Greetings, Turtle Families,
We had a wonderful and very cold week. All of the Turtles were well-dressed for the weather! Due to the cold and the need to wear gloves/mittens, handwork activities on the platform were put on hold. However, we added a forest weaving loom to our class. This loom has two sides, each with a yarn-wrapped wooden shuttle. The wooden shuttle can easily be held while wearing gloves or mittens as it is passed over and under the warp threads to create the woven fabric. It provides a lovely cold-weather handwork alternative. On warmer days, throughout the cold months, we will continue to offer sewing, finger knitting, and finger chaining.
The cold weather also meant the children ran, played, and did heavy work in the forest. This type of play is always helpful for keeping children warm. There were many races with the children running around the platform to get the fastest time. Our fastest time, so far, is 10 seconds – they are some fast Turtles! The students went on an expedition to a large stick pile outside our classroom to collect large sticks and branches. The children then spent time moving these large branches around our classroom, making forts and homes with them. Thank you to Alma’s family for donating wooden mushrooms to our class. The children have played and imagined all sorts of things with these new toys! The students made a mushroom drum set, they created mushroom families to care for, and they constructed a picture booth with mushrooms as props. We cannot wait to see what they imagine next.
This Friday is our Winter Spiral. This festival occurs near the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The children silently and reverently walk the spiral with an unlit candle. They will use a lit candle in the middle of the spiral to light their candle and then walk out of the spiral, placing their candle on a star of their choosing along the way. This touching ritual symbolizes each child giving their unique light to the world, helping guide others in the dark. Families are welcome to watch their child’s class walk the spiral. Our walk will begin at 11:15 am. Please arrive with enough time to find a seat in the sanctuary. Two-day students are invited to join us for the Spiral; please meet us at our picnic table at 11:00. They may join us for cocoa after our class walks the spiral before leaving with their families. The cocoa ingredients include milk, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and vanilla. If you would prefer your child not participate in the cocoa, or they will bring their own, please let me know. SAFETY Note: Please make sure that long hair is tied up and that loose-fitting clothing is not worn on this day.
Announcements and Reminders:
Please continue to send water-resistant heavy coats, hats, gloves, snow pants or rain pants, and insulated boots daily. Please also continue to dress your child in layers. Wool socks are highly recommended on days under 45 degrees.
Winter Spiral is this week! Our class will participate on Friday, 12/8, at 10:15 pm. Families are welcome to attend, and two-day families are invited to bring their children to participate with the class as well. Please send your child with long hair pulled back and in clothing that is not loose fitting as protection from the candles.
Next week is our toy drive for MUST Ministries. Please see the Main Message for more information.
Upcoming Events:
12/07 Grades 1st - 5th Winter Spiral
12/08 Kindergarten Winter Spiral
12/20 Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day
12/21 Teacher In-Service (No School)
12/22 - 01/03 Winter Break (No School)
01/04 First day of Spring Semester
Grace and Peace,
Ki Kim
