Osiyo, River Otter families,
Thank you all for attending conferences last week! It was wonderful to meet with each of you and discuss the school year so far. I am excited to watch your children continue to develop and grow as the year progresses.
This week we finished our story about the first apple tree. Instead of a puppet show, on Thursday and Friday we cut apples in half from the side to see the magical star inside. We also enjoyed eating our delicious apples! We visited the farm on Tuesday, petting the animals and harvesting lettuce. We also introduced a wonderful new activity in our class- jump rope! One end of the rope is tied to a tree and the other end can be turned by a teacher or student, while another student jumps. The students have enjoyed this new activity and seeing how quickly they figure out how to jump, or do multiple jumps! We raked leaves into a big pile to jump and play in them happily. We also discovered a salamander and a luna moth caterpillar.
Our seasonal circle is all about farming and apples! This circle is held in the manner of a story that follows a farmer on her day as she greets the earth and rides her horse to her apple orchard. The farmer picks baskets of apples and places them on her cart, which her horse pulls back to the farm. After caring for the apples and her horse, the farmer gives thanks to the earth before going to bed. A favorite song from this circle is called The Farmer:
The farmer arose at the break of day
She got on her horse and she galloped away
Galloped away, galloped away,
She got on her horse and she galloped away.
Oh come my friends,
Oh come said she
Our green apple trees
For to see
In the warm brown earth they have grown so big
Now all our apples it’s time to pick.
The farmer arose at the break of day
She got on her horse and she galloped away
Galloped away, galloped away,
She got on her horse and she galloped away.
Our Kingdom of Halloween festival will be held Saturday, October 29th. This is an incredible, magical community event (bring your friends!). Our class is responsible for helping children make beautiful wands from sticks harvested by our fifth grade class! Please be on the lookout for a message from our class rep about this and sign up for a volunteer spot. Your attendance and volunteering capacity at their festival is beyond valuable and necessary for its success. Thank you! Additionally, students are invited to come in costume. Remember, be creative and, please, no masks or marketed characters please!
Announcements and Reminders:
Parent Coffee immediately following carpool, 10/18
Georgia GOAL Zoom 7:00, 10/18
Parent Handwork 1:00 - 3:00, 10/21
There is a community work day this Saturday, 10/22.
On October 25th and 26th, directly after drop off, we will be making our lanterns for the Lantern Walk. If you are able to join us on either day we would love to have your help.
Kingdom of Halloween, 10/29
Late Start—9:40 - 9:55am carpool, 11/1
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
