Dear First Grade Families,
Thank you for joining us for our magical Kingdom of Halloween event! Also, thank you to those who were able to attend our Community meeting with the Board last night.
The class has been in great spirits this past week and is growing so much in their ability to work as a group. Their willingness to work cheerfully as a unit and put forth their best effort has been evidenced during morning Circle, in particular, where each member must develop an awareness of the others for increased success in the shared activities. For example, the children unite speech and movement while walking in time, counting to 24 forward and backward, stepping deliberately with each number and in sync with one another. The progression from those first timid steps, which sometimes involved a foot trodden on accidentally, to more surefooted steps with increased awareness of others’ bodies has been remarkable! Overall, the children are growing more understanding of how to compromise with one another and are becoming a team.
Our Extra Main Lessons have been varied and a source of both fun and learning. Our weekly meetings with Seventh Grade have provided additional opportunities for social lessons, the building of friendships, and physical exercise during games sessions. The children’s clay modeling abilities have come along as well! Using natural clay, students have harnessed their powers of concentration and self-discipline (and some muscle power in this fine motor activity!) in molding a sphere, an egg, and a bowl that was then transformed into a canoe. In addition, the class visited the farm during Third Grade’s Farming class and were able to help out and learn from their older peers and their Farming teacher, Ki Heidi.
On Friday, we celebrated Sofia's birthday and enjoyed homemade Bulgarian cake from her family. Happy birthday, Sofia!
Next week is the final week of our Qualities of Numbers Block before we return to Consonants.
Announcements and Reminders for First Grade:
Thank you for sending your children with plenty of layers, water, and food to get through their busy days in comfort and stable energy levels! Please do ensure that in addition to layers, your child comes to school with an overcoat as a barrier against cold winds. It is amazing how the wind can blow through those more permeable layers. Please see the Parent Portal link at the bottom of the main message to find and review our outdoor clothing guide.
11/01: No School (Teacher In-service Day)
11/06: Lantern Walk for Kindergarten through Third Grade at 6:00 p.m.
Warmly,
Ki Michelle
