorated with shamrocks, rainbows, Dr. Seuss’s Things 1 & 2, lions, elephants, and more. It was a month full of fridge-worthy masterpieces to proudly display at home!

During circle time, the teachers led engaging discussions about Dr. Seuss, dinosaurs, the arrival of spring, and animals they might encounter on a safari adventure. Our book of the month was a collection of our favorite Dr. Seuss books, honoring his birthday with laughter and fun. The children also studied the last four letters of the alphabet—W, X, Y, and Z—by singing songs and reviewing the letter shapes and sounds.

Our Cooking Enrichment activities were a big hit with both our Primary and Kindergarten classes. The children enjoyed exploring new instruments, practicing Spanish with worksheets and fun videos, and participating in March-themed snack recipes that allowed them to create their own special treats each week.

As the weather warms, the sun shines brighter, and flowers bloom, we’re excited to kick off April with a new theme focused on islands and volcanoes. This month, our book of the month is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, where the alphabet comes to life in a playful and energetic way.

For art, the children will express their creativity through aboriginal art, learning about the culture and creating their own pieces inspired by animals and nature. It’s going to be a month of learning, creativity, and exploration as we dive into the world of islands, volcanoes, and vibrant cultures!

February 2025

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:00:25 GMT

February Recap and March News

February Recap: A Month of Friendship, Culture, and Kindness

February provided us with an enriching opportunity to focus on friendships, culture, and the beautiful diversity that makes our community special. Throughout the month, each classroom designed and participated in activities celebrating these themes, helping children recognize the importance of empathy and appreciation for others. It was heartwarming to witness the joy as our children celebrated their friendships and the connections they share with their loved ones.

The highlight of the month was our much-anticipated Valentine's Day festivities. This annual event was a perfect chance to reinforce the values of kindness, love, and friendship. The children’s excitement was palpable as they exchanged heartfelt valentines with their peers, strengthening their bonds and learning the joys of giving. The celebration also allowed them to reflect on the importance of showing appreciation and spreading positivity. The shared moments of kindness and the delightful treats they enjoyed created lasting memories.

Enrichment Program: Nurturing a Love of Learning

In addition to our Montessori lessons, our enrichment program continues to play a vital role in our students' development. Each day, children explore a range of subjects that enrich their educational experience, including art, music, cooking, computer skills, and Spanish. These activities are not only fun but are essential in fostering creativity, cultural awareness, and practical skills that will serve the children throughout their lives.

Some of the exciting activities we engaged in this month included:

Japanese Art : The children explored traditional Japanese art techniques, learning about different styles and cultural significance.
Music from Asian Cultures : The children were introduced to the sounds and rhythms of various Asian cultures, broadening their musical horizons.
Spanish Vocabulary for Friendship : We taught the children how to greet friends in Spanish, enriching their language skills and expanding their cultural knowledge.
Friendship Trail Mix : In a hands-on activity, the children made their own friendship trail mix, learning the value of teamwork and sharing while practicing basic math and measurement skills.
Technology Integration : Through computer lessons, students worked on enhancing their math, language, and reading skills, with interactive programs designed to make learning engaging and fun.

Looking Ahead: March and Upcoming Events

As we look ahead to March, we are excited to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and his significant influence on early literacy. His timeless books and imaginative storytelling continue to inspire young readers, and we can’t wait to bring his stories to life in the classroom.

We will also be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a variety of festive activities, including creating green-themed crafts and exploring the cultural significance of the holiday. Additionally, the children will embark on a fascinating exploration of Africa and the Savanna, learning about animal habitats and what makes each one unique. The topic of dinosaurs will also spark curiosity, as they study these prehistoric creatures and the environments they once inhabited.

March is an important month for other reasons as well. It marks the deadline for re-enrollment packets, so please be sure to submit yours on time. We’re also excited to announce the upcoming Spring Book Fair, which will run from March 20th to March 24th, providing a wonderful opportunity for children and families to discover new books.

Finally, we will be offering childcare during Spring Break from March 27th to March 31st. Space is limited, so we encourage families to sign up early to secure a spot.

Important Dates in March:

March 9th : Daylight Savings Time Begins
March 17th : St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
March 20th : Re-Enrollment Packets Due
March 20th – 24th : Spring Book Fair
March 27th – 31st : Spring Break Childcare (Sign-ups required)

We look forward to another month filled with exploration, creativity, and growth!

January 2025

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:37:08 GMT

January Recap and February News

January was a month full of fun and exploration! The children delved into the wonders of winter, snow, and ice, learning about polar bears, penguins, hibernating animals, and creatures that leave tracks in the snow. Our focus was on Antarctica, where the children explored its unique terrain, animal survival strategies, and icebergs. They also discovered that no one permanently lives there, but scientists visit for research purposes. Our book of the month was The Mitten by Jan Brett.

In computer class, the children followed a self-paced curriculum that included language and math skills. For enrichment, they reviewed and practiced words they’ve learned so far this year. In art class, the children created their own interpretations of Van Gogh’s paintings using foil. In cooking class, the children had fun making a variety of recipes, and one of the favorites was teddy bear toast!

February is dedicated to Cultural Awareness and Friendship! We’ll focus on what it means to be a good friend and learn about friendship through songs and games that highlight how we are both similar and different. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we’ll be celebrating the wonderful friendships your children have built with one another. On February 14th, we’ll have a Valentine’s Day Snack Party, which will include a simple card exchange. Keep an eye out for the sign-up sheets! Also, we are offering a Parents Night Out for Valentines Day. 6:00pm-9:00pm. $45 per child

Please note that on February 25 ^th , we’ll be closing early for our Open House. All children must be picked up by 3 p.m. The event will run from 330 p.m. to 530 p.m., and children are welcome to attend with their parents. Additionally, we will be closed on February 17th for Presidents’ Day and on February 18th for In-Service Day

Wishing everyone a beautiful February!

December 2024

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 22:15:58 GMT

December Recap and January News

It was such a fun, packed, and successful December! First, we’d like to thank Santa for volunteering his time to bring joy to our children. I hope you enjoyed the pictures, and we sure did have fun taking them. We also had so much fun seeing all our friends dressed up in their fabulous Spirit Week outfits. Thank you, parents, who took time out of your busy schedule and were able to join us for our Winter Holiday show. Other thanks to our parents for donating to the Polinsky Children’s Center.

It’s the beginning of a new year, which brings recent changes and resolutions for everyone. For starters, we’d like to welcome all our new families; thank you for choosing us to help you educate your child. With the holiday season behind us, we can now focus on other excellent topics, like winter, migration, and the hibernation of animals. The children will learn the differences between animals who hibernate and those who scavenge for food during the cold months. They will learn about Antarctica and its habitants, glaciers, and ice burgs.

For enrichment, the children will focus on creating winter animal artwork and continue cooking healthy recipes. In Spanish class, the children will learn winter words that correlate with their learning during the day. For music, we will take a break from classical music and study more contemporary artists, for example, The Beatles. Finally, the children will continue their individual learning paths in computer class and study more about Antarctica and hibernation.

If you have any questions, please let Ms. Susan or Ms. Pennie know. As always, we hope you enjoyed your winter break and are glad to have you back.

Thank you, and here is to a successful start to 2025.

November 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:22:55 GMT

November Recap and December News

November recap:

We had such a wonderful month this past November. Thank you to all the parents who participated throughout these past few months. We still have many more events next month, and we hope you can also participate in those. We had such an excellent turnout for our parent-teacher conferences; let’s continue working with each other to help see our children grow and succeed. The children had such a fun time at our Harvest Feast. Thank you to all the families who brought in the items to make this happen.

December News:

For this month, we will be learning about celebrations and traditions from all over the world. We have so many fun activities for the children to come.

Every year we have a tradition where we set up our Polinsky Center Donation Tree for foster children. You are more than welcome to select a tag and bring in an unwrapped present for children in the foster care system. This is an excellent opportunity for our kids to make another child’s holiday bright.

Make sure to mark your calendars for December 22nd, as Santa will visit our lovely children. On the last week of attendance, December 19th – December 22nd, we will have Spirit Week: Holiday Edition! Come dressed in your finest gear to celebrate the holiday cheer with us. Keep an eye out for the daily topics on our blackboard.

As the year ends, we will celebrate by having a Winter Holiday Show. Come on by and watch as our students put on a fantastic event. Time does fly by when you’re having fun; I hope all the families enjoyed 2022 to its fullest. We wish you a happy and safe winter holiday.

We’ll see you all in the new year!

October 2024

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:59:34 GMT

October Recap and November News

We had such a fantastic official first month of fall. We are experiencing the changing weather and the beautiful colors that come with it. First, we want to thank all the parents who participated in our successful book fair! We sold lots of books and received lots of new books for our classrooms; the children are all enjoying the books and the beautiful adventures hidden inside. We also appreciate every parent’s participation throughout our busy month; we hope everyone had as much fun as we had to prepare everything. We can’t express how grateful we have such caring and loving families as a school.

Thank you again for your consistent support, both in person and on social media. If you haven’t yet, please follow our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for pictures and information on upcoming events.

Our Costume Parade was amazing! All the children’s costumes were so amazing, and they were all so excited to show each other. Thank you to our families who helped with donations for our Halloween party. They had a blast. We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.

With the calendar year ending and the time change, we want to ensure your children’s clothing is changed out in their cubbies. Please ask your teacher what your child may need in their cubby. Keep an eye out as we will have sign-up links sent out for our Parent/ Teacher conferences on November 6 ^th and 7 ^th .

Craving sweets? We will be having our See’s Candy fundraiser starting 11/1 through 11/25. Keep an eye out for fundraiser sheets in your children’s cubbies or files. We will also have our Harvest Feast at the end of the month, please be on the lookout for a potluck sign-up sheet for that event.

Things to remember:

November 6 ^th and 7 ^th - Parent conferences- School closes at 3:00 pm (Sign-up in Email’s)

November 11 ^th - School Closed for Veterans Day

November 27 ^th - Thanksgiving Feast (Potluck sign-up sheets on classroom door)

November 28 ^th and 29 ^th - School Closed for Thanksgiving

September 2024

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:05:45 GMT

September Recap and October News

We have had such a fun month, with many new friends joining us at Stars for the 2024-2025 school year! We started the month with our Back to School Night. We welcomed our parents with open arms and smiles. The children were excited to show their parents all the fun activities they had been working on in their classroom. Thank you for your continued support when it comes to joining these activities. We appreciate all the positive feedback we received and are trying every day to make our school a school that fits your family's needs. We hope it was informative and helpful.

The children were excited to learn about All About Me; they loved showing off their family pictures and worksheets. We also had so much fun celebrating all the September birthdays!

For Enrichment, the children studied Andy Warhol and created self-portraits for Art. In Music, they were introduced to orchestra music and learned the importance of a conductor. In Spanish, the children learned how to greet and fall vocabulary. The children filled their bellies by making fun snacks in Cooking. Lastly, our newest students created their ABC Mouse accounts for Computers, and we reviewed how to use a computer.

We are excited for Fall and what’s to come!

The weather will start cooling down in October, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves turn colors. This month, the children will be learning about the Solar System, the Fall season, and what comes with it. The children are excited to learn about the Fall festivities, including our costume parade. Parents are more than welcome to join us during this to watch! More information to come about this activity. As a reminder, we will have picture days from 10/22 - 10/24 and a book fair from 9/30-10/4! We are very excited about this month; we can't wait for all the fun moments we will have.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Pennie or Susan.

Important Dates to Remember:

October 22 ^nd : Toddlers Picture Day
October 23 ^rd : Pre-Primary Picture Day
October 24 ^th : Primary & Sibling Picture Day
October 31 ^st: Costume Parade- Please be on the lookout for sign-up sheets for our parties.

Toddlers Parade: 9:30am-9:40am

Pre-Primary Parade: 9:50 am-10:00 am

Primary Parade: 10:10am-10:30am

Summer 2024

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:23:51 GMT

Summer Recap and September News

Summer Recap:

During the summer, our school had all kinds of fun-filled in-house field trips and home adventures. We began our summer with Party in the U.S.A. week and enjoyed a lovely long 4-day weekend. Then we moved into our Outer Space-themed week, and the children enjoyed discovering everything about Outer Space with this week. We returned and moved right along into Underwater Adventures. The children loved discovering all the neat things that live underwater. Following this past adventure, we move to Camping and all the experiences of Camping. We were lucky enough to have our in-house field trip from The Reptile Guys join us during camping week. The children loved being able to touch and feel all the different reptiles. Moving into August, we began our week with Down on the Farm. The Children enjoyed each other week of new adventures; we went into Volcanoes, Then into Things that Fly, and the children loved finding new things that can fly. We ended the month with Spirit Week, where everyone loved getting dressed up and seeing their friends in different clothes.

To close out our Summer Program, we finished with our End of the Summer Party. We had a fun Foam Party, a jump house and balloon animals with snacks. This was a great time for our families to meet and greet with each other. The end of the summer is always bittersweet as we said goodbye to some of our students moving on and up to elementary school. We are so proud of each one of our students at Stars Montessori Academy. We want to thank our parents and families for choosing our school for the beginning of your children’s learning journey.

September:

Welcome back! We are excited for another year here at Stars Montessori Academy. We are learning All About Me and the Seven Continents in September. We are reading The Kissing Hand and will begin painting rocks for the rock garden.

We will be closed on September 2nd, 2024, for Labor Day.

September 10th, 2024, from 3:30 pm-5:00 pm. Parents are invited to see what to expect and take a sneak peek at their child’s daily activities.

Finally, we have our First Book Fair of the Year September 30th-October 4th

We are excited to kick off this fun-filled year with such amazing families. Thank you again, and we look forward to helping your child grow.

April 2024

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:04:57 GMT

April Recap and May News

We want to thank all our parents for your scholastic purchases. It helps fill our library with books that the children enjoy reading.

In May we will start off the month by taking part in Teacher Appreciation Week. We hope parents will participate by showing their child’s teachers gratitude for their daily efforts to help your little ones grow. This weeklong event is nationally recognized, and this year, it will be celebrated from May 6 ^th - 10 ^th . On May 10 ^th , we will double celebrate someone else who is very important in the children’s lives, that would be none other than the moms! Please join us on Friday, May 10 ^th from 9:00-10:00 am. The children will create gifts for the mommies and will be very excited to give them out on that day.

On May 14 ^th – 15 ^th , we will be conducting our spring Parent/ Teacher conferences. Please be on the lookout for emailed sign-up sheets. As a reminder, we close at 3pm but we will be providing childcare for the 15-minute conference slots. As always if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. Thank you.

March 2024

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:43:47 GMT

March Recap and April News

March was a busy but fun month for Stars Montessori Academy.

The theme for March was Rainforest and South America. The students learned that there are several Rainforests worldwide (Africa, South, and Central America, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.) There are many types of animals, insects, and birds in the Rainforest. The children were excited to learn and explore more about all the animals. The children learned the Rainforest is vitally important because it produces most of the Oxygen we need to breathe and is the home for so many creatures. Instead of a month's book, we had an author for March, Dr. Seuss. We celebrated his birthday on March 2. They learned that Dr. Seuss was an American Author with about 60 rhymical books with simple texts, which are very helpful to learn to read for beginner children. Two of his most famous books are I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! and Green Eggs and Ham.

For art, the children could made all kinds of fun things. One of the favorite ones was the Rainbow rock painting that they could put in their gardens. For Music, they all learned about Antonio Vivaldi and played rhythm sticks. For Cooking, they were able to make green eggs, and ham treats with pretzels, yogurt, and raisins. They dyed the yogurt green with food coloring and put it together. They also made fruit skewers with grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. The kids love fruit! For Spanish, the children learned new sounds in Spanish for the letters K, L, M, N, O and how to pronounce the colors of the rainbow.

April is going to be an exciting month. The theme of April is Our Plant Earth. In Geography, the children learn about Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. The Literature for April is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault. For Enrichment, the children continue learning by focusing on Music, Cooking, art, and Spanish.

February 2024

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:42:03 GMT

February Recap and March News

February was an exhilarating month at Stars! It was full of love, joy, and lots of laughter. The theme of February was Cultural Awareness and Friendship. The children were so excited to learn all about their friend’s cultures. They also learned about the importance of Friendship. Some classes even listen to different types of music from each culuture and the children danced around to them.

There was a lot of fun Valentine’s art going on in February. Each classroom had so much fun at their Valentine’s parties. The children enjoyed passing out their Valentine’s cards and having some yummy food with each other. The literature focus of February was Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. After the story, the children mixed blue and yellow to see what color they made together. Each classroom had fun projects to go along with the color mixing.

Our enrichment program was fun for children to learn more in a focused setting. In Spanish, the children learned words associated with Valentine’s Day. In Music, they learned about Johannes Brahms. The children loved cooking; their favorite activity was the ship made of apples, sun butter, and rice crispies cereal. They all painted rocks with hearts and then placed them out in our gardens in art.

March will be such a fun month. The theme of March is the Rainforest and South America. The book of the month will be a plethora of books from the beloved Dr.Seuss. For enrichment, the children continue learning by focusing on music, cooking, art, and Spanish.

January 2024

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:40:41 GMT

January Recap and February News

Wow! Can you believe January is over? We had such a fun month.

The theme of the month was Winter Animals and Hibernation. The children learned about which animals live in the snow and hibernate. They were even able to make snow. The work inside the classrooms was inspired by snow and winter as well. The literature focus of the month was The Mitten by Jan Brett. This book was able to show the children which animals live in the snow, which ones hibernate, why they hibernate, and what they do to keep warm.

Enrichment was full of fun activities. In Cooking, the children had a blast making a bear in a cave, including Graham crackers, sun butter, and Teddy Grahams. In Spanish, the children learned different words for the different types of weather as well as counting. In Music, the children went back in time and learned about Beethoven. They were able to use rhythm sticks to create one of his songs.

February is going to be a fun-filled month. Our theme for February is Cultural Awareness and Friendship. Our literature focus for February is Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. The children will discuss what they think friendship means to them. It’s going to be an exciting month.

December 2023

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:09:16 GMT

December Recap and January News

We had so much fun in December. We loved spreading Holiday Spirit and teaching lessons of kindness to our students. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein taught us the importance of selfless giving and unconditional caring. We learned about different ways people celebrate during the holidays and how to be respectful of different traditions. Spirit Week was so much fun, and we loved seeing everyone’s creativity in their outfits.

Progress Reports were sent out in December and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to our Christmas Present drive for Polinsky Childrens Center; it was so great to show the children how to be generous and caring through a simple donation. We would also like to thank everyone who participated in the See’s Candy Fundraiser and the Scholastic Bookfair. We hope you all had a joyful Winter Break.

Our month's theme for January is Winter Animals and Hibernation. Our literature focus for January is The Mitten by Jan Brett. The children will all discuss Winter Animals, where they live and which animals hibernate, and for how long. Enrichment will be super fun in January as well! So much to look forward to this coming month as well as 2024!

November 2023

samantha@la-montessori.com ( Samantha Hausner) — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:38:38 GMT

November Recap and December News

November Recap:

November was a fun-filled month with many different events and activities. We started with our Parent-Teacher conferences. We hope that the teachers can answer the parents' questions and concerns. Since our teachers spent much time with the children, we hoped they could share their growth and learning patterns for a successful school year. With the sun setting sooner, we didn't have evening playground time. All children were in Room 5 by 5:30 pm. As the month progressed, the children were very excited about the topics they learned in class. They learned all about Harvest and Healthy Bodies, our theme for the month. We heard many discussions about knowing which foods helped them grow big and strong. They created many healthy food recipes for cooking enrichment, one of their favorites being the pumpkin smoothies. The children also learned about the USA and California, where they discovered our traditions, cultures, and people. As part of their learning, they found Thanksgiving and what it meant to be thankful for what they had. The children also learned about giving thanks to people who helped our community, like our Veterans and anyone who served our country. We couldn't wait to see what fun the next month held for us.

December News:

We are in the midst of an exciting month. We start December by putting up our Polinsky Giving Tree. We collect clothes, toys, and other daily items to donate to the Polinsky Foster Center every year. Our due date for all things to be presented is December 18th. We are also extremely excited to be getting a visit from the big jolly man himself, Santa Claus! He will visit our school on December 21st, 9 am – 12 pm. As always, we help parents by writing down their child's Christmas present wish and taking a picture with Santa. We are having our Holiday Spirit Week as well as our winter performances. You can check out our hallway calendar for days and times. Just a reminder, we will have our winter break from December 22nd to January 1st, and we will see everyone in the New Year on Tuesday, January 2nd. We cannot wait for all the fun we will have this month, and we hope to see everyone join our events!

October 2023

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:00:02 GMT

October Recap and November News

October Recap:

October was such an exciting month. We started by learning about our Five Senses and Feelings. This theme was a perfect way to help our students understand why we all have different feelings and how to deal with each emotion. The Five Senses they learned included Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste. They were all so excited about our literature focus for the month. We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. The teachers read this book during circle, and some classes even went on their leaf hunt!

We had so much fun during enrichment classes. The students learned about composer Camille Saint-Saens and his famous work, The Carnival of Animals. For art, they learned about Picasso and created some inspired pumpkins. For cooking, the children made a fun spider snack, trail mix, and pumpkin fluff. We had a fantastic book fair from October 25th to October 29th and finished the month with a super fun Halloween Costume Parade!

November News:

As we move towards November, our month's theme is Harvest and Healthy Bodies. Our literature focus for November is Fill a Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin, which teaches our students how to bring daily happiness to one another. There will be fun art and activities, including Thanksgiving crafts.

Some important dates to remember for November are:

November 7th – 8th Parent-Teacher conferences (we will be closing at 3 p.m. for both days)

November 10th – School Closed for Veterans Day

November 22nd – Harvest Feast (child-only event)

November 23rd – 24th – School Closed for Thanksgiving Break

We will start our See's Candy Fundraiser sometime this month. Keep an eye out for future information. We are very thankful for having such amazing families, and we truly do appreciate everything you all do!

September 2023

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 18:53:27 GMT

September Recap and October News

September Recap:

September was a great month. First, we want to thank all the parents who could attend our Back to School Night. We appreciate all the positive feedback we received and are trying every day to make our school a school that fits your family's needs. We hope it was informative and helpful. The children were excited to learn about All About Me; they loved showing off their family pictures and worksheets. We also had so much fun celebrating all the September birthdays!

October News:

The weather will start cooling down in October, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves turn colors. This month, the children will be learning about the Solar System, the Fall season, and what comes with it. The children are excited to learn about the fall festivities, including our Costume Parade. Parents are more than welcome to join us during this to watch! More information to come about this activity. As a reminder, we will have picture days from 10/2 - 10/3 and a book fair from 10/2-10/6! We are very excited about this month; we can't wait for the fun moments we will have.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Pennie or Susan.

Important Dates to Remember:

· October 2 ^nd : Toddlers & Pre-Primary Picture Day

· October 3 ^rd : Primary & Sibling Picture Day

· October 2 ^nd -6 ^th : BOOK FAIR!

· October 31 ^st: Costume Parade- Please be on the lookout for sign-up sheets for our parties.

Parents welcome

Toddlers Parade: 9:20am-9:35am

Pre-Primary Parade: 9:40 am-10:00 am

Primary Parade: 10:10am-10:30am

Summer 2023

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 15:44:06 GMT

Summer Recap and September News

Summer Recap:

Hello families! We’ve had such a fun and wonderful summer!! We learned about many new topics and experienced so many new subjects. We enjoyed water play days, bubble days, and wonderful in-school field trips. We also explored the deep oceans and learned about the animals that live in the deep blue seas. With the fun we had this summer, we got to its end by learning about fitness and how to care for our bodies, minds, and souls. With the first day of school quickly approaching, we hope everyone will have a wonderful and successful school year.

September News:

Hello and welcome! We are very excited to begin the new school year. For September, we will be focusing on the topic All About Me. They will review self-care and their classrooms, read about The Kissing Hand, what makes each child unique, and the seven continents. We will be resuming our Enrichment courses in the new school year. They include Art, Spanish, Cooking, Computers, and Music and movement. Here’s to a brand-new school year!

Important dates:

Sept 4 ^th – School Closed/ Labor Day

Sept 5 ^th – First Day of School

Sept 7 ^th – Back to School Day/ Early Closure Day @ 3 p.m.

October 2 ^nd & 3 ^rd – Picture Day

June 2023

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 14:00:00 GMT

June Recap and Summer News

June Recap:

This month has been filled with so much excitement! We started the month by celebrating the wonderful men in the lives of the children. The children were excited to host their dads for donuts & juice and hand out their presents. Secondly, we had graduation; the children who participated in the ceremony practiced hard and tried their hardest to put on an amazing show for their parents. We were sad to see them leave but are very proud of all their accomplishments. We hope we gave the children all the tools they need to have a successful learning foundation. As always, we want to thank all the parents who could join us for the graduation; we hope everyone enjoyed themselves and drops by occasionally to say hello.

July News:

During the summertime, we will step back from our daily tasks and enjoy whatever the summertime brings us. We have scheduled in-house field trips, water play days, and a summer carnival! We will start the summer by getting in the Red, White, and blue spirit with our Party in the USA theme. Afterward, we will dive into new weekly themes to keep our curriculum fresh and fun for the children. The children will enjoy a new addition to our water days with a new water slide.

Mark your calendars for Aug 29th; we will have our End of Summer Carnival from 3:30- 5:30 pm. We will send sign-up sheets to parents who want to volunteer their time beforehand. We will have way more activities for this carnival, including a train ride and a professional balloon animal maker! More details will be out when we get closer to the event date.

As a reminder for all the upcoming summer fun, we ask if you could please apply sunscreen to your children in the morning; the teachers will reapply in the afternoon.

Thank you,

SMA staff

May 2023

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMT

May Recap and June News

May News:

In May, we had a lot of exciting and fun pack activities. The children enjoyed our caterpillars' arrival; they could view a butterfly's life cycle. They also had lots of fun naming each caterpillar unique names. We were able to release the butterflies once they emerged from their chrysalis. The departure saddened some children, but overall happy to see the butterflies fly off. Our Mother's Day celebration was enjoyable! We were excited to have so many mommies join us; we hoped everyone loved their presents and enjoyed our little party.

For the curriculum, the children learned about Whales and Migration. They learned about the different types of whales and why they must migrate. The children also learned about South America and studied other countries, cultures, and languages. Some classrooms dove into learning about Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, to name a few countries. The children were so amazed by the lengths they traveled each year. We also had fun celebrating our outstanding staff members who help make our school part of your child's life.

June News:

June will be such an exciting month, we have so much to prepare, and we hope you can join us!

On June 16 ^th, we will celebrate Father's Day; we want to let our dads know how much they are loved. Join us from 9:00 – 10:00 am for coffee, juice, and donuts; the children will make gifts for the dads and hand them out on that day. We will hand out the progress reports on June 23 ^rd ; watch for those.

Starting in July, we will be doing our fun summer activities. On June 30th, we will have our graduation performance and celebrations from 10:30 am-12:00 pm. Since we have limited seats, we are asking to keep the attendance count to four (4) people per child. Also, we will be having a graduation potluck after the ceremony, and this is for the graduates and their families. Please check your emails for a signup sheet for food.

We are sad to see our graduating class leave, but we know they are well-prepared to start their new adventures in their big-kid school. We will miss all the lovely families and memories we've made with the children.

April 2023

Tue, 02 May 2023 16:06:20 GMT

April Recap and May News

April Recap:

In April, the children concentrated on Australia as well as Planet Earth. The children worked in the garden and discussed caring for the planet to help celebrate Earth Day. They also learned the importance of recycling and keeping our world clean. April includes an annual celebration called the "Week of the Young Child." The children were excited about the different themes during the week. The children enjoyed making instruments, eating healthy snacks, building, creating art, and showing off their families. We also had fun with crazy socks, crazy hair, backward dressing, crazy hats, and pajama day. The children had so much fun making volcanoes in their classrooms. It helps fill our library with books that the children enjoy reading. We want to thank all our parents for your scholastic purchases.

May News:

May is going to be a hectic month. We have our annual Mother's Day Tea on May 12 ^th at 9:00 am and Parent Teacher Conferences on the 16 ^th and 17 ^th . This a reminder that we will close at 3:00 pm on these two days. All events will be held in person. May also includes a week-long event for Teacher Appreciation from May 1 ^st - May 5 ^th . This is an opportunity to show your appreciation for all our teachers' excellent hard work. We have asked the teachers to fill out a 'Favorites' form, which will be placed on the front counter. We are so excited to start learning all about whales and migration. We will also be reading The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

March 2023

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:31:39 GMT

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March Recap:

March was full of excitement and adventure with fun events such as Dr. Suess's birthday, Saint Patrick's Day, and our Dinosaur theme. The children made enjoyable and colorful art to celebrate each occasion. Our classrooms were decorated with shamrocks and rainbows, Dr. Suess's Things 1 & 2, Lions and Elephants, and many more. Some good fridge-worthy artwork to proudly display. During circle time, the teachers led discussions about Dr. Seuss, the Dinosaurs, Spring, and animals they would see on a Safari adventure. Our book of the month was a collection of our favorite Dr. Suess books to honor his birthday. The children studied the last four letters of the alphabet w,x,y, and z by singing songs and reviewing what each letter looked like and it's sound.

Our Cooking Enrichment was a big hit with our Primary and Kindergarten classes. The children enjoyed exploring new instruments and practicing Spanish with worksheets and fun videos. Each week, we had a fun March-themed snack that involved the children in the recipes to create a special treat.

April News:

In April, the weather is warmer, the sun is brighter, and the flowers bloom. The children are studying Island and Volcanoes for this month's theme. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault is our book of the month. Our art project will allow the children to express their creativity with aboriginal art, animals, and more.

April News:

April 3 ^rd = Return from Spring Break
April 10 ^th = Spring Egg Hunt
April 17 ^th -21 ^st = week of the young child (Spirit Week)

February 2023

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:31:33 GMT

February Recap and March News

February Recap:

February was a month to focus on friendships, culture, and our differences. Each classroom recognized and created activities focused on these topics. It was great to see the celebrations of friends and loved ones. The children were particularly excited about our yearly Valentine's day festivities. It was an excellent time to build on their friendships and remind one another of the value of love and kindness. The children were so happy to give valentines to their friends and share good food. It is a great learning opportunity for the children to learn the value of giving.

Our enrichment program after our Montessori lessons is integral to each day. The children are exposed to art, music, cooking, computers, and Spanish daily. These lessons are a critical part of learning and developing the necessary skills to succeed in everyday life. Some of this month's activities included Japanese art, music from the Asian culture, Spanish words for friendship greetings, making friendship trail mix and focusing on math, language and reading using the computers.

March News:

In March we are looking forward to celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday along with his impact on early literacy. We will also be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with festivities and green materials! Our children will be studying Africa and the Savanna as well as Dinosaurs. They will be discussing the animal habitats and what makes them special. March is also the month that re-enrollment packets are due and our spring bookfair begins. We will be providing childcare during Spring Break the last week of March, Sign-ups are limited, please fill out a form as soon as possible. We look forward to another creative month!

Important March Dates:

March 10 ^th - Daylight Savings

March 17 ^th - St. Patrick's Day

March 20 ^th - Re-Enrollment Packets Due

March 20 ^th -March 24 ^th - Book Fair

March 27 ^th - March 31 ^st - Spring Break- Care provided if signed up.

January 2023

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:12:59 GMT

January Recap and February News

January Recap:

January was filled with so much fun and excitement. The children learned about Winter, Snow, and Ice. The children explored the lifestyles of polar bears, penguins, animals that hibernate, and animals that track the snow. The continent the children studied this month was Antarctica; they learned about the terrain, animal survival, and icebergs. The children also learned that people do not inhabit the continent but instead visit the continent for scientific research. Our book of the month was The Mitten by Jan Brett.

The children followed their self-paced curriculum through language and math in computer class. For enrichment, the children learned and reviewed words they’ve already learned from the beginning of the school year to now. In art class, the children created their interpretation of Van Gogh’s Paint on foil. Lastly, the children enjoyed cooking; they made many different recipes in cooking class, and one of the favorites was teddy bear toast.

February News:

February is all about Cultural Awareness & Friendship. We will be reviewing and learning about what is considered a good friend. In class, we learn friendship songs and games that teach us how we are similar and different. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we celebrate the friendships that your children have created with one another every year. We will have a Valentine’s Day Snack Party on Feb 14th, and it will be a simple card exchange and community snack created by the children, keep an eye out for the sign-up sheets. Please note that we will close early, on Feb 8th, for our Open House. All children must be picked up by 3 pm; the event is from 4 pm - 6 pm. Children are welcome to join and will remain with their parents throughout the evening. Also, please note that we will be closed on Feb 17th for in-service Day and Feb 20th for Presidents’ Day. I hope everyone has a beautiful month.

December 2022

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:00:02 GMT

December Recap and January News

December Recap:

January News:

For enrichment, the children will focus on creating winter animal artwork and continue cooking healthy recipes. In Spanish class, the children will learn winter words that correlate with their learning during the day. For music, we will take a break from classical music and study more contemporary artists, for example, The Beatles. Finally, the children will continue learning in computer class and study more about Antarctica and hibernation. Please let Ms. Susan or Ms. Pennie know if you have any questions.

Thank you, and here is to a successful start to 2023.

November Blog

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 22:56:30 GMT

November Recap and December News

November recap:

December News:

For this month, we will be learning about celebrations and traditions from all over the world. We have so many fun activities for the children to come.

Make sure to mark your calendars for December 22 ^nd, as Santa will visit our lovely children. On the last week of attendance, December 19 ^th – December 22 ^nd , we will have Spirit Week: Holiday Edition! Come dressed in your finest gear to celebrate the holiday cheer with us. Keep an eye out for the daily topics on our blackboard.

We’ll see you all in the new year!

Important dates to remember:

December 12 ^th - Toddler’s Holiday Show- 3:15 pm-3:45 pm

December 12 ^th - Pre-Primary 6 and 7 Holiday Show- 4:00 pm-4:30 pm

December 13 ^th - Primary 3 Holiday Show- 3:15 pm-3:45 pm

December 13 ^th - Primary 4 Holiday Show- 4:00 pm-4:30 pm

December 14 ^th - Primary 5 Holiday Show- 3:15 pm-3:45 pm

December 19 ^th -22 ^nd - Holiday Spirit Week

December 22 ^nd - Santa is coming!

December 23 ^rd -January 2 ^nd - Closed for Winter Break

January 3 ^rd , 2023- Return to school

October 2022

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:00:00 GMT

October Recap and November News

October Recap:

We had such a fantastic official first month of Fall. We are experiencing the changing weather and the beautiful colors that come with it. First, we want to thank all the parents who participated in our successful book fair! We sold lots of books and received lots of new books for our classrooms; the children are all enjoying the books and the beautiful adventures hidden inside. We also appreciate every parent’s participation throughout our busy month; we hope everyone had as much fun as we had to prepare everything. We can’t express how grateful we have such caring and loving families as a school.

November News:

With the calendar year ending and the time change, we want to ensure your children’s clothing is changed out in their cubbies. Please ask your teacher what your child may need in their cubby. Keep an eye out as we will have sign-up sheets for our Parent/ Teacher conferences on November 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd . They will be posted on your children’s classroom doors.

Craving sweets? We will be having our See’s Candy fundraiser starting 11/2 through 11/30. Keep an eye out for fundraiser sheets in your children’s cubbies or files. We will also have our Harvest Feast at the end of the month; parents are invited to come in and share this special lunch with their children and classmates; there will also be a potluck sign-up sheet for that event.

Things to remember:

November 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd - Parent conferences- School closes at 3:00 pm (Sign-up on classroom door)

November 11 ^th - School Closed for Veterans Day

November 23 ^rd - Thanksgiving Feast (Potluck sign-up sheets on classroom door)

November 24 ^th and 25 ^th - School Closed for Thanksgiving

September Recap

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 21:38:35 GMT

September Recap and October News

September Recap:

We have had such a fun month, with many new friends joining our 2022-2023 School Year. We started the month with our Back to School Night. We welcomed our parents with open arms and smiles. The children were excited to show their parents all the fun activities they had been working on in their classroom. We, as a school, were so thankful for your patience during the pandemic and are excited for the future as we slowly get back to regular routines. The children loved learning about their friends as we talked about our monthly theme, “All about me.”

For enrichment, the children studied Andy Warhol and created self-portraits for Art. In Music, they were introduced to orchestra music and learned the importance of a conductor. In Spanish, the children learned how to greet and fall vocabulary. The children filled their bellies by making fun snacks in Cooking. Lastly, our newest students created their ABCMouse accounts for Computers, and we reviewed how to use a computer.

We are excited for Fall and what’s to come!

October News:

In October, the weather is cooling down, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are turning colors. This month the children are learning about the Solar System and the Fall season and what comes with it. The children are excited to learn about the fall festivities, including our Halloween Costume Parade on 10/31. Parents are welcome to attend and participate, but if you cannot attend, we will post lots of pictures and videos on our social media pages.

As a reminder, we will have picture days from 10/4 - 10/6.

Toddlers & Siblings - 10/4

Pre-Primary- 10/5

Primary- 10/6

If your child does not attend on the day of their pictures, they will take them the day prior, so make sure they are dressed for the photographs.

Welcome Back to School | Summer Recap

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:41:55 GMT

Summer Recap and September Blog

Summer Recap:

During the summer, our school had all kinds of fun-filled in-house field trips and home adventures. We began our summer with Party in the U.S.A. week and enjoyed a lovely long 4-day weekend. Then we moved into our Outer Space-themed week, and the children enjoyed discovering everything about Outer Space with this week; our friends got to enjoy the Magic Show. We returned and moved right along into Underwater Adventures. The children loved discovering all the neat things that live underwater. We also had a fun time with our Tide Pool in-house field trip. Following this past adventure, we move into Camping and all the experiences of Camping. We were lucky enough to have our in-house field trip from The Reptile Guys join us during camping week. The children loved being able to touch and feel all the different reptiles. Moving into August, we began our week with Down on the Farm. The Children enjoyed each other week of new adventures; we went to see Volcanoes, Then into Things that Fly, and the children loved finding new things that can fly. We ended the month with Spirit Week, where everyone loved getting dressed up and seeing their friends in different clothes. To close out our Summer Program, we finished with our Carnival. The Children and parents had such a fun time.

September News:

Welcome back! As we find our groove into this new school year. We are learning All About the Seven Continents and Me themes in September. We are reading The Kissing Hand and will begin painting rocks for the rock garden.

September 8th, 2022, from 3:30 pm-5:00 pm, Children need to be picked up by 3:00 pm that day as we host our Back-to-School Night. Parents are invited to see what to expect and take a sneak peek at their child’s daily activities. We will be closed on September 5th, 2022, for Labor Day.

Finally, we have our First Book Fair of the Year September 26th-September 30th

We are excited to kick off this fun-filled year with such amazing families. Thank you again, and we look forward to helping your child grow.

June 2022

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:56:41 GMT

June Recap and Summer Preview

June Recap:

In June, the children learned about different transportation, such as water transportation.

They were all so excited to learn about how people can get around!

In Geography, we learned about different deserts and mountains; The children learned about the four central deserts of California. For Zoology, the students learned that the Pacific Ocean surrounds California's western border. We went around the school and asked the children about their favorite moments while enjoying the ocean. In Botany, the students learned that there are two species of eelgrass in the California saltwater area; Pacific eelgrass or Zostera marina, and swarf eelgrass or Zostera japonica, one is native to California, while the swarf eelgrass is initially from Asia. They all loved reading the book of the month, The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone.

Enrichment classes were so much fun; the students listened to the rhyming song of Hickory Dickory Dock and then tried to follow and perform the related dance movement with colorful scarves. For Art, they colored their bus school paper, cut it, and glued it on constructive paper. The children practiced their language and math learning for computers by playing related games on ABCMouse. They made their Vanilla Ice Cream for Cooking by mixing milk, vanilla, and sugar. The children shook it over ice and salt and watched how it changed into yummy Ice Cream.

Summer News:

Wow! Can you believe we are in summer?

We have a lot scheduled for the next two months. Activities include water play days, in-house field trips, arts and crafts, and much more. Please ensure you have applied sunscreen in the morning and that the children are dressed appropriately for the summer weather.

The Amazing Dana the Magician is coming on July 18 ^th for the kiddos. Please ensure they are dropped off by 9:00 am so they won't miss the show!

We also have some fun visits in July from the Firemen, Policemen, and the Dentist the week of July 11 ^th - July 15 ^th

Reminder: Every Friday is PJ DAY!! (If your child does not want to participate, that is okay)

In August we have some fun activities as well!

August 9 ^th - We have My Reptile Guys are coming to visit

August 16 ^th - Traveling Tide pools will show us some fantastic underwater animals!

August 29 ^th - Is our END OF THE SUMMER CARNIVAL!

May 2022

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:14:25 GMT

May Recap and June News

May Recap:

Our theme of the month was Dinosaurs and Africa. Many of the children went on dinosaur hunts and dug for fossils in our sandboxes. They learned about the different types of dinosaurs, such as herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. The children learned about Africa, where it is found on the map, the culture, environment, and the language they speak. The children also learned about the parts of a butterfly and its life cycle. The book in May was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The children enjoyed spending more time outside since the weather has been so lovely. They learned a lot of new exercises along with yoga moves.

In May, we had many celebrations we all shared, such as Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day. We even all got together for our Parent-Teacher Conferences. We want to thank everyone who participated in these events during this past month, as it was so much fun seeing everyone enjoying themselves and showering us all with so many gifts and love. We also honored those we have lost defending our Country in observance of Memorial Day.

June News:

In June, our school year is coming to a close. Our theme of the month is Transportation and California. The children learn about all the different ways people, goods, and more navigate their way throughout the world. They will also be learning about our home state of California; they are studying our state bird, flower, and flag. Our literary focus of this month is the Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone. We have many fun Art activities planned for each subject. Please keep an eye out for upcoming essential dates such as our Father's Day celebration, Graduation, etc.

April 2022

Mon, 02 May 2022 20:45:20 GMT

April Recap and May News

April Recap

April was a great month here at Stars Montessori Academy. We learned all about Our Plant Earth; we focused on the Earth's water (oceans) and Earth's land (continents), layers of Earth such as crust, continental crust, mantel, outer core, and inner core. The children reinforced their learning by making notebooks and coloring the different Land and water areas. Book for April was Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault, a lively alphabet rhyme in which all the letters of the alphabet race each other up to the coconut tree. Is there enough room for all the alphabet on a tree? Oh, no-Chicka Chika Boom! Boom!

All our classroom created their own Easter bags for our Easter Egg Hunt. The kids were excited, running around and finding all the hidden eggs. Thank you to all our families who donated eggs to make this possible. Also, thank you to everyone who supported our Scholastic bookfair. We sold over our goal amount! We also started the life cycle of the chicken. Our eggs have arrived and are developing in our incubator. We are hoping that all 12 chicks will hatch in about 20 days. The kids are so excited to watch the development of the chicks.

May News

May is here. This year is just flying by. The book for May is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The theme for May is Dinosaurs. The kids are excited to learn about the different kinds, where they went, and more. We also know about Africa, the flag, food, and music.

Check out these important dates in May

May 2 ^nd through May 6 ^th - Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 ^th - Mother's Day Tea 9 AM-10 AM

May 17 ^th & May 18 ^th - Parent-Teacher Conferences (School Closes At 3 PM)

May 30 ^th - School Closed for Memorial Day

March 2022

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 21:28:52 GMT

March Recap and April News

March Recap

March was a busy but fun month for Stars Montessori Academy,

For Enrichment, the children could do all kinds of fun activities. For art, the children could make all kinds of fun things. One of the favorite ones was the Rainbow rock painting that they could put in their gardens. For Music, they all learned about Antonio Vivaldi and played rhythm sticks. For Cooking, they were able to make green eggs, and ham treats with pretzels, yogurt, and raisins. They dyed the yogurt green with food coloring and put it together. They also made fruit skewers with grapes, strawberries, and blueberries. The kids love fruit! For Spanish, the children learned new sounds in Spanish for the letters K, L, M, N, O and how to pronounce the colors of the rainbow.

April News

Check out all these fun dates coming up this month:

April 11-15, 2022: Week of the Young Child – Spirit Week

April 11-15, 2022: Book Fair

April 15, 2022: Spring Egg Hunt

Feburary 2022

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 17:54:07 GMT

February 2022 Recap and March News 2022

February Recap:

March News:

Please see below our important dates for this month.

March 11 ^th - Re-Enrollment Packets Due

March 22 ^nd and 23 ^rd - Spring pictures

March 28 ^th through April 1 ^st - Spring Break (If you need care during this time, see the office for the form)

January 2022 Blog

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:21:08 GMT

January Recap and February News

January 2022 Recap:

The theme of the month was Winter Animals and Hibernation. The children learned about which animals live in the snow and hibernate. They even were able to make their snow. The work inside the classrooms was inspired by snow and winter as well. The literature focus of the month was The Mitten by Jan Brett. This book was able to show the children which animals live in the snow, which ones hibernate, why they hibernate, and what they do to keep warm.

Enrichment was full of fun activities. In Cooking, the children had a blast making a bear in a cave, including Graham crackers, sun butter, and Teddy Grahams. In Spanish, the children learned different words for the different types of weather and counting. In Music, the children went back in time and learned about Beethoven. They were able to use rhythm sticks to create one of his songs.

February 2022 News:

February has some exciting things going on. Check out some of the important dates!

February 14 ^th : Valentine’s Day parties from 9:45 am to 10:45 am (Children only)

February 18 ^th : Professional Development Day ( We will be closed )

February 21 ^st : Presidents Day ( We will be closed )

December 2021 Blog

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:22:45 GMT

December Recap and January News!

December 2021 Recap:

December was a blast! We started by learning about the celebrations around the world for our topic of the month, Season, and Holidays. This theme was a perfect way to teach our kids about the different holiday traditions other people celebrate and why they might celebrate that specific tradition. The children were able to make art for all different types of holidays. Some classes sent home papers for families to fill out about what kind of holidays they all celebrate. The children enjoyed showing off their singing and dancing in our Winter recital to end our fun-filled month. We were delighted to have parents come in and enjoy the show.

We had so much fun during enrichment classes. The children made snowman bananas, Reindeer Celery, and a Cinnamon Ornament for cooking. Spanish was a blast too the children learned about holiday vocabulary as well as shapes and colors! The children made pipe cleaner candy canes, Coffee filter Dancers, and Santa searcher binoculars for art.

January 2022 News:

As we move forward towards January, our month's theme is Winter Animals and Hibernation. Our literature focus for January is The Mitten by Jan Brett. The children will all discuss Winter Animals, where they live and which animals hibernate, and for how long. Enrichment will be super fun in January as well! So much to look forward to this coming month as well as 2022!

January has a lot going on! Check out some of the important dates coming up:

January 4 ^th, 2022- Weclome back from our Holiday Break!

January 17 ^th 2022-Martin Luther King Day ( We will be closed )

November 2021 Blog

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:13:19 GMT

November Recap and December News.

November Recap:

In November, our students studied our month's theme, Harvest and Healthy Bodies. The children reviewed the Food Pyramid, discussed food wants vs. needs, and even practiced morning stretches for healthy body movement. Our Literature focus was reading Fill a Bucket – Empathy Program by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin. This book helped influence the children to care for one another and help each other fill their buckets with love and affirmations. In addition, our students discussed what they are all thankful for each day during circle time. Our Thanksgiving Harvest Feast consisted of delicious food sharing great times with our families and classroom friends.

Enrichments had a great variety of introducing new ideas to our daily routine. In Music, we learned about the world-renown George Gershwin and an introduction to Jazz. We enjoyed creating many art projects related to Thanksgiving and the Fall season. In Art, Jackson Pollock's splatter technique, also known as his "drip" technique, was practiced, gratitude rocks were painted, and the children created chalk turkey art. Our little chefs prepared yummy apple pie roll-ups, Bucket Filling snacks, and delicious pumpkin pie in a cup from scratch. In Spanish, they were introduced to the months of the year, parts of the body, and Harvest food groups vocabulary. Computer class was fun and exciting as the children worked on ABCMOUSE.com and explored Math, Language, and Reading.

December News:

In December, our theme will be Celebrations Around the World. The children will be learning about all the different types of holiday celebrations and embracing new cultures. We will make creative art projects of menorahs, pinecone Christmas trees, and ornaments. The month's book will be The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, which is about the meaning of giving and receiving. Our Geography lessons will be focused on Western, Eastern, and Northern Europe. Some discussion topics will be the school offering tree, respecting different holiday traditions, and the Winter solstice.

We look forward to celebrating all traditions the holiday season will bring. A friendly reminder that the school will be closed for Winter break from December 24th to January 2nd and will be resuming on January 4th, 2022.

October 2021 Blog

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:11:34 GMT

October Recap. November News.

October was such an exciting month. We started by learning about our Five Senses and Feelings. This theme was a perfect way to help our students understand why we all have different feelings and how we can deal with each emotion. The Five Senses they learned included Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste. They were all so excited about our literature focus for the month. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. The teachers read this book during circle, and some classes even went on their leaf hunt!

We had so much fun during enrichment classes. The students learned about composer Camille Saint-Saens and his most famous work, The Carnival of Animals. For art, they learned about Picasso and created some inspired pumpkins. For cooking, the children made a fun spider snack, trail mix, and pumpkin fluff. We had a fantastic Bookfair from October 25th- October 29th and finished off the month with a super fun Halloween Costume Parade!

As we move forward towards November, our theme of the month is Harvest and Healthy Bodies. Our literature focus for November is Fill a Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin, which teaches our students how to bring in daily happiness for one another. There will be fun art and activities, including Thanksgiving crafts.

Some important dates to remember for November are:

November 3rd – 4th Parent-Teacher conferences (we will be closing at 3 pm for both days)

November 11th – School Closed for Veterans Day

November 24th – Harvest Feast (child-only event)

November 25th – 26th – School Closed for Thanksgiving Break

We will be having our annual See’s Candy Fundraiser all month long. Order before the 30th of the month to get your candy before our Winter Break. We are very thankful for having such amazing families, and we truly do appreciate everything you all do!

September 2021 Blog

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 17:10:12 GMT

September Recap and October News

September Recap:

In September, we began learning about the 7 Continents and even a song to go with it. We also began our Enrichment Programs the second week of this month and our friends explored the Orchestra and learned what a conductor is. They also learned the different sounds of the Orchestra and played a game trying to figure out which sound is which. The children also began Art and the “All About Me” theme and making a self Portrait from example of “Andy Warhol”. They are also reading the book The Kissing Hand all month long.

During this month the theme was All About Me. We are also learning about families and our family tree. Each child has brought in a family picture to share with the class and as well as to have it put up on their classrooms “Family Trees”. We had a blast learning about so many new and exciting things this month.

October News:

For October, we will be discussing and learning about our Five Sense & Feelings. We will dive into the book Going On A Leaf Hunt and discuss the changing colors of Fall and what else we notice is different during this season change. In Geography, we will focus on North America and the three main countries of Canada, North America and Mexico. We will learn about the terrain, landmarks and culture.

Some of the Enrichment for this month will be focusing on about the music of Composer Camille-Saint Saens and learning the difference between different notes and rest in music, as well as clapping to notes and rest. During the end of the month, we will be learning some fun spooky music. In Art, we are exploring the works of Picasso and beginning to create some fun inspired pumpkins. For cooking the children explored making fun spider snacks, and pumpkin fluff. The children are also learning Spanish again as well as working on the computers and using ABC Mouse program.

We are having our annual Book Fair during Oct 25th- Oct.29th please feel free to browse thru our selections and purchase your books. We are also having our Costume Parade on Oct. 29th from 9:30am-10:30am. More details to come as we get closer to Halloween.

Summer Program 2021

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 16:58:42 GMT

Learn all about the fun our students had during our summer program at Stars Montessori Academy.

August was all about enjoying and discovering all the different things that are possible during summertime. While we are also trying to get back into normalcy for the new school year. We are still cleaning and sanitizing everything just as we did before summer. During the month of August, we discovered many different places around the world, along with our weekly themes which included but not limited to weekly water days every Tuesday which followed Friday’s popsicle days.

The children enjoyed our monthly in-house field trips which were full of so many different items which went along with our weekly themes. We began our field trips with Magic then we moved to being able to explore as well as feel all kinds of different reptiles. Then the children were able to experience hands on at the petting zoo while finding new as well as different animals to touch and be up close with. Then we moved into experiencing being inside of giant bubbles and hoping they didn’t pop them.

September is all about celebrating oneself. We will be learning All About Me. As well as reading The Kissing Hand by: Audrey Penn, as we get back into the swing of a new school year. In Geography the children will be learning the Continent Song, how each continent is different and how they were made. In Zoology we will be learning about the parts of the animals and in science the children are going to be experimenting with magnets vs, non-magnetic and sink vs float items. We are all very excited to continue our enrichment programs which include Music Movement, Spanish, Art, and Science projects.

Resources

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May Recap and June News

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December 2023

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December 2022

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November Blog

November Recap and December News

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June 2022

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