Sixth Grade: April 15 - 19, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class continues in their Physics Block, now with a focus on light. We completed several observational experiments. Sitting in a dark room, the students experienced the absence of light before a match was suddenly lit behind a screen. Lighting first one, then two, then three candles gave the students an experience of light getting stronger and brighter. Another day, using a beam from a flashlight and mirrors, the students captured and reflected the light from one mirror to another, noticing how the further the light source traveled, the weaker it became. A dusty chalk rag was then shaken in front of a flashlight, which clearly illuminated the beam of light it emitted. Each of these simple experiments had the students' full attention and impressed them thoroughly. Rather than explain light and how it travels, they experienced it, and the next day, the students recorded these experiences in a lab format in their main lesson books. Physics is fun! 

Play parts have been cast for our class play, A Merry Adventure of Robin Hood! Over the summer, the class was assigned to read The Adventures of Robin Hood, written by Roger Lancelyn Green, allowing them to be familiar with the story. We then learned about the Middle Ages at the start of the Spring semester. The groundwork was laid, and the class is excited to present this comedy to the school and their families on Tuesday, May 14th. Two weeks prior to casting parts, the students read through the script together, practiced acting out various scenes and lines, and discussed the traits of the various characters. They will now work on memorizing lines, decide how to move through the various scenes, and practice, practice, practice!

We are looking forward to seeing you at the annual fundraiser on Friday and showing off our class’s geometric string art project!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please help your child practice their play lines at home.

  • Remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week. 

  • While we do not have a Creekcess day in Middle School, the class will take advantage of the warm days and head to the creek when our schedule allows. Please help make sure your child has a change of clothes and water shoes at school every day so they can enjoy the fun!


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/23 Third Grade class play

  • 4/23-4/25 Fifth Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser and Half-day Dismissal

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • 4/30 First Grade class play 5:30 p.m.

  • 5/01 Second Grade class play 5:30 p.m.

With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: April 8 - 12, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class resumed their observational studies for the Physics Block. We spent the first half of the week finishing up our lessons on the basic principle behind how sound travels.  The students enjoyed experiments that helped them experience sound traveling through space and objects. Each day contained several experiments, and the following day, one was chosen to be recorded by the students in their Main Lesson books. The class had a lot of fun experiencing a specific tone’s sound wave effect on salt using a Chladni plate. We played a few popular songs and observed the effect of multiple waves and how a style of music presents a variety of sound waves and patterns. Nothing like a physics experiment that has Imagine Dragons and Taylor Swift songs pealing out from inside the Waldorf-inspired Sixth Grade classroom (at Ki Gabby’s request, we even threw in a little AC/DC)! We rounded out the week by moving to experiences of light. The students were impressed with the simplicity and clarity of each experiment, such as sitting in a completely dark room and seeing a candle lit and another in which they had to locate an object in a dark room. These experiments bring a fundamental understanding that creates a strong basis of knowledge and interest for the class.

The class is keeping busy with their array of extra Main Lessons. We spent time in Cyber Civics focusing on identities we are born with and used this to discuss the concept of Hate Speech and the internet. The students rose readily to this, as seen by the gravity and respect with which they met this challenge in the modern-day world. In Math, we are reviewing fractions and the four processes. We are continuing to read through our play script and working on adding inflection and feeling to our voices for this dramatic comedy.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/23 Third Grade class play

  • 4/23-4/25 Fifth Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser and Half-day

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • 4/30 First Grade class play

  • 5/01 Second Grade class play

With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: March 25 - 29, 2024f

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

We hope you all enjoyed a restful Spring break! It is amazing to think we are in the home stretch of our first year of Middle School! Thank you to all those who joined us for our Grandfriend’s assembly. The class did a wonderful job singing with the third grade, singing on their own, and showing off their developing juggling skills!

Prior to our break, the Sixth Grade class began the first week of their Physics Block with observations around acoustics. Students in the Grade Six are developing their analytical and deductive capacities of thought. They engage with physics by sensing the phenomena of the world itself. The class focuses on sharpening their powers of observation by observing experiments, learning more about the phenomenon they observed from the teacher, and discussing their observations collectively. Finally, they record their observations. During this week, we spent time listening and observing sound with our senses. We learned about the larynx and how human sound is produced. We discuss vibrations and pitch. Simple experiments, such as singing wine glasses, elicited awe, wonder, and curiosity. These emotions are the ones that lead us to want to learn and understand more about the world around us. We finished up each observation with a discussion and, on the following day, recorded our observations in an organized and specific format used to record science experiments.

We will continue our physics block in the coming week and begin reading for our class play, Robin Hood. This year, the students will focus on the gestures we bring to each character and add more dramatic inflections to their voices. They're looking forward to creating their Sixth Grade performance! The date is TBD; we will let you know ASAP!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Practice juggling!

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.


Upcoming Events:

  • 4/12 Student picture make-up day

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day

  • 4/27 Community Work Day 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

  • 4/30 First Grade Play

With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: March 18 - 22, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class finished the Middle Ages block with lessons on the Crusades, Charles the Great (Charlemagne), the Medieval Industrial Revolution, and the Black Death. Through story and discussion, the class learned about the life of Charlemagne and the influence he held over Europe during his reign. They heard about inventions during the Middle Ages, specifically the water wheel, as they have been in the process of building one with Mr. Matan and the Fourth and Fifth Grade class this school year. We ended the week with the end of the Medieval era, hearing about the Bubonic Plague and its effect on society at that time.

The class has kept busy beyond the main lesson as well! Each morning began with math review work. The students reviewed decimals and money simultaneously using multi-digit addition and subtraction. We also reviewed multi-digit multiplication and long division. For Literature Circles, the students are divided into four different groups and are reading books with a Middle Ages theme. The class reviewed and expanded their understanding of the protagonist and antagonist, learning that one is not always the “good guy” and the other the “bad guy”; an author just might surprise you. The class also reviewed the setting of a story and, based on the completion of their first reading assignment, made a list of what life was like in the Middle Ages, given the information shared in their books. The students also practiced singing and juggling for other classes, helping them adjust to having an audience in front of them. Please keep practicing at home; several students have improved greatly thanks to home practice!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Practice juggling!

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.

Upcoming Events:

  • 3/27-3/28: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day (Half Day All School Dismissal)

  • 4/1-4/5: Spring Break (No School)

  • 4/8: No School: Solar Eclipse

  • 4/23-4/25:5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26: Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: March 11 - 15, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class continued learning about the Middle Ages with a look at the influences of religion during this time period. During our Ancient Rome Block, the students learned about the beginning of Christianity. In the Middle Ages, the Church became increasingly influential both politically and in people’s daily lives. This is also the time period in which Islam began and gained strength as a powerful new religious influence in the region. The students heard about Muhammad and his early life. They learned about the beginning of Islam, how it rapidly spread, and spoke about the Golden Age of Islam. We ended the week with a visit from Ki Fatima, who shared with the class about Ramadan and answered some of the students' many questions. Thank you, Ki Fatima! In addition to this, we finished the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine and began to hear another story about Charlemagne.

Last week, we had our first Literature Circle meeting. Students met in their groups to summarize the chapters they read, discuss any vocabulary words they were unfamiliar with, and write about the book’s protagonist (the subject of last week’s mini-lesson). While the teacher is there to assist and support, the literature circle meetings are student-led. 

In a similar vein of building confidence, we will be presenting our juggling skills at Grandfriend’s Day. Some students are feeling very shy about this, and I recommend inviting your child to practice at home and show you what they have been working on. Leading up to Grandfirend’s Day, we’ll be visiting the grades and Kindergarten classes to practice juggling and singing in front of an audience. The students are singing “O Little Red Bird '' while juggling. While it may appear complicated to sing and juggle at the same time, it allows the brain to “switch off” from overthinking the juggling. Again, practice at home creates more success in the classroom.

In our Cyber Civics unit, the class continued the unit about Cyberbullying and Digital Drama. The difference between these two acts was explained and illustrated through several stories. From these stories, we shared discussions about personal experiences with both digital drama and cyberbullying and looked at the criteria for each. We looked at the roles of “target,” “bully,” “bystander,” and the all-important “upstander.” The week ended with the important message that even just one person standing up for someone who is being bullied by supporting and empathizing with the target, confronting the bully (which takes courage and can make you a target as well), or reporting the act or helping the target to report the act, can make all the difference in the world to someone's health and wellbeing. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Practice juggling!

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.

Upcoming Events:

  • 3/27-3/28: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day (12:30 All School Dismissal)

  • 4/1-4/5 Spring Break (No School)

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day

With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: March 4 - 8, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth-Grade class has gone back to the Middle Ages. Our lessons last week began with a broad overview of this time period. The students learned about feudalism and the social hierarchy that developed, including serfs, peasants, nobles, and the lifestyles of those within these social groups. We spoke of knights and how each had a shield with their own crest. Using ideas from this, the students then created their own crest in their main lesson books. We also took a closer look at the construction and parts of a castle. From there, we talked about the role of the Christian church during this time period and looked at the architectural details of medieval cathedrals, including cathedrals from around the world. We ended the week with a look at illuminated manuscripts. Throughout the week, the class listened to a story about Elenor of Aquitaine. 

We also started Literature Circles this week, using historical fiction books about life during the Middle Ages. Over the next few weeks, students will be assigned readings from their books and will meet with their literature circles for discussion. We started by learning about what makes a book historical fiction, the level of research an author needs to do to write it, and what they may expect to learn from reading a book such as this. Each time we meet, we will have a class mini-lesson on the various parts of a book and story, and then we will break into small groups to discuss their assigned reading. While they have time at school to read, unfinished reading will be homework.

In our Cyber Civics unit, the class is learning about Cyberbullying and Digital Drama. We began by learning about avatars and bitmojis, both ways people can project a particular persona in the digital world. Based on an article published in the NY Times in 2007, the students played a matching game where they attempted to match a real person to their avatar. This led to a discussion about avatars not necessarily being an accurate representation of a person (someone may choose an alternate gender, race, body style, age, etc.). We also spoke about reasons, both good and bad, that someone may choose a specific avatar (ex., someone who feels “weak” may choose a strong-looking avatar, etc.). The students then had an opportunity to draw their own avatar, write down the persona their avatar represents, and finally, what personal feelings/insecurities they may try to mask with their avatar. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Practice juggling!

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • If your child is feeling under the weather, please keep them home to help keep our community healthy.

Upcoming Events:

  • 3/15: Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 3/27-29: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day (12:30 All School Dismissal)

  • 4/1-4/5 Spring Break (No School)

  • 4/23-4/25 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/26 Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day

With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: February 26 - March 1, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

It was good to be back together following our mid-winter break. We got right back to work, finishing our Biomes block. We learned about Altitudinal zones for mountains and the landscape of the ocean basin. We finished up with an overview of hemispheres and how living in different areas around the world affects the seasons and time zones. We also reviewed longitude and latitude and talked about using these imaginary lines and coordinates to find specific places on Earth. 

Sixth Grade ended the week by moving from our Biomes block into the Middle Ages. We started with a review of the downfall of Rome and the rise of Christianity. This block will focus on important historical elements, including the feudal system, the life of Mohamed and the rise of Islam, the Crusades, and various historical persons and their contributions during this time. In XML this week, we previewed the Middle Ages with a tie-in to our Geometry block by drawing an example of a tile pattern found in The Alhambra in Granada, Spain. The Alhambra is distinct among Medieval palaces for its sophisticated planning and complex decorative patterns. The pattern they drew was based on the six-fold division of the circle. 

During the morning circle, the Sixth Grade continued to practice juggling and Double Dutch jump roping. They are really coming along in their skills! This week, one of our students hit a high number of 77 jumps in Double Dutch! 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Practice juggling!

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • 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 9 am - 12 pm

  • 3/15: Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 3/27-29: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day Tea (12:30 Dismissal All Students)


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: February 12 - 16, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class completed their Biome research projects and presentations the week prior to our mid-winter break. The students wrote five-paragraph essays about their specific biomes, including graphs and a bibliography, and created a diorama or drawing to represent their biome artistically. Each student read their essay to the class in an effort to develop their growing public speaking skills. The class did wonderful work! During Main Lessons, the class continues to practice writing skills as they develop summaries about different biomes from notes taken in class. They also practice listening, spelling, and grammar skills as they take dictations of biome summaries. 

Unit 4 of Cyber Civics wrapped up with the class brainstorming and creating a common code of conduct for posting and commenting online. They made posters in groups to hang in the classroom. 

In Math, we learned about the hexagonal structure of the honeycomb, which is a brilliant example of nature’s ingenuity in engineering. On their own, students were tasked with figuring out how to draw tessellating hexagons (the honeycomb structure) with their compass and straightedge using their understanding of the six-division circle. The class also continues to solidify their understanding of decimals. To help solidify and reinforce skills, math homework will be assigned each week, due back on Fridays.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Dress for the weather with layers and send in full rain gear daily (raincoat, rain pants, and boots)

  • 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 9 am - 12 pm

  • 3/15: Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 3/27-29: School Photos

  • 3/29: Grandfriends Day Tea (12:30 Dismissal All Students)



With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: February 05 - 09, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class continues their Biomes Around the World block and is now learning about specific biomes. The students heard an overview of the three main forest biomes, took notes during the discussion, and used these notes to write a paragraph about each biome. The students were given an introduction and closing paragraph, and with these additions, created a second five-paragraph essay. They are learning the mechanics of this type of essay, how to gather important details from discussions, and how to combine the information into cohesive summaries. The students also checked in regarding their own biome research projects. This past week, the class learned about the importance of writing a bibliography and how to do so.

In CyberCivics, our class had the opportunity to participate in a “posting” and “commenting” activity in an offline setting. We reviewed the guidelines for posting and commenting online, and then each student created their own public post for the classroom. Their classmates had the opportunity to comment on these posts using sticky notes. This offline setting simulated what it is like to comment on someone else’s post, as well as to receive comments on their own posts. It led to a lively discussion about posting/commenting. Some of the questions that the class asked are even more useful and helpful if they are further discussed at home, such as: Can comments be questions? Can people have conversations in the comment section of a post? If I start a conversation with someone in the comment section, is that public? What if you don’t understand a comment? What if someone comments and they aren’t nice? When would you choose not to comment? Having these extended conversations at home allows you to help learn your child’s actual understanding of the internet and its usage and allows you to set guidelines that meet your family’s preferences. 

In Math, the students have been tasked to apply the previous lessons of geometry to solve more complex problems and to do so initially without the help of the teacher. While at first, this may feel overwhelming or something students may push back against by saying, “I don’t know how to do this!” they are beginning to realize that they have the necessary knowledge to solve a particular problem; it might just need to be utilized in a different way. When the students finally figure it out - they are SO proud! 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • As has been our tradition at The Garden School, instead of sending cards from home on Valentine's Day, please save all card and gift exchanges for off-campus playdates.

Upcoming Events:

  • 2/19-2/23 Mid Winter Break (No School)

  • 2/26 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 3/9 Community Work Day 9 am - 12 pm

  • 3/15 Teacher In-Service (No School)


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: January 29 - February 2, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Thank you for attending the All School Meeting on Saturday. It was a lovely day to gather together. We are grateful for your support of our school and community.

This past week, the Sixth Grade class continued their study of Biomes Around the World and learned about four cycles essential to life on the earth: water, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. Taking notes during class discussion gave rise to a five-paragraph essay collectively written and added to our main lesson books describing the water cycle. The students then heard about the carbon cycle and its complement, the oxygen cycle, and how these cycles support plant and animal life. Each student then wrote a summary based on their notes and the discussion in class. We ended the week writing about the nitrogen cycle and will learn more about it next week before beginning to hear overviews for a variety of biomes. Additionally, we had a check-in for the first paragraph of our research papers, which are being researched and written at home. 

In Math, we are wrapping up a few additional constructions of geometry in nature through a sixteen division of a circle. Additionally, we are working on solidifying protractor skills.

Thank you for helping your children send their emails for Cyber Civics. The class enjoyed hearing everyone’s jokes! They each were given a printout of their email so they could see how it looked when received. They were then tasked with editing and correcting any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. We reviewed email etiquette and discussed the difference between email, texting, and video call/conference etiquette. As always, these Cyber Civics discussions give rise to wonderful insights for the students about the online platforms that will one day be a part of their daily lives.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Thursday is HALF-DAY DISMISSAL (12:15 - 12:30).

  • Teacher Conferences are this February 8th and 9th. Please sign up for your child’s conference here.

  • As has been our tradition at The Garden School, instead of sending cards from home on Valentine's Day, please save all card and gift exchanges for off-campus playdates.


Upcoming Events:

  • 2/8 Half Day - Parent Conferences

  • 2/9 No School - Parent Conferences

  • 2/19-2/23- Mid-Winter Break (No School)

  • 2/26- Teacher Inservice (No School)


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: January 22 - 26, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Last week, we wrapped up our Geometry block. At the beginning of the week, we reviewed and practiced using a protractor to measure various angles, as well as discussed the relationship between angles in parallel and intersecting lines.

Their final project of the block was to finish their geometric string art piece. The class worked diligently, using string to construct repeating geometric shapes in their circle of nails. Their final piece is unique, as they were able to choose between repeating triangles, squares, hexagons, dodecagons, and many more! While this block is finished, we will still continue to weave in and work with the principles of geometry in some of our upcoming Extra Main Lesson periods (XML). 

We have begun our block on Biomes Around the World. As we look at biomes and ecosystems, this week, the students will learn about the various cycles that support them, water, carbon, and nitrogen. Students will practice taking detailed notes and writing summaries independently. We are also focusing on how to write a five-paragraph essay.  Each student has been assigned a biome to research, write a five-paragraph essay that includes graphs and a bibliography, and create a diorama. The reports will be read aloud in class. Please check your inboxes for details and a timeline for the students to follow to complete this research project.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • The first Community Work Day of the Spring Semester 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.

  • Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! This Spring semester, they will be held February 8th and 9th. Please sign up for your child’s conference here.

Upcoming Events:

  • 2/3 First Grade Risers Informational Meeting - 11:15 a.m.

  • 2/3 Community Work Day 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • 2/3 All School Meeting 12:30 p.m.

  • 2/8 Half Day - Parent Conferences

  • 2/9 No School - Parent Conferences

  • 2/19-2/23- Mid-Winter Break (No School)

  • 2/26- Teacher Inservice (No School)


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: January 15 - 19, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Last week was a quick short week, but we packed a lot in! The Geometry Block is presented in such a way that the students first experience geometrical proofs through their own thinking and discovery. Rather than the teacher providing the equation for the sum of angles in a triangle, and then asking the students to learn this through rote memory, the curriculum instead invites students to experience the meaning of a particular equation through experiments. To give a short example, by drawing and manipulating the lengths of sides of a triangle, the students come to their own understanding of the definition of the three types of triangles. Then, through class discussion, they ultimately prove the theorem of the sum of angles in a triangle. It is at that time that the class is presented with the algebraic equation they have already been working with and experiencing! 

We also started a project with the help of Mr. Matan to create a piece of geometric string art. The students have prepped their boards, drawn a circle with a radius of 6 inches, and hammered nails in equidistant spaces around the circumference. In the coming week, the class will be working on their geometric patterns. 

The pace of teaching and material presented will pick up this semester, and unfinished work will be sent home as homework. On Friday afternoons after the class meeting, the final period of the day will be utilized for study hall/homework completion for any of their classes (Morning Work, Main Lesson, Math, Mandarin, Spanish, etc.). 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember to help your child practice their typing skills at least 4x a week! 

  • Please remember winter coats and two water bottles are required daily.

  • The first Community Work Day of the Spring Semester 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.

  • Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! This Spring semester, they will be held February 8th and 9th. Please sign up for your child’s conference 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


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: January 8 - 12, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Welcome back to the Spring semester! We are kicking off 2024 with a Geometry Block. In Waldorf education, Geometry is tied closely with nature and art, as the class explores the geometric patterns and shapes that exist within the natural world around them. 

In Main Lesson, the students are learning to create various constructions and complex geometric patterns using the compass, straightedge, and pencil. Beginning with a circle, the class constructed a six-sided figure, along with a perfect hexagon. From these figures, we delved into their presence in nature, from the petal structure of the lily and amaryllis to the crystalline structure of the amethyst and a snowflake. In creating these constructions, the students learn what happens when their straight edge is not exactly straight or the consequences when a compass point has moved a fractional amount. This is balanced by the mathematical work of geometry: marking a perpendicular bisector, bisecting various angles, and calculating interior and exterior angles of various shapes. Creative, colorful artist work arises as the students shade in their drawings and bring a sense of themselves to each form. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remember winter coats and two water bottles are required daily.

  • Please join us on Wednesday evening from 6:00 - 7:00 pm for an overview of the Spring semester. Additionally, we will brainstorm together for an idea for our class auction project!

Upcoming Events:

  • 1/16 Early Childhood Curriculum Night (via Zoom) 6:00 p.m. 

  • First Grade Risers Informational meeting - TBD

  • 1/17 Grades Curriculum Night (on campus) 6:00 p.m.

  • 2/3 Community Work Day 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • 2/3 All School Meeting 12:30 p.m.


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: December 11 - 15, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The class completed the second and final block about Ancient Rome, ending with Constantine and the slow downfall of the Roman Empire. The students completed their timeline of the rise and fall and their maps depicting the Roman Empire at its height. We also read about the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages and how these corresponded to the height of the Roman Empire.  We spent time learning about the rise of Christianity and its influences on the region. The class also learned about the Celtic people and had fun drawing and tying Celtic knots. The week finished off with the story of Attila the Hun and the Fall of Rome.

In Cyber Civics this week, the class discussed the five principles (honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility, and courage) and how they can be a good citizen in both offline and online spaces. They had some time to think and write about the potential consequences of not following these principles when interacting with others in digital spaces, whether this is a Zoom meeting, social media, online gaming, or even a group chat with friends. Unit 2 wrapped up with a discussion on Digital Citizenship (safe and responsible use of digital tools) and some creative work drafting “Community Guidelines or Standards” for a new positive online community. 

We had a fun end of semester party together! Thank you all for sharing your children with us each day and for supporting our class! We wish you all a happy, restful, and joyful Winter break and look forward to being together in the new year!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Have a wonderful Winter Break!  

  • Please remember to clean out and repack backpacks and check that rainboots still fit before the new semester. 

  • Winter coats are required daily.


Upcoming Events:

  • 12/20 Grades Assembly - 11:45 a.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day

  • 12/21 - 01/03 Winter Break (No School)

  • 01/04 First day of Spring Semester


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: December 4 - 8, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

The Sixth Grade class is continuing their journey through Ancient Roman history. Through stories and the occasional parable, we learned a bit about the life of Jesus Christ and the conditions in Rome that led some to convert to Christianity. We heard more about the emperors who followed Augustus Caesar. The class learned about the fire in Rome and had the opportunity to wonder if Emperor Nero may have deliberately started the fires or if it was an accident. The persecution of the Christians was then studied before we moved on to learning about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and meeting Constantine the Great. 

The students continue to work on drawing well-proportioned faces as well as full bodies. It’s been wonderful to watch their skills in this area improve so rapidly. This is reinforced in their work with charcoal drawings, as the students have been working with the alternation of positive and negative schemas. Light and shadow work together to create forms. This week, our form was a bowl, and this shape emerged through the contrast between these spaces. 

Math skills are continuing to develop as the students work through the Key to Decimals booklets, solidifying their skills in multi-digit multiplication and long division with decimals.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Help us support Tweens and Teens this year for the MUST Ministries Toy Drive. Please see the Main Message in the Garden Messanger for more information.

  • The winter weather is coming, and it is much cooler in the forest! Please dress your student(s) in layers.  Winter coats and rain gear are required every day.

 Upcoming Events:

  • 12/19 Class End-of-Semester Pajama Party

  • 12/20 Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day

  • 12/21 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 12/22 - 01/03 Winter Break (No School)

  • 01/04 First day of Spring Semester


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: November 27 - December 3, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

We had a busy and fun week following our Thanksgiving break. We dove back into Ancient Roman history. We reviewed the beginnings of Rome becoming a powerful regional force through a timeline. This included Rome’s move to become a republic and how our government is framed from this, including its challenges and benefits. We then learned about Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Augustus Caesar as we began to look at the period of the Roman Empire. We took to sketching faces, beginning with Julius Caesar. The students practiced drawing faces using two methods to help develop an eye toward proper proportions.  They enjoyed learning and applying these new techniques. This week, we will hear about the rise of Christianity and its influence on the Roman Empire, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and meet Constantine the Great.

The class began working with the Cyber Civics curriculum this past week. The unit opened with a discussion on the introduction of various technologies throughout history. Discussion included how, with each advancement, these tools both have the potential to connect and disconnect humans. The students shared their interviews with someone who lived before mobile phones were invented (thank you all for your willingness to be interviewed!). This provided a lovely foundation for a discussion around both the benefits and the drawbacks of cell phones. The class also had a chance to take apart and dissect two laptop computers, allowing them to view all the various components that help these devices work. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Help us support Tweens and Teens this year for the MUST Ministries Toy Drive. Please see the Main Message in the Garden Messanger for more information.

  • The winter weather is coming, and it is much cooler in the forest! Please dress your student(s) in layers.  Winter coats and rain gear are required every day.

  • We need Greenery for the Winter Spiral on Thursday. Please consider asking for extra clipping from tree lots or donating trimmings from pruned evergreens in your yard. Greenery can be left alongside the fence in the field area.  Thank you! 

 Upcoming Events:

  • 12/07 Grades 1st - 5th Winter Spiral 

  • 12/08 Kindergarten Winter Spiral

  • 12/20 Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day

  • 12/21 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 12/22 - 01/03 Winter Break (No School)

  • 01/04 First day of Spring Semester


With Gratitude,

Ki Melissa and Ki Lesley

Sixth Grade: November 13 - 17, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

We hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break. Thank you all for joining us for the Thanksgiving Luncheon and performance; it was lovely to see everyone! 

Before the break, we wrapped up our Astronomy Block. Through participating in a demonstration of the earth's orbit, the class discussed the earth’s tilted axis and how it creates seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Learning that the earth’s rotation around the sun is slightly more than 365 days, the reason for Leap Year (Major’s birthday!) quickly became the subject of our conversation. The students each received a new mathematical tool for their supply box, a compass. The students spent some class time exploring how to use this new instrument (which could prove to be tricky)! After learning the ratio of the size of the moon to the earth (our moon is ¼ the size of the earth), the class was challenged with solving how to draw exactly four equal-sized “moons” along the diameter of one “earth.” To complement this block, in our morning circle, the class has been diligently memorizing a lengthy Astronomy poem recitation. After hearing several other poems about the stars, the night sky, and constellations, the Sixth Grade spent some creative writing time working on their own poems! 

As a part of the transition to Middle School, the Sixth Graders are learning to evaluate their own work and to use an assignment notebook to record homework. Each student received a rubric for their Main Lesson book at the beginning of this block. They have been using it as a reference point as they complete their Main Lesson pages. Additionally, we will be utilizing a homework notebook going forward. On Monday of each week, the students will create a page outlining the homework they have for each of their classes. They will also bring this notebook to each of their Foreign Language classes. This notebook should be coming to and from school each day. This aims to help your children develop organizational skills and healthy homework habits as they move into the higher grades. 

Ki Melissa is leading the class for this Main Lesson block as we continue our journey through Ancient Rome. Ki Lesley will continue to lead the class for the second part of the school day as the students focus on math, literature circles, Cyber Civics, and sketching. We both greatly enjoy teaching the Sixth Grade class!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • The winter weather is coming, and it is much cooler in the forest! Please dress your student(s) in layers.  Winter coats and rain gear are required every day.

  • We need Greenery for the Winter Spiral. Please consider asking for extra clipping from tree lots or donating trimmings from pruned evergreens in your yard. Greenery can be left alongside the fence in the field area.  Thank you! 

 

Upcoming Events:

  • 12/02 Prospective Family Open House: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • 12/07 Grades 1st - 5th Winter Spiral 

  • 12/08 Kindergarten Winter Spiral

  • 12/20 Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day

  • 12/21 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 12/22 - 01/03 Winter Break (No School)

  • 01/04 First day of Spring Semester


With Gratitude,

Ki Lesley and Ki Melissa

Sixth Grade: November 6 - 10, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Last week, the class read and wrote summaries of the stories of the constellation commonly known as Orion’s Belt: Hina and the Shark and The Pharaoh's Soul. The class also drew this constellation in three different ways, representing how each illustration and interpretation of the star connections relates to that culture's story: a Pharaoh for Egypt, a canoe and fish for the Islands of Tonga, and Orion’s Belt for the story from Greece. 

Twelve of the most well-known constellations - those belonging to the Zodiac- were the focus of the remaining Main Lessons last week. These constellations are seen on the ecliptic, the path that the sun, moon, and planets take through the sky from our view on Earth. The class was rapt with interest in learning about the various stories behind the Zodiac constellations, especially how some of the stories intertwine (such as how Scorpio chases Orion through the night sky!). To further foster this curiosity, each student researched their own Zodiac constellation, pulling out pertinent information from various sources to make a cohesive summary of their Zodiac Sign.

This week, the class was also introduced to drawing with black chalk. During the first session, the students had some time to familiarize themselves with their new materials: drawing paper and black chalk. Quite different from watercolor painting, chalk/charcoal drawing works within the nuances of light and shade between black and white and is a way of coming to meet the students’ rapidly fluctuating soul life at this age.

Please help your child practice their section for the Thanksgiving presentation this Friday! When we return from Thanksgiving Break, we will head back to Ancient Rome with Ki Melissa during the Main Lesson. Ki Lesley will continue to teach the class after the Main Lesson for math, charcoal sketching, and our Cyber Civics curriculum. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please remind your child to continue practicing the Haudenosaunee Address of Thanksgiving for the Thanksgiving Luncheon on Friday, November 17. 

  • We hope you will join us this Friday, November 17, for the Thanksgiving Luncheon. We will begin in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. Following the opening in the sanctuary, you will check out your child at the picnic tables and then proceed down to the playground for the picnic. Please plan to bring lunch for all family members. Desserts are provided by the school. To ensure there are enough treats for all, children must be accompanied by an adult to choose their dessert. Please bring blankets and/or camping chairs. 

 Upcoming Events:

  • 11/17: Thanksgiving Luncheon 11 am - Half Day

  • 11/20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)

  • 12/02: Prospective Family Open House: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  • 12/07 - 08: Winter Spiral

  • 12/20: Grades Assembly - 12:00 p.m. & Last Day of Fall Semester - Half Day

With Gratitude,

Ki Lesley and Ki Melissa

Sixth Grade: October 30 - November 3, 2023

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

This week, we began the Astronomy block.  Beginning with an introduction regarding early navigation using the stars, the class learned about the instruments used for celestial navigation, such as an astrolabe and sextant.  The students shared the stars and constellations they are familiar with and have seen in the sky.  The class also discussed how many cultures throughout time and history have had stories about the stars and the constellations.

This block utilizes story as the foundation for teaching students about the stars, and through the coming weeks, the students will listen to various stories about constellations as they learn to chart the night sky.  Starting off with Ursa Major and the story of Callisto, the Bear allows the students to easily identify a starting point in the sky as well as understand circumpolar navigations.  Building on the foundation of Greek Mythology in Fifth grade, the class listened to the story of Andromeda and the Sea Monster and Pegasus, the Winged Horse.  We also heard two versions of stories associated with the constellation of Orion, one from Tongo and the other from ancient Egypt.  Understanding how the stars were used as navigation tools helped the students become aware of the sophistication of early cultures.  Additionally, we looked at the origins of the prime meridian and the introduction of our modern-day system for mapping the earth using longitude and latitude.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please join us for the Lantern Walk TONIGHT at 6:30 pm (the story will begin promptly at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary, and 6th grade students will help guide the singing for the Grades classes). At the end of the walk, your child will return the electric candle and take their lantern home to keep. If you are unable to attend the walk, lanterns will be sent home the next day your child attends school.

  • The autumn weather is here. Layering clothing is essential for students to be comfortable throughout the day.

  • Please label clothing!

  • Send two full water bottles daily. 

Upcoming Events:

  • 11/07: Kindergarten Lantern Walk: 6 pm

  • 11/07: Grades 1 - 3 Lantern Walk: 6:30 pm 

  • 11/17: Thanksgiving Luncheon 11 am - Half Day

  • 11/20 - 24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)

  • 12/02: Open House: 10 am - 12 pm

With gratitude,

Ki Lesley and Ki Melissa