International swimming champion inspires pursuit of dreams

Today the students of Neshaminy Montessori welcomed a very special guest. Mary Mohler, formerly Mary Descenza, came to talk to the children about training and trying out for the Olympics.

Mohler has competed all over the world, from Russia to China, France, Spain, India and many more places. She broke the world record in 2009 for the 200m Butterfly. Even though she has not qualified to compete in the Olympics, she is happy to see the great success of her former teammates and friends like Michael Phelps. A mother of four, Mohler has signed her daughter Emily up for preschool this year! We thank Mohler for sharing her stories, medals, rings and inspiration with us today! 

Happy Valentine's Day/Celebrating Special Person's Day!

A special thank you to all of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and friends who came out to celebrate Special Person's Day (also known as Valentine's Day) on February 14! The Neshaminy Montessori students were so happy to share some songs during morning circles, then show off activities that they like to do each day at school. They concluded their time with a special snack all together in the barn.

Showing spirit for the Philadelphia Eagles

The students at Neshaminy Montessori were so excited to show their school spirit for their home team, The Eagles! Many wore Eagles shirts and dressed in green! The students also gathered to sing "Fly Eagles Fly" with their music teacher, Marc Giovanetti. This Sunday, February 4, we will all be watching as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Welcome Ms. Deborah Goldfarb!

Neshaminy Montessori would like to welcome our new librarian, Ms. Deborah Goldfarb. Ms. Deborah has a Master's Degree in Library Science and has been a school librarian and cataloger for over 16 years. She will be teaching our students about the library and how to navigate through it, checking books out and returning them.

In addition to holding classes, Ms. Deborah will be leading a Book Club with our older students. We are excited to have Ms. Deborah as part of our faculty and we look forward to exploring how fun reading can be!

Young Scientists at Work

The entire school became scientists for the day.  The Neshaminy Montessori younger students taught the older students about chemical reactions using baking soda and vinegar. They taught everyone that a base + an acid = a chemical reaction.

Our young teachers gave “thumbs up “to big kids for their great work and observations. One student said that it sounds like my soda! Another said that it smelled like Easter when we dye our eggs!

The lesson also incorporated primary and secondary colors. The primary colors of red, blue and yellow were the colors in the vinegar so that they could mix them and make their secondary colors of green, purple and orange. It was so much fun and we learned a lot!!

Our Visit To The Lower Southampton Library

The students of Neshaminy Montessori have recently visited the Lower Southampton library. Miss Brittany, the new children's librarian, read the children some stories about poetry. The children listened for rhyming words and sang some songs too! They were able to look around the library, meet the hermit crabs at the reference desk, and play in the children's area. Each child was given a library card form in order to apply for their very own library card!

The main story, Daniel Finds a Poem is part of a program called One Book, Every Young Child. Now in its 12th year, the program highlights the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers and the significance of reading early and often to children, as well as engaging them in conversation and other activities around books. The students of Neshaminy Montessori have been participating in this program with the Lower Southampton Library since 2007!

Welcome Ms. Yvonne Kuster!

We would like to welcome Ms. Yvonne Kusters, a Trevose Day School Alumni, and fondly called "YoYo" by kids as our new Fitness and Health Director. Yvonne is a nationally-certified fitness and wellness educator, who started her playful education at TDS.  She created a kids fitness company that is used around the world, co-authored a book to get kids to MOVE!, and co-produced two kids music albums. She performs interactive music and fitness shows in front of thousands of children nationally every year and can even be seen on Sprout’s Sunny Side Up Show in 2013.  

Ms. Yvonne Kuster will be starting the Let's Play Today® program with our students! The curriculum aims to develop your child’s physical, social, and emotional skills while improving their motor skills, coordination, strength, and balance. The classes are filled with tons of energy, lots of laughter, and a love of moving!

Children will be doing obstacle courses, partner games with pool noodles, balls and scarves, playing cooperative games with the parachutes, and using beanbags, hula-hoops, ribbons and lots more! Yvonne will incorporate sports activities, relay races, tag and many other fun games like noodle hockey, and balloon volleyball!  Each month children practice a skill, a FIT FOCUS and will have a chance to incorporate this during the day at school as well!