Osiyo, River Otter families.
It was a joy to have students back in school for a full week. We enjoyed a nature walk exploring different parts of the forest, and a trip to the farm where we spent time petting the goats and saw ducks in the wetlands. Our older students enjoyed their first days of Golden Knights, and we had our first rice day! We also got to spend some time indoors building with blocks, cooking and serving food in the play kitchen, and drawing with crayons and chalk. In our outdoor classroom some students worked over several weeks to chop a small dead tree with large sticks and pull it down. This week they were able to pull off a large part of the tree. They were excited and proud that their hard work and their persistence paid off!
This week we finished our early winter circle, and we will begin a new circle following this long weekend. Our early winter circle was an imaginative story where we pictured and sang about amazing things in our forest classroom. We had King Winter, singing trees, and gnomes chopping trees down and cutting them into firewood. The tree chopping song is a favorite that students look forward to each year. Your child will probably love singing the song and showing you the movements if you ask. The words are below:
We are woodsfolk sawing trees,
Sawing, sawing, sawing trees.
We don’t stop for winter weather
We keep sawing all together.
We are woodsfolk sawing trees,
Sawing, sawing, sawing trees.
The tree falls down with a great big crash!
Now it’s time to take our ax.
We chop and chop with all our might
To make some wood for the fire tonight.
Now we carry our logs along
Singing gaily this merrious song:
Tra-la-la-la-la-la-la
Tra-la-la-la-la-la-la.
We are working, working hard
Chopping firewood in our yard.
Hold the handle, hold it tight.
Lift it high with all your might.
Chopping, chopping, chop chop chop
Merrily the pieces drop.
It’s the finest game we know,
It keeps us warm from head to toe.
Now a bundle we will tie
And put it in the shed to dry.
Chopping, chopping, chop chop chop
Merrily the pieces drop.
Mark the date: February 4th is our All School meeting, please see the Main Messenger for more information . This is an event for our entire community and all families are asked to attend. We share in a soup bar, compliments of our faculty and staff, and focus on the State of the School. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!
Announcements and Reminders
Please send your child with two full water bottles every day (one water bottle is ok for half day students).
Please send your child with snacks and lunches that will provide them with lasting energy for a busy day in the forest. Protein, and long lasting carbs (such as grains) are important for our full, active days. Vegetables and fruits also help keep us healthy, especially in the winter months. Please keep treats such as cookies, candies, fruit snacks, and other goodies to be enjoyed at home.
Our class is hosting the next community work day, on February 4th. Families in our class are especially encouraged to help out on this work day if possible. The work day will be held from 10:00am to 12:00pm. You will receive volunteer hours for each adult from your family attending the work day. Please let me know if you have any questions!
The all school meeting will also be on February 4th, following the work day.February 15-17 are early dismissal for all students (12:15-12:30), and conferences will be held on those afternoons. A sign up for spring conferences will go out soon.
Thank you for sharing your children with us, and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
