Greetings Beaver families!
We are very happy to be together again after our long break! A lot of wonderful and new things took place over the course of our week.
We are excited to welcome two new students to our class. It's always a joy to see how quickly the children feel at home in the forest and a part of the class.
There was a lot of activity in the forest this week. Forts were built, worms were unearthed, underground fairy homes were dug, stones were crushed into crystals- they also discovered those same stones make great chalk for drawing. Peculiar animal tracks were spotted when we looked down at the sand by the creek. The children came to a consensus that they must be panda footprints, as there's a bamboo forest just across the water.
This week the children listened to a story native to China called, "The Bamboo Maiden". It's about an elderly man who, upon playing his bamboo flute, saw it turn into a lovely maiden who would become his daughter. She was a very kind, gentle, and loving daughter. News of her character spread throughout their kingdom and thus many youths came to seek her hand in marriage. She told her father that she will not marry unless the youth could find a silver pin four inches long, a branch from a Cassia tree on the moon, and a golden key from the yellow sea. Each youth set out on a journey to find these special treasures, but to no avail. Only the fifth youth was able to attain them. Unlike the youths who sought the treasures she had requested, the treasures seemed to seek the fifth youth due to his generosity and acts of kindness.
On Friday, We got to celebrate Nina's half birthday. In the afternoon, we took a nature walk through the forest and visited parts of the forest that are less traveled. Later, the children joined Ki Emily for their first ASL class. They enjoyed it very much. The children also had their first week of Spanish with Ki Maria and had fun singing together in Spanish.
After much anticipation, the Golden Knights class has finally commenced. The rising first graders have been looking forward to this class for a very long time. We started our class with a special Golden Knights circle. We recited verses and lit a candle in the center of our circle. The children each worked on their handwork project as they listened to a Grimms fairytale, which is traditionally told in the Waldorf schools to six-year olds.
Our Golden Knights closing verse:
Our work is done, our day is past
We'll go our separate ways
And I will hold so tight and fast
What i have learned today
I've given with my heart and mind
The effort my work needs
And I will strive in me to find
Good thoughts, good words, good deeds
Overall, it was a smooth transition back to school. We missed a few friends this week and look forward to having them back with us soon. May you and your families all stay well.
Warm Regards,
Ki Fatima and Ki Amy
