Osiyo, River Otter families.
The River Otters enjoyed a rainy week at school! Thank you for sending your children with rain gear every day. It was needed and appreciated. Students discovered that they could sculpt and build with mud, which led to great creativity while building muscles in their hands for writing later on in the grades. We also began learning to use a hacksaw this week. This is an activity that builds not only strength and muscle control, but also attention span, listening to and following multi-step directions, focus, and noticing details. It is beneficial for all ages, but especially important for the rising first grade students. While most students only used the saw for a short time, their muscles and attention will grow with practice. Over the spring semester we will saw birch branches into rounds of different thicknesses and sand them by hand. When complete, they will be building blocks for the classroom.
Over the semester break, it would be wonderful if families can practice tasks with their students at home to help build independence. We work with the students daily to help them move toward the ability to care for themselves and their belongings. Our goal and expectation is for rising first graders to be fully independent with their clothing and belongings before the end of the school year. Some things many students are working on include putting on and zipping rain gear, putting on gloves, taking items off without turning them inside out, getting their blankets out and putting them away, and packing and closing their backpacks. Especially this time of year, a full sized backpack really helps the students be successful with having what they need and caring for their belongings. We will be excited for them to show us what they have practiced over the break!
Announcements and Reminders
Please drop off a new, unwrapped toy for the MUST Ministries Toy Shop this week, if you are able. These toys will be available for families in need to select for their children, for the upcoming holidays.
This Thursday, 12/15, is the last day of the fall semester. It is also half day dismissal for all students (12:15-12:30). School will resume on Thursday, 1 /5.
There is a Grades assembly on Thursday, at 12:00. While kindergarten students will not be attending, we encourage you to attend if you are available. It is a great opportunity to get a look into our Grades program, as the students in each grade present song and verses demonstrating material they are working on at school.
Thank you for sharing your children with us, and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
