Dear Forestgarten Families,

It is hard to believe that the fall semester has come to an end. We have seen so much growth
in the children since August. They are at home in their forest classroom, confidently swinging,
jumping, climbing, and creating. We are excited to embark on the many adventures to come in
the spring.

This past week we celebrated sweet Sofie’s birthday, as she took her fifth trip around the sun.
Thank you to Sofie’s mom and dad for sharing fun memories and a sweet treat!

Our story this week was about a couple, Peter and Anna, who wished for a child. One day, their
wishes came true – sort of. They built a person out of snow who curiously came to life.
Although not like the child they envisioned, they grew to love the snow maiden. She frolicked
in the snow, made bowls of ice porridge and she made Peter and Anna very happy. But then
Spring came and she told them that she must go and live high in the snowy mountains through
the warm seasons. She promised to return again with the first gust of winter. And so it was
that each year, Peter and Anna eagerly awaited the arrival of their snow maiden in the winter
and bid her goodbye in the Spring. And they were very happy from then on, for the snow
maiden was like a child to them, the child they always wished for.

We bid this year farewell on Thursday with hot cocoa, popcorn, and a sing-a-long around a
roaring fire on the playground. It was such a sweet scene to behold! We hope that everyone
has a wonderful, restful and joyful winter break and we cannot wait to see all of the children
back at school for that start of the spring semester.

With gratitude and appreciation,

Ki Fatima
Ki Holly
Ki Amy