WEEK'S UP FOR WEEKENDING 26 JANUARY 2017

A HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR - GONG XI FA CAI 

恭喜发财 - 万事如意

Notes from the Office:

LUNAR NEW YEAR

Memories (circa January 2016)

Lunar New Year Celebration - We will be celebrating Lunar New Year in school on 8 February 2017 from 9:00 a.m.  All children are invited to be at school by 8:15 a.m.  Please contact the bus transport provider @ 67755115 for changed bus arrangements.

As always, we would appreciate contributions of traditional Lunar New Year food and snacks, packet drinks and water, for the buffet tables.  We shall be thankful to receive the above by Monday, 6th February 2017.  

Fun facts about the Lunar New Year!

Lunar New Year Holidays - We will be closed on Friday, 27th and 31st January 2017; sessions resume on Wednesday, 1st February 2017.  Have you viewed our 2016-2017 calendar?  You could download it by clicking on this link.

Valentine's Day Celebration:

Valentine's messages - every year we read out individual messages dedicated to your children by their family, teachers and friends.  We ask that you prepare your messages and send these to school to be placed in our Valentine’s Mail Box.  On Valentine's Day, Tuesday, 14th February 2017, we will read out your special messages to your children.

Fun Facts about St Valentine's Day!

E-LEARNING

We continue with our e-learning sessions for the children who are in the last year of their tenure with us, before graduating to primary/grade schools.  During these sessions, they experience e-Learning through Apple iPad® applications and the exercises included reading, cursive writing and mathematics.

OUR WEEK IN THE MONTESSORI CLASSES

Sensorial

Top: Sandpaper Globe, Bottom Left: the Tree Puzzle, Bottom Right: Addition Snake Game

Introduction to the Sand Paper Globe:

This activity is presented in the Montessori environment to help the children understand the shape of the earth and visualise the distribution of land and water over the earth.

Parts of the Tree

This activity is presented using the Tree Puzzle, which is a material in our environment. It will help the children learn the names of the parts of a tree.

Introduction to Basic Geometric Shapes - The circle, square and triangle. 

The three basic geometric shapes are initially introduced to help the children understand shapes, which will prepare them for geometry.  These three shapes have purposes - the circle is the calculator as it calculates degrees;  the square measures area (square feet) and the triangle is the constructor, i.e. any shape can be constructed by joining triangles.

Topic: We discussed important events that are celebrated this week in different countries:

Showing where India is with the help of the Puzzle Map of Asia

Indian Republic Day – (26 January 1950) when India adapted to a new system of governance - from democracy to that of an independent republic.

Colouring the Flag of Australia

Australian Day – ( 26 January) - Early in the nineteenth century, Sydney almanacs referred to 26 January as the First Landing Day or Foundation Day, as the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the first fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain and the first governor of New South Wales, arrived in Sydney Cove.

We made and served special snacks - 'idlis' for the Indian Republic Day and 'Tim-Tam' (a chocolate snack from Australia) for Australia Day

Lunar New Year

The children adorned the Pussy Willow plant with gold and red ornaments.  For those who celebrate the Lunar New Year, this is one of the favourite flowers that is used to decorate their homes.

Songs 

'Chinese New Year', 'Kookaburra', 'We Travel Down Australia' and 'Waltzing Matilda.'

Mandarin

Songs: 'Little Chicken' - Here's a recording of it
Rhyme: Spring Festival is Here, 'The Chinese Animal Zodiac'
Conversations: GONG XI, GONG XI, XIN NIAN HAO 

EXTENDED-DAY

Left: Exercises with the Red Rods, Right: Decimal System Beads and Cards Layout

Exercise of Practical Life

Learning to fold a plastic shopping bag: an activity to encourage conservation - to reuse and reduce items.  This will help the children to keep their environments orderly.

Sensorial

Red Rods Exercises: The children learn to discriminate different dimensions in length, thereby building the foundation for mathematical work.

Language

Noun and Verb Games: The children are introduced to grammar through these games. Nouns (names of people, places and objects), being 'name' words and verbs (run, walk, jump), being action words.

Mathematics

Decimal System Beads and Cards Layout and Formation of Numbers: The children continued their work with this material.  They also learnt to form numbers using all the categories i.e. units, tens, hundreds and thousands.

Topics:

Artist and Inventor Leonardo Da Vinci. 
Fun facts about this artist!

This week we introduced and spoke about this polymath.  Also, we continued with our ongoing art project – Vincent Van Gogh's ‘Almond Blossoms
Fun Facts about Vincent Van Gogh

Craft:  Lunar New Year craft - ‘Cherry Blossom tree’

Cookery: For Indian Republic Day - ‘Chapati’ and for Australia Day - 'Lamingtons'

BIAN DANG BAN

Left: LNY Practices, Discussion on Lunar New Year, Right: LNY Practices

Discussion: Lunar New Year                       
Songs: Lunar New Year songs
Rhyme: The Spring Festival is here
Practices: Lunar New Year performances

HINDI MILAP

Group time - Indian Republic Day (presentation via multi-media) 

Eminent personalities - Subhas Chandra Bose (Birthday - 23 January 1897)

Word study:

भारत, तिरंगा, लाल क़िला, झंडा, अध्यक्ष, अशोक चक्र, बाघ, मोर, कमल

Poem:

वंदे मातरम्‌ ।

सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्‌ 

स्यश्यामलां मातरम्‌ ।

शुभ्रज्योत्‍स्‍नापुलकितयामिनीं

फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं

सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं

सुखदां वरदां मातरम्‌ ॥

वंदे मातरम्‌ ।

Cookery project - Roti and idly preparation

INFANT COMMUNITY

                      

Presentation: Care of the Environment - Cleaning a large mirror.

Discussion: Talked about the Lunar New Year

Songs: *GONG XI, GONG XI  - in English and Mandarin, *XIN NIAN HAO, *The more we get together.
 

Presentation: How to walk in the classroom.

Craft: Chicken



HAVE A GREAT LUNAR NEW YEAR WEEKEND.

WEEK'S UP FOR WEEKENDING 20 JANUARY 2017

Hello everyone and a very good evening to you!

We trust you had a pleasant and productive week.  Nearly all our children have happily engaged in their activities and things are buzzing in the classes.  A reminder: please refer to our blog of 13 January 2017 for details about our Lunar New Year celebrations on 8 February 2017.   The teachers have sent emails to you earlier communicating their plans for January and February 2017 and we hope you will find it informative.  Do remember to copy the administration at broadrick@montessori.edu.sg for a timely response.

(L-R) - Sewing on a card, cleaning a mirror, sorting, washing a chair, cutting vegetables and making a tangram

IN THE CLASSES:

MONTESSORI :

Exercise of Practical Life (Presentations):

Using the Washroom:

Using the toilet – We reminded the children to go to the toilet should there be a need and to wash their hands after using the toilet.

We introduced the 'toilet chain' - There are only two 'toilet chains' in each class.  When a child needs to go to the toilet, the process is to put on this chain before leaving the classroom.  This way only two children can be out of the classroom at a time.

Washing Hands – we presented the proper way to wash our hands hygienically.  This also helps to develop independence in taking care of oneself.

Walking around the rugs (other's workspace)
This exercise helps the children with developing gross motor control when walking around the class and being aware of and respecting their classmates' work space.

Rolling and unrolling a rug - Unrolling a rug prepares the child's work space while rolling up a rug signifies the completion of the activities and restoration of the materials and rug.  This exercise also helps improve coordination of movement, development of small motor muscles and concentration.

Sensorial:

• Touch Boards (Montessori material) – To refine the tactile sense and to acquire better muscular control through the lightness of touch. The children also learn the difference between rough and smooth surfaces.
• Parts of the body – learning the terminology of the parts of the human body.

Group Topics:

Tennis - the Australian Open (via multi-media presentation) -

The children were given information about this annual sporting event, which started in 1905 and is held over the last fortnight in January in Melbourne, Australia.  This marks the beginning of a new calendar of tennis tournaments played around the world.  So who's your favourite?

Lunar New Year – Explained that this is the Year of the Rooster and related the story of the Chinese zodiac animals.
 
Retold the story of the Kitchen God - a Chinese folk belief.

MANDARIN:

Songs: Wishing You a Happy New Year (Link to a recording of the song)        

Rhyme: The Spring Festival is Here

Introduction: Parts of the Human Body

Discussion: Talked about the Chinese New Year

EXTENDED-DAY:

Exercises of Practical Life (Presentations)

Folding Clothes - The children were shown how to fold different clothes; such as shirts (short sleeves and long sleeves) and a dress.  Through this activity, the child learns to be independent, develop concentration and understand order, in their environments.

Sensorial

• Variations with the Pink Tower and the Brown Stair - the materials present dimensions and designs.

Mathematics

Decimal System - Introduction and Layout of Beads

• Introduction to quantities and place values of different categories, using the Bead material, namely; units, tens, hundreds and thousands.

Language

• Additional activities with the Movable Alphabet: Reinforcement of phonetic sounds and analysis of phonetic words using the Montessori Letter Boxes.

Topic: Famous Artists: We discussed the famous Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh's work this week.  This is part of a series of presentations about famous artists.  We chose his painting of Sunflowers at this time, because there is a connection between flowers and the Lunar New Year.  To those who celebrate the Lunar New Year flowers represent happiness, beauty and the resurgence of life. 

‘Sunflowers’ by Vincent Van Gogh - the children created their impressions of this famous painting (what do you think of their interpretations?)

E-Learning:

We resumed our e-learning programme with a new batch, this term, involving the children who stay for full day sessions.

This is only for children in their last year with us and who will be graduating to primary or grade schools.  

BIAN DANG BAN:

• Topic of Discussion: Talked about Lunar New Year - how it is celebrated
• Rhyme: The Spring Festival is Here
• Song: Lunar New Year songs
• Craft: Chinese zodiac animal bracelet
• Activity: Practices for New Year performances

HINDI

Group discussion:

Indian Culture and Heritage: Ancient art forms of India

Tanjore Painting
A South Indian painting style characterised by rich and vivid colours, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and precious and semi-precious gems.  We are very appreciative to Shirja Nimoh, our co-teacher in the Hindi Milap who created these paintings as a hobby, for bringing in her work and sharing it with the children.

Vocabulary - Months according to the lunar calendar (Indian)

Story time :

गानेवाला गधा 

शिक्षा - अपने शुभचिंतको की सलाह को नजरंदाज नहीं करना चाहिए ।

Word Study 

गधा, कपड़े, नदी, धोबी, तरबूज, नारंगी, खेत                                         

Songs and poems -
 

1. पतंग बड़ी मतवाली, मतवाली, मतवाली,

पतंग बड़ी मतवाली नीली, पिली, काली,

देख सभी होते है दंग, होते है दंग, होते है दंग,

देख सभी होते है दंग, उड़ती सदा हवा के संग ।

2. सर सर सर सर उड़ी पतंग, 

फर फर, फर फर उड़ी पतंग,

इसको काटा उसको काटा,

उड़ते उड़ते, जुडी पतंग ।

  

INFANT COMMUNITY:

The new children are generally adapting to the routine of the Infant Community.  We hope you will enjoy these photographs of them at work and at play. 

The presentations we did this week are:

• Squeezing Oranges
• Drinking liquid from a cup

Songs

• Good morning/Good afternoon to everyone 
• The Wheels on the Bus.
• The Finger Family

We will be back with more next week.

   

WEEK'S UP FOR WEEKENDING 13 JANUARY 2017

Hello everyone, welcome to the first Week's Up of 2017!

It is good to be back 'in full swing' and we are very happy to have all our children with us, some a little taller than we remember, some a little more 'sun-kissed' from their holidays and everyone looking generally pleased to be in class again!  Well generally, is the operative word as we did have teeny, tiny whimpers that dissipated as everyone became busy with the Montessori materials!

The new children continue their settling-in process and we are happy to say that most of them have adapted to their new environments.  Now, the real work begins as we progress with their journey into Montessori education. 

WUp from the Teachers - nope that's not a typo 😁, it is our 'buzz term' for the weekly note that we send you.  By now the parents of our new joiners must have received personalised mail from the teachers and you are welcome to share its content, with your child.  More to come as the term proceeds. Please remember to copy all correspondence with the school to, broadrick@montessori.edu.sg to ensure broadrick@montessori.edu.sg

LUNAR NEW YEAR 2017

Lunar New Year Holidays - We will be closed from Friday, 27th and 31st January 2017; sessions resume on Wednesday, 1st February 2017. 

The celebrations in school will be held on February 8^th, 2017 from 9 a.m.  There will be no regular sessions on this day, for both the Infant Community and Casa.  All children are invited to attend the celebration.  

Children are expected to arrive at school by 8.15 a.m. and, be collected by 11.00 a.m. The cultural performance is scheduled at 9 a.m.  Please contact the school bus for changed bus arrangements for this day.  Tel: 67755115

Here are pictures from the 2016 performance at school.

So, please do join in this auspicious event.  We would not be able to accommodate any cars in the compound and request that you park along Ramsgate Road, always being mindful of our neighbour’s access to the road. We suggest that you carpool and/or use public transport.

The celebration begins with a performance by our students, a repertoire of song and dance, followed by a professional Lion dance troupe doing their traditional blessing of the school and for all present, (so we may enjoy a prosperous and happy year ahead!). The finale will be the classic ‘Yu Sheng’! (tossing the salad of prosperity to which we invite all present – vegetarians too!)



IDENTIFICATION TAGS:

ID Tags were issued to who have applied.  Please contact the school office immediately if you have not received the above.  To ensure the safe dismissal of your children, please see that the person collecting a child from school is wearing (or is able to display) the ID tag we have issued.  Thank you for your cooperation.

WITHIN THE CLASSES...

(L-R) Extending greetings from one to another, a new child happily completing an activity, colouring a 'kolam', grace and courtesy - opening and closing doors gently, safely and securely

Group Discussions:

• The children excitedly shared their holiday experiences which ranged from a 'super stay-at-home vacation with the added bonus of grandparents (the kind we like with no schedules!)' to travels far and wide
• Many friendships were forged through introductions and the very useful  'Willaby Wallaby Woo' song that always helps to 'break the ice'.  So Kamakshi became 'Wamakshi'  -  get the picture?  Go on give this a try when you next have a bunch of friends at home.
• During group, we discussed grace and courtesy and reminded the children about using their indoor voices, walking around rugs, using polite words, etc.

Exercises of Practical Life: Grace and courtesy

• How to open and close doors - opening and closing doors gently, safely and securely.
• Greetings: How to greet each other, the teachers and visitors.

Language:

Orientation Game - This helps the children to be orientated with the environment, basically, learning the names of the materials in the class and their places within the environment.

பொங்கல் வாழ்த்துகள்

Poṅkal vāḻttukaḷ

Cultural Topic:

Multi-media Presentation: Pongal
Pongal is a harvest festival. On this occasion, people give thanks for abundant agricultural crops. The festival is most popular in the state of Tamil Nadu in India and in Sri Lanka.

The children coloured a 'kolam' as an art activity. Well in a more simplistic and childlike manner than seen in the clip😉

Songs: Lunar New Year songs.  Here is a recording of one of the (click to hear) songs we sang during group sessions.

Mandarin in the Classes...

Group:
1. Song: Happy New Year 
2. Rhyme: The Spring Festival Is Here
3. Conversation: Happy New Year!

Extended-Day ...

(L-R) Cooking the rice to make Pongal Rice - starting off as white rice and the result

Exercises of Practical Life:

Folding napkins: Introducing to folding napkins on the medial and diagonal lines. Practical aspect - promoting independence in the home environment to lay the table. 

NE𝑾 - we plan to introduce 'Preparing a banana leaf' (which is indigenous to South Asian culture) to serve a meal. 

Language:

Additional Activities with the Movable Alphabet : Reinforcement of phonetic sounds and analysis of phonetic words with the Montessori Letter Boxes

Mathematics:

Number Rods and Cards Exercises - internalizing the concept of numbers from 1 to 10. 

Topic: Artists - we discussed some famous artists in the world

Cultural Presentation and Activity:

Pongal - we talked about this harvest festival

Cookery Project - Pongal rice as a special snack

BIAN DANG BANG

(L-R) Cultural Activities: Lunar New Year performance practices and craft

Group:

1. Songs: Lunar New Year songs
2. Rhyme: Spring Festival Is Here
3. Discussed the Lunar New Year
4. Craft: A greeting card for the Lunar New Year

HINDI

Making 'laddus' for Pongal

Group discussion

Indian Culture and Heritage - Makar Sankranti 

Eminent Personalities - Swami Vivekananda 

Storytime 

१) Story of Vivekananda

२) तीन मछलियाँ 

शिक्षा - भाग्य भी उन्ही का साथ देती है जो बुद्धिमानी से कार्य करते है।

Songs: 

१ Chali Chali Re Patang meri chali re (2)

   Chali badaloa ke par ho ke dor pe sawar

   Saree duniya yeh dekh dekh jali re, chali chali re patang meri chali re.......

  Yu mast hava me leheraye jaise udan khatola ud jaye - (2)

  Le ke man me lagan jaise koyee dulhan - (2)

  Chali jayi sawar ki gali re, chali chali re patang meri chali re  ………

२ मम्मी की रोटी गोल गोल,

पापा का पैसा गोल गोल,

दादा का चस्मा गोल गोल,

दादी की बिंदिया गोल गोल....

Cookery Project: Making Til (Gud) Laddus

We will be back shortly with the Infant Community update meanwhile....