April zipped by faster than a bunny hopping down the playground!
The month was filled with exciting adventures, from our first-ever book fair where we explored colorful stories, to celebrating our amazing planet on Earth Day! We planted seeds, learned about recycling, and had a blast keeping our Earth clean and green.
The joy on all our little learners' faces and seeing them so excited made our hearts happy as can be.
A big shout-out to all the super star parents who helped run the book fair! Thanks to you, everyone got a chance to find their new favorite book. We were also able to make over $2,000 in sales and the school received over $800 in Scholastic dollars. Our teachers have fresh new books for their classroom libraries!
Ready to see some snapshots of all the fun? Scroll below to check out some awesome pictures that captured the magic of April at Gaowa Montessori School!
Let's get ready for a May-vellous month ahead; see you in May 🤩✨
Ms. Esme & Ms. Kait
Sensorial Work:
Our littlest learners are busy refining their senses! By exploring different sized shapes, they're building a foundation for understanding dimension and detail. These hands-on activities are a cornerstone of the Montessori approach, helping children learn by doing and using their natural curiosity to grasp the world around them.
Ms. Suzzaine & Ms. Keila
Practical Life:
In our Practical Life area, spooning activities mirror real-world experiences. Children practice holding a spoon with a strong, independent grip. Spills are part of the learning process! Through concentration, they refine their hand-eye coordination and develop the fine motor skills needed for future tasks, like writing.
Ms. Maneet & Ms. Citlali
Practical Life:
Our friend here is strengthening their tiny hands with tongs. This fun activity helps them develop the precise movements needed for writing, all while using their eyes and hands together. It's a Montessori way to build those essential skills!
Ms. Nancy & Ms. Nijma
Mathematics:
The Hundred Board works with number tiles in which the child is tasked to put the numbers in order from 1-100. This work helps build on the child's counting skills and concentration.
Ms. Tatiana & Ms. Cassidy ft. Ms. Rocio
Spanish:
Spanish is part of Gaowa Montessori's curriculum where Ms. Rocio holds a lesson and engages with the children with fun props, songs, and games. Here, they're building their Spanish vocabulary by learning some food names with Pepe the Pig.
Ms. Ashley & Ms. Ruby
Language:
Salt and letters writing are perfect for practicing the following skills:
Ms. Marjorie
Cultural:
The Neptune explorers are nurturing curiosity through a colorful science experiment! They're carefully observing white flowers in vibrant water, wondering if the petals will transform to match their colorful surroundings. This hands-on exploration fosters their natural desire to learn and understand the world around them.
Get ready for a May-vellous month at Gaowa Montessori School full of out-of-this-world activities!
First off, we'll be getting into the Star Wars spirit to celebrate "May the Fourth be With You!" by dressing up in Star Wars attire.
Next, we'll be showering all the amazing moms and motherly figures out there with a whole week of love and appreciation for Mother's Day (they deserve it every day, but hey, a whole week is pretty awesome too! ). From May 6th to 10th, all moms are invited to join their little ones for a special breakfast together! Get ready for some yummy treats, big hugs, and maybe even a homemade card or two (we won't spoil the surprise!). Keep an eye on your classroom newsletters for more the details.
At the same time, the school will be showing appreciation and gratitude for our teachers to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. We would not be here without them!
Then, we'll have a week dedicated to learning all about our Community Helpers and how they help our society function smoothly. This exploration of different careers will help foster our students' curiosity, independence, and appreciation for the people who keep our community running.
Finally, the school will be closed on Memorial Day to honor those who served our country. We're grateful for all that they do 🇺🇸
We're so excited to see how our students will learn, grow, and have fun with these events. Thank you for your support and cooperation as we go through these events together!
Spirit Day: May the fourth be with you!
While May 4th is on a Saturday, we'll be celebrating the day on Friday with Star Wars gear! If you can, please have your child dressed up in Star Wars gear, however please be mindful that they should refrain from bringing in any toy blasters or weapons and masks.
Mother's Day Celebration: Muffins with Mom
Gaowa will be celebrating Mother's Day with our annual celebration by inviting our lovely moms to join us for breakfast! This event will be taking place out in the patio, starting at 9:30AM until 10:00/10:15 AM. This schedule details when each classroom will be doing the celebration with their moms:
We hope that all of our mothers or mother-figures can attend this event. If you are unable to, another relative or registered guardian is more than welcome to join us as well.
Teacher Appreciation Week
We at Gaowa Montessori School want to take a moment to shower our amazing, incredible teachers with our deepest gratitude and appreciation. Each and every day, they walk into our classrooms to inspire and encourage the learning mindset by cultivating a nurturing and prepared environment. Their dedication to the Montessori philosophy really shows in our students when we see them being independent, curious, and having a love for learning. With their passion and expertise, our teachers have been going above and beyond to help our school grow. We are truly grateful for their patience, passion and positive impact ❤️ Thank you for nurturing the curious minds of the future!
Community Helpers Week
During this week, the school will be learning all about our community helpers and how they help our society function. More information about this week will be provided in a different newsletter, so please keep an eye out for it!
SCHOOL CLOSED - Memorial Day
Gaowa Montessori School will be closed in order to honor those who lost their lives while defending their country.
For May's Artist of the Month, we're changing it up and diving into Southern Latin American Musical Artists 💃🏻
Each classroom will be choosing their own artists to focus on and the children will be getting into rhythm as they're learning all about Southern Latin American music.
Here's a little blurb about it's influence on the world according to IMU:
"Like many genres, Latin music (in its entirety) has never stopped evolving. It only continues to innovate, paving the way for new sub-genres with eclectic compositions. Let’s start off our history lesson in the late 1800s, when Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music was being performed in salon band ensembles. Initially, these acts were primarily done in cultural celebrations, but were soon being performed in a variety of spaces including New York ballrooms. In the 1930s, the music made its way into mainstream American pop culture as it started to be commercially distributed. From then on, these compositions only grew in popularity, introducing a new era of music into the States (Smithsonian.)
Eric Jones, Professor of Music History at Savannah State University says 'They (Latinx musicians) have always been a part of pop culture, especially in the 60s, but it goes back to 1942 and Dizzy Gillespie’s fusion of Latin and jazz music in ‘A Night in Tunisia'' (Savannah Now.) Another pioneer of Latin jazz was Carlos Santana, one of the most influential guitarists to ever live. His music became popular in the late ‘60s, continuing to influence the genre decades later. Latin jazz is one of the most notable forms of music that has influenced American music. The Smithsonian explains that it gives more time for improvisation and features more experimental instrumentation, revitalizing classic jazz performance (Smithsonian.)
By the ‘90s, Latin music was booming around the world. It just wouldn’t be right to write an article on this topic without mentioning worldwide sweetheart Selena, master of Cumbia and Bossa Nova, and the first Latinx artist with four number-one singles in 1994. She was also the first Latinx artist with a No. 1 album, which was partially sung in Spanish. After her tragic passing, Latin music continued to evolve. Luis Miguel, known as the 'Latin Frank Sinatra''collaborated with Frank Sinatra himself to produce 'Come Fly with Me', a new development within jazz. In 1998, Ricky Martin gained the media’s attention with the release of 'La Copa de la Vida.' In 1999, he released his first English album which included hit single 'Livin’ la Vida Loca.' This release gained worldwide popularity, reaching number one in the United States, with number two being his song 'She’s All I Ever Had.'
Luis Miguel
“El Sol de Mexico” (The Sun of Mexico) as he is affectionately known, Luis Miguel is the perfect package: movie star looks, old-world elegance, unwavering cultural pride and silky-smooth vocals. After a string of pop hits in the ‘80s, he made traditional mariachi music and boleros appealing to a younger audience. Whether the tempo is slow or fast, he still sounds oh-so-good.
Juanes
Growing up in Colombia, a country rich in musical styles, Juanes was bound for greatness. By infusing modern rock with guasca, the folkloric music from his native Medellin, he gifted us with a new, danceable form of feel-good Spanish pop in the 2000s, as heard on songs like “A Dios Le Pido” and “La Camisa Negra.” The Bono of the Spanish-speaking world, he is known just as much for his musical consistency as he is for his humanitarian efforts.
May 4th - May 5th | 9:30AM - 4:30PM
Location: The Autry in Griffith Park | Griffith Park Los Angeles
Price:
Information: The West Coast's premier Family Music Festival!
Celebrating its 9th consecutive year, Great Big Family Play Day continues to stand out as one of the most anticipated family events on the West Coast!
Often referred to as “Coachella for Kids,” this festival offers new and unique experiences for families with kids of all ages to enjoy! It's an annual extravaganza that simply cannot be missed!
Various Dates | 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Location: Centennial Farm: OC Fair & Event | 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Price: Free admission & parking
Information: Discovery Days at Centennial Farm are open to the public and are perfect for mom groups, homeschool groups and more. Groups may participate in the following activities:
Lunch/Snack Area
Picnic tables are available for lunch on a first-come, first-seated basis. Picnic tables may not be claimed prior to our 9 a.m. opening time. No assistance will be provided transporting lunches to and from the picnic area. No food or drinks are sold on premises.
All month of May | Fridays starting at 9:30AM, Saturday & Sunday every 30 minutes starting at 9:30AM
Location: Tanaka Farm | Griffith Park Los Angeles
Price:
Information: Each season here at Tanaka Farms provides a different farm tour experience! Bring the entire family for a fun and educational tour of a real working farm! All of our farm tours are led by a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide.
Most of our tours include a guided wagon ride around our beautiful thirty-acre farm, making several stops in the fields along the way to pick fruits and vegetables right where they grow!
Your friendly tour guide will teach you about our farm’s history and the responsible farming methods used to grow our crops. All tours include admission to the farm, visiting our Barnyard Educational Exhibit, and play area, as well as many photo opportunities to commemorate your visit with friends and family. In addition, all of our tours are available for Field Trips and Private Group Reservations.
Saturday & Sundays | 9:00AM and 11:00AM
Location: Pasadena Playhouse | 39 S El Molino Ave Pasadena, CA
Price: $17
Information: All aboard! Join our exciting, interactive adventure that’s perfect for toddler and preschool theater lovers to explore and examine the world around them. Wheels on the Bus will delight all who ride and is sure to keep the laughs coming round and round – don’t miss your chance to go on this unforgettable grown up-and-me journey filled to the brim with immersive fun for everyone.
The Wheels on the Bus can’t go round and round without you and your littlest ones!
