Resources

March 2026

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:30:08 GMT

March Recap

Indeed, it’s amazing to think that we are already in the third month of the year! Things have been going well with our little geniuses here at Pacific Coast Montessori Academy.

Congratulations to one of our toddlers who has successfully transitioned into the Pre-Primary class. We also welcomed four new students this month, two in the Toddler program and two on the Pre-Primary. In addition, we are pleased to introduce two new teaching staff members, Ms. Karen and Ms. Paola, who are both Montessori-certified. We are delighted to have these new students, families, and teachers join our growing learning community.

The month of March marks the beginning of day-saving time, bringing longer days for our children to enjoy the beautiful weather. Our surroundings are becoming more colorful with blossoming flowers and fresh green leaves on both deciduous and evergreen trees, even here in the busy South Bay area.

March is truly a wonderful month! It is filled with exciting events like St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone comes dressed in green. We celebrated with a fun, green-themed snack party, enjoying a variety of healthy treats. It was a joyful experience shared with our enthusiastic young learners, one that brought us invaluable rewards both personally and professionally.

Another meaningful event this month was our Spring Book Fair, which supports early reading and literacy. It was a great success, thanks to the strong partnership and support from our families. Following the Book Fair, each classroom now has a refreshed collection of books to enjoy in their library areas.

As we continued our classroom explorations, we also celebrated the many festivities that March brings. Our learning journey to Asia was filled with fascinating discoveries about diverse cultures, climates, delicious cuisines, unique plants and animals, and beautiful people across the continent. We are grateful for the rich learning experiences inspired by this incredible region of the world.

We are now excited to welcome the month of April as we begin our exploration of Oceania. Thank you all once again for your continued support and partnership! – Ms. Marissa

February 2026

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:16:42 GMT

February Recap

It is already the second month of the year, and it passed quickly with many meaningful classroom and outdoor activities designed for our young learners. We were delighted to welcome four new students and their families into our school community, further enriching the authentic Montessori program we proudly provided. We value every family we serve and remain committed to staying up to date to offer the highest quality of early childhood education. As our community continues to grow, we will strive and thrive together.

This month included several meaningful highlights. We commemorated Presidents’ Day, which reminded us of the importance of dedication and leadership. Valentine’s Day was also celebrated as a time to promote love, kindness, respect, and caring for one another. At Pacific Coast Montessori Academy, character building is a core value of our program, helping ensure that every child develops into a responsible and compassionate citizen of the world.

Witnessing the progress of our children, from toddlers to Kindergarteners who are now getting ready to embark on their Elementary School journey, is truly meaningful to watch. Their growth, confidence, and independence are a wonderful reminder of the purpose and impact of Montessori program in early childhood education.

Our Open House and Parent Information event provided parents with the opportunity to observe their child’s progress and learn more about the goals and activities in their classrooms. In addition, our staff and teachers participated in professional development to refresh and strengthen their knowledge of mandated early childhood learning standards and best practices. During this time, we also conducted deep cleaning and redesigned parts of the classrooms to create an even more supportive and conducive learning environment for all children.

It was also a valuable opportunity to reflect on the previous year’s events and activities and identify areas where we can continue to grow, improve, and enhance our program. As always, our goal is to work closely with families and support the unique needs of every child.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the possibility of opening a future Infant Classroom, which we hope to begin operating in the summer or before the fall session begins. We truly appreciate your continued support and partnership with us, and we look forward to growing together and providing even more opportunities for the children and families in our community.

January 2026

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:19:43 GMT

January Recap

Happy and Prosperous New Year to every family of Pacific Coast Montessori Academy!

We welcomed 2026 with exciting learning and discovery. Our little geniuses and enthusiastic learners; from Toddlers to Kindergarten, returned from winter break filled with happy energy and curiosity. Their bright smiles and joyful holiday stories shared in the classroom reflected the strong partnership between our wonderful parents and our school. This collaboration continues to strengthen the foundation of our learning community.

January was also a month of growth as we welcomed three new families into our ever-growing community. We are truly grateful for their trust and confidence in allowing us to be part of their children’s learning journey. With this, we began the year with fun, meaningful, and engaging activities designed to support every child’s development.

Our learning explorations focused on the five areas of Montessori education: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Cultural Studies; each providing rich, real-life learning experiences. This month, children observed the miracle of life firsthand as they watched butterfly eggs transform through the life cycle of a butterfly. They also “traveled” across Europe, discovering its flowers, animal life cycles, and states of matter. For early reading and literacy, the children enjoyed The Mitten and expressed their creativity through related art projects.

January would not be complete without honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we commemorated his profound contributions to our nation. Our children’s learning was further enriched by a special visit from Coconut Dentistry, where they learned how to care for their bright smiles and the importance of good oral hygiene.

As we move into February, we look forward to a month filled with even more joyful learning and exciting discoveries. Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of our Pacific Coast Montessori Academy family and learning community.

– Ms. Marissa

November 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:12:02 GMT

November 2025

November is one of the most special months of the year, commemorating the birth of our beloved country. We observed Veterans Day and ensured that the children learned about the importance of the work and sacrifices of our veterans.

“Children have an absorbent mind. They absorb knowledge from the environment without fatigue. This is the moment in the life of a man when we can do something for the betterment of humanity and further brotherhood.” - Maria Montessori

At Pacific Coast Montessori Academy, we enrich our month with pivotal learning experiences that connect with special events, engaging not only our young geniuses but their families as well. The spirit of autumn fills our classrooms, beautifully decorated with children’s paintings, coloring projects, and creative arts and crafts. Even the changing weather reminds us of the season, just as our enthusiastic young learners continue to grow through the Montessori way of experiencing life.

One of the most meaningful events of the year for our students is the celebration of Thanksgiving, where they experience the true essence of gratitude through our festive luncheon. We are deeply grateful for the strong parent partnership within the PCMA learning community. Together, we build lifelong learners under the spectrum of authentic Montessori experiences.

— Ms. Marissa

October 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:09:23 GMT

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October was a month filled with fun exploration, learning, and celebration throughout the school. Students across all levels immersed themselves in the spirit of fall, with many activities centered around the life cycle of a pumpkin, seasonal changes, and autumn traditions. Hands-on experiences: such as pumpkin observations, seed scooping, crafts, and even carving, leaves and nature scavenger hunt, helped bring the season to life in meaningful, sensory-rich ways.

Across classrooms, children learned about North America, discovering its plants, animals, landmarks, cultures, and Indigenous communities. Geography lessons also introduced the continents and highlighted how fall looks in different parts of the world, sparking curiosity about global diversity. Pacific Coast Montessori is proud to facilitate and see the significance of diversity quotient to the young learners.

Academically, students continued developing foundational skills through Montessori materials, sensorial, practical life exercises, language arts, math practice, fine motor work, and early cultural studies. They enjoyed expressing their creativity through seasonal art projects and cooking activities, many of which embraced Halloween themes.

October was also a month of celebration and community. Students participated in festive events such as Diwali activities, the Harvest Carnival, and Halloween, proudly wearing special outfits and costumes as they shared joyful moments with friends and teachers. The Costume Parade and Harvest Carnival stood out as the month’s highlight events, supported by exceptional parent and family participation.

With a month full of discovery, creativity, and connection, the school is excited to welcome November and all the learning opportunities it will bring to all the young PCMA geniuses!

September 2025

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:23:18 GMT

September 2025

What a wonderful transition from summer into the new 2025–2026 school year! Our campus was buzzing with joy as children returned eager to learn, explore, and reconnect with friends. Over the summer, students enjoyed exciting visitors, hands-on experiments, animal encounters, and fun weekly events like Bubble Day, Water Day, and Popsicle Fridays. We wrapped up the season with a memorable Foam Party full of music, food, and laughter.

As the new school year began, students across all levels jumped enthusiastically into their classroom routines. September brought engaging learning themes such as All About Me, My Family, the Five Senses, Plants and Animals, and the Life Cycle of a Frog. Children explored these concepts through storytelling, art projects, hands-on science, and sensory activities that sparked curiosity and creativity.

Our enrichment programs add even more excitement to each week. Music, Cookery/ Food Art, Spanish, and Show and Tell gave students opportunities to build confidence, practice language skills, express themselves, and enjoy learning in new and interactive ways. Outdoor exploration, including gardening and caring for plants, encouraged responsibility and meaningful connections to nature.

We are so proud of the incredible growth we have seen in such a short time. With new friendships forming, classrooms filled with enthusiasm, and a strong start to academic and creative learning, we look forward to an inspiring October ahead. Here’s to a year full of discovery, joy, and unforgettable memories for all our students!

Summer 2025

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:46:18 GMT

Summer 2025

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May 2025

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:16:10 GMT

May Recap and June News

May was a whirlwind of fun and learning at PCMA! From making delicious guacamole with our Primary children after Cinco de Mayo to nurturing our baby chicks, the month was filled with hands-on activities and heartwarming moments. Our Primary students had a blast working together to mix ingredients and create guacamole to share with the team, all while practicing teamwork and kindness. The spirit of collaboration continued as they helped make our Mother’s Day Tea Party a truly special event. A big thank you to all the mothers, grandmothers, and aunts who joined us; we loved celebrating you! We're also deeply grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement from our families, which was especially felt during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Mid-May brought the arrival of our baby chicks, and the children have loved visiting the office to care for and hold them. It’s been a joy watching the chicks grow, and we’re eagerly awaiting the transformation of our caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. To kick off our butterfly observations, we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, which has sparked lots of curiosity!

Throughout May, the children explored the wonders of whales and migrations, while also learning about the diverse continent of South America. Our Artist of the Month, Monet, inspired our Primary students to create their own flower paintings, adding a splash of color to the month. We also introduced Fanny Mendelssohn to the children, listening to her music and discussing how it made us feel, what a fantastic way to connect with art and emotion!

As we approach the end of our 2024-2025 academic year in June, we are excited to celebrate our graduating students at a special ceremony. While we will miss them, we know they are ready for the next chapter… Kindergarten! We’re also gearing up for our Father’s Day event to honor all the amazing fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures in our community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Keep an eye out for progress sheets, which will be sent home at the end of the month so you can track your child’s growth. We’ll also wrap up the school year with a fun exploration of our home state, California where we will study its flag, flower, and more. What a wonderful way to end a memorable year!

April 2025

Wed, 14 May 2025 17:02:39 GMT

April Recap and May News

April was jam packed with lots of fun activities! This month, we focused on Australia, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, volcanoes, and more! Our students enjoyed discussing the different animals they could find on each island. One very popular animal this month was a Koala. Our students also loved doing the volcano experiment. Teachers set up their experiments with a small volcano, baking soda, and vinegar. The children watched in amazement as the volcano erupted in their classroom. This month, we also read the book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”, by Bill Martin. This book helps our students to learn the alphabet and it is also a fun read!

In April, we also had a few fun celebrations and events. At the beginning of the month, we celebrated the Week of The Young Child with a spirit week. It was so fun to see all the students and teachers participate in each dress up day. We also had a visit from the Easter Bunny this month. The Easter Bunny came to our school and created an egg hunt for every classroom. The students had so much fun searching the playground for eggs with surprise items inside. Lastly, we began our egg incubating cycle. Over 21 days, the students observed the life cycle of a chick and discussed with diagrams in the classroom.

In May, our focus will be on whales and migration. We will discuss which animals on our planet migrate during the year and look at how whales live in the wild. Our book of the month in May will be “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Our geographic focus will be South America! We will be looking at the different cultures, landscapes, and more.

March 2025

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:47:13 GMT

March Recap and April News

What a busy month we had in March! Our students had such a blast learning about this month’s themes. Dinosaurs are a very popular topic, so we were all very excited to learn about them for in the classroom. We discussed the three kinds of dinosaurs: carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore. Some of our older students were able to carve out their own dinosaurs from fossilized eggs in the classroom. Students made a lot of dinosaur art and shared which one was their favorite. We also focused on the continent of Africa this month. In class, students discussed the many traditions, dances, and cultures that have come from this beautiful continent. We looked at where Africa was on the map and created our own continents out of various mediums. This month we also focused on germs and the importance of handwashing. Students practiced their handwashing skills in the practical life section of their classroom.

In celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, this month was Dr. Seuss month! We hosted a spirit week. Students came dressed in fun outfits for every day of the week and brought in their favorite Dr. Seuss book. We also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this month! Students came to school dressed all in green. We made lots of rainbow and shamrock art, some of our classes even made their own hats for the special day. Students enjoyed a yummy snack of green foods like cucumbers, green grapes, honeydew, and green cookies. It is always so much fun to see all the school spirit from our growing students.

In April, we will be learning about Islands and Volcanoes. Students will travel the map and learn about Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. We will discuss what an Island is and how they were formed so long ago. We will also be learning about volcanoes and how they work. We can also look forward to our Easter and spring celebrations. We will be hosting an egg hunt for all our students and can’t wait to see everyone searching for those eggs!

February 2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:47:49 GMT

February Recap and March News

February was filled with lots of love and friendship. This month, we all discussed how we can show love and appreciation to our friends and family. Many students came up with their own ideas about what it means to be friends. To celebrate our love and friendship with one another we had a Valentine’s Day party! Many students created small Valentine’s goodies to pass out to their friends and teachers. At our party we decorated our Valentine’s goodie bags, had some yummy red and pink snacks, and passed out our Valentines. In keeping with love and acceptance, February was our cultural awareness month. We discussed cultures from around the world and spoke about our differences and similarities. Some of our students even shared their family’s culture with us! We looked at different cultural practices as well as languages spoken in other cultures. We also read the book Litte Blue & Little Yellow, a book that introduces friendship between different individuals. A big thank you to everyone for creating a beautiful community here at Pacific Coast Montessori Academy.

In February, we focused on Asia. At the beginning of the month, we celebrated the Lunar New Year in our classrooms. Students came to school dressed in red and received small red envelopes in the spirit of Lunar New Year. We also discussed the many countries that make up the continent of Asia. Students talked about the terracotta warriors, the different traditions in Asian countries, and some famous monuments from Asia. We also discussed the different animals and plant life you might find in Asia. Students discussed elephants, pandas, bamboo, and more. Lastly, our students talked about the water cycle in class. Students looked at diagrams of the water cycle and created their own to remember each step of the cycle.

In March, we will be shifting our focus. Our theme of the month will be dinosaurs! Students will learn about the many different species of dinosaurs that lived so long ago. We will be learning about what they ate, where they lived, what they looked like. Our geography focus in March will be Africa. Students will learn about the many countries in Africa and the different cultures you can find there. Lastly, our book for the month will look a little different in March. Instead of just one book, we are having a Dr. Seuss month! Students will have the opportunity to read many stories by Dr. Seuss. Towards the end of March and beginning of April, we will be hosting an in-person book fair from scholastic. Students will have the opportunity to explore many different books in the front office. Lastly, we will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day together. We will be dressing in green and enjoying a fun party. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

January 2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:31:17 GMT

January Recap and February News

In January, our students learned all about Antarctica and the wildlife that lives in the arctic areas. We discussed arctic foxes, polar bears, seals, and more. The students talked in class about how some animals hibernate in the winter. We also learned all about snow and ice. The students discovered that snow and ice are both made from water, and we even created our own snow using corn starch and oil. The students felt the texture of the snow they made. One of our primary classrooms learned about icebergs by freezing winter animals in water and watching them melt the next day. Our students have been having a blast creating all types of winter art. We created polar bears out of tissue paper, igloos out of cotton balls, and much more.

Our book of the month was The Mitten by Jan Brett. The children enjoyed coloring the animals from the story of the mitten. After reading The Mitten, students discussed what type of clothes we wear when it’s cold outside. Our toddlers even tried on gloves and scarves and pretended they were in a cold winter place. In our Spanish classroom, the students learned winter words they can use when speaking Spanish. Our Spanish class is doing an amazing job, and we are so proud of them.

In February, we will be talking about cultural awareness and friendship. We will have lessons on how we can be good friends to one another and how we can be respectful of everyone. We will discuss our similarities and differences and how it is important to be accepting of our peers. In keeping with this theme, we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day! Our students will create their own Valentine’s to pass out to their classmates. The students will be creating lots of Valentine's Day art. We can’t wait to see what next month brings.

December 2024

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:39:44 GMT

December Recap and January News

December was a very busy month for our friends. We learned about many holiday celebrations across the globe. In the first week of December, our classrooms practiced putting candles in a Menorah and discussed the significance of Hannukah. We also discussed the celebration of Kwanza and showed our students a Kinara. Lastly, we talked about Christmas. Our students created so many holiday themed art projects. Some of our classrooms made their own Menorah’s, others created candy canes or ornaments. Each classroom also had so much fun creating a holiday gift for their families. To go along with our theme of celebrations across the world, we discussed the different countries in Europe. We looked at the different cultures and wildlife you can find in Europe. We matched the flags to the countries they belong to and found the continent of Europe on the map.

In December, we also had lots of fun activities planned. Each classroom put on a winter recital for their families. Each class sang three songs about winter and the holidays. Everyone did so amazingly, and we are so proud of them! We also had a visit from Santa. Santa travelled from the North Pole to visit our friends at PCMA. He read us the story T’was the Night Before Christmas, and he brought a special gift for each on of our friends. Lastly, we had our spirit week! Thank you to everyone for participating in this fun week, we loved seeing everyone’s fun and creative outfits.

In January, we will be talking about winter, snow, and ice. We will learn why it gets colder in the winter and how snow and ice form. We will be creating lots of winter themed projects during enrichment. We will be leaving Europe in January and heading to Antarctica. We will look at where Antarctica is on the globe, what animals live there, and what kind of climate it has. Lastly, we will be reading The Mitten by Jan Brett. We can’t wait to see you all next year, Happy New Year!!

November 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:32:03 GMT

November Recap and December News

November was such a fun month! At school we focused on our virtues and values. All the students discussed what it means to be good friends and how we can help our friends and family. We also discussed what we are thankful for and the meaning the Thanksgiving. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, our book of the month was “To Fill a Bucket”. We discussed how we can fill our friends’ buckets by being kind and understanding friends. We also learned about the United States this month. The students looked at where the U.S. is located on a map, and we discussed how there are 50 states in our country. We looked at the many different environments that we see throughout our country, such as mountains, deserts, swamps, and warm or cold states. We also talked about how our country is a melting pot of many different cultures.

For Thanksgiving, the students created their own version of turkeys. Some classes used paper to paste together a turkey and other classrooms created hand turkeys. Many classes also used fallen leaves to create special fall art projects. The primary classrooms created pressed leaf art using chalk and leaves, while our preprimary classroom dipped their leaves in paint and used those to transfer the print to paper. In November, we also had our Harvest Feast! Thank you, families, for helping us put together a delicious Harvest Feast buffet. The children got to try some foods they don’t typically see on our school menu. November was amazing and now we look ahead to December.

In December, the students will be discussing the different celebrations around the world. We will talk about Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Diwali, and more. The students will see how different cultures celebrate their holidays. For Geography, our minds will travel to Europe. We will learn about the different countries in Europe and how the cultures differ. We will also be practicing for our Winter Recital! Each classroom will learn a few winter/holiday songs to perform for their families. In December, we look forward to a visit from Santa. We will get the chance to tell Santa what we hope for the holidays. We will be closing out the year with a very fun month of special activities.

October 2024

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:58:37 GMT

October Recap and November News

What a great month we had in October. Our students jumped right into work at the beginning of the month learning about the solar system, North America, and the parts of a pumpkin. Many of our classrooms carved and decorated pumpkins in the spirit of Halloween. The students were very interested in the parts that make up a pumpkin and feel the interesting textures. Our classrooms explored the solar system by matching planets, learning their names, and the different parts that make up our universe. One of the classrooms created self-portraits of themselves as astronauts and another class created all the planets in our solar system with a handprint collage. The students had fun learning about the different countries that make up North America and matching the different flags to each country. We talked about the different people, plants, and animals that you can find all throughout North America.

Our school had so much fun celebrating Halloween and fall this month. Our classes went on leaf hunts this month just like our book of October, Going on a Leaf Hunt. We also created many spooky art projects. We created spider webs by rolling a ball in white paint and rolling it on paper. Our Halloween parade was amazing! It was so much fun seeing all our students and teachers dressed up in their Halloween costumes. The students were so excited to trick or treat at school and show off their creative costumes.

In November, we will be discussing our virtues and values in class. Because Thanksgiving is in November, we will be focusing on what we are thankful for and what we can do to help our friends and family. We will also learn about the United States and learn about the many different cultures, plants, and animals that live in our country alone. Lastly, we will be having a Thanksgiving Harvest Feast to celebrate the holiday in class. We can look forward to more celebration and appreciation for the fall season!

September 2024

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 19:09:54 GMT

September Recap and October News

Welcome back for our 2024-2025 school year! We kicked off September by learning All About Me. Every student created a packet all about them and their interests. Each student got to decorate their packet in their own unique way. We used these packets in class to get to know our new friends and teachers. We also did an overview of all the continents in our world. The student learned the names of each continent and used puzzles or globes to learn where they are on our planet. In class, we read The Kissing Hand; this is a kind book about kindness and friendship. After reading this book, we discussed how we can be good friends and how we can help our families. In September, we learned about the parts of the apple and its different properties. We practiced scooping apples, cutting them up and had a yummy snack, and looked at the inside of the apple.

We’re back in the school year, so that means Webby dance and Soccer are starting again! These programs are so fun, and the students really love it. Coach Lucas and Ms. Kayla create such a fun environment for our students to learn new skills. This month we also did a lot of fun enrichment activities. The students planted basil and cilantro, and we are starting to see some of them sprout. Ms. Stephanie also created many fun art projects and engaging activities with our snacks that the students enjoyed. In the primary classroom, our student did some experiments in the classroom with baking soda and vinegar. We added different colors to the baking soda and watched the eruption happen when we added the vinegar. We are looking forward to a full school year of these fun and enriching activities.

In October, we will be traveling to space! Our students are going to learn about our solar system and the different planets that orbit the sun. We will create our own solar systems in class and talk about how different each planet is. We can also look forward to our Scholastic book fair in October. The first two weeks of October will be our book fair where you can buy books for your family or for your child’s classroom. Our goal for this book fair is to reach $1000 in sales in order for our next book fair to be on campus! We would love to see all our families participating. Lastly, we can look forward to fun Fall activities and Halloween. We will be having a costume parade at the end of the month, so don’t forget your costumes! More information about October events to come.

Summer 2024

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:01:36 GMT

Summer Recap and September News

What a wonderful summer we all spent together this year! This summer was filled with sun, smiles, and lots of splashing around. July brought many fun and exciting activities to our school. To kick things off in the summer we bubble and splash days each week. You can see the children enjoying our water days in the blog photos and our Instagram! In July, we had a special guest come to visit our school from Professor Egghead. Professor Katie lead several experiments with dry ice and taught us about how different chemicals react with one another. She showed us the sound that dry ice makes when it touches metal, how temperature and chemicals can affect color, and much more! We celebrated the Fourth of July at school by learning about our country for our Party In The USA theme. The following week, we learned all about the ocean and the amazing creatures that live within it. Some of our students created sensory bottles to represent the ocean. We talked about the different planets in our solar system and created many pieces of outer space art. The last week of July, we learned about volcanoes and created our using construction paper and tissue paper.

In August, we had a special guest from the critter squad. Ms. Riley came to our school and introduced us to her many different animals. We met a frog, a snake, a large lizard, a bunny, a bird, and a sugar glider! Ms. Riley taught us about where they live and what they eat. In August, we enjoyed many art projects and learned how to make slime. The students loved mixing the slime and adding different colors to see how it turns out. We learned about farms and the different animals that may live there. The last week of August, we had out spirit week. On Monday, we shared our cultures with our classmates and teachers. On Tuesday, we tie-dyed some t-shirts and experimented with colors and shapes. Wednesday, we wore our craziest outfits and on Thursday we dressed up as what we want to be when we grow up. Lastly, on Friday we had beach day and enjoyed a big end of summer foam party. Our roaring foam party was such a great way to wrap up our summer program.

September is here and we are so excited to start the school year! We will be learning All About Me! Students will be transitioning into the next classroom, and we will be meeting new friends as well. September will be a month to bond with our teachers and new friends. Students will create an ‘all about me’ book for our friends and teachers to get to know us even better. In September, we are also introducing our Spanish inspired classroom. Some of our Primary students will be learning Montessori work in a Spanish class setting. We are so excited for this new program and look forward to the progress our students make. As the new school year starts, we will be starting new soccer and dance sessions, so please sign up if you would like your child to enjoy our extracurriculars. You can check our Instagram and twitter for weekly updates on our school!

June 2024

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 11:42:55 GMT

June Recap and Summer News

June was a very busy month. We enjoyed many different activities. Thank you to all the dads and family members who came to celebrate Father’s Day with your children. We loved hosting you and hope you enjoyed the times and treats you got to share with our community. We also were able to celebrate our amazing graduates. We are so proud of all the hard work they have done, and we know they have bright futures ahead of them. Goodluck to all our graduates in kindergarten next year.

This month our class themes were California and different modes of transportation. Each class made their own versions of the California poppy and made creative renditions of the brown bear that is on our state flag. The students enjoyed learning about the different modes of transportation that we use daily. We discussed different places we could get to by vehicle, boat, or plane.

Summer is finally here! Get ready for lots of sunshine, warmth, and outdoor activities. We have many exciting events planned for our students this summer. We will have water days, bubble days, and enrichment activities every week. We will have a few special visitors including Professor Egghead, the Critter Squad, and a roaring foam party to close out our summer in August. We can’t wait for our summer program and to see all our friends enjoy all our activities.

May 2024

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 11:42:02 GMT

May Recap and June News

May was an exciting month for us here at PCMA! We learned about the different dinosaurs that once roamed our earth. We discovered which dinosaurs ate plants and which ones ate meat. The children learned the terms omnivore, herbivore, and carnivore. Our classrooms also got to learn about Africa. We discussed the cultures, flags, and traditional clothing that are native to Africa. Lastly, each classroom received caterpillars at the beginning of this month to watch and learn about the lifecycle of a butterfly. We all enjoyed watching the caterpillars grow into beautiful butterflies and setting them free once they were fully mature.

We also were able to celebrate some important days. On May 10 ^th , we celebrated with all our amazing moms for our Mother’s Day Tea. We loved having all our moms/grownups here to enjoy some tasty treats, tea and lemonade. During our celebration, each child presented their mom with a personalized gift for them to thank them for all that they do.

We also got to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to all our families for making us feel so loved and supported. We love being the ones to teach your children and help them grow. We thank you for all the gifts, love, and hugs that we received from both parents and students.

In June, we will learn about different modes of transportation as well as our lovely state of California. We also have a few exciting days coming up in June! On Friday, June 14 ^th , we will be celebrating Doughnuts with Dad as our Father’s Day celebration. We look forward to seeing all the smiling faces of our students and their grown-ups. We will also be celebrating all our students who are graduating! On June 21 ^st , we will have our graduation ceremony. We are so proud of all our students and will miss the ones who are moving up next year! We can’t wait for another great month, as we inch closer to summer.

April 2024

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:34:34 GMT

April Recap and May News

April was a fantastic month! We were able to celebrate the Week of the Young Child! It was great to see all our students and staff participating in each day of spirit week. We hope that everyone enjoyed that week as much as we did. This month we also got to experience the solar eclipse. Some of our older students were able to see the eclipse with special glasses. It was an exciting activity, and it gave us the opportunity to learn about the sun and the moon and the role they play on our planet. We also had picture day this month. So many cute faces and outfits!

In class, students learned about our planet and how important it is to protect our Earth. We discussed the many ways that we can help keep our environment clean. We also learned about the Ocean, Australia, and New Zealand. We discovered the different types of wildlife as well as the different cultures that we don’t normally get to experience. The students really enjoyed our book of the month, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. April was a fun-filled, enriching, and action-packed month.

In May, our theme of the month is Dinosaurs! We will look at the large creatures that once roamed our earth. Our continent of the month is Africa. We have many creative lessons planned to teach our students about the different wildlife and cultures that exist in Africa. Our book for May will be, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on May 14 ^th and 15 ^th . Signups will be sent out soon! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, set goals, and learn more about the classroom. If you would prefer a phone conference, please call the office to schedule.

Lastly, we can look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day with a lovely tea party at school. We hope to see everyone there!

March 2024

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 21:29:01 GMT

March Recap and April News

Hello PCMA families and happy spring! In March we got to enjoy lots of outside time with the beautiful weather we have been having. Our friends learned about the rainforest and all the interesting and different animals that live within it. We encouraged them to discover animals that they had never heard of and to learn about the ecosystem of the rainforest. We had lots of fun doing art projects and learning about new and exciting things. We also read many Dr. Suess books this month, which was a very fun and silly activity that we all enjoyed.

For enrichments this month, we had a lot of fun learning the rules of soccer and new dance routines each week. The children loved running around and scoring goals with the coach and learning new and interesting dance moves with our amazing dance instructor. We look forward to another month of improving on our soccer and dance skills in April.

In April, we will be learning about the amazing planet that we live on and the Oceania countries (Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands). We are excited to be able to discover the different music, art, animals, and culture from all around the world. As spring kicks in, we are all looking forward to the warmer weather and the continuous sunshine that it brings. We will have many more days of playing outside and discovering new things about or world and ourselves!

February 2024

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:39:42 GMT

February Recap and March News

February was a month to focus on friendships and cultural diversity. As the children prepared for their Valentine’s Day celebration, they reminded one another of the value of kindness, friendship, and sharing. They passed out Valentine grams and shared snacks with one another, which opened the conversation about giving and gratitude. In groups, they worked together and created friendship trees to remind everyone of the friends they have in class.

Throughout the month, the children discussed Asia and some of their landmarks, such as the Great Wall of China, and their culture, like traditional clothing and food. They also learned about the celebration of Lunar New Year, which began the year of the Wood Dragon!

As we move onto March, we will welcome spring and hope for warmer days! This month, the children will focus on South America and the Rainforest! We will also read Dr. Seuss’ books as we celebrate his birthday and discuss the impact he has made on early literacy. In addition, we will have a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with green outfits and artwork. Spring break will be the last week of March (March 25 ^th -29 ^th ), but childcare will still be provided if needed, for an additional cost. Looking forward to many more fun-filled days together!

January 2024

samantha@la-montessori.com ( Samantha Hausner) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:38:21 GMT

January Recap and February News

January was filled with fun-packed discussions; after returning from break, the children took time to readjust, and we are happy to have everyone back in school mode. The children studied about Winter Animals and Hibernation. The children were excited to learn about polar bears, penguins, and other hibernating animals. They were especially interested in animals that hibernate in caves! Our book of the month, The Mitten, was a huge success. We also studied Martin Luther King Jr.’s and had discussions about freedom and cultural differences.

In February, we are studying cultural awareness and friendship. We will be learning about Black history month as well. The contentment of Asia will be our concentration in our Montessori studies. The children will discuss family traditions and cultures, what it means to be a good friend, and being kind to all people.

Feb. 7 ^th is our Open house; please remember it’s an early closure day.

On Feb. 14 ^th, we are celebrating with Valentine’s Day-themed party in each classroom. Your child is welcome to bring in a Valentine for each class member. Sign-ups for the celebration will be posted on your child’s classroom door the week prior.

We are looking forward to the exciting activities February will bring.

Our snack host program is an excellent opportunity for direct involvement in assuring the children eat a healthy snack each morning. We want to thank our parents for their commitment to our program. Your continued dedication to ensuring our program succeeds is much appreciated. Once again, thank you for all you do!

December 2023

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 18:33:33 GMT

December Recap and January News

December Recap:

December was full of Holiday fun! All our classrooms loved learning about different celebrations from around the world. We talked about Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. We invited our families to share some holiday traditions with their classrooms. Our Santa visit was a huge success! The children talked about our special visitor all month long. Santa taught the children how to make a big belly laugh, took great photos and read to them. Thank you to John Briggs for being our Santa for the second year in a row! Our Gingerbread House Decorating turned out to be a success. I think the kiddos loved tasting over decorating. Our Winter Performances were delightful. The children practiced so hard, and we were all so proud of them. The children enjoyed sharing their special treat with you as well. We ended with a festive Spirit Week and a Book Exchange in our comfy pajamas! We hope the children had a memorable month!

We had a wonderful turnout for our Toys for Tots. We were able to give one full box of new toys. Thank you to all who donated. Seeing our small community coming together was beautiful to help create a happier holiday season for a needy family.

Our book of the month, The Giving Tree, was a perfect fit for the month. The children loved discussing our school’s tree as our own Giving Tree. We talked about the importance of helping those in need while appreciating what we have and the people around us.

January News:

We are excited to see what the New Year brings to Pacific Coast Montessori. We have several new families joining us this month, and we hope to see our families getting to know each other better! 2024 is here!

In January, our theme will be Winter Animals and Hibernation. The children will explore winter animals and their habitats, the continent of Antarctica and hibernation. They will explore winter animals and learn why some animals hibernate.

Our book of the month will be The Mitten by Jan Brett. This sweet book takes place in the winter when a young boy loses his glove and is discovered by some woodland animals trying to keep warm during the winter.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

November 2023

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 15:47:49 GMT

November Recap and December News

For the month of November, we learned about Harvesting and learning ways to keep our bodies healthy. The children loved sorting different foods under healthy and unhealthy. We hope it encouraged them to try new healthy foods. Our book of the month, Fill A Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin, was heartwarming for students of all ages. It gave the children a better understanding of empathy and emotional awareness. They talked about ways they can fill a bucket.

Fall was an excellent time to introduce color mixing, including exploring all the colorful fall leaves. Our Primary students went into depth with the study of California. They looked into CA national parks, sang the 50 states song, explored the US map, and found our beautiful state of California.

Our enrichment classes enjoyed listening to jazz and playing the rhythm of different jazz artists all month. For art, the children loved creating their own Jackson Polluck-inspired pieces and seeing the other parts made by Polluck himself. Spanish enrichment was fun, learning the names of fruits and veggies and reviewing numbers and colors in Spanish.

Our first Parent-Teacher Conferences of the school year went very well. It is beautiful to see how much the children have grown during their short time here. Goals were set and we look forward to seeing what the rest of the school year has in store! Students' progress reports will be distributed before winter break for you to review. These reports are a guide to your child's progress and future goals that are set out for the rest of the school year.

Finally, our Friendsgiving Harvest Feast was a great success! The children had so much fun sitting at their long tables together and had a delicious feast of turkey, dressing, mac 'n' cheese, veggies, stuffing, and mashed potatoes! Their turkey hats were an adorable addition to the fun as well! A HUGE thank you to all the parents who helped and donated!

October 2023

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:00:02 GMT

October Recap and November News

October Recap:

Goodbye October! October was a Spooktastic month full of fun, spooky crafts, and exploring our 5 Senses and Feelings. The children of all classrooms were introduced to the five senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste. The children explored the sensorial shelf and used their sense of touch to discover things rough and smooth; they used their sense of sight to match and grade shortest to tallest; their sense of hearing was used to check sound boxes and the importance of smell and taste when trying new foods during snack and lunch. For our Primary students, the geography component was all about North America. Students in this class learned about different North American plants, landmarks, flags, animals, etc. For Zoology, they learned about nocturnal animals and plants vs. animals. The literature for the month was focused on the book Going On A Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. This book helped us welcome the season of Fall, and students went on a few fun leaf-finding adventures.

We also had a whole week where we learned all about fire safety. The school reviewed our emergency procedures, which include fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills. We also had a visit from our local fire department. It was a fantastic experience, and the students loved seeing the big red firetruck.

We had a Spooktacular Halloween Parade and class parties to end this month. Students dressed up in their fun costumes and went trick or treating. They also had fun class parties with yummy spooky treats, and they did fun Halloween crafts. Thank you to the families who brought fun Halloween goodies for the students. You made this event extra special for them.

October brought us fun enrichment activities as well! In music, students were introduced to the composer Camille-Sait-Saens, famous for the Carnival of the Animals. Students also had fun rhyming with the Itsy-Bitsy Spider, learned the difference between a note and a rest, and ended the month with fun, spooky music and musical instrument exploration. In art, students created fun pumpkins inspired by the great artist Picasso and fun fall crafts and creepy crawler art projects. Cooking this month was a tasty treat! Students made a yummy spider snack, fall trail mix, apple treats, and their favorite, pumpkin fluff. In Spanish, children learned that every culture and language has the same feelings. They also had a great time learning about Dia de Los Muertos and how it is similar and different from the Halloween holiday we celebrate.

I am looking forward to what fun things we will explore next month.

November News:

November brings us Harvest and Healthy Bodies. Students are learning about harvest season, foods, and ways to keep our bodies healthy. Classes will talk about fruits and veggies. How important staying active is like doing yoga and running. Classrooms will also speak about virtues and values. The focused literature for the month will be Fill A Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin. This book warms the hearts of our students. All students will explore color mixing in science and examine leaves using a magnifying glass and leaf rubbing activities. For our Primary students, the geography component focuses on the United States of America. Students in this class will learn about the map, the 50 States song, and much more! For Zoology, they will learn about living vs. nonliving eagles, turkeys, and bears.

Our first round of Parent Teacher Conferences will be held in November. Parent-teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to discuss goals, discuss your child’s progress, and share your child’s areas of strengths and needs. Lastly, this month will also be a time to be thankful. All classes will discuss what they are grateful for and will come together for a harvest feast. Please have a look at our school calendar for all the important dates. We do not want you to miss anything.

We are looking forward to a busy month ahead.

September 2023

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:07:07 GMT

September Recap and October News

September Recap:

I can't believe how fast September has come and gone! September was full of meeting new friends and adjusting to a new classroom environment. The month was full of students learning their way around the classroom and adapting to their daily schedules and routines. In addition to the students acclimating to their new environments, they were busy following the month's theme, All About Me. Students discussed their family friends, and how to care for themselves. The literature for the month was focused on  The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This story was great to start with because it explained how a mother raccoon comforted her child raccoon to create a new school. The geography component for the month was the seven continents. Students learned a continent song and did various activities about the seven continents. All students practiced their grace and courtesy skills (i.e., greetings, cleaning up, pushing their chairs in, etc.).

Our Back to School Night was a success! Parents were invited to spend time in the classrooms and talk to teachers. They could walk through the school, meet other families, and get to know the teachers and classrooms more.  

October News:

For October, we will learn about our 5 Senses and Feelings. Children will discuss the five senses of touch, taste, sight, and hearing. Our sensory area of the classroom will focus on all of the senses. They will explore largest to smallest, thickest to thinnest, rough and smooth, loud and quiet, and more.

The second week of October is known for Fire Safety. We will discuss what to do in case of a fire, have a fire drill, and we will have a visit from our local fire department. Our special guests will be on location and discuss what they do and show what equipment they use. Towards the end of the month, we will have a Halloween parade and little parties to celebrate Halloween. Students are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Parents are welcome to join in on the fun! More details to come as Halloween approaches. 

June 2023

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 14:00:00 GMT

June Recap and Summer News

June Recap:

As this school year comes to an end, we want to take a moment to say “Thank You” to all of our families for allowing Pacific Coast Montessori Academy to be your child’s school. On behalf of the faculty and staff, we are grateful and honored to be a part of your child’s early childhood education. For those of our students continuing with us for summer and fall, we have a fun-filled summer curriculum planned. For those students who will be graduating and moving on to new schools, we wish you all the best and encourage you to stop by and visit!

For June, our unit of study was Community Helpers. The children had a blast with all our special guests! We started the month with a visit from the Lomita Sheriff. Deputy Kellogg and Deputy Lopez let us explore their patrol cars and spoke about being officers. E.M.T.’s also joined us from McCormick Ambulance. The children loved seeing the big red rucks and their lights. Some of the children had the chance to ride on the gurney! We also had a visit from one of our very own families. Dr. Jill and her assistant Brooklyn visited us and showed us what a surgeon does. The children were amazed at all the tools and instruments and getting a surgeon hat! Finally, we had a visit from our local dentist. The children loved seeing how we care for our teeth, what healthy foods are good for our teeth, and the importance of attending the dentist.

We celebrated our dads this month with a fun daddy drop-off! Dads brought their putters and had some putting practice on the lawn with the kiddos. All the children enjoyed the special day!

Congratulations to the Class of 2023! To end June, we hosted our graduation for our children entering kindergarten and first grade. The children were so proud to walk in their caps and gowns. The best part was the pizza!

Finally, I want to wish everyone a wonderful summer. In the words of A.A. Milne, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

Summer News:

During the summertime, we will step back from our daily tasks and enjoy whatever the summertime brings us. We have scheduled in-house field trips, water play days, and a summer carnival! We will start the summer by getting in the Red, White, and blue spirit with our Party in the USA theme. Afterward, we will dive into new weekly themes to keep our curriculum fresh and fun for the children. The children will enjoy a new addition to our water days with a new water slide.

As a reminder for all the upcoming summer fun, we ask if you could please apply sunscreen to your children in the morning; the teachers will reapply in the afternoon.

May 2023

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 18:34:31 GMT

May Recap June News

May Recap:

The children learned about South America, Whales, and Butterflies in May. The children enjoyed exploring the Oceans of Earth. They discovered that the Pacific Ocean is the largest and is the closest ocean to us. We learned that whales migrate (travel) through the oceans depending on the season. Some of our favorite whales were the Orca and the Blue Whale.

The school also received our painted lady caterpillars. Each classroom watched the tiny caterpillars eat away and grow larger. The children observed the caterpillars climb to the top and hang upside down, creating a chrysalis. Once all the caterpillars were in their chrysalis, we transferred them over to our large net in the office to patiently watch for them to come out! The children were so excited and happy to watch the life cycle of a butterfly.

May was also very celebratory; we celebrated our wonderful mothers and excellent teachers! The staff started the month feeling like celebrities and showered with love, appreciation, and goodies. THANK YOU to all the families who contributed and helped make us all feel appreciated.

Pacific Coast Montessori hosted our first Mother’s Day Tea. Seeing the wonderful parents and caregivers for the children was excellent. It was so sweet to see the families mingling and getting to know each other more.

June News:

For June, we are finishing the year by talking about Community Helpers. We will learn about the importance of a community and how many jobs are needed to make our community thrive. We hope to get a special visit from the local fire and police departments as well! Our book of the month will be The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone which teaches the importance of hard work and initiative. With all the planned activities, we are so excited to have our very first academic year completed. We appreciate all the families who have picked our little school to educate your child.

April 2023

Fri, 05 May 2023 15:38:02 GMT

April Recap and May News

April Recap:

April has come and gone. Although our month was short, it was filled with so much excitement! We returned from Spring Break to an excellent Egg Hunt. The children had so much fun finding eggs. Seeing how the older children shared or helped some of, the younger children fill their bags was so sweet. We also had our Spring photos. We will have our make-up day in May for those who missed it.

Along with a busy month of egg hunts and photos, the children at PCMA started to explore the continent of Australia. They discovered that this island continent is home to kangaroos, koalas, and crocs. They explored volcanoes and found New Zealand has an active volcano and Hawaii! They looked at photos of aboriginal artwork and created their pieces.

Our chick eggs arrived this month as well! It takes about 21 days for gestation, and we should have chicks! Make sure to check them out in the incubator in the office.

May News:

In May, our unit for this month is the continent of South America. We will investigate the countries of Brazil, Peru, and Argentina. The children will study the multitudes of languages, focusing mainly on Spanish and Portuguese. We will also review the continent's cultures, traditions, and clothing. Along with learning about South America, we will explore different whales and how they migrate through the oceans. In addition, the children will explore the life cycle of a butterfly! Our book of the month is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

We are pleased about the beginning of the month and all the celebrations we will hold. Please mark your calendars on May 10 ^th for our Mother's Day tea party. On May 16 ^th, we will also have our Parent-Teacher conference; please note it's an early closure day, and all children must be picked up at 3 PM sharp. Lastly, we are happy to celebrate teacher appreciation week; please watch for daily recommendation gift ideas.

March 2023

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 14:00:00 GMT

March Recap and April News

March 2023:

March continued to bring us some much-needed rain, which allowed us to enjoy more indoor classroom time. For March, the children all enjoyed exploring dinosaurs! They talked about the different dinosaurs that roamed the earth many years ago and the fossils left behind. The children loved the new dinosaur matching cards, fossil excavating, and so much more with the fantastic materials their teachers created. The continent of the month was Africa. The children loved learning about this large continent with many countries, from Egypt to South Africa. With so many different countries, cultures, languages, animals, and discoveries, many dinosaur fossils have been found in Africa; this month has been filled with so much discovery! Many children were amazed to learn about what animals are from Africa, like the African Elephant, camels, lions, and so much more!

We had so much with Dr. Seuss's week and celebrated literacy this month! The children and staff had so much fun with this silly week while focusing on the importance of reading and learning.

St. Patty's Day was another fun day where we wore green on this traditional Irish holiday. Unfortunately, the classrooms had no success catching that mischievous Lenny the Leprechaun, but the children enjoyed some goodies left behind.

We had our spring book fair in March. Seeing how excited the children got when they saw all the books in the office to explore was terrific. Thanks to the parents for your continued support of the book fair! It couldn't have been as successful without you!

April 2023:

In April, we are proud to announce our Spanish Inspired primary classroom opening with Ms. Lilia, a long-time Montessorian. Ms. Lilia will lead the class as she will join us in May. We are so excited to bring this program to our community! Please reach out to the office if you would like more information.

Now that Spring is officially here, we welcome the warmer weather! We look forward to an explosive month of April! For April, the classrooms will explore the continent of Australia, including New Zealand and the Pacific Islands and volcanoes. The children will discover what makes an island and the different types of volcanoes.

February 2023

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 18:11:55 GMT

February Recap and March News

February Recap:

Our theme for February was Cultural Diversity and Friendship. We started off by celebrating the Japanese holiday, Setsubun. A tradition of saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. The children of Pacific Coast Montessori had so much fun making Oni masks and trying out soybean treats! The children enjoyed saying farewell to the season of winter and we greatly welcome the warmer Spring weather!

We celebrated our first one hundredth day of school at Pacific Coast Montessori Academy! It was so fun to see our friends dressed up like they were 100 years old. It was so much fun celebrating being 100 days smarter here at Pacific Coast Montessori!

For Valentine’s Day our friends decorated cute bags, and brought in sweet Valentines to show their love and friendship to their friends in their classroom. The children were also excited to give, and receive during the special holiday. We had a wonderful turn out and support from our amazing families for our open house. It was wonderful to see how excited the children were to return to school with their families. They really enjoyed showing all their families their classroom and all the work that they have done.

Along with our events we explored the continent of Asia. our children were introduced to the different countries of Asia, like India, Japan and Chila. They were introduced to the country's flag, some customs and popular monuments. The children enjoyed looking at all the ancient history of Asia and looking into some of their famous architecture and art, like the Taj Mahal, the Terra-Cotta Army and the Great Wall of China.

March News:

As we look into March, we have it filled with exploration and discovery. We will be looking into the continent of Africa, exploring dinosaurs, celebrating Dr. Seuss and literature, and as we welcome spring, our children will be introduced to the lifecycle of a butterfly . Spring will soon be arriving, and we are so excited to look forward to the changing of seasons. We can’t wait to see what March brings to us.

January 2023

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 15:00:05 GMT

January Recap and February News

January Recap:

We had an excellent start to our 2023 year. January brought some cold, wet weather to the South Bay! It went perfectly with our monthly Winter, Snow, and Ice unit. The children enjoyed learning about how our season and winter changed our environment. They knew that trees would lose their leaves, animals would hibernate, and animals would thrive in the cold. Some fun facts we learned about polar bears are that they are arctic bears that do not hibernate. The children also loved to learn about the different penguins that live in Antarctica, like the Emperor Penguin.

For our enrichment classes, the children had a great time with all the activities. For cooking, the children loved making edible necklaces with dried fruits and cheerios and bear faces with rice cakes, sun butter, and bananas, but the most fun was making snow using cornstarch and shaving cream. In Spanish, the children enjoyed going over Spanish letter sounds, numbers 1-10, and enjoyed our book of the month, “El Miton.” In art, the children were introduced to Van Gogh. They loved looking at some of his paintings and making their Starry Night. For music, the children were taught by Ludwig von Beethoven. The children loved to listen to the classical sounds of the 4th Symphony while playing the rhythm sticks.

February News:

Our theme for February is Cultural Awareness and Friendship. We invite our families to share any cultural tradition with your child’s class, like clothing, books, instruments, pictures, etc. We look forward to learning more about our culturally diverse community. Our book of the month is Little Yellow and Little Blue by Leo Lionni. Lionni is a four-time Caldecott Honor winner, and this was his first children’s book. This book looks at friendships and is an excellent addition to a home library.

As we enter the month of February, we are officially halfway through our school year! Our 100th day of school is on Friday, February 3rd. We have our first Open House on Wednesday, February 8 ^th Valentine’s Day Child-Only parties will be on Tuesday, February 14th.

December 2022

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:00:00 GMT

December Recap and January News

December Recap:

We had the best month of December!! All of our classrooms loved learning about different celebrations from around the world. We talked about Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. The children did various projects at each festival, like Kinaras, votive holders, menorahs, and much more! This month we had a Santa visit! The children ran in and were excited to take photos and get a sweet candy cane from him. Our gingerbread house-making turned out to be a success! I think the kiddos loved tasting over decorating! Our winter performances were delightful. The children practiced, and although we had some say, we were all so proud of them! We ended a festive spirit week with hot cocoa, marshmallows, and a book exchange in our comfy pajamas! We hope the children had a memorable month!

Our gift donations were delivered to our sponsor family before Christmas. Thank you to all the families who donated. Seeing our small community coming together was beautiful to help create a happier holiday season for needy families.

Our book of the month, The Giving Tree , was a perfect fit for the month. The children loved discussing our school’s tree as our Giving Tree. We discussed the importance of helping those in need while appreciating what we have and the people around us.

January News:

We are excited to see what the New Year brings to Pacific Coast Montessori! We have several new families joining us this month, and we hope to see our families getting to know each other more! 2023 is here!

For January, our theme will be Winter, Snow, & Ice. The children will explore the continent of Antarctica. They will see what animals live there and how different the climate is from where we live. They will talk about what animals hibernate and why. Did you know Polar Bears do not hibernate? Did you know polar bears live in the Arctic while penguins live in Antarctica?

Our book of the month is The Mitten by Jan Brett. This sweet book takes place in the winter when a young boy loses his glove and is discovered by some woodland animals trying to keep warm during the winter.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

November Recap

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:22:25 GMT

November Recap and December News

November Recap:

November brought us virtues and values. The children learned about friendships, kindness, empathy, being truthful, and how to be helpful. Our book of the month, Fill A Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin, was heartwarming for students of all ages. It gave the children a better understanding of empathy and emotional awareness.

Fall was an excellent time to introduce color mixing, including exploring all the colorful fall leaves. Our primary student went into depth with the study of California. They looked into CA national parks, sang the 50 states song, explored the US map, and found our beautiful state of California.

Our first parent-teacher conferences all went very well. It is beautiful to see how much the children have grown during their short time here, and we look forward to seeing what the rest of the school year has in store! Students' progress reports will be distributed before winter break for you to review. These reports are a guide to your child's progress and future goals that are set out for the rest of the school year.

Finally, our first Thanksgiving Feast was a great success! The children had so much fun sitting on their long tables together and had a delicious feast of turkey, dressing, mac 'n' cheese, and mashed potatoes! Their turkey hats were an adorable addition to the fun as well! A HUGE thank you to all the parents who helped and donated!

December News:

Winter is around the corner, and so are all the festive winter holidays! We have a lot in store for December! All classrooms will discuss Celebrations Around the World like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, and more for our curriculum! The book of the month is the classic by Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree. We will sponsor a needy family for December and create our own Giving Tree in the school's office. Our tree will have ornaments with an item from the sponsored family's wishlist. If you want to participate, please select an ornament and return it with the wrapped gift. All donations will then be given to the family in time for Christmas.

Please save the date, as we are excited to host our first winter performance on December 12th from 3:15-4:30 pm. The children will begin practicing their songs this month, and we hope to have you join us!

Winter Spirit Week will be the week of December 19th-22nd. Please look for more info regarding each theme for the day.

We cannot believe the 2022 year is almost ending, but we look forward to a busy and exciting 2023! Finally, each classroom will host a book exchange for our holiday party on Thursday, December 22nd. Please look out for more info!

October Recap

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 15:00:01 GMT

October Recap and November News

October Recap:

Good- Bye October! October was a spooktastic month full of fun, spooky crafts, and space exploration. Students learned all about the solar system. Specifically, the planets, the sun, the moon, stars, comets, and so much more. Students discussed how many planets there are, the layers of the Earth, the sun is a star, and what astronauts do. Our science component included hot/ cold and liquid and gases. The literature for the month was focused on Going On A Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. This book helped us welcome the season of Fall, and students went on a few fun leaf-finding adventures.

Within botany, students learned the life cycle of a pumpkin and used their senses when dissecting a pumpkin. For our primary students, the geography component was all about North America. Students in this class learned about different North American plants, landmarks, flags, animals, etc. For Zoology, they learned about nocturnal animals and plants vs. animals. We also had a whole week where we learned all about fire safety. The school had a fire drill and did fun fire art and crafts. We also had a visit from our local firefighters from our local fire department. It was a fantastic experience, and the students loved seeing the big red firetruck. We had a spooktacular Halloween parade and class parties to end this month. Students dressed up in their fun costumes and went trick or treating. They also had fun class parties with yummy spooky treats, and they did fun Halloween crafts. Thank you to the families who brought fun Halloween goodies for the students. You made this extra event special for them.

October brought us fun enrichment activities as well! In music, students were introduced to the composer Camille-Sait-Saens, famous for the Carnival of the Animals. Students also had fun rhyming with the Itsy-Bitsy Spider, learned the difference between a note and a rest, and ended the month with fun, spooky music, and musical instrument exploration. In art, students created fun pumpkins inspired by the great artist Picasso and fun fall crafts and creepy crawler art projects. Cooking this month was a tasty treat! Students made a yummy spider snack, fall trail mix, apple treats, and their favorite, pumpkin fluff. In Spanish, children learned that feelings are the same within every culture and language; they knew the five senses and had a great time learning about Dia de Los Muertos and how it is similar and different from the holiday we celebrate Halloween.

I am looking forward to what fun things we will explore next month.

November News:

November is bringing us virtues and values. Students are learning about friendships, kindness, empathy, being truthful, and how to be helpful. To help students understand these virtues and values, the focused literature for the month will be Fill A Bucket by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin. This book warms the hearts of our students. All students explore color mixing in science and examine leaves using a magnifying glass and leaf rubbing activities. For our primary students, the geography component focuses on the United States of America. Students in this class will learn about the map, the 50 states song, and much more! For Zoology, they will learn about living vs. nonliving eagles, turkeys, and bears.

We will have our first parent-teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to discuss goals, discuss your child’s progress and share your child’s areas of strengths and needs. Lastly, this month will also be a time to be thankful. All classes will discuss what they are grateful for and will come together for a harvest feast. Please have a look at our school calendar for all the important dates. We do not want you to miss anything.

We are looking forward to a busy month ahead.

September Recap

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 18:39:53 GMT

September Recap and October News

September Recap:

I can't believe how fast September has come and gone! September was full of meeting new friends and adjusting to a new classroom environment. The month was full of students learning their way around the classroom and adapting to their daily schedules and routines. In addition to the students acclimating to their new environments, they were busy following the month's theme, All About Me. Students discussed their family, friends, and how to care for themselves. The literature for the month was focused on T he Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This story was a great one to start with because it explained how a mother raccoon comforted her child raccoon while he began at a new school. The geography component for the month was the seven continents. Students learned a continent song and did various activities about the seven continents. All students practiced their grace and courtesy skills (i.e., greetings, cleaning up, pushing their chairs in, etc.). A few events in September included our Back to School Night and Book Fair. Thank you, families, for attending both of our events. We had a great turnout.

Lastly, we were excited to start enrichment programs for our pre-primary and primary full-day extended students. Our enrichment program offers students the opportunity to enhance their Art, Music, Cooking, Spanish, and Computers. For Art, our students had fun learning about Andy Warhol and created fun crafts connecting to the focused literature. In Music, our students knew what a conductor was and explored the orchestra. In Cooking, students were introduced to the basics of Cooking and made fun snacks that incorporated apples. In Spanish, students learned the colors and how to introduce themselves. Lastly, in Computers, our primary students were introduced to ABCMouse, practiced building words, and read along with different books. I'm so excited to see what fun enrichment activities will be in store for us this school year.

October News:

October, we are learning about the Solar System! Students in all programs are learning about the planets, Earth (specifically the layers of the Earth), the sun and moon, astronauts, and space shuttles. This month's literature is centered around Going On A Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger. This book will help us welcome the season of Fall and go on a fun leaf-finding adventure. Our science component will include hot/ cold, and botany will consist of the life cycle of a pumpkin. For our primary students, the geography component is all about North America. Students in this class learn about different North American plants, landmarks, flags, animals, etc. For Zoology, they will learn about nocturnal animals and plants vs. animals.

October is known for Fire Safety in the second week of the month. We will discuss what to do in case of a fire, have a fire drill, and we will have a visit from our local fire department. Our special guests will be on location and discuss what they do and show what equipment they use. Towards the end of the month, we will have a Halloween parade and little parties to celebrate Halloween. Students are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Parents are welcome to join in on the fun! More details to come as Halloween approaches.

Welcome to Pacific Coast Montessori Academy

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 21:09:21 GMT

September News

This summer was about preparing our school for a September 1st start date. We were busy remodeling, setting up classrooms, hiring teachers, getting licensed, and creating a safe environment where students could learn and grow. Everything had fallen right into place, and our campus looked terrific. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continued to get everything done in time. We are ready to open our doors and create a new school community!

During September, the students will focus on celebrating themselves. The class curriculum for all programs will include them learning All About Me. The literature for the month will center around The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. We feel this story is a great one to start with as we start a new school year. The book explains how a mother raccoon comforts her child raccoon while he starts a new school. Our geography component is all about the continents. Students will learn a continent song and do various activities about the seven continents. All students will practice grace and courtesy skills (i.e., greetings, cleaning up, pushing their chairs in, etc.). For our primary class in zoology, students will learn about the needs of animals and how to care for them. In science, the topic will be centered around magnetic vs. nonmagnetic and sink vs. float. Lastly, we are excited to start our enrichment program for our pre-primary and primary full-day extended students. Our enrichment program offers students the opportunity to enhance their art, music, cooking, Spanish, and computer skills.

Here is to a great month!