1. What is your favorite aspect of the Three to Six Plane of Development?

Lynda -- To me it's watching a light bulb go off in them when they actually learn to cut a piece of paper or when they realize that pouring water SLOWLY from one container to another has a better outcome than dumping it. It's just all of the little moments when you see them succeed by themselves that bring me joy.

2. What is a sweet moment you have already experienced this school year?

Lisa -- I love it when the children express their love to their teachers and friends. One of our newer students recently exclaimed at lunchtime, "Ms. Lisa, I LOVE YOU!" It was an exclamation of unconditional love and the comfort this child felt with all of us, not only me. It definitely takes a village to create a comfort like that! The honesty in their self expression is amazing to be a part of each day!

3. Name something that people generally think very young children cannot do, but you have seen them do.

Ryann -- This list could be very long! Before coming to Athena, I didn’t know young children were able to sew, woodworking, pour large amounts of water, use sharp objects safely, run a whole classroom… the list goes on and on!

4. If you could own only one book on early childhood, which book would you pick?

Lisa -- Woah, that's a hard question to answer because there are so many!! But, if I think about the first book that truly inspired me on this path of early childhood education (and one that I still reference), Maria Montessori's The Discovery of the Child would win!

Follow the link below to read the full Primary 4 Spotlight:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wd1AOZ4jWKaugoK3rENkcy0UpIELxfQ6iQ4iV9OO5I4/edit

We are looking for a cyclist in our community who knows bikes or a great bike shop who would be willing and able to come out to Athena to service our classroom Woom bikes to make sure they are safe and in good working condition. If you can help, please email us at info@athenamontessoriacademy.com.

Student Birthdays:

Hadley P. -- 2/2

Poppy B. -- 2/3

Oliver A. -- 2/5

Balboa E. -- 2/7

Houston T. -- 2/13

Ada C. -- 2/15

Kira B. -- 2/20

Tanek N. -- 2/21

Ella C. -- 2/21

Cannon C. -- 2/27

Henry F. -- 2/27

John F. -- 2/27

Merit B. -- 2/28

Staff Birthdays:

Becca Himes -- 2/4

On Music, Emotions, and Catharsis

We may often find ourselves listening to music to bring us joy, celebration, and happy memories…and sometimes sadness. I speak of this more somber connection to music not to bring down the mood, but to acknowledge the importance of connecting with our feelings of hardship, loss, longing, and especially the catharsis that comes from the expression of these feelings. Music can be the catalyst for that connection and resolution.

We honored Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last Monday, January 17th, and I found myself inspired to learn more about a song called Why? (The King of Love is Dead), performed by the great Nina Simone and written by her bassist, Gene Taylor. I encourage everyone to check out this short NPR piece about the creation of the song and circumstances around it, in which this quote by Samuel Waymon, Simone’s brother and organist on this performance, really resonated with me, "We learned that song that (same) day," says Waymon. "We didn't have a chance to have two or three days of rehearsal. But when you're feeling compassion and outrage and wanting to express what you know the world is feeling, we did it because that's what we felt." I found it challenging to listen to this song, despite the incredible performance and beautifully moving melody, because the lyrics and message are so clear, so honest, so genuine, and so heavy. But that’s just it - music gives us a way to connect to emotions that might otherwise be too heart wrenching to accept, to hear, to honor ourselves for the pain of feeling. For me, this song is like a gentle hand guiding me through the hardest parts of seeing the adversity that’s right in our backyards, showing me how real it is, yet how real the hope and faith is that ultimately renews us as a loving and empathic community of humans.

The moments I’ve connected most with the children here at Athena are those when I’ve been at my most emotionally vulnerable, and aware enough to be able to wear my heart on my sleeve and share that vulnerability with our young friends. I have found that kids intuitively respond with kindness and compassion when they pick up on the hardest feelings that adults emote. This can happen, for example, when sharing sad memories, telling stories or speaking to experiences of hardship, inequity, and injustice that others have had to face, or even just in connection with a melody that tugs at one's heartstrings in just the right way, at just the right time, to open up that ever-so-infamously expressive organ inside our chest, that pumps not just our life’s blood, but(metaphorically speaking) the emotions that make us the empathic beings we are.

So, put on that sad song and let yourself cry, and smile, at the gratefulness you feel to be able to share those feelings with those that you love.

-Mr. Sean

Mariposas Spanish School will begin outdoor Spanish classes on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd!

The second class is full; however, there are 4 spaces available in the first class, 2pm-2:40pm. Register here.

On the waitlist or not ready to join classes yet? Practice and learn Spanish at home with the array of resources they offer: on-demand classes, printable material, music albums, Spanish app, day camps (Feb.), and more!

Visit their website & social media for more info: www.mariposasSpanish.com