Kindergarten Turtles: February 10 - 14, 2025
Greetings, Turtle Families,
We hope you all had a restful and fun February break. It was so wonderful to welcome the children back to school. They are always so happy to see each other again!
Before the break, I was away for the week due to illness, and the children had the joy of spending the week with our wonderful farm teacher, Ki Heidi. Ki Virginia led the class and provided the strong rhythm and structure the children were used to, while Ki Heidi assisted. We are fortunate to have them both!
Our story was about a man named Papa Giorgio, who, while watching the sunrise on Valentine’s Day, had a wonderful idea - he would make Valentine's gifts for the birds. He gathered all his supplies, created gifts with loving care, and hung them in his yard. Many birds flew into his yard to enjoy this Valentine’s gift, even a few goldfinches – his favorite bird of all. Later, when he went back outside, he found feathers from all of the different birds, including a few goldfinch feathers, gathered into the shape of a heart. The birds had left a Valentine's gift for him💗. We celebrated Valentine’s Day and our class was filled with love and hearts. We folded and cut paper hearts; the children were thrilled to open the paper and see the beautiful, symmetrical heart they cut out, all on their own. Then, they used glue and crayons to create Valentines for loved ones.
This week, we will begin a new Early Spring circle. The songs and verses are all about observing the changes in nature as we transition toward early spring. As part of our Waldorf-inspired approach, we seek to cultivate a deep connection to the natural world through meaningful, hands-on experiences. We look forward to spending time outside and enjoying the early spring growth and activity of the birds in our classroom. We will make special gifts for the birds of our forest using cut fruit and birdseed, an extension of our story from before the break. This activity nurtures care for the creatures around us, reinforcing kindness, generosity, and the cycles of nature.
Spring is coming
Spring is coming, spring is coming.
Birdies build your nest.
Weave together straw and feather
Doing each your best,
Spring is coming, spring is coming.
Flowers are waking too.
Tulips, lilies daffodillies
all are coming through.
Spring is coming, spring is coming.
All around is fair.
Shimmer quiver on the river
Joy is everywhere, joy is everywhere.
Announcements and Reminders for the Turtle Kindergarten:
The weather is very unpredictable this time of year. Please remember to include rain gear daily and dress your child in layers. The temperature on weather apps does not necessarily predict how it will feel in the forest, and it is easier to remove layers when students are warm than to help students warm up when they are cold.
3/8: Community Work Day
4/4: Half Day - Grandfriend’s Tea 11:00 a.m.
4/7 - 4/11: Spring Break (No School)
4/25: Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day
4/26: Community Work Day
Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being a part of our community.
Grace and Peace,
Ki Kim
