What’s happening?
The 6th graders  are putting together a blog about things that are happening in and out of the classroom:

June, 2012

Finding your way…

Yesterday the sixth graders went into the woods with Mr. T.  We walked through woods we have never been through and ended up at Centerport Beach.  As we walked we used a compass to find our way through the woods.

Molly

Finding our way is very important.  Going on that walk really showed me the importance of a compass,  map , GPS, or anything else that helps us find our way.  Using our memory can also help a little by remembering landmarks.  If I hadn’t gone to Love of Learning then I certainly wouldn’t have learned this. And I’m glad that I learned this just in case I get in this kind of situation.  I am so glad that I could go to Love of Learning and experience this.  I am also happy because L.O.L  has taught me a lot.

Morgan

Soon after we started our hike we found fox dens.  We knew they were fox dens because of the paw prints in the sand next to their holes.  Also, the holes were too big for a squirrel, chipmunk or mouse. Raccoons usually don’t dig holes.  They live in tress.  We also saw that by digging in the ground like the foxes had you hit sand quickly.  The only dirt on Long Island is because of the decomposed leaves that have built up over the years.

Thomas

We also found an old car, low bush blueberries and lots of poison ivy.  Even though it was hard we did our best to avoid the poison ivy.  When we got to the beach Mr. T. talked to us about finding our way.  It was a little about finding our way through the woods, but mostly it was about going to a different school.  Since our new school probably won’t be like Love of Learning we will have to find our way and avoid the poison ivy just like we did in the woods.  This poison ivy isn’t a plant though.  This poison ivy could be a lot of things from bad choices to mean students.  Both kinds of poison ivy can do damage.  I am not sure what to expect at my new school.  I don’t know how much I’m going to like it, but I do know that I will avoid the poison ivy.

Molly

On the way back we each got to lead for a time using our compass to decide which way to go.  Molly led first, then Morgan.  We got off the trail we took on the way, but using the compass, Mortan was able to lead us back to the original trail.  When Morgan was done, I led, then Thomas and Sarah.  We made such good time that we were able to spend about 10 minutes in the woods that were familiar to us playing a game we learned at the Caumsett overnight.  It was called Owl and Mouse.

Collin

We had been given compasses but not told exactly where we were going.  Our destination was the beach.  Mr. Thompson talked to us about finding our way.  On the way back to school we each led the way.  We had to remember the landmarks.  At one point we went a little off trail.  We quickly found our way back to it.  When we got a little lost the compasses really helped.  So did remembering the things we passed by.  It was a lot of fun.  Going in the right direction doesn’t refer to just traveling, it refers to life.  Life is something you should hold firmly in your hand and never let go.  It is not like a ball you can just toss back and forth.  It is doing the right things and making the right decisions, to not collapse under peer- pressure and to be a leader, not a follower.  The right direction is knowing where you will be and want to be in life.  The right direction is to be positive and to believe in yourself, to be confident in knowing what is important.  Going in the right direction is very important, it changes and determines your life.

Sarah

October, 2011

WHAT A RIDE!

Our bike ride – learning about the topography of Long Island – was the best ever!    It was raining on the way down to where we started riding but by the time we got to the parking lot the windshield wipers were turned off and it didn’t rain again until we came home.

We started at Old Country Road on the Greenbelt trail.  The first part was long and bumpy.  The trail through the brush was very narrow.  Then the trail went into woods at Bethpage State Park.  The terrain was always changing with lots of ups and downs.  There were also some fun mud puddles to ride through.

From Cedar Creek to Jones Beach the ride was flat with salt marsh all around.  We went over several bridges.  There were some posters along the way which told about the history of when people lived on the salt marsh and caught crabs and heated their houses with stoves that burned wood and coal.

At Jones Beach, it was deserted.  We took our shoes and socks off and ran through the sand.  Most of us got wet right away but some stood in the water just for a picture.  After lunch we rode West on the board walk to the end.  There were parts that were really shaky and bumpy.

Finally it was time for the long ride home.  We had a great time!

2011 Graduation Song:

Our graduating 6th class wrote a tribute song for the end of the year program.  The lyrics are here and to access their performance click here:
6^th grader’s Farewell, L.O.L.! (sing to Firework)
By: Shaina, Lauren, and Katie

Do you ever feel like driftin’ away,
from what you know,
where you’ve come to play.

Will you miss us here,
What we’ve come to be,
After the years we’ve had, at Montessori?

All the sledding and
All the sunny days,
L.O.L. is where we’ve come to learn and come to stay.

We love L.O.L., gym and chorus too.
We will miss it here, we just gotta
Remember all the fun we’ve had
With Camp DeWolfe and s’mores we were glad.

‘Cause L.O.L.’s the best around,
Here we turn frowns upside down.
Cause we all just love L.O.L.
Anyone who goes here can tell.

Love of Learning is not just L.O.L.
It does not mean to laugh out loud.
Here at L.O.L., it has come to mean
Something different, that we’re a family.

The year is over now,
So much has happened here,
Fun and cooperation
A perfect end to the year.

Some of the best times of our childhood were here.
Now we’re moving on, but we just gotta
Remember all the good we’ve done,
At L.O.L. where our story begun.

‘Cause L.O.L.’s the best around,
Here we turn frowns upside down,
Anyone who goes here can tell,
That we all just love L.O.L.

Week of April 4, 2011

Japanese Fundraiser
On March 31^st everyone in the school brought together the paper cranes they had been making both at home and in the classroom.  By the end of the day we had over 1,000 paper cranes which will be sent to a foundation in Seattle which is giving $2 for every crane received for Japanese earthquake relief efforts.

As you know, Japan has just suffered from a gigantic earthquake and tsunami.  It needs all the help it can get.  We decided to hold a fundraiser for Japan on the afternoon of March 31^st.  All sorts of activities were at the fundraiser, mostly run by the upper elementary kids and parents.  There were activities such as making bunnies out of towels, making a mini Japanese rock garden, fish painting, Japanese flags, hit the can, twister, and of course making paper cranes.

At 2:15pm everyone gathered in the Blue room for a talent show put together by the Elementary kids.  Overall we raised over $4,000, including the money donated for the paper cranes.  Even though it may not seem like a lot, we know it will make a big difference.

Hey, did you know that by making 1,000 paper cranes it is a wish for good in the Japanese tradition.  Our wish is that Japan’s spirit will be restored!

Week of March 7, 2011  

Read to Succeed
Last Wednesday, our annual Read to Succeed program finally came to a close with our always fun Favorite Book Character Event.  The elementary and many kindergarten kids dressed up as their favorite or most remembered book character.  Each one had a chance to get up in front of the group, give some hints about who they were and have the audience guess who they were.

The costumes were not allowed to be store bought; there were some very creative costumes made.  This year it was up to the 6^th graders to decide which costume was best (and we have to say there were a lot of potential winners).  In the end the winner was Sarah Stowe for her outstanding outfit – Katniss Everdeen, “the girl on fire,” from The Hunger Games (an amazing book by the way).

As well as the best costume award there were other awards given out for the top readers in every age group.  In the end, 14 kids received book tokens which they will be able to spend for more books on a special field trip they will take to Book Revue this week.

In a few weeks everyone who read 600 minutes or more will receive a free ticket to Great Adventure.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

Week of January 31, 2011

Sledding & Snow forts – Recess was never like this!
Not many schools get to do the stuff we do.  If you read most of the weekly articles, you’ll see our point.  I mean, who’s heard of a school where students chop wood, build osprey platforms and take walks in the woods regularly?

So, then kids at LOL hear the word “snow” they don’t pout about missing out, they think “sledding!”  Of course, we don’t want everyone getting cold and sitting through afternoon classes with wet clothes.  Children must be wearing snow pants and other snow gear (you should be listening parents).

Here are some comments:

“I’m glad we get to sled!”  “I like to make snow pacmans and go bellysliding.”

“I love the freezing cold weather and I like to go sled-snowboarding (standing up on my sled).”  “Sledding is fun!  At other schools we would stay inside all day.”

“I like the hill with the jump at the bottom.”  “I just love playing in the snow!”

Along with recess including sledding for the Winter, last week our gym was changed to snow fort building.  The children separated themselves into teams and the groups then started to build their snow forts.  We saw many good designs, including an igloo and a snow-cave under a picnic table.  It was lots of fun and the kids are hoping to do it again.  Here are a few comments:

“BEST GYM EVER!”

“Our fort was awesome and we are really looking forward to doing it again.”

Week of December 6, 2010

Osprey project
On Friday, December 10^th the Osprey platform was finally completed and set in its place.  Putting it together was done by the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders but on Friday the whole Elementary worked together to erect it.

Before the platform was actually raised many things had to be done.  The main beam that was 18’ long was delivered the previous week.  Working bit by bit we put the whole thing together during last week.  Finally on Friday, first thing in the morning we were ready to dig the 3’ hole.  It was cold enough that there was ice on the harbor but in the mud at the edge of the water it still wasn’t frozen we were able to dig the hole.  Getting down 3’ with a special kind of shovel wasn’t easy.

At 10:30am before the tide started coming back in we got all the elementary together to raise the platform.  Ropes were connected for the lower grades to pull on while the upper grades raised the platform up with Mr. Thompson’s help.  The first time we pulled and lifted the ropes weren’t quite lined up properly and we weren’t able to get it.  We had to put it back down, change the position of the ropes and try again.  The second time, with everyone pulling as hard as they could it dropped into the hole and we got it in place.

We all celebrated with a round of cookies and milk.  IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY!  Now we just have to wait till the Spring when the osprey migrate back North to see if one will want to make a home on our platform.

Week of November 22, 2010

A blog of Thanksgiving…
This year’s thanksgiving feast was one to be remembered.  All of the kids took part in the festivities by wearing either Pilgrim hats or Indian headdresses.  The kids also contributed by helping their class make some sort of snack food for the other classes to enjoy in Thanksgiving Hall (A.K.A. the dining room).  Boy, did we enjoy what was made.  Among the scrumptious treats were: cornbread, applesauce, cheerio trail mix, pumpkin muffins, carrots & cucumber slices, pumpkin bars and corn pancakes.  Luckily, our friends from our Dix Hills campus were able to celebrate with us.

After eating all that delicious food that the older kids served out, everyone enjoyed seeing Mr. T. and some of the upper elementary kids perform what is at our school a thanksgiving classis, the Indian dance, Big Small, Little Small.

In the afternoon Upper and Lower Elementary went on our traditional walk in the woods on the other side of the road from Camp Alvernia.  When we got back to school we finished off the afternoon by roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate at a bonfire in the Camp fire ring.  It was a fantastic day!

Week of November 15, 2010

I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok…
On Friday, November 12, the Upper Elementary class got to participate in an activity other schools usually wouldn’t allow.  The activity was inspired by a book Mrs. Thompson recently read to the students.  A passage in the book (Shiloh) was about a boy who had to chop wood and do other chores to keep his dog.  Our students had the opportunity to mirror this boy by enjoying a fun-filled afternoon of splitting wood.  Don’t worry parents, Mr. Thompson supervised the activity throughout the afternoon.

Week of November 8, 2010

Time at the beach
On Monday morning, November 1^st, our Upper Elementary class explored Centerport Harbor for minnows, shrimp and other small fish.  In the afternoon the Lower Elementary got to enjoy this same activity.  Of course, LOL wouldn’t let them do this without supervision from our special guest, Kristin.  She works for the Cornell Cooperative Extension and was happy to be of service.

Before going to the beach, the first destination was the Ark where we discussed sea life and in particular, the food chain.  Here are some interesting facts we learned:

1. Horseshoe crabs only eat dead things.
2. Horseshoe crabs blood is blue and it is used in hospitals.
3. The biggest shark is the whale shark.
4. Sharks only eat humans when they mistake them for prey.
5. Whales have baleen instead of teeth.
6. When starfish eat, they take out their stomachs and put it in their food.
7. Sea turtles eat jellyfish.

Then we prepared to head out onto the beach by putting on our boots.  The tallest, not including Kristin’s were Lauren’s which reached all the way to the top of her thighs.

On the beach we used a big net called a seine to catch fish.  We didn’t catch as many fish as we often do and blamed it on the cold weather.  One kid claimed he saw a sea turtle.  Others ventured in the mud of low tide and got into a bit of trouble…

Overall it was a great experience and we hope to have Cornell Cooperative again next year!

Week of October 25, 2010

Potluck Supper
On Sunday, October 24, Love of Learning held a magnificent feast. Delicious food, donated by parents, crowded every table. Another family benefitted from this meal as well. This “family” is a group of Osprey.

As well as a feast, we also had a bake sale organized by our 6^th graders. The money that was raised by the bake sale went towards our feathery friends. Using this money to buy building supplies, our students will construct a nesting platform for these beautiful creatures. This can now be achieved, since we raised $201.00., which should be more than enough.

Thank you to all of our contributing families who helped make the wonderful evening possible!

Week of October 18, 2010
Fire Island Bike Trip
On the Friday of Columbus Day weekend our 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders went on a phenomenal field trip – even if we did have to meet at school at 7am.  While waiting to leave we sipped on creamy hot chocolate and gobbled down warm bagels and fantasized on our bike ride on Fire Island.

The parents volunteering to be drivers were excited to contribute and be part of the trip.  We gathered at Robert Moses State Park on Fire Island around Mr. Flood’s car and trailer which had all the bikes.  It was around 8:30am when we finally set off.  We rode our bikes to the lighthouse, cruising along winding boardwalks and sandy roads.

Climbing the 193 steps of the lighthouse was well worth it because of the view.  It was a clear day and it felt like you could see forever.  From the lighthouse we rode about 3 miles east going through little towns with gorgeous houses.  At Atlantique we stopped and had lunch on the bay side of the island and played on the playground.  Then we rode over to the ocean side and had fun getting our feet wet jumping in the waves and climbing and jumping and flipping off a 4 foot cliff of sand running along the length of the beach.

On the way back we stopped at the home of an artist friend of Melanie’s and looked  around at the creepy but delightful art in the yard.  There were lots of mannequins and Barbie dolls and a wall full of horse shoe crab shells.

We made it back to the parking lot before 2pm and got back to school in time to catch the buses home.  This field trip is sure to be remembered for years to come!  There are some great pictures of our trip in the photo album section of our website.

The Tsunami Project:
This week, our 6th graders took on a big project. It took many phone calls, late nights, and countless amounts of paint, salt, and gelatin, but in the end, there was a model tsunami for all to see. The girls will tell you themselves that this was one of the most fun projects of the year so far, and it provided a great learning experience centered on one of the most interesting natural disasters of the world. Though small, this artistic model provided an “inside look” for our classrooms.

Week of October 4, 2010
This year at Love of Learning Montessori School, we have a new LOL family member!  She is a guinea pig whose name is Cleo Pig-pig Montessori, (Cleo for short.)  She is brown, white, and even a little bit orange.  Now there is another animal to play with on Free Friday.  (Not that we don’t love Shelley, our turtle, as well!)

Cleo came to us through, Mrs. Denunzio, who bought her from the pet store so she could live with us at school. She will be traveling from classroom to classroom throughout the year. The first class to take care of Cleo was Mrs. Giordano’s class,(also known as Seaside.) All of the kids loved her having her!  Cleo will also be traveling to  homes on the weekend of the children in whoever’s class she is that week. If you would like to have Cleo stay with you for a weekend, please call the school office at: 631-754-4109

Here are some comments about having Cleo in their class from some of the students:

• “Cleo is 2 months old.”
• “She loves to be petted.”
• “I can’t wait to take her home!”
• “I made her an art museum for her cage!”
• “Cleo comes to recess with us!”
• “We are going to miss her when she goes to another class!”

Our 6^th graders interviewed kindergarteners at Harborside:

This week, we talked to some people you may know. They have moved up from pre-school and are now the big boys and girls of their early childhood classroom! Can you guess who they are? They are the children of Mrs. Brazeau’s kindergarten class! All of them are so excited to be in kindergarten, and they love to learn. Some of the comments we got were:

• “Now we get to go on the bus!”
• “We stay longer at school.”
• “We love to work in Mrs. Brazeau’s classroom!”
•  “Here, we work hard.”
• “WE LOVE BEING IN SCHOOL!”

The kindergarteners of Mrs. Kim’s class have excitedly told us about the year so far. They have learned to write their names and to name the continents. The kids also enjoy reading everyday and Spanish on Mondays. They are excited to be the big kids in the classroom and ride the bus. All of them are always excited to learn and go to school. There were comments like:

• “We like to work in our workbooks.”
• “We like reading, writing, and building.”
•  “At school we like to work.”

In Ms. D’Amico’s classroom, children are eager to learn! As a collection of preschoolers and kindergarteners, they seem to cooperate well with each other. They were delighted to show us their classroom. In front, they hang up their coats, put away their shoes, and put on slippers to ensure the floor is tidy. They showed us shelves for counting, maps and globes, puzzles, fruits and vegetables (fake), books, and even seashells. They also showed us their cubbies and a table for cutting apples and snacks. Here are some comments from the students:

• “I like doing workbooks.”
• “My favorite picture in my coloring book is of a bird.”
• “I like my phonics book!”
• “I colored two pictures at recess today.”
• “I like science.”
• “We have gym every Friday. We play ball games, do the bear walk, do jumping jacks, jump in hula hoops and on a line, walk in between cones, and balance fake eggs on spoons.”
• “We like the Pink Tower!”