Cobham Montessori School

Newsletter W/C 31st March 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

NOTICES

Term Dates 2025-26

If anyone would find it useful to have a copy of the term dates to print (and hang in pride of place on the fridge!) then we have a link here.

Fees for 2025-26

You may recall that last year we did not apply any inflationary increase to our fees to help families compensate for the anticipated VAT charges. From September 2025, we will need to increase our fees to meet persistent increases in our running costs. The fees which will apply from September 2025 are attached.

Children not returning in September

In line with our terms and conditions, please can we politely remind any parents whose children will not be returning in September 2025 to let us know, in writing, by no later than the start of the Summer Term. We need a full term's notice for withdrawing a child. If you know the name of the school your child will be going to, please do let us know so we can prepare them and make contact to ensure a smooth transition.

THIS WEEK IN SCHOOL

Children's House

This week in the Children’s House, the joys of spring have been all around us! We have been reading many Easter-themed books, including The Golden Eggby Maggie Kneen, which has quickly become a class favourite. The children have also enjoyed singingPeter Rabbit Had a Fly on His Noseand have been busy making their own Easter cards. We hope you love them as much as they loved creating them!

At the easel this week, we explored different techniques for drawing cherry blossom trees using paint and chalk. The children experimented with colours and textures, creating beautiful springtime artwork.

On Wednesday, we welcomed once again baby Gigi and her mum. The children were delighted to see them and took this opportunity to learn about affirmations. We discussed how affirmations can help us start our day with positivity. One of our older children read aloud the affirmations chosen by each child, including:“I choose to be calm,”“I am unique,”and“I choose to be happy.”

While playing in the mud kitchen during garden time, one child had a brilliant idea:“I know, let’s do face painting!”This suggestion was met with cheers of excitement“Yeay!”. Soon, requests were flying in—“Please, make me a tiger!”It was wonderful to see their creativity and imagination in action.

This week in cooking, we experimented with natural dyes to colour boiled eggs. Using ingredients like beetroot, avocado skin, and turmeric, the children observed how nature provides beautiful, vibrant colours.

Conversations of the Week

Ch1:“My dad has a beard on his face and no hair on his head.”

Ch2:“He is bald.”

Ch1:“My dad is bold here.” (touching head)

At the book corner:

Ch1:“Once upon a time, there were lots of kings in Dubai.”

Ch2:“And Rapunzel was in a tower…”

Ch1:“And then…”

It’s been a wonderful week filled with learning, laughter, and creativity. We hope you have a wonderful Easter break.

Warm regards,

The Children’s House Team

Elementary

This week we have been preparing for the spring poetry recital which we hope you enjoyed on Friday. The children worked hard to get their poems written and perfected. Some managed to complete their first drafts in good time to seek editing feedback from peers; others just squeezed in before the deadline! Following our first 'rehearsal' early in the week, the children were very motivated to practise and noticed a big improvement when they put in that effort. Some were very confident to say their poems to close friends but when faced with the "pressure" of the rest of the class, nerves start to take over and we get a very different performance! We reminded the children that everyone attending is delighted to be there and are very supportive so it really doesn't matter if we say something slightly wrong or do something different to what we've practised.

There was some disappointment on Monday when the expected rubber chippings were not delivered due to unanticipated access problems - big lorry, small road! Thank you so much to everyone who brought in buckets and wheelbarrows - we anticipate a new delivery from a different company over Easter and we will still need the children's help to move it to the right place when they return.

In Yoga, the children were keen to play lots of games as it was the last session of the term. Miss Hayley duly delivered a boat game, follow the leader, the blanket game and a stealth blindfold game. All the games challenged the children's control of their bodies and also gave them opportunities to help one another.

It was a glorious day at Forest School and we headed off to the lake to do pond dipping. There was great excitement as the muddy water revealed its treasures. The children cooperated with each other really well, demonstrating the best net-swishing technique to guarantee a good haul, and keeping each other safe by the water's edge. We even netted a fish! 'Best day ever!' one child was heard to say. Back at base, we too engaged in some face-painting using charcoal made in the fire.

With the Easter holiday deadline looming, there was lots of work being finished - some children challenged themselves to do a quick project in just one morning and it was wonderful to see how they collaborated, and made decisions together to create something greater than they could have done alone. Others were keen to complete ongoing work so they can start afresh in the Summer Term and we were treated to some lovely presentations.

We wish you a lovely Easter and we look forward to welcoming all the children back on Wednesday 23rd April. We will need scooters for Wednesday Forest School and Friday sports. Pickup will be from Painshill on the first day back please.

Kind regards,

Yvonne