Learn and Play Montessori School LLC

January Newsletter
January 2015 Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 11

Our Mission Statement: Learn and Play Montessori School provides a superior quality toddler, preschool and
Kindergarten education, assisting each child grow to his/her fullest potential by recognizing each stage of
development and creating an environment that nurtures and facilitates growth using the Montessori philosophy.

Mark Your Calendars!

Dear LAPMS Families,

Happy New Year to all! Feliz Ao Nuevo! We hope you enjoyed some quality
time with your loved ones this past winter break.
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to all our LAPMS families who came
to our Winter Concert to support our children. Our collective hope for the rain to hold off
until the evening was granted, and our courtyard was filled with proud and happy parents!
January is a time of new beginnings. In the classrooms, children continue to grow
and learn, their skills in all curriculum areas improving with daily Montessori work.
Teachers and parents are working in harmony with each other. The time and effort spent
with your child at home, such as reading to your child, working on homework, or simply
talking about your childs day, all create a positive impression in your child and in the way
he/she perceives school.
We continue to strive to improve our school, and we aim to provide the highest
quality of education for your child. We welcome your suggestions and comments. Our
suggestion box is located in the lobby by the front office.
Thank you for your support as our LAPMS family.

Sincerely,
Aurelia C. Florendo

IN THIS ISSUE:
Announcements..2

Classroom News.......2

Safety and Security4

School Activities.....2

A Montessori-Inspired
Winter ..........3

Special Thanks ...4

January 2015 Newsletter

Jan. 1- New Years Day: No School

Jan. 5- School Resumes
Jan. 7-8 Parent-Teacher Conferences
(Rm. 5)
Jan. 9, 12- Parent-Teacher Conferences
(Rm. 4)
Jan. 13-14- Parent-Teacher
Conferences (Rm. 3)
Jan. 15-16- Parent-Teacher
Conferences (Rm. 2)
Jan. 19- Martin Luther King Day, No
School
Jan. 20- Fire Drill @ 10:00 A.M.
Jan. 20-30- Talent Show Audition and
Registration (Children 4-6
years old only)
Plan Ahead!
Feb. 5- Students 100th Day of School
Feb. 13- Valentines Day Celebration
Feb. 14- Valentines Day
Feb. 16- Presidents Day: No School
Feb. 17- Distribution of Childs Success
Summary Report II (CSSR)
Feb. 19- Chinese New Year
Feb. 23- Return of CSSR II
Feb. 26- Talent Show
Feb. 27- Talent Show Encore for Student
Audience Only
The teacher must derive not only
the capacity, but the desire, to
observe natural phenomena. The
teacher must understand and feel
her position of observer: the
activity must lie in the
phenomenon.

-Dr. Maria Montessori

35699 Niles Blvd., Fremont, CA

January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

ANNUAL TALENT SHOW AUDITIONS

Our Annual Talent Show is scheduled for
th
Thursday, February 26 ! If your child is 4
to 6 years old and would like to
participate, please sign up for an audition.
Talent show auditions will be held in your
childs classroom, and will begin on
th
Tuesday, January 20 . Children who have
auditioned may register for the Talent
Show with the childs head teacher.
Auditions and registration will be open
th
th
from January 20 through 30 .

LAPMS GOT TALENT!

Every year, LAPMS hosts a Talent Show
showcasing the unique talents of our
students!
This year, our Talent Show will be on
th
Thursday, February 26 ! Talent Show
guidelines will be available in your
childs classroom.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-Teacher Conferences will continue
this January, starting on Wednesday,
January 7th. Please check below for your
childs classroom schedule.

Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule

th

Room 5: January 7 and 8

th

th

Room 4: January 9 and 12

Performances will be limited to 2-3

minutes in length only in order to
accommodate all participants. Thank
you for your understanding and
cooperation.

th

th

th

th

th

Room 3: January 13 and 14

Room 2: January 15 and 16

Room 2
Dear Room 2 Parents,

Illness
Parents are advised to call the school when their
child is absent or ill. If a child has been absent
due to illness and has been seen by a doctor, a
doctors note is needed upon the childs return. A
sick clearance slip or excise slip will be filled out at
the front desk upon receipt of the doctors note.
The sick clearance slip must be turned in to the
classroom teacher.

December was a celebration of peace for Room 2 children, as they learned about different
holidays and traditions around the world. They learned how to reuse and recycle as they created
ornaments made of plastic bottles!
Thank you to all the parents who came to watch our students perform in the Winter
Concert! All the children enjoyed being Christmas bells, and they loved our songs so much they
are still singing it in class, days after the performance! Thank you for all the thoughtful gifts!
-

Room 2 Teachers

Room 3
Dear Room 3 Parents,

Medication
Medication should be in its original container with
the childs full name, and it must not be expired.
An authorization form and medication log must
be filled out completely for every new medication
and signed by a parent.

In the month of December, children did a science experiment on how plants absorb water and
minerals through their roots and transport it to different parts of the plant. Children had fun
observing how the stem and leaves of celery changed colors day by day as we placed it in two
different-colored water containers.
Children had a blast making their own edible Christmas tree craft. During the process of making
the craft, children learned self-control and they used their imagination and creativity to make their
own Christmas tree. Thank you to all the parents for your donations and wonderful gifts.
-

Winter Safety
Please dress your child warmly this winter
season. Ensure that the child has a jacket or
coat to wear for outdoor play. Children need to
stretch and energize their bodies, so playtime
outside is encouraged if it isnt rainy or wet.
If it is too cold, windy, or rainy, teachers engage
the children with activities in the classroom
such as games, story time, and crafts.

Room 3 Teachers

Room 4
Dear Room 4 Parents,
The teachers of Room 4 would like to thank the parents for coming to our Winter Concert. The
children worked really hard in preparing for this performance, and it makes them very happy and
proud when their parents come and show their support.
We hope you all had a happy and safe holiday!

Room 4 Teachers

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January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

By R. Juarez

Winter is once again knocking on our doors with its frosty fingers! In such wet and chilly weather, it becomes a challenge to plan
new, engaging activities to enjoy with our children.
A day indoors could feel like a week for a child if there are no activities prepared for him/her. And while staying indoors might not
sound too inviting after a few days of rain, there are plenty of indoor activities that could be enjoyable and productive!

Books, Board Games, and Crafts:

Cuddle up with your child and read

together. Try some classic literature,
such as The Wizard of Oz, or Dr. Seuss
books.

Play board games! Older children

might enjoy the Orchard Game or
Twister. Guessing games such as I Spy
is also a favorite!

Exploring Ice Experiment:

Winter is perfect for arts and crafts!

Make snowflakes with folded coffee
filters. Create a snow globe with an
empty pasta jar filled with water, white
or clear glitter, faux snow, and a family
picture glued to the inside of the jar.

Bring the outdoors inside by exploring ice! Discover

the properties of ice with your child by
experimenting with a variety of materials and
observing its effects on a cube of ice. For example,
ask your child what he/she thinks would happen if
water is poured over the ice. You could also try
water tinted with food coloring, or a teaspoon of salt
on an ice cube. Ask plenty of why questions to get
your child thinking!

Digging Up Dinosaurs:
Place small toy animals such as dinosaurs inside a small container of water before freezing
it. When it is frozen, have your child dig the dinosaurs out by rubbing the surface of the
ice with a toothbrush, and record how long it takes to dig up the dinosaur. Not only will
your child be learning about the properties of ice, this activity also strengthens their small
hand and wrist muscles. You could also try freezing other toy animals such as polar bears,
and talk about hibernation!
If the sun is out on a winter day and it is warm enough to play outdoors, bundle up and bask in the crisp aroma of winter!
Here are a few ideas for outdoor winter fun:
Winter Scavenger Hunt:
Silly Songbird Game:
Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa with your child
and listen to different bird songs in your
own backyard or at a local park.
Encourage your child to imitate the
sounds and pinpoint where the bird
songs are coming from.

A brisk walk around the neighborhood could be fun

and energizing for you and your child! Have a
scavenger hunt, and plan to save your winter
treasures in a paper bag.
Make a list of natural objects to collect, such as
acorns, maple leaves, pine cones, and flowers. For
younger children, instead of writing out the list, you
could draw the objects and check them off one by
one as you find them. Place your collection in a
nature basket to display on a shelf or on the mantle!

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January 2015 Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 11

Only an authorized parent/guardian may drop-off and

pick-up the child. If someone other than the parent is
picking up the child, please sign a parent authorization
form, and turn it in to the front desk.

WE
OUR CHILDREN.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR CHILDS
HAND DURING DROP-OFF
AND PICK-UP, ESPECIALLY IN
THE PARKING LOT.

When checking in and out from ProCare at the front desk,

the computer plays a short sound when the procedure is
finished. Please wait for this sound to ensure that you
have successfully completed the signing-in or signing-out
process.
Late Pick-Ups: Please call us if you are going to be late in
picking up your child. Please note that a fee of $2.00 per
minute will be applied.

Tour Time: 9:00-11:00 A.M. Daily

Orientations: 1:30-3:30 P.M. Daily

The school opens from 7:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M. The school director
gives tours at 9:00-11:00 A.M. during the Montessori activity
period. This is the best time to observe the children at work with
different subject areas. Orientations are scheduled at 1:30-3:30
P.M. daily. You may bring your child to the tour, and the child
may observe the classroom during the Montessori activity
period. Please call the front desk to schedule a tour.

Our Winter Concert was a very memorable event!

A special thanks to all the parents for taking the time
to attend our concert and for showing your support!
Thanks to all the teachers for your time and effort in
practicing songs with the children, and for making
wonderful, creative costumes for them!
Thank you to Ms. April for designing our Winter
Concert program and for taking photos of the
children!
We would also like to express our gratitude and
appreciation to Ms. Rex, our music teacher, for the
piano accompaniment on our Winter Concert. Her
musical talent and enthusiasm was a key component
in the success of our event.
Our warmest thanks also go to Ms. Kim and Ms. April
for our festive winter stage decoration!
Many thanks to all the parents who gave goody bags
to share with their childs classroom!

A 30-day notice is required if your child will be going on

vacation, or if you are withdrawing your child. Please
ask the front desk for a 30-day notice form.

Learn and Play Montessori School Irvington Campus will

open in January 2015! Learn more by emailing us at
irvington@learnandplaymontessori.com or call us at
(510) 299-5054.

An important part of our admissions process is the orientation

where the parents and the child are invited to meet with the
director.
LIC #: 013420604

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