Greetings, Turtle Families,
Thank you to everyone who attended the parent night. We hope that the information we shared is valuable as we enter late fall and winter. If you have any questions or concerns, please email or text; we are here to support you as we ensure that the children enjoy their time in the forest, even when it is cold.
We hope you all had a joyful and fun Halloween week! It is such a magical time of year for children. At school, we celebrated by carving a pumpkin on Monday. The children were very excited to design our jack-o-lantern and then to cut the pumpkin open and scoop out the guts and seeds. We took our time to separate the orange pulp from the white seeds so that the seeds could be saved for roasting. Each child had a few turns during the carving. Our jack-o-lantern has a mouth with fangs, a triangle nose, two star-shaped eyes, and a spider and web (the spider and the web are drawn on). All of the children were delighted when we lit the candle and the glowing jack-o-lantern they created was revealed. We also had a sweet story on Monday and Tuesday about a little kitty named Charlotte, a teeny tiny mouse, a masked raccoon, a magical witch, and a pumpkin house. During the story, a pumpkin house is created out of paper. Each child was able to cut their own pumpkin house. On Tuesday, we painted, and as the children brushed the watercolor paint on their paper, a cute little ghost appeared. After the paintings dried, they each added a face to their ghost. On Thursday and Friday, we shared the roasted pumpkin seeds. We also had our first fire of the season. What a busy week!
We look forward to the Lantern Walk tonight. Our lanterns are prepared and waiting to illuminate the forest. The Lantern Walk celebrates the inner light that we all carry. We will use this light to help each other as we enter the darker months of the year. The walk is reverent and contemplative. We will sing the songs we have been practicing; however, please be aware this is not a time for talking, and we ask that parents please help set the tone for the children. We will begin the story promptly at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. Following the story, your family will walk with your class teacher, singing the lantern songs, along the lighted path in the forest. At the end of the walk, you will receive a piece of gingerbread (allergy-free option available as needed), and then, please maintain quiet reverence as you head home. The grades classes will begin their walk directly following ours, and we want to ensure that the forest is peaceful for them as well.
As part of our school’s efforts to help one another and others, we will be collecting gently used coats at drop-off and pick-up this week. The coats will be donated to One Warm Coat, an organization that provides coats for those who need them during the coming cold.
Thank you again for being a part of our community during this eventful time of year!
Announcements and Reminders:
Please join us for the lantern walk TONIGHT at 6:00 pm (the story will begin promptly at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary, as the grades classes will be using the space by 6:30). At the end of the walk, your child will return the electric candle and take their lantern home to keep. If you are unable to attend the walk, lanterns will be sent home the next day your child attends school.
If you have not yet sent in your child’s winter weather change of clothes, please do so as soon as possible.
Please remember that if it is under 50 degrees (with wind chill), students must wear a zipped coat, hat, and gloves. It feels colder in the forest, so please send these items every day.
Upcoming Events:
11/07: Kindergarten Lantern Walk: 6 pm
11/07: Grades 1 - 3 Lantern Walk: 6:30 pm
11/17: Thanksgiving Luncheon 11 am - Half Day
11/20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
12/02: Open House
Grace and Peace,
Ki Kim
