"Woman with a Parasol was painted outdoors, probably in a single session of several hours' duration. The artist intended the work to convey the feeling of a casual family outing rather than a formal portrait, and used pose and placement to suggest that his wife and son interrupted their stroll while he captured their likenesses. The brevity of the moment portrayed here is conveyed by a repertory of animated brushstrokes of vibrant color, hallmarks of the style Monet was instrumental in forming. Bright sunlight shines from behind Camille to whiten the top of her parasol and the flowing cloth at her back, while colored reflections from the wildflowers below touch her front with yellow."
February Newsletter
Mary Surivong • February 6, 2024
Recap of January
The month of January ushered in chilly weather and of course the new year! We worked on creating our own masterpieces inspired by Pablo Picasso and we shared our cultures on Read Your World Day through books and other items. Finally, new students joined us and we are so happy to have them part of the Gaowa family!
Read Your World Day
The Montessori philosophy introduces to children different cultures around the world and they gain a world view from a young age. Children begin to realize that they are part of a larger community. Maria Montessori’s goal was to promote global understanding and international peace. This understanding begins with geography and cultural lessons.
With the Read Your World day, our classrooms have chosen to celebrate and learn about one another's culture during the last week of January. Our kiddos shared books, wore traditional clothing, and even shared some yummy treats and snacks!
January Birthdays
Inside the Classroom
Ms. Esme & Ms. Kait
Arts & Crafts: Watercolor Painting
Watercolor painting was seen as very practical in nature by Maria Montessori. Here, we have a friend working on their very own Picasso portrait. Using a paintbrush in the toddler age refines a child's fine motor skill by the following:
- Strengthening the muscles in a child’s hands, fingers, and wrists
- Enabling them to learn a proper grip
- Controlling the amount of paint and water on the brush
- Improving hand-eye coordination
- Building spatial awareness
Ms. Suzzaine & Ms. Keila
Practical Life: Spoon Work
A major part of the development of toddlers in the Montessori classroom is to work on their fine motor skills. By holding the spoon and transferring one item from one bowl to the other, aims on honing in on the child's hand-eye coordination, wrist rotation, and precision in hand movements. Our new friend here is doing winter-themed spoon work and is excelling!
Ms. Maneet & Ms. Citlali
Music: Counting Beats
Music in the Montessori classroom is introduced through singing songs, counting beats, and playing musical instruments. Our new friend here is working with our music teacher, Ms. Rocio, by repeating the beats of a song. Musical activities give children the opportunity to perfect their movements and refine coordination.
Ms. Nancy & Ms. Nijma
Language: Metal Insets
The purpose of the metal insets is to prepare a child for handwriting, as this is the first material they will work with that has them use pencils to place controlled marks on paper.
Ms. Tatiana & Ms. Cassidy
Sensorial: Binomial Cube
This material contains colored wooden blocks in which the kids need to match the pattern shown on the lid in 2 layers. The blocks represent the binomial equation! The main purpose of this work is to help develop visual differentiation among shape, color, and pattern.
Ms. Ashely & Ms. Ruby
Language: Sandpaper Letters
Sandpaper letters work with phonetic awareness of the child. Instead of learning the name of the letter, the children are introduced to them by their sound. This is often the first concrete representation of a sound to symbol representation. Our friend here needs to trace the letter with their finger to get a sense of the shape of the letter. In addition, the letter is paired with objects that start with the letter they're working with.
Ms. Marjorie
Cultural: Africa Puzzle Map
The purpose of the puzzle map is to teach children that the round earth can be represented on a flat map. This specific puzzle map introduces to the child the countries of Africa, how big they are and the location of each. Each puzzle piece has a little knob for the child to grasp and build fine motor skills.
This Month
For the month of February, we are busy with all of the wonderful celebrations. We will be decorating the school for Chinese New Year, then celebrating Black History Month, Valentine's Day, and President's Day. In addition, the school will be doing some team building on our Staff Development Day.
Artist of the Month: Claude Monet
This month, we will be travelling to Paris, France to explore the arts of Claude Monet. The Father of Impressionism, Monet was first rejected by many with his artworks, until he moved into the village of Giverny where he would spend the next half of his life creating his most influential pieces. Because of the constancy of the subjects, he was able to show the infinite variations that weather and atmosphere had and able to depict how drastically a single scene could change from morning to night, from a sunny day to a gloomy one.
"In 1899, Monet began a series of eighteen views of the wooden footbridge over the pond, completing twelve paintings, including the present one, that summer. This is one of the 18 views! The vertical format of the picture, unusual in this series, gives prominence to the water lilies and their reflections on the pond."
Black History Month
The theme for this year's Black History Month is focusing on African American Arts & Music. This celebration is an annual observance that highlights the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans throughout history. It serves as a platform to educate, reflect upon, and celebrate the rich heritage and diverse experiences of Black Americans.
At Gaowa Montessori, the students will be introduced to famous and influential black musicians such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Riley "BB" B. King. In addition, they will also be taking a look at African American fashion, folklore, and film.
School Events & Closures
Lunar New Year
While Lunar New Year will be on the 10th of February, Gaowa Montessori will be celebrating the Lunar New Year on the 9th with arts and crafts.
In addition, Lunar New Year is usually celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year since it does fall on a different day for some countries. For example, many cultures celebrate on the first instead of the second new moon after the winter solstice. Moreover, although many other Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year, these countries do not endorse the Chinese cultural elements, but honor each nation’s customs and history. Below are how some countries celebrate Lunar New Year differently:
- Korea: individuals dress in traditional garments. Children bow to the elders and receive money for next year’s health and wisdom. Korean dumplings, rice cakes, and glass noodles are often found on the dinner table.
- Vietnam: besides dressing up in traditional garments, many families pray at temples for good fortune. Featured dishes include sticky rice cake and dried candied fruits.
- Philippines: individuals wear polka dots on Lunar New Year because the round shape stands for prosperity and good fortune! For similar reasons, you’d find tons of round fruits on the dining table too.
If you have any traditional clothing, you may dress your child up on this day. If not, they may also wear these colors to celebrate:
- Red: Symbolizes good luck, strength and prosperity
- Gold: Symbolizes wealth
(Black is unlucky)
If your child doesn't want to dress up, they may continue to dress freely as it is a Free Dress day. Please keep in mind about our no costumes or princess dresses policy.
Valentine's Classroom Celebration
Our school will be celebrating Valentine's Day with various activities, from gift exchanges to arts and crafts. We'll be spreading love and joy throughout the school 💞 Please look out for your classroom's newsletter and messages for more information from the teachers.
You may dress your child up in pinks, reds, and whites. If not, please continue to wear the uniform!
President's Day
Gaowa Montessori will be closed on this day to celebrate.
Washington’s Birthday is a U.S. federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February to honor our first president of the United States. Increasingly, the holiday has become an occasion to celebrate the birthdays of both President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. Many Americans call the holiday Presidents’ Day.
Staff Development Day
The school will be closed for teachers to have their regular professional development. We will be reviewing how the academic school year has been going so far, team building, and gaining more skills in the classroom.
We will have a recurring special guest guiding us, Dr. Brett Patterson, for part of the day. As one of the Gaowa families that we serve, we are thankful to have a resource such as Dr. Brett with his years as a clinical psychologist.
Important Reminders
Here at Gaowa Montessori, we notice and acknowledge all of the hard work that goes into creating a safe, fun, and educational environment for the kiddos. A big part of that is due to the excellent cooperation that happens between our parents and the school. We just wanted to take a few moments to note a few important reminders.
Pick-up/Drop-offs:
Drop-offs may happen any time between 7:00AM - 8:30AM. If you need to drop your little one off after 8:30AM, a staff member will have to walk them to class in order to minimize interruptions. Please keep in mind that the work period starts around 8:30AM until 11:00AM so it is crucial for the kids to be here on time. If you need to pick your kiddo up or drop them of later in the day, please also note that naptime for toddlers is from 12:00PM - 2:00PM and for primary is from 12:30PM - 2:30PM. We are kindly asking for pick ups and drop offs to happen at a minimum during this time since it is disruptive.
Late Pick-Up Times & Fees:
Our pick-up time for half days are at 12:30PM, full days are at 3:00PM, and aftercare will be any time between 3:00PM - 5:20PM. There will be a 10 minute grace period for each of these times, then the $15 late pick up fee will begin to accrue (12:40PM, 3:10PM, 5:30PM: pick-ups after these times will result in the late pick-up fee). Every minute after will be a $1 charge increase. For more information, please review the enrollment packet in the Tuition & Fees Policies section.
Sign-in's/-out's:
Every time a child is picked up or dropped off by parent or designated caregiver, they must be signed in/out either on the ProCare app or on the physical sheet that's on the table in the front of the school. It is vital for the school to have these signatures on files or these missing signatures will result in a missed sign-in fee of $5. After the third missed consecutive sign in/out in a given month, the $5 fee will increase to $15. Please refer to our signing in/out policies in our enrollment packets.
Loaner Clothes:
We know potty accidents will happen here and there and we're always here to help. If your child ever borrows clothes from the school, please return them the next school day, washed and ready for the next accident :-). We are limited with our loaner clothes so it is very important for them to be returned. They will all be marked with "Gaowa."
Family Fun Events
Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival
Date & Time: February 3rd | 2:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Centennial Park | 3000 W Edinger Ave, Santa Ana 92704
Price: Free
Information: Join us for our first ever Santa Ana Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival, hosted in collaboration by the Santa Ana Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency and the Santa Ana Public Library. This family-friendly event will be open to to all residents and non-residents. Santa Ana is proud to be the home of a thriving and diverse community. The Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival will commemorate our community’s Asian and Vietnamese cultures and become a new large-scale event on the City’s calendar.
Get ready to enjoy a day of cultural celebration featuring:
- Cultural performances and traditional art
- Live entertainment (lion dance and dragon dance)
- Dancing and a fashion show
- Food vendors
- Library lane and resources
- Kids zone and inflatables
- And a fireworks show at 6:45pm!
Alice's Wonderland
Date & Time: Throughout February | Various times
Location: South Coast Repertory | 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa 92626
Price: Starting at $30 (Depends on seating)
Information:
Once the beat drops in Wonderland, you can’t help but join the party! In this pop and hip-hop musical inspired by the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice is a brilliant, passionate teen who dreams of making the world better by creating a video game called “Wonderland.” When a virus shuts it down, Rabbit pops from her screen asking for help and Alice leaps into the virtual world for an unforgettable adventure. To save Wonderland she must level up and up and up, until she confronts the ruthlessly ambitious Queen of Hearts.
Recommended for ages 4+
Modern Makers Mart
Date & Time: February 3-4 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Woodbridge Village Center | 4820 Barranca Parkway #4500 Irvine 92604
Price: Free
Information: Celebrate all the LOVE with us on Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd-4th, from 10 am to 4 pm, at our two-day Valentine's Day extravaganza! Join the festivities filled with heartwarming makers, charming crafters, sweet melodies, and more!
Indulge in a day of love-filled shopping at our Valentine's themed outdoor market pop-up, featuring locally handmade crafted treasures, delectable treats, and live music. This special event will be held at our monthly love nest in Irvine, nestled within the Woodbridge Village Center. Bring the whole family – we even have a cupid-approved craft area for the little ones! Furry friends are welcome to join the lovefest too.
💖 Photo Backdrop
💖 Live Music
💖 Cupid-Approved Kid's Craft Corner
💖 Explore a myriad of handcrafted wonders, including heartwarming house plants, love-infused candles, enchanting jewelry, romantic macrame, delightful charcuterie boxes, mouth-watering chocolates, and more! Don't miss the chance to capture your cherished moments at our Valentine's themed photo backdrop.
This enchanting event is FREE to attend, but we kindly ask all lovebirds to RSVP here, so we can share an estimate with our vendors for their lovely merchandise! Stay connected for updates – follow us on Instagram or Facebook @modern_makers_mart.
Vendors, make your inquiries and join the celebration by visiting: https://www.modernmakersmart.com/
Exploring the 5 Senses with Food, Yoga, and Art
Date & Time: February 3 | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Location: Community Youth Center & Grant Howald Park | 3000 5th Avenue, Newport Beach 92625
Price: $50
Information: Join us for a delightful afternoon at our Children's Mindful Picnic! This interactive monthly event is designed to engage children in a mindful exploration of their senses through food, yoga, and art.
This in-person gathering at a lush park setting offers a unique opportunity for children to discover the wonders of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound in a fun and relaxed environment.
These events are hosted by mindfulness and expressive art experts. As yoga and art educators we are passionate about teaching kids how to deepen their awareness and expand their personal expression. We believe this is best accomplished through sensory activities that allow children to have first hand experiences with their environment. When children engage with nature, they activate their innate nature.
At our picnic, children will participate in various activities that stimulate their senses. They will have the chance to savor delicious and healthy food, prepared with love and care. Our experienced yoga instructor will guide the little ones through gentle movements and breathing exercises, promoting relaxation and body awareness.
Moreover, children will unleash their creativity through art projects, allowing them to express themselves and engage their imagination. Our dedicated team will provide all the necessary materials and guidance for the little artists to create their masterpieces.
Each picnic includes:
- Exploration of the 5 senses through mindfulness: mindful eating, mindful movement, mindfulness of sound, etc
- Each picnic is based on a theme, with a discussion and story
- Kid-friendly guided meditation
- Yoga that is age-appropriate, playful and fun! Promotes physical and emotional health: strengthening of the muscles, increased flexibility, deepened awareness & emotional wellbeing
- 5 course meal ft. organic, seasonal food. * Our goal is to provide options for everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions or allergies - Please let us know if your child has any food allergies or sensitivities.
- Expressive Art activity- for children to further reflect on central lesson/theme
Don't miss this fantastic opportunity for your child to explore the world around them in a mindful and playful way. Join us at the Children's Mindful Picnic and let your little one embark on a sensory adventure!
Early Bird Discount:
The first 5 kids who sign up get a 20% discount!
Promo code: picnic20off
Valid until 11/3/23
Description Title
Date & Time: February 23-25 | Various Times
Location: OC Fair & Event Center | 88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa 92626
Price: Kids: $22-$36, Adults: $22, Seniors: $19, Children under 2 are free
Information: Jurassic Quest takes visitors on a walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods, allowing them to experience what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds.
The experience has the nation’s biggest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs -over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs, ranging from the very small to the gigantic, each painstakingly replicated in every detail.
Future paleontologists can dig up fossils, ride their favorite life-sized dinosaur, see walking dinosaur and baby dinosaur shows, and enjoy a dinosaur-themed play land.
New for 2024: an expanded Excavation Station and more Jurassic-themed rides and inflatables. A new video tour is available onsite and on phones via QR code.
Plus, the herd welcomes new members: the Utahraptor and Giganotosaurus.
Show Hours:
Friday:12noon -8pm
Saturday 9am-8pm
Sunday 9am-7pm
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