The yearly tradition of SOAR (Students Outside Active and Running) wrapped up last Friday. Students from each grade band had the opportunity to get out and run, or walk, for two weeks to rack up miles and score feet for their necklaces. The Primary classroom alone tallied 200 miles! Collectively the 958 miles run would get us to Austin, Texas, from Oxford. The students enjoyed a Kona Ice treat with their partners after all of their hard work. Big thank you to Mark Radlinski for heading up this cherished event every year. Thanks also to all of the McGuffey families that punched cards, cheered on the students, and sent in donations!
Everyone has been thrilled to see our Partners program start this year! Partners is a program that pairs older and younger students. Older students have an opportunity to be the expert, while younger students benefit from having a mentor. Both groups look forward to our meetings.
Lower Elementary and Middle School have met twice this year. During our first meeting, Partners were given a bag of Lego and were challenged to create something collaboratively. We were amazed at what they came up with! When the Kona Ice truck arrived to celebrate the end of SOAR, we met up with our Partners to celebrate together.
We’re looking forward to meeting with our Partners each month this year!
Students in Physical Science have been exploring the nature of energy and different types of chemical reactions. In Chemistry, we learned how physical and chemical properties can be used to identify substances. We distinguished among different metal salts by the colors they emit when held to a flame, and we characterized five white powders and used the information to identify an unknown white substance based on pH, solubility in water and alcohol, and reactivity with acid and iodine.
This past week in art, we learned how to draw pumpkins to celebrate the beginning of Fall and the spooky season. We began by examining a real pumpkin to take note of texture, form, and color. Right off the bat, many of the students observed that no pumpkin is perfectly round or smooth, and like snowflakes and people, no two pumpkins are alike.
Many pumpkins evolved to jack-o-lanterns, some into hooded pumpkins, and even vampire pumpkins made their appearance during this demonstration.
Students in Grades 7 and 8 have been learning to play the ukulele in music class. Excitement is building and they can be heard practicing on their own around the school during recess and after their work is finished. Grades 7 and 8 students learn the ukulele for two years and are assigned their own instrument to care for during that time. They can take their instrument home to practice and are always excited to play for the monthly Sing Along.
This week we began our exploration of the continents. This journey will take us well into spring as we discuss each continent and several countries within it.
We began our discussion by talking about the seven continents and identifying the one we live in—North America! Within North America, there are many countries, including our own, the United States. The United States comprises 50 states. We identified Ohio, the place that we call home. We discuss indigenous peoples of each culture we visit throughout our Social Studies curriculum. We talked about the Miami Tribe, also known as the Myaamia, who once inhabited the Oxford area and the Cherokee Nation of America.
Traditionally when we take attendance at our morning meeting, we use the language of the country we are discussing to say “here.” We now include a choice of here, present, or “ahani” (pronounced “ah-hah-nee”), Cherokee for “here,” when taking attendance.
The children can explore many works on the shelves about landmarks and monuments, North American animals, geography, flags, artifacts, and wooden blocks printed with the Cherokee syllabary. We have also included materials that are specific to the state of Ohio. These works will remain on the shelves for two weeks until we move on to our next country.
Several classrooms have been raising monarch butterflies from eggs found in our community. Following the life cycle is a fantastic way to kick off the new school year! Once a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, we tag it as part of the Monarch Watch program, and then send it on its way to Mexico.
With the 2021/22 school year we have been able to bring back our Specials program safely. That means all our McGuffey students get to enjoy Art, Music, and PE every week!
We’re excited to add a new member to our Specials Team, this year McGuffey alumnus Emily Brosier has taken over our choice based art program. We’re thrilled to have her back home in the McGuffey community.
We’re holding a lot of our music classes outside whenever possible so that our students can sing and play joyfully and freely while keeping ourselves safe and healthy.
PE is back this year too so our students have the opportunity to get outside and be active while learning about teamwork and being a good sport.
We are happy to share that our Preschool Playground returns this summer. This is a free program that is open to the community and offers an opportunity for children to come together for socialization, play, and informal learning. It is held every Monday on McGuffey Montessori School’s main playground from 10:00am-Noon, June 7–August 9.
Children ages six and under will explore opportunities including a large sandbox, sports field, climbing and play structures, riding vehicles, athletic equipment, and a basketball court. Art activities will be provided in the spacious shaded picnic shelter. Parents are encouraged to bring drinks and snacks. Siblings ages nine and under are also welcome.
There is no fee, but a parent or guardian must be present with their child during their stay. For COVID safety, everyone 3 years and older is required to wear a mask.
Any weather-related cancellations will be posted here, so check in if it looks like it might rain. For more information, call (513) 523-7742 or reach us via our contact form. Hope to see you!
“We are changing the world! We’re really doing it! We’re making a real impact!” were just a few of the comments enthusiastically sung by our Lower Elementary students, reading about the impact that their Changemakers project has already made.
Students in Grades 1/2/3 have been working tirelessly on their Changemakers project, identifying problems that matter to them and using their voices to advocate for change. Students crafted speeches, made advocacy posters, and even produced their own videos of the speeches. Yet, one student said after the videos were done, “we have to get the word out! This isn’t done yet!” He was right.
Miami University got wind of the incredible work students were doing, and wanted to know more! After much planning, students spent a whole morning at a local park presenting their posters, gallery-walk style, and giving speeches about their chosen causes. Turnout was incredible, and students were able to share their work with multiple Early Childhood education classes, department faculty, and various Miami staff. In addition to their in-person presentations, Miami communications did a video and written news article on the work they’ve been doing that went out to over eight thousand Ohio school principals, superintendents, and Deans of other colleges. This is in addition to the video and article being showcased in six different web locations, as well as three different newsletters. Talk about a real world impact.
Students recognized that, though they were passionate about their chosen causes, they also hope viewers see the inherent passion and potential that lies within each child and to give them the space to do the incredible things they are so clearly capable of. To sum it up best, one student said “We’re standing up for what we believe in, but even more than that, we’re standing up for kid’s rights. More adults should see what we’ve done, and treat kids better, and let other kids do this too, because we can make a difference.” Hear their voices, heed their causes.
