Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
The Chickadee class is settling in well; students are working and playing together peacefully, and the class as a whole has a deep sense of affection and belonging. Thank you for your loving work at home raising such caring children. This year, the Chickadees class is working intentionally to build a strong positive self image and resiliency in each of the students. One way the students are taking in these messages is through our new year-long closing circle song. During this song, students are welcome to create their own dance moves or small movements at their comfort. Some students have already shown great joy in sharing their favorite moves, while others tap their feet and sway; the children have consistently been all smiles and sang or hummed along happily. The words to the song are:
I am amazing, with a capital A
I am amazing, hey hey hey
I am amazing, I am amazing, yes I am, yes I am
I am powerful, with a capital P
I am powerful; look at me
I am powerful, I am powerful, yes I am, yes I am
I am strong, with a capital S
I am strong, yes, yes, yes
I am strong, I am strong yes I am, yes I am
I am powerful; yes, I am
I am amazing; yes, I am
As the weather has cooled this week, the students have enjoyed full days outdoors, including snack and rest. Each day has been filled with wonder, amazement, and giggles as the children work and play in the forest. Some favorite new activities include hammering with a rubber mallet, weighing items on a large kitchen scale, playing with toy insects, and expanding mud kitchen play with water specially reserved for mud kitchen play in a cooler with a spout. We also visited the farm for the first time this school year, where students explored the area, held chickens, and fed kudzu to goats and donkeys.
Announcements and Reminders for Chickadee Kindergarten:
Please remember that all Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten classes are nut-free this year. This is to keep all of our students safe. Please do not send nuts or things made from nuts (this includes most granola bars, nut milks, and nut butters). Sun butter (made from sunflower seeds) or Wow butter (made from soy) are helpful substitutes. Thank you for your help protecting our students from serious allergens.
Please save the date for our Curriculum Night on September 3rd (adults only, please). We will gather together to engage in an interactive activity, share a light snack, and learn about different types of play and the purposes they serve for children.
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
