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March 15

A few reminders and notes as we get going after Spring Break!

North America Study

• • This week our presentations start. Please arrive 10 minutes in advance as some presentations are shorter and it is very difficult to fill time between presentations when we have to wait for parents to arrive. If you haven't signed your child up for a time, one will be assigned to them.
• Luncheon
  • We will have our North America Potluck luncheon on Friday, March 27th. There will be a museum walk at 11:30 so the children can show other parents what they have done and lunch will begin approximately at 12:15. 
  • Please sign up to bring a North American food but please avoid hamburgers, pizza, mac and cheese etc. Instead, we encourage you to choose a dish from another country in North or Central America such as Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, or the country your child is studying - or a regional dish from the U.S. Make sure to add a comment about what you are bringing so we don't have too many duplicates!

Auction Gift Basket

• The kids voted on doing a fairy garden themed gift basket for this year's Villa auction. The money raised will come back to the classroom! Lisa has started an Amazon wish list for items but if anyone has other ideas, please feel free to have them sent to the school at her attention or drop off in the classroom.

Regarding the use of fidgets at school

• Fidgets can be a helpful tool for some students when they are used with intention and purpose. However, we’ve noticed that many children who do not need them for focus or regulation have been bringing them to class. This has led to some unnecessary distractions during learning time.
• To help maintain a calm and productive classroom environment, we kindly ask that students only bring fidgets if they have a specific need for them. If your child enjoys using fidgets at home, that’s absolutely fine—we just ask that they stay at home unless they are part of a learning plan or recommended by the teacher.

Regarding smartwatches in school

• Additionally, the class has seen an increase in students wearing smartwatches. If a watch does anything beyond telling time—such as messaging, games, or notifications—it should be left at home. These features can be disruptive during lessons, and we want to ensure all students can stay focused. Thank you so much for your understanding and support.

March 1

Last week of school before Spring Break!

• This will be catch up week so the kids can come back from break ready to jump into the next units of study.

• North America Continent Study
  • Don't forget to sign up for a day and time for your child's presentation that you can attend. If no one signs up, your child will be assigned a time to present to the class.

• Donut Tuesday!
  • The class filled the Peace ball jar AGAIN! They decided on donuts for their treat. There will be vegan options for those with special diets. From Lisa, "I am excited to say we have filled the peace ball bottle more this year than any year in the past. So awesome to see the kids thinking about kindness and respect as a daily practice."

• Science Friday
  • The kids will be doing fun science experiments on Friday. If you are able, please send in 2L bottles of soda (any flavor), corn starch, and Mentos by THURSDAY!

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Feb 20

Hi fellow parents!

A quick update regarding the North America Study: the packet that went home included an older version of the first page, and the updated version is below. Student presentations are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 18, and the luncheon is planned for Friday, March 27.

Spirit Week & Anti‑Bullying Week

Next week, the class will be engaging in conversations about what it means to be an upstander versus a bystander, and how those choices affect both others and themselves.

For Spirit Week the school and our class will also have special days:

Monday - Crazy Sock Day

Tuesday - Mismatch Day

Wednesday – Pink Shirt Day - Students are encouraged to wear pink in honor of two high school students who took a stand against bullying, inspiring this tradition.

Wednesday is also our class's Stuffed Animals Day - Students may bring a favorite stuffed animal to participate in lessons throughout the day. The class decided this round will be limited to animal stuffies only.

Thursday - Fancy Pants dress up day

Friday - Game day and class t-shirt day

Science Day - Friday, March 6

Next Friday is our class's Science Day - Several hands‑on science experiments are planned, and a few supplies are needed. We'd appreciate if you can send in Mentos packages, 2L pop bottles (any flavor), and corn starch. Please send items in by next Thursday so Lisa can fill in any gaps.

Sewing Help Needed

A parent with sewing experience would be greatly appreciated for a couple of small classroom projects. A laundry bag needs handles added, and six muslin bags are needed for umbrella stands. Materials are available; the class simply needs someone willing to sew them.

Strep Throat

As strep throat has been making the rounds in our and other classrooms, the school asks that parents be diligent with sick children and fevers, and please get your child tested if your child is showing symptoms.

Feb 9

Reminders for this week:

• Tuesday, Feb. 10 – North America Continent Study Begins
  Students will begin choosing their research topics, so it’s helpful to have a few ideas ready:
  • 1st Grade: Select an animal
  • 2nd Grade: Choose a capital city or a major city with a landmark
  • 3rd Grade: Choose a country
• Thursday, Feb. 12 - Field Trip
• The class will depart around 9:10 AM and eat lunch at the venue. Please pack a lunch that’s easy to eat on bleacher-style seating. They will return to school at approximately 2:30 PM.
• Friday, Feb. 13
  • If your child chooses to bring Valentine’s cards:
  • Please include all 28 classmates.
  • Each card should have the recipient’s name written on it.
  • Students will complete an alphabetizing activity before passing out cards.
  • They may bring their own collection box or bag. If they forget one, Lisa will have a few extra bags available.
• Pizza Friday and voluntary Valentine's Day card exchange. 

Important Dates

February 12 (Thu) – Lisa’s Class Field Trip
February 13 (Fri) – Valentine's exchange and Grams Delivery Day
February 13 (Fri) – Elementary Dance
February 16 (Mon) – School Closed (President’s Day)
February 23–27 (Mon–Fri) – Anti‑Bullying Awareness Week
March 9–13 (Mon–Fri) – Spring Break
March 16 (Mon) – Start of AzSCI Testing Window (Grades 5 & 8)
March 21 (Sat) – PTO Movie Night
March 28 (Sat) – Middle School Spring Market
March 30 (Mon) – Start of AASA Testing Window (Grades 3–8)

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Feb 3

Mid‑Week Update

Friday – Busy Day Ahead!
A reminder that this Friday is an ALL SCHOOL HALF‑DAY.

The Village is hosting another Game Day from 12:30–2:30 PM at the Devonshire Senior Center. It’s a free community event, and donations are appreciated to help cover room rental costs. (Flyer attached.)

As a reward for filling the Peace Ball bottle, our class will enjoy a Movie Day on Friday. Students may bring a small stuffy that fits inside their backpack.

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – North America Continent Study Begins
Students will begin choosing their research topics, so it’s helpful to have a few ideas ready:

• 1st Grade: Select an animal
• 2nd Grade: Choose a capital city or a major city with a landmark
• 3rd Grade: Choose a country

Lisa will be limiting the list of countries, so students are encouraged to do a bit of preliminary research to ensure they can find rich historical and current (non‑violent) cultural information.

Thursday, Feb. 12 – Field Trip
Please check communication folders for the field trip permission slip.

The Fun Run was a great success! A few more classroom treats are coming soon, and the Fun Run–sponsored activities will take place during Spirit Week. More details to come.

Important Dates

January 27 (Tue) – Family Engagement Session #2
January 31 (Sat) – PTO Fun Run
February 2 (Mon) – Valentine Grams on sale
February 6 (Fri) – All School Half Day
February 12 (Thu) – Lisa’s Class Field Trip
February 13 (Fri) – Valentine Grams Delivery Day
February 13 (Fri) – Elementary Dance
February 16 (Mon) – School Closed (President’s Day)
February 23–27 (Mon–Fri) – Anti‑Bullying Awareness Week
March 9–13 (Mon–Fri) – Spring Break
March 16 (Mon) – Start of AzSCI Testing Window (Grades 5 & 8)
March 21 (Sat) – PTO Movie Night
March 28 (Sat) – Middle School Spring Market
March 30 (Mon) – Start of AASA Testing Window (Grades 3–8)

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Jan 26

A note from the PTO and the school calendar below!

Villa Montessori families! 

If you haven’t already, take a minute to register your student TONIGHT at MyBooster.com. Then, raise awareness and share your page by emailing it to friends, family, and neighbors. 

View our school’s progress toward our $45,000 goal on MyBooster.com!

We still need to reach our weekend registration of 45% students registered. We are so close, so please make sure your student is registered. If we reach our registration goal:

• Primary, E1 & E2 students will get a classroom game hour (plus Primary will get a PJ Day)
• Middle School students who register will earn a homework pass for math

New Challenges:

TONIGHTS CHALLENGE: Student Star Video Challenge! Any student who has created or does create a Student Star Video will be entered into a drawing for a fun prize!

Our students are so excited, thanks for helping make our fundraiser great! 

Villa PTO

IMPORTANT DATES:

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Jan 12

Conferences: Student-led conferences start this week to discuss their progress, highlight their strengths, and check in on how they’re doing with their goals. Please be on time for your conference. If you haven't sign up yet, please do so here.

Blue Watermelon: The kids will have a chef preparing a kohlrabi recipe this Wednesday

MLK Day: Reminder that next Monday is a holiday!

IMPORTANT DATES: