Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds: February 2 - 6, 2026

Feb 6

Dear Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds Families,

Thank you all for your meaningful participation in both our class curriculum meeting and the All School Meeting. It was a pleasure to spend time eating, writing, and learning with one another in a cozy, community setting.

Last week was dotted with special moments, held within the comfort of our familiar rhythms. We celebrated Ella’s fourth birthday, a joyful occasion for our whole class. As the older children in the group grow in maturity, we have begun introducing the practice of sharing a heart wish for the birthday child. One by one, they lift a quiet candle and offer a thoughtful wish for their friend. It is a tender thing to observe as each child pauses to consider the birthday child before speaking, sometimes offering a wish such as, “I wish you so much purple.” To an outsider, a wish like this may seem simple or even silly, but when purple happens to be the child’s favorite color, we begin to see how awareness, appreciation, and empathy are gently unfolding within the group.

Another unexpected highlight came when we discovered the dock resting in a new spot along the pond. On a rainy afternoon, we made the impromptu decision to enjoy our “ladybug picnic” there instead. The children’s imaginations were full and alive as they noticed fog creatures drifting just above the surface of the water.

The children have grown especially fond of a seasonal transition finger play that we recite just before leaving the snack table and beginning the process of dressing for the forest. In early childhood, songs and verses bring reliability and playfulness into transitions, helping children move from one activity to the next with ease while supporting language, memory, and a sense of connection.

Five little snow children
By the igloo door,
One went out to feed the dogs,
Then there were four.

Four little snow children rowing out to sea,
One jumped on an iceberg,
Then there were three.

Three little snow children making fish stew,
One burned his finger: “Ouch!”
Then there were two.

Two little snow children running just for fun,
One chased a baby seal,
Then there was one.

One little snow child,
All his work was done,
He went home to eat his supper,
Then there was none.

This week, the children will work with vegetable-based finger paints as we revisit our snowy owl project from earlier in the semester. We will also bring our late winter circle and the story of The Kind Evergreens to a close as we prepare for the upcoming break.

Announcements & Reminders:

Hummingbird conferences will be held in the morning on March 11 and in the afternoons on March 12th and March 13th. Please SIGN UP HERE.