Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds: September 8-12, 2025
Dear Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds Families,
The Hummingbirds have begun to find their footing in the rhythm of our school day. As their confidence and comfort level grow, playful movement and singing abound! Last week in the forest, the children hopped like frogs during morning circle, climbed to the tip-top of the kudzu-entangled climbing tree, and crawled across the board-and-stump “bridges” set in place by their grown-ups during Curriculum Night. Animal movements such as hopping, crawling, flying, and slithering strengthen large muscle groups, support balance and spatial awareness, and help children inhabit their bodies with confidence and joy.
The children have also taken fondly to the many tunes we use to “sing through the day.” Simple songs guide our daily transitions with dreaminess in place of long-winded directions. One of the most cherished moments last week was hearing their voices sing sweetly during our mealtime blessing. The daily blessing is an opportunity to practice gratitude and acknowledge the natural world as our source of nourishment. Here is the blessing we share together each day:
Hands together, hands apart
Hands together, we’re ready to start
(Helps children settle into their chair and internal posture)
Spoken verse:
Every hand finds a hand to hold,
Let us form a ring of gold.
(Children are encouraged, never required, to join hands)
Sung verse:
For the golden corn
And the apples on the trees,
For the golden butter
And the honey from the bees,
For fruits and nuts and berries
That fall beside the way,
We thank our loving Mother Earth
Each and every day.
After this, the teacher invites the “fire fairies” to the table by lighting three beeswax candles. Each candle represents a part of our mealtime. The first is the “quiet tasting candle,” during which the children are encouraged to focus on and enjoy their food in silence. After the golden flower snuffs out the tasting candle, the children are welcome to engage in calm conversation as they eat. Once the second candle goes out, the children know to direct their attention to the teacher as the story is about to begin. And when the smoke rises from the final candle, our shared time at the table has come to an end. The children tidy their dishes, repack their baskets, and prepare to journey down to the forest.
This week, the children will explore the color red in their watercolor paintings and work alongside teachers to prepare goldenrod for natural garment dye. They will then dye silk capes in shades of golden yellow as a quiet nod toward the upcoming Day of Courage. The Day of Courage is an internal school festival that marks the turning of the seasons as summer’s light fades and autumn draws near. For the community as a whole, it is a reminder to kindle our inner light as the outer days grow shorter, and to meet life with bravery, compassion, and strength of heart. While such festivals are not brought directly to the younger children (in keeping with their developmental stage), they are invited into simple, meaningful gestures such as hearing stories of quiet courage and wearing their hand-dyed golden capes.
Announcements & Reminders:
Thank you again to all who attended our Curriculum Night! If you were unable to join us, be sure to pick up your copy of the notes from the evening from the teacher.
Parent/Teacher Conferences are October 9 and 10th. Please sign up here: Hummingsbirds
September 13: Community Workday
September 19: Day of Courage (Early Dismissal), Joyful Beginnings’ pick up time is from 12:00 - 12:15 pm
September 22 - 26: Fall Break
September 29: Teacher In-Service (No School)
Warmly,
Ki Alycia
