I’d like to start out by saying thank you to everyone for the hugs, flowers, drinks, pictures, cards, and all the other gestures during teacher appreciation week. It truly made my week, and I know Ms. Lacey and Ms. Jalee feel the same. You all are the best parents teachers could ever ask for! Thank you!
As most of you probably know by now, Ms. Lacey needed to have surgery, and has been out since last week. We are not certain when she will be back, but in the meantime the kids and I will continue on and keep thinking about her. Your kids have been amazing, and have been making my job very easy this past week. I know that they all do their best to have perfect behavior in the mornings, which is why by the end of they day they get a little wild. I embrace this opportunity, and redirect their energy into something a little more physical and fun in the afternoons.
We were lucky that the weather has been nice which allowed us to clean out our garden plot (with Ms. Rachel’s help) on Monday. We harvested parsley and mint, and prepared the plot for our tomato and pumpkin plants.
![IMG_3700](http://blogs.mariamontessoriacademy.org/jalee/files/2016/05/IMG_3700-300x225.jpg)
All throughout the week, the kids presented their home projects. The interactive presentations were absolutely engaging. The kids loved learning about all the different types of birds, planets and dinosaurs. The props, pictures and the kids’ knowledge on the topics blew me away. I cannot put in words the improvement I am witnessing in your children’s public speaking. It is amazing. I can tell how hard they worked on these last home projects, and I am beyond proud of all of them!
![IMG_3707](http://blogs.mariamontessoriacademy.org/jalee/files/2016/05/IMG_3707-300x225.jpg)
On Thursday, we spent the afternoon outside planting. We also had a surprise visitor. Ms. Jalee brought her daughter Sloane and her baby boy Sawyer to meet the kids. We all had a great time.
![IMG_3714](http://blogs.mariamontessoriacademy.org/jalee/files/2016/05/IMG_3714-300x225.jpg)
Here are some important dates for the rest of the school year. Can you believe it’s already May?!
Tomorrow, Monday, May 9, we will have Kindergarten visitors. Our class gets to meet the kids who will be with us next year as level 1s.
The 3rd grade party will be this Thursday, May 12. Parents of level 3s should have received an email with a sign up sheet for donations. Please let me know if you have not received this email, and I will put you in touch with the coordinating teacher.
This Friday, May 13, we will be attending Ms. Trudy’s art class in the morning.
Next week, May 16-20, will be our annual Spirit Week. I will post specifics about the different dress ups on Friday.
Ms. Connie is presenting a Spring Choir Performance on Thursday, May 19. Please attend at 6pm if your child’s last name begins with A-K; or at 7pm if the last name begins with L-Z. I will be attending both performances, and look forward to seeing you there.
Friday, May 20 will be Field Day. I will post specifics for this day as soon as I have the information.
On Monday, May 23 Kindergarten Bridging will be held at 11am followed by a picnic lunch on the playground. Ms. Jalee will be attending this event to welcome next year’s level 1s.
3rd Grade Bridging will be on Tuesday, May 24 at 10.30-11.30am. All level 3s will be eating lunch with our upper el mentor class (Ms. Kirsten’s class) that day. Please join us for this milestone in your children’s lives. Ms. Jalee will be attending this event also.
On Thursday, May 26, MMA is holding the annual Kickball Game, and we will be handing out the yearbooks. The kids will spend most of the morning signing each other’s year books, cleaning out their lockers, and taking all papers and belongings home. If you could send your child with a grocery bag to take home all of their things that would help this process tremendously. Thank you in advance. It will also be the last day of school. No school on Friday, May 27!
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (May 24-26) will be half days. School will be out at 1pm. We have parent teacher conferences on those days. I will post the link for the sign up in a separate blog post. Please make sure to sign up soon as the slots are limited. Ms. Jalee will be joining me for the last conferences this school year as my “assistant”.
The rest of May will fly by, and I am sure the kids are ready for summer to be here. I would like to thank all of you for your kindness, patience, help, and love you have shown. The opportunity to take over as the lead teacher for a little while has given me the chance to get to know the kids in different ways than I have gotten to know them before. I am so proud of their accomplishments and their growth this school year, and I cannot wait to see everyone again in the fall.
Marleen