Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
The students enjoyed a warm week at school last week, playing in the shade of the forest classroom and spending afternoons indoors to stay cool during the hottest part of the day. The children have already gained a healthy amount of independence, caring for their backpacks and other belongings and helping with classroom work such as filling bird feeders, watering plants, and wiping down tables. This year, students are taking turns being responsible for special jobs, including line leader, caboose, and teacher helper, in a scheduled order. They each clean up and take care of their materials after painting and clean the area around them after snack and lunch. Children are reminded that we all spill or make messes sometimes, but we are then responsible for cleaning up after ourselves. Daily responsibilities at home benefit children, as it helps them feel capable and like an integral part of the family. Rising First Grade students (five and six-year-olds) are highly capable and are best served by having at least two daily tasks; this will help prepare them for the greater independence and expectations of First Grade next year. Please reach out if you would like suggestions for age-appropriate jobs for your child!
This week, the students will plant seeds for the Chickadee autumn garden. They will care for the seeds and watch them grow into beans and kale. The children will then have the opportunity to wash and eat the vegetables raw and add them to their soup. They also care for the class’s lemon balm and will soon watch mint plant cuttings propagate in water before planting them in soil to grow and spread. The lemon balm and mint will be used for making warm tea in the chilly winter months.
Announcements and Reminders for Chickadee Kindergarten:
Some students are expressing that they are quite hungry well before snack time around 10:30 a.m. Please ensure your child has a hearty breakfast each school morning to provide them with energy for their active day. Food choices with long-acting carbohydrates and protein are recommended.
Please add a long-sleeved shirt or light zip-up sweater to your child’s backpack. The mornings are sometimes cool in the forest, and the indoor classroom can feel a little chilly for some students when the air conditioning is running.
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of our community.
Gvyalieliga,
Ki Holly
