(9-12) teacher Nancy Buchman reported that in her students’ work with light, 4-6th graders learned that when a mirror reflects an image, it will appear backwards. Arielle took this one step further and discovered that when she wrote her name backwards and held it up to a mirror, backwards became frontwards. On one of our sunny days, Parker focused the sun’s natural light through her prism. She was thrilled to see a rainbow of colors (aka ROY G BIV) appear in her shadow.
Reflected, refracted or absorbed…
In physical science, Nancy Buchman’s 4th – 6th grade students are studying light. They learned that light can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed. When light is absorbed, it can be changed into 3 different types of energy. Sophie and Parker are looking at a work that shows how light energy can change to heat energy like hot sand on the beach on a sunny day. The solar-powered calculator is a great example of light energy changing to electrical energy. Photosynthesis in plants is proof that light energy changes to chemical energy.
Preview of 1st graders’ upcoming performance
TNSM elementary dance teacher Jeanne Speier is rehearsing with first graders in preparation for their upcoming Montessori-in-Motion performance in March. Enjoy the preview of their work.
(9-12) students Skype with friends in Italy
During (9-12)’s community meeting, Annex students were able to Skype with their classmate Gardner who moved to Turin, Italy with her family in January. Both Gardner and Dawson are attending an English-speaking school that is a 45-minute bus ride from their apartment. Their 18th century apartment has beautiful ornate ceilings, and they live in front of a park. The girls love the food and say that Italian pizza is even better than American pizza. The (9-12) students can’t wait to talk with Gardner and Dawson again to learn more about their lives in Italy.
Heifer International receives valuable gifts from TNSM students
Students in TNSM’s (9-12) program competed in a “Penny-Pinching Challenge” among their homerooms. Their goal was to raise as much money as possible for Heifer International. Student board members came up with a combination of animals and educational opportunities that totaled their $610 earnings. The class then got to vote on which combination they would like to donate. With the $610 raised, the students chose to give: the dollars needed to pay for one young girl to go to school bees 2 pigs 4 sheep rabbits starter flock of chickens
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Alumni Updates for Winter 2016 Community Newsletter
Livi Logan Wood (’06) is team co-captain and 4-year starter at St. Louis University. This year, she started in all 18 games and was on the A-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll both semesters. Livi earned Atlantic 10 All-Academic acclaim and was one of 60 seniors in NCAA Division I soccer to be considered for the 2015 Senior CLASS Award. The award is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I soccer and is chosen by a vote of Division I women’s soccer coaches, national soccer media and fans. Congratulations to Molly Giglia (’10) for being named as a National Merit Scholar Finalist. Sam Lorry (’13) emailed TNSM Civics Teacher Johnnye White …
Max Schimberg (’03) credits TNSM with instilling skills he uses as a project manager in real estate development.
Max was at The New School Montessori for the 9-year experience from the age of 3 through 6th grade. He graduated in 2003 and moved on to Seven Hills where he attended from 7th grade through senior year of high school. The next stop for Max was the University of Arizona where he graduate in the winter of 2012 with a major in regional development and a minor in business. Eager to enter the “real world,” Max graduated a semester early and moved to Tallahassee, Florida where he began a career in real estate development as a project manager for North American Properties. Max spent a year and a half there …
Cultural lesson began with Chinese writing and ended with egg drop soup
Kaylee’s family gave TNSM preprimary students a Chinese writing lesson. Teacher Debbie Weinstein followed up the lesson with a demonstration and tasting of egg drop soup.
Students learn about electricity
In students’ electricity studies in physical science, they learned about the concept of Ohm and how nichrome wire heats up as it resists the flow of electrons. Maya and Tessa are looking at their homemade lightbulb modeled after Thomas Edison’s first light bulb. Students did research and created drawings of some of our modern-day appliances that use resistance to help us accomplish simple tasks. Their research included hair dryers, irons, toasters, space heaters, heating pads, and electric blankets.
The art of letter writing is alive and well in the Annex
Last week 4th graders each wrote a friendly letter to the person of their choosing. They also learned how to properly address the envelopes. Most students chose a relative; one student wrote to a teacher, one to a friend, and one wrote to his favorite soccer star in Germany. This week has brought some excitement as students have started receiving responses to their letters.