Greetings Turtle Families!

We had a lovely week in the forest getting to know one another! Our first week together was short, but it was so special to see the children’s excitement as they made new friends and explored our outdoor classroom. It was fun to watch the children discover our mud kitchen area and the rest of our forest classroom. They worked together to dig and move the big pile of sand and some students worked on a stick fort. Ki Kristine brought a couple of helpers to the creek to gather water and this provided just the right ingredient for lots of stirring, pouring and creating mud kitchen specialties. While playing, we observed many caterpillars, ants, birds and other creatures that we share the forest with. Everyone also enjoyed some time playing quietly on our platform with babies, peg dolls and blocks.

This week was all about getting to know each other and our space and establishing a strong rhythm that will help us move through our days. We enjoyed a story, that will continue next week, about a Mommy Cloud and a scared little raindrop who gathered up his courage to fall to the earth. There he finds raindrop friends and they climb a stem and help a flower bud blossom. They play on the flower petals until the afternoon sun is bright in the sky, then Mommy Cloud, with the sun’s help, collects them all again. It was so nice to sit together on our platform, and enjoy a story, snack, lunch and rest time. The week was wonderful and Ki Kristine and I are so excited to spend this school year with your children. Thank you for sharing them with us!

Lastly, we give a warm welcome to our new assistant in the Turtle class, Ki Kristine! Kristine has a child in one of the other kindergarten classes as well as a 2nd grader at The Garden School. Kristine has a beautiful and kind spirit and a heart for children and we are so lucky to have her with us this year!

Important Reminders:

We will begin shared snack next week.
- Monday – Oatmeal
- Tuesday – Please bring a vegetable for chopping
- Thursday – soup (using veggies we chop on Tueday)
Creekcess will begin this week. We will have Creekcess after snack on Wednesday and Thursday.
Our school’s next work day is Saturday, 8/27. If you are able to attend, there will be tasks to finish preparing the forest and school for the rest of the school year. And of course, it counts toward your volunteer hours.
The Kindergarten parent night is Tuesday, 9/6. Look for more information to come in the next couple of weeks.

Grace and Peace,

Ki Kim