UPCOMING E VE N T S
April and May
Here are so me of the highlights for the next two months a t Pines.
April
31st- 4th Middle School Biology Trip to Galveston
11th Play in the Park- Bake Sale will continue!
15th -17th Lower Elementary Camping- Camp Allen
18th School CLOSED
21st School CLOSED- Professional Development Day
22nd – 25th Middle School Internship and Externship Week
25th EcoFair 3:00- 4:30 pm
25th – 2nd Children’s Raffle for The EVENT
May
30th – 2nd Upper Elementary Camping- Camp Cho-Yeh 3rd The EVENT
9th Play in the Park- Bake Sale will continue!
19th-21st Middle School Camping
22nd Middle School Graduation
23rd Last Day of Spring Semester- NOON dismissal all school 26th School CLOSED
27th – 30th Infant and Toddler Week ONLY- Office hours 8-12
Summer Semester Begins June 2nd Primary- Upper El Pines Online Calendar
You can download and print or add to your calendar
CONNECTION S
Here are some of the Montessori Connec�ons Pines has made around Texas, the US and the World!
Lower Elementary students are Pen Pals with other Montessori students at Parkside Community School in Aus�n, Texas.
Ms. Hope, of Lower Elementary South, spent several days in Catskill, New York as a member of the Interna�onal Montessori Council On-Site Accredita�on team.
Click here to see the video call that Lower Elementary South had with a classroom in Ukraine.
Smiling Eyes Montessori in Lviv, Ukraine.
This summer two teachers from this school will return to Pines in June (they were just here in January!) to observe our Upper Elementary Community. They are star�ng an Upper El and want to learn how by observing ours.
Ms. Paty will be returning to Poland for the 10th �me as a speaker for the Polish Montessori Council Annual Conference held in Warsaw. She will be there 30 March -08 April.
Click here to see that conference. She is in the video… the one speaking English!
CONSTRUCTION
This is going up FAST!
What took years and years to plan is being assembled in mere hours! We are so amazed. In the next few weeks we will add the last piece of steel, the walls will go up, and the “real” building will begin to come into focus.
Fun Facts about our Backyard
Did you know that
o Our current wooden play structures were installed 20 years ago. How old were you in 2005?
o When the playground was installed we did not have our Middle School or Infant Communi�es.
o Our Lower, Upper and Middle School Communi�es have grown 161% in 20 years!
o We had 41 students in Elementary in 2005 and now we have 107 in Elementary and Middle School. Our playground was not built for these ages!
We need to have our playground match the ages that we teach.
It is �me to re-imagine the backyard. The building will be completed soon and the old wooden playscape will be removed so we can observe the children’s playground needs, let the backyard heal and create a space where children create their own play.
This is exci�ng!
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
We are almost there with our Underwri�ng. Here are the last four! Click here to help us close this out!
You can contribute any amount to any one of these. They are all needed to make The EVENT great!
Click HERE to Register in the Cocktail Contest! Only 6 spots remain! You have to be in it to win it!
What this will look like
A long table will be set up with all 12 drinks si�ng side by side. Guests of The EVENT will be given a Pines logoed 1.75 oz glass. They can taste however many they choose and then drop their token to “vote”.
The drink with the most votes wins a $200 gi� cer�ficate from But everyone will be a winner as prizes will be given to all!
A�er you sign up, Ms. Jena will reach out for the name of your cocktail and the list of the main ingredients. This should be fun!
Click HERE to RSVP to The EVENT!
The genoursity keeps pouring in!
We have not 1, not 2, but 3 getaways up for auc�on!
Adult and children experiences!
Old School photo booth is coming
• Wine Toss is returning
• Loads of local Kingwood & Houston
Small business dona�ons
• New Montessori inspired game where you play and Pines wins!!!!!
Raffle �ckets are going home soon Winning �cket $1,000
The EVENT Saturday, May 3rd Learn more
Whoever sells the most �ckets will win a family of four pack of �ckets to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys!!!
Last years Live Auc�on ac�on!
PREPARED BY PINES
The Power of Fresh Air: Why Outdoor Time Matters for Children
By Jennifer Jackson Infant/Toddler Montessori Teacher 10 years at Pines
If only we could have perfect fall or spring weather all year round! Have you ever stepped outside on a beautiful day, taken a deep breath, and just felt better? That’s the power of fresh air. Spending time outdoors offers a wealth of benefits, from improving mood to increasing circulation and even encouraging deeper breathing. These positive effects are felt by everyone from Middle School students to the youngest infants in our care.
At Pines Montessori, we take advantage of every opportunity to get outside. For our infants and toddlers, this may be some play time on our playground or a peaceful stroll around campus, we make outdoor time a priority. Sometimes, when a baby is fussy, a teacher might take them to the Peace Garden to enjoy a few quiet moments in the fresh air both the child and teacher benefit from the calming effect of nature. All throughout the campus, children can be seen exploring nature, engaging in play, taking their own individual work outside or being a part of a group lesson while enjoying the fresh air.
For children, being outdoors also means freedom to explore and take risks. In a safe, supervised environment, taking risks is an essential part of learning. Falling down helps children learn how to get back up Encountering different textures, sounds, and sights helps them make sense of the world around them and builds their vocabulary. Children learn through their senses and the outdoors provides a rich environment for exploration, from feeling the roughness of the ground beneath their feet to listening to the sounds of birds chirping and feeling the breeze.
In today’s world, where screen time is on the rise, outdoor time is more important than ever. It helps balance the effects of close-up screen use and supports eye health by allowing children’s eyes to focus on distant objects. A few moments in nature can provide a much-needed break from the overstimulation of digital devices.
Even when the weather isn’t perfect whether it’s rainy, cold, or too hot getting outside is still important. It just means we might need to plan accordingly, with shorter outings or layering up for warmth. Fresh air is beneficial in all seasons, and a little planning can make all the difference.
KITCHEN CONNECTIONS
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup milk
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1. Gather all the ingredients.
2. Bring sugar, butter, milk, cocoa, and salt to a full rolling boil in a saucepan for 2 minutes.
3. Add quick-cooking oats, vanilla and mix well.
4. Working quickly, drop teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.
TEACHING AT PINES
How did you hear about Pines?
I heard about Pines from a parent of a student who was my co-worker at my previous employment. She told me that Pines was having a job fair and decided to see what it was about. Here I am six years later.
What are some things you enjoy about working at Pines?
I enjoy the staff and interacting with the students. I have been able to see students enrolling in infants and see them grow and transition to the next community.
What is your favorite event at Pines (and why)?
I enjoy Thanksgiving Feast. Because we are able to gather as a community and see the parents and students enjoying themselves. I like seeing Upper Elementary students excited in each station serving food to the parents.
Can you share one (or several) favorite memories from working at Pines?
One of my favorite moments was when a child, who when they started would not talk to anyone, was shy, and never looked you in the eye. And then one day as I was passing their classroom, they looked at me and said "Hi Ms. Lupe, how are you". I went back to the office with a huge smile.
What are some wishes for Pines?
My wish for Pines is continued success and growth. That they become known to people outside of the Kingwood Community as to what a great place for their students to learn and grow.
This May, Ms. Lupe is retiring! I (Ms. Patty) just wanted to share one of my fondest memories of her. Ms. Lupe was only with us nine months before COVID hit and spent five of her six years in the Front Office supporting Pines as we navigated our way through the seemingly impossible.
Here is MY personal favorite photo.
It was a screenshot, as we were social distancing, on May 21, 2020. Notice the time stamp… This was Ms. Lupe, Ms. Jena and I’s near real time reaction to Governor’s Greg Abbott’s announcement that schools could reopen… Immediately!
We are so grateful and excited for Ms. Lupe’s next adventure. I assure you she is still family and most of you will run into her at HEB!
Thank you Ms. Lupe. We Love You!
FAMILY FOCUS
NELSON FAMILY
How were you introduced to Montessori and why did you feel that it was the best fit for you and your family?
I was introduced to Montessori by reviewing the backgrounds of my business role models. I found a large number of company founders had received a Montessori education. Montessori allowing children to advance at their own pace was a strong positive. As we've moved through the classrooms, we've appreciated the increasing personal responsibility and time management skills taught.
The Nelson family had 10 questions to choose from. Here are the 5 they picked. Thank you!
What made you choose Pines versus other Montessori schools?
We were impressed with the large outdoor area and gardens. It was nice to see how well the Primary classrooms functioned when we visited. Pines having classrooms all the way to Middle School was beneficial.
How long have you been at Pines and what is your favorite memory about Pines?
We are entering our 9th year at Pines. Emily entered her last year of primary and is now an 8th year. Damien entered his first year of Primary and is now a 6th year. Both Emily and Damien highlighted being in Lower El and watching Upper El do science experiments during science fair, and how it made them look forward to performing the experiments themselves.
How do you feel Montessori education has benefited your child?
Both of our children have excelled academically. They both have good time management and conflict resolution skills. The Middle School has also provided unique travel opportunities that Emily would not have had at other schools.
Which is your family Pines event and why?
I like the Play at the Park Friday events. It allowed me to meet the parents of my children's friends and start to form group activities outside of school. Having a group to go swimming with during the summers has been fun for Damien, while Emily has recently enjoyed going to the movies with her friends.