Pines Montessori School
UPCOMING E VE N T S
October and November
Here are some of the highlights for the next two months a t Pines.
October
11- Play in the Park*
14- Professional Development Day- School Closed
16-17- Come See Me Work- After you pick your child up from school, at dismissal time or from Extended Care, we invite you to walk with your child to their classroom where they will give you lessons in their current work. Primary- Lower Elementary- Upper Elementary Levels
Sign-ups will be on the APP
25- Fall Parade* Children dress in themed costumes that will link to their Winter Cultural Festival studies and parade around the school. Promptly at 8:45 am. This event is quite quick, so stake out your spot early!
Pro-tip is to bring your favorite morning beverage and hang outside and meet other parents. We will place a map to the parade route in the App soon.
Parent/ Teachers Conferences
Sign-ups will be on the APP
November
3-6 International Montessori Council
Re-Accreditation On-Site Visit-
A team of 4 Montessorians from the IMC will come to Pines to observe, visit, and verify the work of Pines. There will be interviews with faculty, staff, Trustees, parents, community members and older students. We are very excited! Invitations to join us for these interviews will go out once we know their schedule.
8- Play in the Park*
22- 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!
Reservations are required and will be on the APP
It is a Noon Dismissal Day. The entire campus closes at 12:00 pm with no PM Extended Care provided.
Each year we collect non-perishable food items for St. Stephens Food Pantry in Kingwood.
25-29- Thanksgiving Holiday- School Closed
*Please read our Construction article for some adjustments that might be required.
CONNECTION S
Because We Are All Connected!
Welcome to our very first digital school-wide newsleter. Our classroom newsleters just did not capture how vibrant Pines is and they felt a bit disconnected. So here we are!
Each month we endeavor to share
• Pictures and stories from behind the scenes at Pines
• Teacher experiences and candid photos that cannot fit in the yearbook
• The impact of your generosity
• Stories from students and staff showing how we use the items you help us purchase
• Family Focus
• Answers to the ques�on about why Pines?
• Prepared By Pines
• A peek into Montessori
• Kitchen and Earth Connec�ons
• Recipes and ac�vi�es
• Faculty Highlights
• Get to know the teachers and staff of Pines
• Alumni Stories
Pines stateside and global impact- Just this year!
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.
Visited and spoke at the Polski Montessori Instytut in Warsaw Poland in April
We welcomed 4 Montessorians from China in May. Observers from Lone Star College, Montessori teachers from Houston Montessori Center and a team of teachers, from Houston, who are opening a new school.
We were a part of two onsite IMC Accredita�on teams that visited Alexandria, Louisiana and Oranjestad, Aruba
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
DESIGN YOUR OWN BAG PARTY
Ms. Jessica- 23 yrs. and Ms. Shanila- 9 yrs. at Pines
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
CROSS STITCHING PARTY
Ms. Hope- 16 yrs. at Pines
TEACHER EXPERIENCES
HENNA PARTY
Ms. Hina and Ms. Humaira will offer another Henna Party in the Spring. Check out the Pines App for times and availability. You can also sign up in May during T he Event for next year Teacher Experiences
Ms. Hina- 28 yrs. and Ms. Humaira- 13 yrs. at Pines
KITCHEN CONNECTIONS
BERRY CHIA PUDDING
Chef Liz- 9 yrs., Ms. Maria- 4 yrs., Ms. Veronica- 3 yrs. and Ms.
Portion size: 4oz
Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups yogurt (any brand will work; you can also check for a low sugar one)
½ cup frozen berries
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp honey/ maple syrup
½ cup spinach or ½ cup cooked beet
Process:
Measure all your ingredients and blend them together. You can save it in the fridge for later or eat it right away! You can keep it refrigerated for up to 3 days!
Staci- 1 yr. at Pines
PREPARED BY PINES
Mr. David- 11 years at Pines
Weaving the Curriculum Together
At every age level, Montessori teachers weave together the curriculum. We paint the big picture of the universe, the world, and our place in it, handing children the keys to the universe and eagerly seeing which doors they open. We see where spontaneous learning will lead the child through:
• Integrating all subject areas
• Fostering peaceful communities
• Preparing beautiful environments
• Striking the imagination to inspire learning
• Observing, guiding, and maintaining classroom leadership
• Presenting lessons in every area of the curriculum with equal emphasis
• Trusting the children and treating them with compassion, grace, and respect
The questions we ask in class are the same questions you can ask your child at home to spark the imagination:
• “I wonder. What could we do with these...?”
• “Could we make or build something?”
• “Could we draw or create anything?”
• “I have this really, really big piece of paper. Could we write something on it?
Here is an example of how integration could look in Elementary.
We look for ways that geometry and types of triangles can fit in within other areas of the curriculum. A child could be invited to build shapes with a box of sticks, they could make a chart of labeled geometric shapes, use paint or watercolor or all of them!
In mathematics children can write their own equations They could be challenged to see how many equations they can create and solve.
The language area includes materials that lead to reading fluency and materials for reading to gather information as well as materials for developing a love and understanding of language. Children can write stories and symbolize the grammar. Thinking beyond the materials is our goal.
Art, Health & Fitness, Spanish, and Music are all woven routinely into the work cycle during the week. Art naturally lends itself to every area of the curriculum from classroom murals which each child can contribute to, posters, timelines, charts, booklets, sewing, and weaving. Formal art lessons teach children how to create presentations all subject areas. Our shelves are filled with beautiful Spanish, Art, and Music materials sprinkled all through the inside environments. Health & Fitness lessons and materials are outside the classroom doors.
Montessori offers a rich and dynamic curriculum that is both purposeful and balanced.
TEACHING AT PINES
Please, describe your teaching background. How long have you been at Pines?
I have been at Pines for 27 years. I started in the summer of 1997 and knew nothing about Montessori. It was not long before I realized I needed to go back to school and learn more. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Lone Star when they had a Child Development Laboratory School. I was able to complete my Associate's with my Infant/Toddler AMS certification. It was a wonderful experience, and I am so grateful to my professors who encouraged me along the way.
Why do you teach in Montessori?
Ms. Adriana had 10 questions to choose from Here are the 5 she picked. Thank you!
I was struck by the gentle and peaceful approach that Montessori taught me. Following the child and the importance of careful observation was something I had to learn. At the lab school, we had one-way mirrored classrooms that we had to do countless hours of observation. There was a traditional classroom and a Montessori classroom next to each other and I kept going back to the Montessori room amazed by the calm, peaceful nature of the room.
What do you find most rewarding?
I am so thankful for all the families that have made their way to my room. Being able to watch them grow even as they leave my room is an honor. Having my own children go through Pines is something I will always be grateful for. There are no words to really express how much Pines has meant for my family.
For those who may not know much about Toddlers in Montessori, how are they different from Infants and Primary students?
Toddlers are such a fun group of children. They start in our room just having learned to walk and with very limited speech. By the time they leave they are having full conversations with you and have become so independent. There is a tremendous amount of growth that happens in our class, and it is amazing to watch.
What would be some best practices for parents to follow at home?
If there was a piece of advice I would and do give parents, it is to slow down. This time goes by too fast!
CONSTRUCTION
We’re Building a Building!
This is, by far, the most exci�ng and boldest thing Pines Montessori School has done since we opened our doors in 1977.
A�er 15 years of strategic planning…demo and renova�ng the main building, the Lower Elementary building 3 �mes, purchasing temporary classrooms and then selling them, purchasing the building next door and crea�ng Middle School, and the recent reno of that building which welcomed Upper El for the �me being we are ready to go, where Pines has never gone before up!
With all of City of Houston permits passed we are ge�ng ready to really break ground.
We will be working incredibly hard to embrace the “Beau�ful Mess” that we will all be living in for the next 18 months. We are crea�ng many channels of communica�on so you can follow along with the progress.
Pines People
App messages for updates in traffic patterns
Community
Meetings with surrounding Homeowner Associations Portal in App-photos and progress
Ongoing communication with City Officials and HPD Monthly Connections updates
QR Code for neighborhood updates posted Monthly walkabouts, when possible in the front of the school Student tours, when possible Website updates
Daily opportunities to stop by and just ask! Facebook
* This asterisk will become a familiar mark next to any of our “usual” Pines ac�vi�es. Every move we make will be made with the building in mind.
We are surrounded by the most amazing team of Contractors, Tradesfolk, Arborists, and Architects. Together we have worked for years and they “get us”. They understand that the environment is another teacher.
Many of you were with us during COVID. Why would I bring THAT up? Well, because it was during those days that we learned that we are stronger and more flexible than we ever imagined! We learned that everyday there was a new and different opportunity to learn a new skill and meet new people. Every day will be like this.
What this might look like is that something we tell you on Monday might very well change by Friday or even Monday a�ernoon! We will just breathe and remember the happy ending that we have planned.
Wanna’ know what our next big project will be??? Time to Re-Imagine the Backyard! A�er this construc�on, our backyard will look like a Monster Truck Rally! The playground structures are almost 20 years old. so let’s get started dreaming on that. What’s a litle more construc�on when your family?
FAMILY FOCUS
AMADOR FAMILY
How long have you been at Pines and what is your favorite memory about Pines?
This is our 4th year at Pines, and one major highlight has been Camp Allen. Our boys LOVE camp, and it’s a proud moment for us as parents too. We help them pack, and wish them well, and check our messages a hundred times while they’re away. It’s so exciting to see the bus pull up at the end of the week and watch all the tired, happy kids climb out with stories to tell.
How do you feel Montessori education has benefited your child?
The Amador family had 10 questions to choose from Here are the 5 they picked. Thank you !
Our children have all felt known, safe, and loved in their classrooms. We believe this, along with the continuity of their teachers and classmates over 3 years, has been a huge benefit for our kids. Because they spend their days in an environment that cultivates peace, understanding, and community, they are able to be their authentic selves, which frees them to focus on learning and growing to their full potential.
How do you as a parent support Montessori at home?
We think about it conversely: Montessori supports our home! It complements family life in so many ways, which we really value. One resource we’ve used at home is the Beyond the Classroom document (in the Pines app!). We reviewed this with our boys recently, and it turns out that they are much more motivated to practice life skills at home when they see them included on the “Teachers’ List”.
What changes have you noticed in your child’s behavior or learning since enrolling in a Montessori school?
It’s been really interesting to see all three of our kids evolve academically and socially through each 3year cycle. During the first year in a new classroom, they seem to leap ahead and learn so many new skills very quickly. By the third year, they have become confident role models and classroom mentors, just in time to move up to the next community.
Which is your favorite family Pines event and why?
EcoFair! We’re big fans of nature and science. One thing we love about Pines is its unique sense of place in the “livable forest,” and we feel that this goes hand-in-hand with learning about nature and how to care for our environment. Thank you to our Pines teachers and staff for putting so much thought and effort into this event.