Osiyo, River Otter families.

We are happily living into the rhythm of our days in kindergarten. At this point, students have developed a feel for our flow of the day and week and need fewer verbal cues to know what happens next. I am very proud of how quickly they are learning. At this age, we understand the concept of time and days of the week are still challenging for the students to understand. Young children much more easily identify with the rhythm of activities they can rely on happening on certain days or at certain times. If it helps at home, you may like to refer to the days the way we do at school. Monday is veggie chopping day, Tuesday is farm day, Wednesday is soup and painting day, Thursday is oatmeal and games day, and Friday is puppet show day.

This Friday is the Day of Courage festival at our school. This festival recognizes the shortening of days and inner strength and courage we all will need to make it through the darker, colder months ahead. This day is celebrated by some Western Europeans as Michaelmas, and by people across the northern hemisphere as the Autumnal Equinox. There are a variety of special days across cultures during this time of year that celebrate inner courage and reflection. At The Garden School, the Day of Courage is largely a celebration for older students in the grades program. In kindergarten, however, we also honor this festival in our own way and we will have a couple of special projects to bring home. We have been listening to a story about a village frightened by a big dragon who suddenly appeared. In the end, thanks to the bravery of a couple of the village members (including a young child), the villagers discovered that the dragon was not scary at all. He was lonely and wanted friends to play with. The villagers took him in and they all cared for each other from then on. We will have another story this week with a similar message.

Announcements and Reminders:

Conferences are coming up on October 12th, 13th, and 14th. You can sign up for a time here. Conferences will be in person at the school, however if you need to meet virtually instead please let me know and we will arrange for that. If you do not see a time that works for you, please let me know and we will schedule a different time. Conferences are planned for 20 minutes. If you feel you may need longer for your child's conference, please let me know before scheduling so we can work out a time that respects your time and that of other families. We ask that children do not attend conferences, allowing us to communicate freely and in confidence.
Please continue to send insect repellant and apply it to your child before drop off. We are still seeing mosquitoes and fire ants.
Please send a light jacket, and long pants, with your child each day. They can wear them or keep them in their backpack. The mornings are starting to become cool and it is reliably cooler in the forest than at home or at the picnic tables where they are dropped off.
This Friday, 9/23, is a half day. All students will be dismissed 12:15-12:30. Students will not need a lunch on this day.

Next week, 9/26-9/30, is fall break (we follow Cobb County Public School’s calendar for breaks). The following Monday, 10/3, is a teacher inservice day. There is no school on these days.

Thank you for sharing your children with us, and for being part of our community.

Gvyalieliga,

Ki Holly