Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
As our morning circle song says, “Spring Is Coming!” Last week, the campus offered a warm welcome back from break, with sunshine and warmer temperatures for much of the week. The students explored the forest and fields and were filled with joy and excitement as they discovered several types of flowers blooming. This week, the children will start the seeds for the class garden indoors using egg cartons and potting soil. They will also start the seeds for their special plants, which they will bring home in a few weeks. We also began hearing a story about Lady Spring, who steps out each morning to take a walk but is quickly sent indoors again by cold winds. Finally, one morning, the sun is bright and warm, and Lady Spring can continue her walk around the land, bringing spring and a rainbow of flowers on her path. The students will experience the story through a puppet show this week as well.
The Chickadees have begun learning the new morning circle, which includes two new songs and a new verse, in addition to our regular opening and closing. Soon, another verse will be added, and after a few weeks, we will add a singing game. This progression allows students to become comfortable with the new words, tunes, and movements in developmentally appropriate segments. The Chickadee class previously worked on walking and running in a circle and is now practicing skipping in a circle. It will be fun to practice skipping at home, too! This circle includes movements that offer the opportunity to practice moving across the right and left, front and back, and upper and lower midlines, performing the same movement on each side of their body, crouching, and jumping. These movements help the class develop connections in the brain needed for formal academics. They also build and refine important motor skills for tasks such as writing and sitting up in a chair for lessons when they progress to the grades program.
Announcements and Reminders:
The weather is unpredictable this time of year; please send your child in layers and continue sending rain and cold weather gear every day.
Please send two full water bottles that your child can open and drink from independently every day. Please only send water in the bottles; juice and other beverages should be enjoyed at home. One water bottle of herbal tea is appropriate on colder days.
If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.
Upcoming Events:
3/9: Community Work Day
3/15: Teacher Inservice (No School)
3/27-29: School Photos
3/29: Grandfriends Day Tea (12:30 Dismissal All Students)
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
