Osiyo, River Otter families.
The River Otter class is enjoying the forest and beautiful grounds of our school. We were able to visit the farm twice this week. We picked kudzu and fed it to the donkeys, a treat we all enjoyed! On Tuesday we visited the creek, playing in the sand and shallow water. The students have been doing a lot of digging in our forest classroom. We have a hole almost deep enough for each of the students to lie in, and an “off-road mountain”. The dirt dug from the hole has also served as many creations in the mud kitchen. The class has been engaging in practical work each day. This week, we worked on folding towels and washcloths, sweeping the platform, and filling the bird feeder. The children also take turns helping their teacher set up for painting, or passing out silverware and bowls for our shared snack.
The class is learning our songs and verse in our morning circle of the year. We will change our circle songs and verses approximately every six weeks, though as students master skills and are ready for more, we may add a song or verse earlier. As the year progresses and the students grow and develop, our morning circle will become longer and have more involved and complex words, rhythms, and movements. To begin the school year, most of our movements are slow and simple. They primarily focus on crossing the midlines up and down, and left and right. This is an important skill to prepare for reading and math in the future. It also helps develop the proprioceptive sense, the sense of one’s body in space. In this first circle, our songs and verse include words in English, Spanish, Cherokee, and American Sign Language (ASL).
Announcements and Reminders
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICHOLAS! Nicholas turned 4 on August 14th, and we celebrated his special day at school on Thursday.
Please send rain gear (boots and rain suit or rain jacket and pants) every day. Georgia weather is unpredictable, and we do stay outside when it is raining.
Next Monday, 9/5, is Labor Day. There is NO SCHOOL on this day.
Caregiver Night for kindergarten is next Tuesday, 9/6 at 6:00 pm. An email with additional important information is coming this week. All grownups involved in the care of the students in the class are welcome to attend.
Thank you for sharing your children with us, and for being part of our community. We are thankful for you!
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
