Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
Thank you all for joining us for a beautiful, reverent Lantern Walk in our magical forest last week. It was humbling to see each person carry their own individual light and combine them to help light the way for each other. We now look forward to this Friday when we will enjoy a time of community together in our forest classroom as we celebrate with our Thanksgiving Luncheon.
Last week, the class enjoyed trips to the farm and the opportunity to explore an area where we hadn’t visited before. The children tested and expanded their physical strength and ability to balance as they leaped from rock to rock through and across the dry stream bed that winds through the farm. In the forest classroom, students continued to combine planning, focus, strength, and balance as they added more to our small tree house. The children expressed incredible creativity as their house grew to include a storm shelter, a kitchen, a bathroom, and different entrances and exits with wood and cloths. Watching others display their strength was a source of excitement for our class as well, as Mr. Matan and the Fourth Grade class delivered stumps and a bench made from stumps and a log. The stumps and bench will primarily serve as seating around our fire in colder months. In the meantime, students have enjoyed hopping from stump to stump and then into a cushiony pile of leaves.
Four year olds love to imitate us and to be helpful, making this a wonderful time to begin having chores at home! Chores help children build confidence and independence along with developing their will. Having jobs at home also helps them feel a sense of accomplishment as an important contributor and part of the family. If your child does not already have regular chores, it is best to start with one daily chore. There are many jobs at home that are appropriate for four year olds, such as helping adults with setting the table for meals, feeding pets, sorting, folding, and putting away laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher, hand-drying dishes, getting the mail, dusting, and watering plants. If you have any questions or would like suggestions on how to encourage your child to participate in chores, let us know!
Announcements and Reminders
Rest blankets will go home this week. Please wash them over break and return them on the day your child attends school.
Please ensure that your child wears shoes they are able to remove and put on independently and water bottles that they can carry, open, and close on their own.
Upcoming Events
11/17- Thanksgiving luncheon and half-day dismissal– We invite you to join our class for a picnic lunch in our outdoor classroom on Friday, November 17th, from 11:00 - 12-00. T/Th Chickadee students and families are invited too. Please bring lunch (and maybe a blanket) for your family. The school will provide a sweet treat (a gluten-free/vegan option will be available). This is a half-day dismissal day. We hope you will join us!
11/20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
12/02: Prospective Family Open House: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12/07 - 08: Winter Spiral
12/20: Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
