November Newsletter
Recap of October
What a month filled with spooktacular and fun events! We've been settling into the academic school year with kiddos moving up and new sibling students joining us, our adorable Fall Picture Day, dressing up in pink for breast cancer awareness, having a productive staff development day, celebrating some birthdays, and our terrific trunk or treat event.
A few of our toddlers moved up into the primary classes and we've welcomed in sibling students to take their place. They have all been adjusting so well and we are so happy to have them with us!
We had our Fall Picture Day and everyone's photos turned out so adorable. We love how all of the classroom photos turned out.
On the 20th of October, we dressed in pink to show awareness for breast cancer. Seeing everyone dressed in spirit was so heartwarming.
Staff Development Day was productive and we hope that all who attended could benefit from the strategies and methods that Dr. Brett provided.
We celebrated the October babies with their beautiful birthday poster board and yummy treats. We are grateful to spend another year with your little ones.
Last but not least, we had our 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat event. Everyone's trunk was so creative and festive! This event wouldn't have been amazing if it weren't for our Gaowa Families.
School Events & Closures
Primary Parent/Teacher Meetings November 1st - 17th
From November 1st to the 17th, the primary classes will be having a brief, 10-15 minute meeting with your child's teacher. They will be discussing the observations of your child's academic and social behaviors during these past academic months as well as goals and expectations. These goals and expectations will be revisited when we have our Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Veterans' Day | November 10th
Gaowa Montessori School will be observing this federal holiday in order to honor our military veterans. The school will be closed on this day. We are forever grateful for their service.
Classroom Cultural Potluck | November 22nd
On November 22nd, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with a Cultural Potluck during the kiddo's lunchtimes. We want to celebrate everyone's culture and what better way than to do it through food! We are kindly asking for families to participate by signing up with a cultural food they can share. They may be store-bought or home-cooked. If it is made at home, please make sure you send in the full ingredients list. In addition, please make sure there are no nuts in any of the dishes. We will be extra careful this day for anyone who has allergies or food restrictions. Your classroom will be sending out a sign up sheet so please keep an eye out for it.
Thanksgiving | November 23rd - 24th
We will be closed on Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for every family that has supported us and for our staff for making what we do here possible.
Artist of the Month: Advait Kolarkar
For nearly a decade, contemporary painter Advait Kolarkar has enjoyed a level of global success that many artists spend their whole lives aspiring to. … And he’s only 9 years old.
Kolarkar, who began painting at the tender age of 8 months and had his first solo exhibition at age 2, has a vivid imagination that drives his love of being in his studio playing with colors. “I feel like there’s some beautiful force around me that takes me into a different world. In that magical world, everything is possible,” he adds.

Kolarkar’s compelling contemporary style is reminiscent of one of his favorite artists, Jackson Pollock. He also draws inspiration from Leonardo di Vinci.
Reminders
Uniforms
Please keep in mind that all students must be in uniform, Monday through Thursday. The uniform consists of the light blue, polo shirt (or dress) paired with khaki/dark bottoms. The tops must have the logo embroidered on the upper left side. Shoes must be closed-toe and comfortable for the kiddos. Fridays are our Free Dress Day. If a child is in a dress, please make sure that there are shorts or bottoms underneath. Please keep in mind that princess dresses and clothing with action or cartoon figures are not permitted. Please also note that heeled shoes and sandals are not permissible as these pose as a safety hazard.
Swapping Attendance Days
For those who are on the 4 Day schedule, please keep in mind that if you need to swap days of attendance, it must not be due to a holiday. For example, if the school closure day falls on a Wednesday and your child's schedule is from Monday through Thursday, their attendance is Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Therefore, the Fridays that the child is usually off must still be followed.
Aftercare and Piano Lessons
Please take note that children who have piano lessons after 3:30 PM and are staying in for aftercare that day, will be charged the aftercare drop-in rate. The aftercare drop-in rate for Toddlers is $30 and for Primary is $20.
Autumn Festival
Date & Time: November 11th - 12th | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Aquarium of the Pacific | 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 90802
Price: Free with admission | Adults $44.95 | Child $29.95 | Senior $41.95 |
Information: The Autumn Festival highlights the traditions and cultures of Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines through a weekend of learning opportunities and family entertainment celebrating the diversity of Asian and Asian American cultures. The festival will feature traditional craft demonstrations, music, dance, cultural arts exhibits, and storytelling.
Mexican Day of the Dead Festival at Bowers Museum
Date & Time: November 5th | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Bowers Museum | 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, 92706
Price: Free
Information: Enjoy a full day of creativity and culture celebrating Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). Explore a lineup of activities and live performances the whole family will enjoy. Stop by our special community ofrenda (memorial altar) in honor and remembrance of your loved ones with a photo or trinket held in the Bowers Museum Historic Courtyard Annex - open for the public to add to Oct. 25 - Nov. 12.
Day Out with Thomas Dream Big Tour
Date & Time: November 4th - 12th | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Aquarium of the Pacific | 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 90802
Price: $17 - $21
Information: Thomas fans can enjoy a ride on a full-size Thomas the Tank Engine, with Sir Topham Hatt on hand to meet passengers.
Train rides with Thomas and Percy depart every hour, rain or shine. Guests should arrive at least one hour prior to their scheduled departure. The ride on the train with Thomas is approximately 25 minutes.
Other activities include:
- Photo Ops with Thomas, Percy, and Sir Topham Hatt
- Live Music
- Musical Games
- Bounce Houses
- Balloon Twister
- Petting Zoo
- Hay Maze
- Bubble Zone
- Storytime
- Model Railroad Exhibit
The Dr. Seuss Experience
Date & Time: November 10th - January 31st | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Santa Monica Place | 395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, 90401
Price: Starting at $31
Information: Oh the places you'll go -- when you visit the new interactive Dr Seuss Experience at Santa Monica Place Mall. Your mother will not mind at all if you do.
The experience takes visitors into 9 different worlds inspired by Seussian books, including The Sneetches, The Lorax, The Cat in the Hat, Oh , The Places You'll Go, Horton Hears a Who and more.
Guests can have lots of good fun that is funny - such as swinging among Truffula Trees, strolling through towering clovers listening for a Who, riding a carousel inspired by If I Ran the Circus, and exploring the brand new Stars Upon Thars Sneetches Mirror Maze.
Other fun includes meet and greets and storytime moments with The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, The Lorax, and more, plus carnival games and hidden challenges to win Seuss-tacular prizes.
Hikari - A Festival of Lights
Date & Time: November 24th | 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Tanaka Farms | 5380 3/4 University Dr., Irvine 92612
Price: Adults: $25 - $35 | Children: (3 - 12 years) $20 - $25 | Children 2 & Under: Free
Information: Join us for a celebration filled with joy and light! Loosely translated, Hikari means “shine” in Japanese, and this holiday season we have really made Tanaka Farms shine with over a million twinkling lights!
Grab a hot cocoa and take a cozy Wagon Ride around the festively lit farm that will take you to the “Land of a Thousand Lanterns!” Once off the wagon, you will wander through the light displays, with photo opportunities throughout.
After the wagon ride, make your way down to the Festival Grounds where you can visit with the Barnyard Animals, grab some food from the Tanaka Grill, take advantage of lots of photo-ops, games, Arts & Crafts, meet Santa for a photo, and, of course, more holiday lights! (all activities are priced individually.)
Enjoy live music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Winter Fest OC
Date & Time: November 24th - January 7th | Monday - Friday 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM, Saturday & Sunday 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: OC Fair and Event Center | 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa 92626
Price: General Admission: Gate - Adult $55 & Child (3 -12 years) $50; Online - Adult $34.99 & Child (3 - 12 years) $29.99 | Ultimate Experience Pass: Gate - Adult $110 & Child $105; Online - Adult $79.99 & Child $74.99
Information: Winter Fest OC is a celebration that brings the magic of winter to Southern California, creating an immersive experience that will leave you captivated and filled with wonder. Embrace the spirit of the season as you create unforgettable memories with loved ones, surrounded by the enchanting sights, sounds, and tastes of winter. Over a million lights, massive holiday decor, and thrilling activities await. From our North Pole Journey immersive experience to our enchanting Ice Trail, a new Snow Play area, a thrilling 150-foot ice tubing slide, carnival fun, festive food, a holiday market, and more -- it's all here!
