Greetings Forestgarten Families!
We saw many signs of spring this past week! Daffodils, dandelions, and onion grass have sprouted all over campus. Students were busy making fairy houses, sanding wood pieces, mixing mud and sand to form clay, playing tether ball, and continuing to jump and splash in puddles. We were able to eat lunch outside this week, allowing extra outside free play in the meadow before rest time.
We will soon begin a new set of songs and verses for our morning circle. Please see below for the words to our current spring verse.
In the heart of a seed
Buried so deep
A tiny plant
Lay fast asleep
Wake! Said the sunshine
And creep toward the light
Wake! Said the voice of the raindrops bright
The little plant heard
And rose to see
What a wonderful outside world might be
During Mandarin class this week, Ki Cerena asked for students to volunteer to lead songs by themselves in front of the class. Many students were up for the challenge and even if someone forgot a word or two, the entire class was supportive, cheering them on. It was such a sweet scene, capturing the essence of our special little community ☺
Our story this week was about an enchanted hare:
During a long, harsh winter in the land of the Vikings, a young girl named Nana goes into the woods searching for kindling. She finds a bird, frozen and unable to fly. The girl calls for the Norse goddess of spring, Eostre, to help the bird. Eostre comes, but says the animals know not to come until she has brought spring so this bird must accept its punishment. The girl pleads, and Eostre agrees that because the girl showed the bird love, she can do no less. Since the bird can only hop instead of fly, the goddess turns the bird into a hare with white fur. This hare would always come to the forest just before Eostre brought spring, and be a sign that spring is on its way. Though no one believes Nana when she tells them what happened, she returns to the forest each day as winter is ending to search for the hare. One day she sees a flash of white fur scurry into some bushes and investigates. Though she does not see the hare, she finds an egg the colors of the rainbow left by the hare who used to be a bird. Sure enough, Eostre brings spring to the land shortly after. Every year Nana returns to the forest and though she never sees the hare again, she always finds a colored egg, the first sign of spring. Eventually Nana sends her children, then her grandchildren, then all children, to search the forest before spring. There is always a rainbow egg found by each child who believes the story of Nana and Eostre and the bird who was turned into a hare. And this is the Norse story of why Easter is always right before the start of spring.
Throughout the closure of school, we will be communicating with families via Google Classroom. Please be on the lookout for an invite midweek. We will be using this platform to share lessons and activities so that you may incorporate our daily school rhythm into your home life. Included in Google Classroom will be recordings of circle songs and verses, craft ideas (using materials from nature or simple materials found in most homes), stories, recipes, and more!
Kindly,
Ki Fatima
Ki Holly
Ki Amy
