ISSUE 2 | Nov ember 2024
Sneak Peek into Winter Cultural Festival!
UPCOMING E VE N T S
November and December
Here are some of the highlights for the next two months a t Pines.
We are now at the 9:30 mark of our What’s Coming Up video if you want to “hear and see” the rest of the semester Just click on the thumb-nail!
November
8th Play in the Park- This is still a GO construction wise.
22nd- Thanksgiving Family Feast- Our Annual Feast is a full school, sit down Thanksgiving meal. It is at 10:30 in the morning and is catered by Humble City Café with homemade desserts by our kitchen faculty. Bring your whole family!
22nd Noon Dismissal- The entire campus closes at 12:00 pm. No PM Extended Care provided.
Reservations are required and will be on the APP
Each year we collect non-perishable food items for St. Stephens Food Pantry in Kingwood
25th-29th - Thanksgiving Holiday- School Closed
December
13th Play in the Park- Each month we will update you on the details.
19th Winter Cultural Festival- Our annual festival is the culmination of many weeks’ worth of preparation and study by all children. Children are issued passports, and all family and friends are invited for an amazing afternoon. It is from 3:00-5:00 pm
19th and 20thNoon Dismissal- The entire campus closes at 12:00 pm. No PM Extended Care provided.
December 23rd January 6th - Winter Holiday- School Closed January 2025
7th First day of Spring Semester- Morning and Afternoon Extended Care is available.
CONNECTION S
Because We Are All Connected!
Pines Stateside and Global Impact
We presented and attended the Interna�onal Montessori Council Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia this past month We will present and attend the very first Montessori Conference for the state of Texas on November 9th in Dallas, Texas.
It looks like we will host 16 Montessori teachers and administrators from Poland in January 2025!
Connec�ons Challenge
Our new newsleter has sta�s�cs that will show us how many people and in how many countries we have reached each month. Wouldn’t it be cool if we all shared our link and lit up the WORLD? One could say
Contributing Significantly to a Better World.
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
HARRY POTTER MOVIE NIGHT!
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
PUMPKIN PAINTING
KITCHEN CONNECTIONS
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Ingredients:
Crust:
Graham cracker crumbs: 2 cups
Butter: 4 Tbsp
Filling:
Heavy cream: 1/3 cup
Cream cheese: 1 cup
Sour cream: 1/4 cup
Brown sugar: 2/3 cup
Eggs: 2
Vanilla extract: 1tsp
Pumpkin Puree:1/2 cup
Pumpkin spice:1/2 tsp
Instructions:
Prior:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Served each year at our Pines Full Family Thanksgiving Feast!
2. Grease a baking sheet/pan (9-inch) and set aside.
For the crust:
3. Melt the butter and combine it with the graham cracker crumbs until a slightly wet, sandy mixture is formed Spread the graham cracker mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the crust Set aside.
For the filling:
4. In a large mixing bowl mix heavy cream with cream cheese until smooth.
5. Add sour cream and sugar. Mix until they are fully incorporated.
6. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until they are fully combined.
7. Add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Mix well.
8. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the graham cracker crust.
9. Bake the cheesecake for 35-40 minutes or until the center is slightly jiggly.
10. Let it cool off.
TEACHING AT PINES
Describe your teaching background.
My first job was teaching at my old high school in Guyana (it was not the best experience). I thought I would never go back into education. A few years later I started teaching at a Montessori school in St. Maarten (Caribbean) and never looked back. I have been in the Montessori system for over 20 years now.
Why do you teach in Montessori?
Initially I chose it for the sake of my family. I wanted to spend more time with my children. I also loved the Montessori method of education versus traditional teaching.
How did you eventually arrive at Pines and what made you stay?
I moved from Fort Worth to Houston for my husband’s job. Pines caught my attention because it is a “true” Montessori school. Throughout my years of working at Montessori schools, I learned that not all schools carry out the traditional Montessori methodology. I have been at Pines for the past 9 years. I greatly enjoy the families and the staff who are all warm and welcoming.
What do you find most rewarding?
To see a child’s growth throughout the three-year cycle. It is fascinating to observe children making progress: from starting to blend sounds to reading sentences, from drawing with a pencil to later using it for writing numbers and letters.
For those who may not know much about the primary age group in Montessori – what are the ages, how are they different from toddlers?
Ms. Linda had 10 questions to choose from Here are the five she picked.
The primary age group is made up of children from ages three to six. At this age they are very curious and eager to learn, and know the reason behind everything. It is very common at this stage to hear the ongoing “why?” This is a fun age to explore everything that captures their interest: dinosaurs, space exploration, cooking, cleaning, etc. The list is endless (just as kids’ personalities and their domains of interest).
What would be some of the best practices for parents to follow at home?
I advise my parents to do the same thing I have been carrying out in my household. Prepare a shelf with thematic work/toy baskets For example, Legos in one basket and blocks in another. Remind children to place their work back in the basket after they are done working with it. In the kitchen, have an area for your kids to keep snacks, drinks, and cups to get on their own. Choose toys that are open-ended; Toys that can be used in multiple ways as your child grows.
CONSTRUCTION
Slow and Steady Wins the Race!
We are making progress that is very much unseen, but we are ge�ng much closer!
Pines hosted an in�mate mee�ng with representa�ves from the three area home owner associa�ons: Bear Branch, Kings Forest and Kings Forest Estates. We also met alongside with our General Contractor Shane Johnson and parents, Stephen Hollier and Jeff Osborne. We shared our construc�on growth over the past 48 years and the vision of our new Elementary building!
Their ques�ons were exactly the kinds of ques�ons that we all have! When will it start? When will it be complete? Traffic, noise and logis�cs. We assured them that we will communicate this all with our families and our neighbors early and o�en.
We are crea�ng a QR code that will be posted in a message box in the front of the school as neighbors walk by, as well as close to the entrance of the playgrounds, taking them to a page on our website that will be updated o�en. This will be informa�on that you will receive in the App. We also have the email address of the HOA’s so we can update them quickly about Flaggers in the street or big deliveries like steel beams!
In the mean�me, we are con�nuing to use the generous funds raised at The EVENT to fulfill the other projects that we had in mind. This structure will receive shade sails at some point but we wanted to get this part complete before we could not have access to it any more. This was built by Houston Deck and Shade who created our Tree Top Lo�, and Peace and Infant Gardens.
PLAY IN THE PARK
Last one before the construction Friday,November 8th
PREPARED BY PINES
Understanding the Value of Spooning in a Montessori Classroom
By Kristen Brigham - 6 years at Pines
Many years ago, I had a three-year old girl name Jenny start in my class. During a "Come See Me Work" event, this sweet yet determined chil was ready to show her parents all that she had learned over the first few months in class. Upon entering the classroom, Jenny immediately took her mom and dad to the practical life area, sat them correctly in the chair, and began giving both parents a lesson on spooning. Jenny's dad rapidly transferred all the beans from one cup to the other and was ready to move on to the "more important work" of numbers and letters, but Jenny insisted he take his time and "try again." Both adults laughed as Jenny instructed her dad to "slow down and do it properly". Jenny wanted to make her dad aware that the work set before him was important.
Practical life activities in a Montessori environment are meant to meet the child where he or she is, and further encourage building independence while gaining realworld skills. One of the most common questions parents ask is, "Why is it so important in the Montessori Classroom?" Simplicity, spooning is an entry level skill that teaches a great number of lessons and offers opportunities for growth including the following:
Fine Motor: Each time a child holds a spoon and moves objects around with purpose, she strengthens the little muscles of their hands and fingers. These fine motor skills allow for several other skills in later years, such as writing, buttoning clothes, or even tying shoes.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Spooning requires children to coordinate what they see with how their hands move, building the skill needed for tasks like drawing or cutting with scissors. This precision helps in all areas of life and becomes particularly important when children begin learning how to write.
PREPARED BY PINES
Concentration and Patience: While it looks easy, spooning actually calls for focus. A young child has to pay attention not to spill and to let the objects pass on easily. Such repetitive work will help the child develop patience and concentration- both which are helpful for academic success later on.
Left-to-right tracking: Many Montessori materials encourage left-to-right movement as a precursor to reading and writing in many languages. Similarly, spooning subtly reinforces this important pattern in a very natural way for the child.
Independence and Confidence: We may think little of it as adults, but to the child, being able to complete a spooning activity is an accomplishment. They are learning to master a real-life skill; this builds their confidence and sense of independence.
Self-Discipline: Repeating the spooning activities requires children to be able to discipline themselves. They should know how to handle their movements and stay focused to always be careful in dealing with the materials involved. Indeed, basic life skills they will be thankful for even when outside the four walls of the classroom.
Spooning is far more than just the simple action of transferring objects from one place to another. This will be a skill that will make the children a lot more confident, coordinated, and independent. It's in these kinds of benefits where subtleness makes all the difference as they grow up. Every activity included in the Montessori classroom has a purpose; spooning is that perfect example that even such a simple activity has the power to bring a huge difference in the overall child development process. So, next time your child gets excited about spooning in the classroom, know that they are doing much more than transferring beans, they are preparing themselves for essential life skills.
CO ME SEE ME WORK
Come READ about my work! Primary and Lower Elementary
CO ME SEE ME WORK
ALUMNI FOCUS
These five questions were asked of Annabelle Latino
When did you graduate from Pines Middle School?
I graduated in 2019.
Where are you now?
I am currently attending St. Olaf College on the premed track.
In what way do you believe that Pines Montessori School prepared you for life?
Marine Biology Trip 2019
I honestly think I am an overall kinder person because of the out of the box ways we were taught to think about our studies as well as the abundance of group work. Those concepts are obviously in effect on my studies, but also on how I communicate and interact with people in the world as well.
Annabelle is in the letter F. Her Middle School classmates surprised her and flew to Wisconsin for her high school graduation.
What are your fondest memories at Pines?
I loved all of the amazing trips we got to take in Middle School, especially our trip to the Florida Keys for our marine biology unit. It was so cool to not only learn about the organisms, but see them in their natural habitat, especially when you’re on a beautiful island! Special shout out to MMUN and Heifer International as well!
Anything else you would like to share?
I really appreciated how close my relationships were with my teachers, and the bonds I formed with them and my classmates.
Montessori Model United Nations is an extracurricular in which Pines still actively participates https://montessori-mun.org/
Sadly, Heifer International no longer offers this program and experience.
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FAMILY FOCUS
The Hartman family had 10 questions to choose from. Here are the 5 they picked. Thank you!
HARTMAN FAMILY
How were you introduced to Montessori and why did you feel that it was the best fit for you and your family?
We were looking at daycares when we were expecting Camille and found Pines through the Leadership Lake Houston program. I fell in love with the infant community. The room was so peaceful and clean and there was so much floor space for the babies to move. I loved the idea of the babies crawling over to their floor beds and falling asleep. I was invited to Infant Connections and saw how seriously the teachers took infant brain development. Jason and I felt like Pines was going to be a good investment in our kids’ future.
How long have you been at Pines and what is your favorite memory about Pines?
We have been at Pines since January 2019. Our favorite memory was the post-pandemic Snowball run. It was fun to see Camille enjoy the competition. We also loved how the kids all worked together to bring their friends across the finish line.
How do you feel Montessori education has benefited your child?
Camille and Henry are not only learning their letters, numbers and colors, they are learning geometry, geography, anthropology, zoology and so much more. Montessori has also benefited them socially; they are comfortable around kids of all ages and can easily have conversations with adults.
Are there any specific Montessori activities or materials your child particularly enjoys?
Our kids love doing "challenging work." It not only impresses us, but it also gives them confidence to continue to do hard things. Camille loves dynamic addition and subtraction and says she "could read all day long." Henry likes doing puzzles and artwork.
Which is your family Pines event and why?
We love Play in the Park. It's so fun to see our kids interact with their friends. We also like to visit with fellow parents.