DOBSON MONTESSORI SCHOOL NEWS
April 6-10
WHAT IS MONTESSORI?
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” This famous quote explains the Montessori philosophy of hands-on learning. Traditional learning is lecture based. Students take a test and quickly forget what is taught. When something is demonstrated…how to sew a button, change the oil in a car, wire a lamp…we remember. But when we do something for ourselves, we understand the “why” and “how” and it becomes ours for a lifetime. In our Montessori classrooms, students make slides and examine them in the microscope. They mix shades of purple from red and blue. They plant seeds in the garden and harvest lettuce and carrots. Our Montessori students become lifetime learners because the learn by doing.
KINDERGARTEN
Our kindergarten children are “Caring for the Earth”. What lives on the land? In the water? Air? Students will make earth habitats and discover the role of weather on plant and animal life. How do the seasons affect life on earth? Students will explore sensorial seasonal bins. We will play a rhyming game to learn what happens in each season. Spring is the “wake up” season of April. Sprouts grow in the garden and baby animals are born. Children will have hands-on time with our new baby chicks this week!
PRIMARY
“Westward Ho”! Students will learn about Lewis and Clark and how Sacagawea helped them along the Oregon trail. Students will sew trail bags and fill them with natural medicines such as aloe vera and lavender. Sacagawea taught the early explorers how to live in the new land including the use of healing plants used by the indigenous people. President Polk believed in Manifest Destiny. We will learn about the Transcontinental Railroad and how it changed life in the west. Students will make a map of the United States and print a railroad track design to show its path. Trail life was difficult. Many people traveled in covered wagons. Students will build a wooden model of a covered wagon; what would you take on your journey west?
INTERMEDIATE
We are heading to “Out of Africa” on Thursday, April 9. Students need to arrive at 8 AM and bring a sack lunch and water bottle. We can still welcome more chaperones for this activity so please sign up in room 3 if you can drive. Parents will pay a discounted admission of $20. Students will attend the Tiger Splash Show, Big Reptile Encounter, and tour other African animals they are studying in class. We will return to school around 4:30 for pick up on this day. In class, students will make African masks using clay and metal after learning about the important roles of masks in African cultures. We will fire them in the kiln. Many African tribes used beads as a form of barter or trade. Students will make barter necklaces to show their wealth and status! Do people in our own culture show their wealth through designer handbags or expensive jewelry?
UPPER DIVISION
“Shakespeare” is visiting our classroom this month. Students have auditioned and received speaking roles in this year’s production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Everyone needs to have their lines memorized by Monday so we can begin rehearsals. This week, we will costume our players and begin work on sets and props. Learning to create a character is aided by creating a backstory. Students will invent a written past for their character. Would your character have been educated? Would they work in the castle or be an indentured servant? Save the date for this amazing performance: Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 at 7 PM.
HIGH SCHOOL
We are presenting a Friday FUNction on April 10 from 5:00-8:30 at the Guild of the Vale. This is a final fund raiser for our end of the year study trip and we need your support to meet our goal for our expenses. See the attached flier and come socialize with other school families at a fun event. In class, students have received their parts for the upcoming Shakespeare plan, “Midusmmer Night’s Dream”. Everyone was asked to have all their lines memorized by Monday. We will costume our actors this week and begin work on sets and props. Save the date for this amazing performance: Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2 at 7 PM.
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR NEEDY STUDENTS
Only a few days left to make your tax credit donation to Scholarships for Educational Excellence Foundation. Please take a few minutes to visit www.seefaz.org and donate now. Married couples can donate up to $3062 and single filers can donate up to $1535. It costs you nothing because you receive every dollar back on your state income tax. Questions? Call Suzanne at 602-318-5689. Thank you!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES SIGN UP NOW
Conferences for High School and Upper Division are being held this week with other classes in coming weeks. If you haven’t secured your spot, stop by the office to select a time. We are excited to share your child’s progress with you!
SUPER SUMMER 2026
Field trips and friends are waiting for our Super Summer students. Avoid “summer slideback” by enrolling in one or more of our amazing workshops. Academically based but a change of pace from the regular school year! ESA credits can apply. Don’t sit home staring at a screen; fill each day with fun activities with your BFF’s at our Super Summer ’26. Class sizes are limited so sign up now.
FRIDAY FUNCTION
Everyone is invited to attend a fun Friday FUNction on Friday, April 10 from 5:00-8:30. Our high school students are hosting at the Guild of the Vale at 200 N. Main and there will be food booths, handcrafted arts, tote bag painting, BINGO for prizes, a video game competition, carnival booths, music, jewelry making, and time to socialize with other school families either inside or outside under the twinkling lights on the lawn. Come enjoy a BBQ hot dog, savor gourmet homemade ice cream, win a pie playing BINGO, make a flower arrangement, and so much more. Admission is free and activities start at just $1.
BABY CHICKS ARRIVE!
Spring is here and we welcome the season with baby chicks! They will eventually live in our new chicken yard but for the next several weeks, they will snuggle in their brooder under a heat lamp. All our children will have hands on meet and greet time with them this week as we watch them grow and eventually become laying hens at our school. Learning to care for animals teaches elements of science but also compassion and responsibility. Stop by the patio and check out our new school chicks beginning Tuesday.