Joyful Beginnings: November 13 - 17, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

Welcome back to school! We hope everyone had a great time gathering with families and friends. We were so glad to see all the children return with fun stories and experiences to share.

Before the break, the students had a wonderful week in the classroom. We started a new autumn story about a little hedgehog preparing for winter rest. In the forest, the children delighted in jumping up and down on the leaf piles they made. We also celebrated Henry’s birthday. His mom, dad, and little brother visited our class and shared some of their favorite memories from his birth and each year of his life. Thank you for joining us and bringing delicious treats. We were very excited to see everyone at our Thanksgiving Luncheon on Friday. Thank you for your continuous support of our community.

This week, we will start to assist each child in making beeswax candles to honor all the light festivals around the world. The children will place a waxed wick on a beeswax paper sheet and gently roll it up with their fingers. This practical life activity benefits children as it helps them improve their fine motor skills. Once everyone has made a candle, the children will take it home and enjoy its soothing glow.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • If you have not yet sent in your child’s winter weather change of clothes, please do so as soon as possible.

  • Please remember that if it is under 50 degrees (with wind chill), students must wear a zipped coat, hat, and gloves. It feels colder in the forest, so please send these items daily.

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please arrive on time at drop off (8:45-9:00); we will shorten our morning outdoor time on cold days. 

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

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: November 6 - 10, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

Thank you so much for your assistance and participation in our Lantern Walk. It was a memorable experience, as children continued to talk about it afterward. The finest part of our Lantern Walk was the surprise and happiness the children showed when they saw their parents emerge from the dark. They appeared to realize that they could always find light and love in their journeys.

Last week, the children had a lovely time playing in the forest. The sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. They enjoyed sitting on the stumps and watching the trees change colors and the leaves tumble down. With consistency and encouragement, the children gradually demonstrate more and more that they understand the value of sharing with peers in school. It has been wonderful to see them playing together and taking turns with toys. We will continue to focus on social-emotional skills to assist them in dealing with a variety of social situations. In the classroom, the children used red watercolor to paint leaves as part of our Thanksgiving project. This week, we will incorporate a new song about gratitude into our circle time. Teaching children to express gratitude is beneficial as it helps them develop into well-rounded individuals with greater levels of mindfulness. On Friday, we are going to celebrate Henry’s birthday. We look forward to sharing this special moment with Henry and his family. We will also have our Thanksgiving luncheon this Friday from 11:00–12:00. All family members are invited, and we will gather together in our forest area. Please pack a picnic blanket to sit on and some lunch to share with families. We are very excited to see everyone on Friday!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • If you have not yet sent in your child’s winter weather change of clothes, please do so as soon as possible

  • Please remember that if it is under 50 degrees (with wind chill), students must wear a zipped coat, hat, and gloves. It feels colder in the forest, so please send these items every day.

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please arrive on time at drop off (8:45-9:00); we will shorten our morning outdoor time on cold days. 

Upcoming Events:

  • 11/17- Thanksgiving luncheon– We invite you to join our class for a picnic lunch in our outdoor classroom on Friday, November 17th, from 11:00-12-00. T/Th Joyful students and families are invited, too.  Please bring lunch and a picnic blanket for your family.  The school will provide a sweet treat (a gluten-free/vegan option will be available). We hope you will join us!

  • 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

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: October 30 - November 3, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

It was an exciting week in Joyful Beginnings. The children all seemed to enjoy celebrating Halloween with their families and friends. 

Thank you so much for attending our second parent night. Dressing in layers in cold weather is essential for young children, as they lose heat much faster than adults and do not properly sense their own warmth. Here is a layering guide if you need additional information.

Last week, we started our lantern story, George’s Lantern, in the classroom. George was a little boy who wondered how to find light in the winter. Father Sun told George that he would share his last autumn ray with him if George could make a house to hold it. With some paper, paint, windows, and a candle, George made a little lantern. A dancing spark lit up the windows when he held his lantern up to the Father Sun. The children enjoyed listening to this story and they loved to see the golden light in George’s lantern. To prepare for our Lantern Walk, we continued to practice singing our lantern song while transitioning to and from the forest. On Friday, we celebrated Alexandra’s birthday. Thank you for sharing a delicious treat with us, and we were grateful to spend this wonderful time with Alexandra and her family.

This Tuesday and Wednesday, we have our Lantern Walk. Following the light of candles, the children walk through the sanctuary, holding their lanterns and singing the lantern song. This beautiful and reverent event reminds the children that they are each a shining spark that brightens up the darkness. Thank you for your support and participation in making this festival successful and memorable.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • If you have not yet sent in your child’s winter weather change of clothes, please do so as soon as possible

  • Please remember that if it is under 50 degrees (with wind chill), students must wear a zipped coat, hat, and gloves. It feels colder in the forest, so please send these items every day.

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please arrive on time at drop off (8:45-9:00); we will shorten our morning outdoor time on cold days. 

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

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginning: October 23 - 27, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We enjoyed the beautiful fall weather last week. In the forest, the children watched the leaves floating down and listened to the leaves whispering when the wind blew. They loved gathering leaves of various colors and shapes. It is wonderful to witness the children thrive in nature since it provides free space and serenity, as well as a chance to simulate multiple senses such as sight, hearing, smell, and touch.

In the classroom, the children enjoyed the new Halloween story about a tiny witch flying on her broomstick and watching five little pumpkins having fun in the pumpkin patch. During circle time, they liked to sing the Jack-o’-lantern and Halloween Cat songs and do the movements as they sang. On Thursday, we celebrated Paxton’s birthday. We were so happy that his family could join us, and we were grateful for the delicious birthday treat. Later in the week, we went on a Halloween hunt in the forest. The magical little witch hid a basket of pumpkins in the forest and was waiting for us to discover them.

This week, we will begin the story George's Lantern to honor the traditional Waldorf festival: the Lantern Walk. The Lantern Walk is a simple, reverent event bringing to life for our little ones their role as a spark of light in the world. We will sing the song “I Walk with My Little Lantern” to prepare for our Lantern Walk. Please practice this song with your children at home to get familiar with the lyrics and tones. If you would like to help with Joyful’s Lantern Walk, please sign up here. On Friday, we are going to celebrate Alexandra’s birthday. We can’t wait to share this special moment with her and her family.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please continue to send coats, hats, and gloves daily. 

  • Please plan to attend our next curriculum night on Wednesday, 11/1 at 6:00 pm. All of the early childhood classes will meet together to talk about winter weather gear and how we manage winter weather at school.

Upcoming Events:

  • 11/1: NO SCHOOL: Teacher in-service

  • 11/1: Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Parent Night: 6 pm - 7 pm

  • 11/7: Kindergarten Lantern Walk: 6 pm

  • 11/7: JB Lantern Walk in Sanctuary for T/Th families: 12 pm 

  • 11/8: JB Lantern Walk in Sanctuary for M/W/F families: 12 pm 

  • 11/17: Thanksgiving Luncheon 11 am: Half Day (All families invited)Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: October 17-20, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families, 

We were delighted to see you last Saturday during our Kingdom of Halloween festival. The event was magical, and the experience was incredible. We hope you and your children all had a wonderful time.

We had some chilly weather last week. Thank you very much for dressing your children in layers. They all looked so cozy in their autumn gear. In the classroom, the children continued to explore different toys. They enjoyed constructing towers and houses out of balancing blocks. Block play helps to develop imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills. While playing, children learn to share and take turns. During art time, the children continued to work on their lanterns. They dipped their Mrs. Fingers in the orange paint and let her dance freely on the painted yellow paper. Some friends loved wearing silks in the forest and running back and forth.

Meanwhile, other friends enjoyed collecting leaves and pinecones to cook a delicious soup. Later in the week, we visited our farm animals and shared some vegetables with them. The children were excited to pet and feed our goats and donkeys.

Next week, our class will have a lovely Halloween circle in our classroom. This circle will include a well-known and loved Jack-o'-lantern song and a song about a Halloween cat. We will also go on a treasure hunt to see what the gnomes, fairies, and witches have hidden in the woods. On Thursday, we are going to celebrate Paxton’s birthday. We are looking forward to sharing this special day with his family.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • As the days get cooler, especially the mornings, please send your child with a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket every day. It is around 10 degrees cooler in the shaded forest. Please also include long pants in your child’s backpack if they wear shorts to school. 

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please plan to attend our next curriculum night on Wednesday, November 1, at 6:00 pm. All early childhood classes will meet to talk about winter weather gear and how we manage winter weather at school.


Upcoming Events:

  • 11/1: NO SCHOOL: Teacher in-service

  • 11/1: Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Parent Night: 6 pm - 7 pm

  • 11/7: JB Lantern Walk in Sanctuary for T/Th families: 12 pm

  • 11/8: JB Lantern Walk in Sanctuary for M/W/F families: 12 pm

  • 11/17: Thanksgiving Luncheon 11 am: Half Day (All families invited)

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support.

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: October 9 - 13, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had a wonderful week in school. First of all, thank you for coming to school and attending our conferences.  It was a joy talking to all of you and we look forward to further assisting the children to grow and thrive in our Joyful Beginnings program. 

Last week, the students first experienced watercolor painting, and they each met their Mr. Brush. Since it was cloudy and rainy outside, Mr. Brush created golden sunshine with a yellow color in hopes that Father Sun would soon appear to play. The children were fully immersed in this process, and their imaginations became lively and colorful. On Wednesday and Thursday, we celebrated Everest and Noelle’s birthdays. Thank you for bringing the delicious birthday treats. The children enjoyed sharing these special moments with Everest and Noelle and their families. 

This week, we will continue to work on our lantern project. Since the children created yellow watercolor paintings, they will add more colors with finger paint. The story Giant Turnip was well-loved among the children. It speaks about harvest and also the importance of every person needed to pull out the giant turnip. Only after the mouse helps can the turnip be harvested. This story helps express the understanding that each child is valued and needed in our classroom. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • As the days get cooler, and mornings can be especially cool, please send your child with a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket every day. It is around 10 degrees cooler in the shaded forest. Please also include long pants in your child’s backpack if they wear shorts to school. 

  • Please come to school dressed in rain gear on rainy and wet days.

  • Please plan to attend our next curriculum night on Wednesday, 11/1 at 6:00 pm. All of the early childhood classes will meet together to talk about winter weather gear and how we manage winter weather at school.


Upcoming Events:

  • 10/21 Kingdom of Halloween: 4 pm - 8 pm

  • 11/1 NO SCHOOL:  Teacher in-service

  • 11/1 Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Parent Night: 6 pm - 7 pm

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: October 2 - 9, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We spent a delightful week in Joyful Beginnings. The children were excited to see their friends and play together. Fall has finally arrived. The leaves are changing colors and fluttering slowly down to the ground. The forest will soon be bathed in golden hues. It is enchanting to watch the students playing and running around in the forest while the sun shines through the colorful leaves. In circle time, we introduced a new song, Fall Time, to welcome this beautiful season. We celebrated Tea and Clara’s birthdays on Tuesday and Thursday. We were very grateful to spend time with their families, and we enjoyed the delicious snacks they shared with us. Thank you! Later in the week, the class created lovely artwork using block crayons. Through artistic endeavors, they value expressing their creativity. We also went on a nature walk and visited the animals at the farm.

This week, we are going to introduce watercolor painting to the children as we start to make lanterns for the lantern walk. The students’ fine motor abilities are improved through watercolor painting, and small muscle control is developed by holding onto the brushes. Wet-on-wet painting allows the children to engage in a full experience of the fluid and dreamy life of each color. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will celebrate Everest and Noelle’s birthdays. We are excited to share these special moments with their families. We will have our fall conferences this Thursday and Friday. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions during our meeting. Fall conferences are an opportunity for us to work together to support each child and help them thrive at our beautiful school.

 Announcements and Reminders:

  • If you have not yet signed up for conferences, please do so here. It will be lovely to meet with each of you.

  • As the days get cooler, and mornings can be especially cool, please send your child with a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket every day. It is around 10 degrees cooler in the shaded forest. Please also include long pants in your child’s backpack if they wear shorts to school.

  • Please continue to send a vegetable to chop for soup on Mondays and an apple to chop for quinoa and muffins on Tuesdays.

Upcoming Events:

  • 10/11 - 10/12 Sixth Grade caving field trip

  • 10/12 HALF DAY - Parent Conferences

  • 10/13 NO SCHOOL - Parent Conferences

  • 10/14 Community Work Day 10 am - 1 pm *Please note the date change

  • 10/21 Kingdom of Halloween

  • 11/1 NO SCHOOL - Teacher in-service

  • 11/1 Parent Night for Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten classes, 6 pm - 7 pm

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: September 18-22, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings families,

Welcome back to school! We are happy to see everyone come back with fun stories and exciting experiences. 

Before the break, the children loved playing in this crisp and pleasant early fall weather. We finished The Hungry Dragon story about a friendly dragon helping a brave young boy start a nice warm fire in the house to prepare for cooking delicious pancakes. The boy and the dragon became friends and often had dinner together afterward. The children enjoyed this story. During art time, the children finished decorating their Day of Courage crowns with finger paint. They were very proud of their beautiful crowns and excited to wear them. We also celebrated Isbella’s birthday. Her mother joined us and the class enjoyed all the wonderful birthday treats. 

Starting this week, we will have a new story called The Turnip. It is a story about harvesting and lending a helping hand. Learning through imitation is one of the developmental stages our students are moving toward. At home, please support your child by allowing them to help you. Working alongside your child around the home helps them in many valuable ways. Young children can help sort laundry, add laundry to the washer and dryer, learn to fold wash clothes or the like, “wash” non-breakable dishes, and put away their play items. Children love singing; creating songs (silly or practical) makes these “jobs” fun for all!  

Lastly, on Tuesday of this week, we will celebrate Tea’s birthday, and on Thursday, we will celebrate Clara’s birthday. We can’t wait to share these special moments with our friends and their families.

Announcements and Reminders:

  • If you have not yet signed up for conferences, please do so here. It will be lovely to meet with each of you.

  • As the days get cooler, and mornings can be especially cool, please send your child with a sweater, sweatshirt, or jacket every day. It is around 10 degrees cooler in the shaded forest. Please also include long pants in your child’s backpack if they wear shorts to school.

  • Please continue to send a vegetable to chop for soup on Mondays and an apple to chop for quinoa and for muffins on Tuesdays.

Upcoming Events:

  • 10/11 - 10/12 Sixth grade caving field trip

  • 10/12  Half Day - Parent Conferences

  • 10/13  No School - Parent Conferences

  • 10/14  Community Work Day 10 am - 1 pm *Please note date change

  • 10/21  Kingdom of Halloween

  • 11/1 NO SCHOOL - Teacher in-service


Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: September 11-15, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had a lot of fun in school last week. The children chopped vegetables and apples on Monday and Tuesday to help prepare snacks. After watching teachers’ demonstrations and practicing, the children improved their control over their choppers or wooden knives, and they felt very pleased that they could help. Chopping is a great activity to develop strong fine motor skills and help children build patience. Singing the chopping song while doing the activity motivated them to chop little by little and step by step. You can encourage your children to help prepare dinner at home by inviting them to chop ingredients with you. On Wednesday and Thursday, we started to work on our crown during art time to celebrate the Day of Courage. The children used yellow, orange, or gold crayons to color their crowns, and next week, they will use finger paint to decorate the crowns. The most important social-emotional skill we have been teaching and learning in school is to share with friends. We encourage the children to say, “Can you share it with me, please?” and “Thank you for sharing.” when they want to play with a friend’s toy. When the friend is not ready to share, we encourage the children to wait for their turn. With gentle reminders, all the children have been making great progress. 

This week, we have two birthday celebrations. On Tuesday, we celebrate Isabella’s birthday, and on Thursday, we will celebrate Tea’s birthday. We are very excited to share these special moments with their family and all the friends in our classroom. This Friday is an early release day because of The Day of Courage. Instead of parking in front of our building, please park in the middle or on the other side of the parking lot at pick-up time. It will be easier for you to get in and out of our parking lot. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child in with bug spray; the mosquitos are active!

  • Bring rain gear, including boots, daily! We love to play in the light rain!

Upcoming Events:

  • 9/22 Half Day - Day of Courage

  • 9/25 - 9/29 Fall Break (No School)

  • 10/2 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 10/12 Half Day - Parent Conferences

  • 10/13 No School - Parent Conferences

  • 10/21 Community Work Day 10 am - 1 pm

  • 10/21 Kingdom of Halloween

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: September 4-8, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings families,

Thank you so much for joining us on our curriculum night. It was our pleasure to share valuable information about Waldorf education and the children's daily rhythms at school with you! 

We had a short but fun week. Last week, we introduced finger painting. We shared a story about Mr. Finger painting beautiful flowers before the activity. And then, each child dipped their fingers in the paint and created wonderful pictures. Finger painting strengthens the hand and fingers, which helps with fine motor skills. It also allows young children to use their senses to experience different colors. We visited the farm early in the morning. While the children played with the goats and chickens, they developed the important senses of connection, empathy, and caring.

Since the children have slowly experienced our daily activities in the past several weeks, our weekly rhythm has been established. Mondays and Tuesdays are chopping days, and Wednesdays and Thursdays are painting days. Thursdays and Fridays are farm days. From this week on, we will follow this weekly rhythm. Consistency and predictability in our daily and weekly rhythms will provide the children with a sense of security and belonging. 

 Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child in with bug spray; the mosquitos are active!

  • Bring rain gear, including boots, daily! We love to play in the light rain!


Upcoming Events:

  • 9/16 Community Workday 9 am - 12 pm

  • 9/22 Half Day - Day of Courage

  • 9/25-9/29 Fall Break (No School)

  • 10/2 Teacher In-Service (No School)

  • 10/12 Half Day - Parent Conferences

  • 10/13 No School - Parent Conferences

  • 10/21 Community Work Day 10 am - 1 pm

  • 10/21 Kingdom of Halloween


Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: August 28- September 1, 2023

Dear Joyful Families,

It has been another great week in Joyful Beginnings. We had lots of rain last week which brought us some coolness. The children continued to enjoy exploring nature. During our outside play, the children loved cooking food with sand and dirt. So far, their favorite baking activity is to dig up dirt in the forest and make chocolate cake. Our outside platform also provides the children with a great space to build with blocks. While building together, the children develop new friendships and learn how to share and take turns. Block building encourages children to use their imagination and creativity. During our indoor time, with the teacher’s help, the children chopped vegetables and apples to prepare for soup and quinoa. This activity supports and nourishes our senses and builds strength in our hands. On Thursday and Friday, we took a nature walk all the way to the farm. We visited the bunny, donkeys, goats, and chickens. The children had so much fun!

This week, we will start a new story called The Hungry Dragon to celebrate kindness and courage. On Wednesday and Thursday, the children will use finger paints to create beautiful artwork. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child in with bug spray; the mosquitos are active! The Repel brand seems to be the most effective.

  • Bring rain gear, including boots, daily!

Upcoming Events:

  • 9/5 Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Curriculum Night 6 pm (adults only)

  • 9/6 Grades 1- 5 Curriculum Night 6 pm and Sixth Grade 7 - 8 pm (adults only)

  • 9/16 Community Workday 9 am - 12 pm

  • 9/22 Half Day - Day of Courage

  • 9/25-9/29 Fall Break (No School)

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: August 21-25, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

Last week passed so fast! Our Joyful friends have settled into our daily routine. In the morning, playing in the small playground provides us time and space to breathe in some fresh morning air. The children love swinging, digging in the sandbox, and taking care of our flowers. When we come into the building, changing into indoor shoes is our first task. With little help, each child was able to put on their slippers successfully. In the classroom, we sat together to have our circle time. We greet the earth, the sun, and each other. We introduced our first finger puppet play, a short story about five white sheep playing with the wind. After storytime, we give thanks for our food and enjoy a snack together. Gathering around the table creates a sense of belonging. The children benefit from the nutritious food served at the table and also from the bonds that are created with their peers and teachers. Fun activities such as free indoor play, arts and crafts, and forest play are following. Free play allows children to express their creativity and learn from social interactions. By the end of a fun morning, our friends are ready for a restful and relaxing afternoon at home. 

This week, we will learn how to use knives to safely to chop vegetables and apples to help prepare our yummy shared snacks. If weather permits, we will visit the farm for the first time and share some delicious vegetables with our cute farm animals friends. Our first parent night will be held on Tuesday, September 5th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We are looking forward to seeing you for this adult-only event to learn more about our daily rhythm and practical work of the students!

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Please send your child in with bug spray; the mosquitos are active!

  • Bring rain gear, including boots, daily!

  • We will have no school on the following Monday (Labor Day). You do not need to bring a vegetable for that week. We have some saved in the freezer for our Wednesday soup day. 

Upcoming Events:

  • 9/4: Labor Day (No School)

  • 9/5: Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Curriculum Night at 6 pm

  • 9/6: Grades 1-5 Curriculum Night 6 pm, Middle School 7 pm

  • 9/16: Community work day


Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us, and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: August 14-18, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

The first week has been wonderful for our Joyful friends. We are gradually building our daily rhythm and getting used to our in-and-out transition periods. Each child has their own special symbol in the classroom, and they did a great job remembering and finding their symbols. In circle time, we learned the song “Good Morning, Dear Earth” and each other’s names. 

The trees in the forest provided us with coolness on hot summer days. It was magical to see children building on the platform, pushing the big trucks, and running in the forest. We were reminding the children to stay inside our outdoor fence areas. During transition periods, we have a rope for the children to hold onto in line. Each child gets their “mousy ear” to hold tightly so we can safely move from one space to another. Please help us remind your children about using the “mousy ear” and staying in our classroom area. We want to keep each child happy and secure in school. 

This week, we will continue to explore our indoor and outdoor spaces. We will add a new verse to welcome the day in our circle time, along with our first finger puppet play. Thank you for bringing vegetables and apples as they are important ingredients for our shared snack. Once the children are more familiar with our routine, we will assist them in chopping vegetables and apples to help prepare the snacks. If your children are in the three-day program, you only need to bring a vegetable on Mondays; if your children are in the two-day program, you only need to bring an apple on Tuesdays. Please bring both if your children are in school every day. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Creating a goodbye ritual can be very helpful at drop off, such as sharing a special handshake with your child or saying encouraging words when you hug goodbye. 

  • Please send two water bottles and bug spray. 

  • Please label all the belongings. 

Upcoming Events:

  • 8/26: Community work day 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • 9/4: Labor day (No School)

  • 9/5: Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Curriculum Night at 6 p.m.

  • 9/6: Grades Curriculum Night at 6 p.m.


Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings August 9-11, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

Welcome to the Garden School! It was wonderful to see everyone at our Meet & Greet last Friday. We are looking forward to going on this exciting adventure with all of our Joyful friends. 

This is our first week of school so we will use this time to help each child get familiar with our daily rhythm and the environment around us. During circle time, we will learn each other’s name, special symbol, and sing “Good Morning, Dear Earth”. We will explore our outdoor playground and forest platform. 

In the forest, we will familiarize ourselves with the boundaries and learn how to play safely with shovels, big trucks, and natural materials such as sticks and rocks. Next week, we will introduce our first finger puppet play about five little sheep. 

Announcements and Reminders:

  • Creating a goodbye ritual can be very helpful at drop off, such as sharing a special handshake with your child or saying encouraging words when you hug goodbye. 

  • Please send two water bottles and bug spray. 

  • Please label all the belongings. 

  • Please bring a vegetable and an apple on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Upcoming Events:

  • 8/26: Community work day 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • 9/4: Labor day (No School)

  • 9/5: Joyful Beginnings and Kindergarten Curriculum Night at 6 p.m.

  • 9/6: Grades Curriculum Night at 6 p.m.

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us and thank you for your support. 

Warmly,

Ki Siyu and Ki Angela

Joyful Beginnings: May 15-19, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginning Families,

It is hard to believe we reach the end of this school year. The children fully enjoyed their last week in Joyful. On Monday and Tuesday, the children used pipe cleaner and beads to create bubble wands. On Wednesday and Thursday, they had fun blowing and popping bubbles. On Wednesday, it was our friend, Jackson’s, birthday. We were so happy that his family joined us to celebrate his special day. Thank you for sharing yummy cupcakes with us! On Thursday and Friday, the children had a blast playing with their friends and they enjoyed delicious strawberry popsicles!

The last story we shared this school year was about a hungry little caterpillar. Once upon a time, there was a little caterpillar, he was so hungry and he ate through two big green leaves. Once he had enough, he climbed up high and hung himself upside down. He spun a cozy house for himself to rest, a beautiful white chrysalis. And there, he had a dream that he could fly into the blue sky. When he woke up, he crawled out of his chrysalis and he was no longer a caterpillar, he became a beautiful butterfly. He dried his wings and flew into the big sky. The children loved this story and they were very curious about the magical transformation the little caterpillar made. 

Thank you so much for making this school year wonderful and thank you so much for all the nice gifts. We are very grateful to be able to teach your amazing children and work with you this school year. We hope you all have a relaxing and fun summer break. For our friends who are going to kindergarten, we are excited for them for their new adventures. For our friends who will be in Joyful next school year, we are looking forward to seeing you in August! Please look for your child’s End of Year report toward the middle of June. 

Caterpillar song:

Caterpillar wind about,

Round and round and in and out. 

When you are fed, 

Come spin your bed.

Go to sleep, deep, deep.

As the caterpillar sleeping,

Waken as a butterfly. 


Upcoming Events: 

  • May 22-26: Teacher in service 

  • August 5: Community work day

  • August 9: Grades first day of school

  • August 10: Kindergarten first day of school

  • August 14: Joyful Beginnings first day of school


Best,

Siyu and Priti




Joyful Beginnings: May 8-12, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings families,

Thank you so much for making this Teacher Appreciation week so wonderful. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

It has been a beautiful week in Joyful. The children enjoyed the sunshine and exploring nature. The forest is magical with the sunlight shining through the branches. It has been wonderful to observe the children running and playing in the forest.

On Monday and Tuesday, the children used watercolor and coffee filters to create pretty butterflies. On Tuesday and Thursday, we had the pleasure to watch the first and second graders’ play rehearsal. It was a great experience for the children to connect with our older students in school. On Thursday and Friday, we visited the farm. The children had so much fun feeding the animals, climbing on the big rock, and running up and down on the farm.

This week, the children will create bubble wands with pipe cleaners and beads to play in bubble water later this week. On Wednesday, we are going to celebrate our friend Jackson’s birthday. Happy Birthday! It is hard to believe that we are reaching the end of this school year. It has been amazing to see each child mature in different ways. We feel so lucky to be able to go on this incredible journey with you!

Thank you so much for sharing your sweet child with us and thank you for your support!

  • 5/19:  Last Day of School 

Best,

Siyu and Priti


Joyful Beginnings: May 8-12, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had a lot of fun in class last week. On Monday and Tuesday, the children finished adding beads to their necklaces. Earlier this week, Ki Gaby and two of her third graders took us to the vegetable garden on the farm. They helped us pick out some juicy radishes and big green garlic. The children chopped them and we cooked them in our soup. How delicious!

We finished telling the story about a boy who loved playing in his garden. One day his mother brought him a handful of seeds and told him to plant these seeds in the garden. His mother said with love and care, the seeds would grow into flowers. The rain fairies would come to wake up the seeds, the earth fairies would hold the roots firmly within the earth, and the wind fairies would stretch the plants toward the sun. The boy loved this idea. He planted the seeds in his garden and he tended and looked after them. With some help from the fairies, they grew straight and strong. It was a lovely story and encouraged the children to care for our flower garden in the small playground. 

We created butterflies with coffee filters and pipettes earlier this month. Many of our friends enjoyed this art activity and requested to do it again. This week, we used two different colors and made more butterflies! We also started a new story about the wonderful journey of a little caterpillar. 

Upcoming events and friendly reminders:  

  • Please bring one vegetable on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you! 

  • 5/9: First Grade Play at 5:00 pm/Third and Fourth Grade Play at 6:00 pm. 

  • 5/11: Second Grade Play at 5:00 pm

  • 5/13:Community work day

  • 5/19: Last day of school

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us and thank you for your support!

Best,

Siyu and Priti


Joyful Beginnings: April 24-April 28, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had our spring auction on Friday. The event was so successful and we want to thank you for your participation. Your continuous support helps us build our community bigger and stronger. 

What a lovely week we had in the Joyful classroom. More of our older friends had their observation days in kindergarten. They came back so excited about their new experiences and they built a beautiful bond with their future teachers. Every time when we passed the kindergarten platforms, the friend who already paid their visit would greet the kindy teachers and friends.

Earlier in the week, Ki Ieva brought us flowers to plant in our spring garden in the small playground. The children helped by putting gorgeous marigold flowers in the pots and also planting sunflower seeds in the pots. The next day, we watered them with care and love. The rain fairies came to visit us later in the week. The children did not mind the rain and they had so much fun playing in the forest and jumping in the muddy puddles. Last week, the children did wet felting in our classroom. They practiced how to roll a ball of wool in between their hands patiently. This week, we will string the wool balls and add beads to create pretty necklaces. 

Upcoming events and friendly reminders:  

  • Please bring one vegetable on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you! 

  • 5/5: Half-day school

  • 5/9: First Grade Play at 5:00 pm/Third and Fourth Grade Play at 6:00 pm. 

  • 5/11: Second Grade Play at 5:00 pm

  • 5/13:Community work day

  • 5/19: Last day of school

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us.

Best,

Siyu and Priti



Joyful Beginnings: April 17-21, 2023

 Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had such a beautiful week in our class. The children enjoyed playing in the cool, crisp mornings and we spent a longer time in the forest enjoying the shade that all the tall trees provide us. The children continued to play with trucks, blocks, logs, and the mud kitchen. We heard stories they made-up, the recipes they used to cook, and how they would put fires out as firefighters. In the process of exploring nature and interacting with peers, the children gave full play to their imagination.

On Monday and Tuesday, the children used coffee filters and watercolors to create butterflies. We helped the children to use pipettes to take in the watercolors and gently release the colors on their coffee filters. It is a fun activity for 3 and 4 year-old children, and it encourages them to use their fingers and practice fine motor skills. In circle time, we added a pentatonic caterpillar song to our spring circle. The pentatonic scale uses only 5 notes which helps create a dreamy mood for the children. 

Last week, some of our older friends started their observations in kindergarten. They came back to our class with big smiles and stories of their new adventures. We could not be happier for them and their achievements this semester. They have grown and matured so much! More older friends will soon have their observation days. If you have any questions regarding what snack to bring, when and where to drop off/pick up, etc, please don’t hesitate to ask. This Friday is our annual fundraiser! We are so excited and we hope to see you all (adults only, please). Thank you for your participation in our class auction project and thank you for your continuous support of our school. 

Upcoming events and friendly reminders:  

  • Please bring one vegetable on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you! 

  • 4/23-4/27 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/28 Annual Fundraiser-Half Day

  • 4/29: Community work day hosted by Beaver Kindergarten

  • 5/5: Half-day school

  • 5/13:Community work day

  • 5/19: Last day of school

Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us.

Best,

Siyu and Priti


Joyful Beginnings: April 10-14, 2023

Dear Joyful Beginnings Families,

We had such a wonderful week in Joyful. We welcomed back our students and we were so happy to see everyone. We started our new spring routine with students beginning their day once again on our small playground. The morning weather was beautiful and the children could not wait to play with their friends. As we move to our forest areas, we notice how the sunlight enters the forest and the rays of light pass through the trees, making our play area warm and magical. The children’s laughter and the birds’ singing created a harmonious melody. 

On Monday and Tuesday, we painted with watercolor. The children continued to enjoy mixing colors, and some created pictures of a spring flower garden. On Thursday, we visited the animals on our farm. The children petted the goats and chickens and shared delicious vegetables with them. On Friday, we celebrated our friend Colin’s birthday. Happy Birthday!!!! We were very happy that Colin’s mom and dad joined us and brought us yummy cookies for a snack. Thank you! 

Last week, we finished telling the story “Mary’s Spring Walk”. The children participated in the puppet show and enjoyed being a part of it. This week, we will introduce a story about a boy helping his mother plant seeds in the spring garden, and we will add a cute caterpillar song to our circle time.  

Upcoming events and friendly reminders:  

  • Please bring one vegetable on Monday and Tuesday. Thank you! 

  • 4/23-4/27 5th Grade Pentathlon

  • 4/28 Annual Fundraiser-Half Day

  • 4/29: Community work day hosted by Beaver Kindergarten


Thank you for sharing your lovely children with us and thank you for your support. 

Best,

Siyu and Priti