Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
Last week Mother Nature left the students a special treat to explore: ice! On Wednesday, the Chickadees went on a walk around campus looking for ice. The children saw that the wetlands and most of the pond were frozen and wondered how that happened. They saw ice in many places on the ground and in containers around campus, such as buckets and planters. Thursday brought warmer temperatures that allowed us more time to play in the forest classroom. The students discovered that our classroom also had many areas of ice to explore and play with. They enjoyed chopping chunks of ice with shovels and sticks and collecting them in the wheelbarrow. Ice even formed inside the class hand washing container, and students poked the ice into sheets using a stick, carried the ice sheets into the sun, and watched them melt.
When Brother Wind and Jack Frost bring wintry weather, the students have the opportunity to spend mornings in the indoor classroom. On these mornings, different activities are offered, including working with beeswax. Beeswax modeling has many benefits, including building patience, increasing hand strength and dexterity, and offering creative expression. Children must work the wax in their hands slowly and firmly to warm it so it can be modeled into any item of their choosing. It has been a wonder to watch students work with beeswax and create a wide variety of items without prompting. Another indoor activity that builds hand and arm strength, coordination, and patience is grinding spices with a mortar and pestle. Students are currently grinding coriander, which we will try adding to our soup one day soon. They will also have the opportunity to grind saffron and try saffron rice for our snack later this semester.
Announcement and Reminders:
Our class Community Work Day is on Saturday, February 3rd, from 10:00 - 12:00. Please come if you are able, and add to your volunteer hours! Children are welcome, and there are typically both indoor and outdoor tasks available.
Please also plan to join us for the All School Meeting following the work day at 12:30. A soup lunch will be served at noon, and the meeting should be around an hour to an hour and a half long. The meeting is a grownups-only event.
Conferences will be on Thursday, February 8th, and Friday, February 9th. Please sign up for a conference spot here.
Upcoming Events:
First Grade Risers Informational Meeting - TBD
2/3 Community Work Day 10 am - 12 pm
2/3 All School Meeting 12:30 pm
2/8 Half Day - Parent Conferences
2/9 No School - Parent Conferences
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
