Kindergarten Turtles: December 8-12, 2025
Greetings, Turtle Families,
Thank you for attending the Winter Spiral. It was a magical morning, and it was beautiful to see how each child's personality and light shone as they walked the Spiral.
With the arrival of colder weather, the children have been engaging in more “heavy”, active play in the classroom. While this type of play warms their bodies, there are also many unseen benefits. “Heavy” activities, such as carrying, pulling, jumping, pushing, climbing, lifting, and digging, engage and develop our proprioceptive system. This system takes input from muscles and joints during active play, and that information flows back and forth between the brain and the body. Our brains and bodies are constantly adjusting to make sure that the muscle output is appropriate for the task at hand. This helps students develop body awareness and acts as a powerful regulator for our other sensory systems. At the same time, the children are building wrist and hand strength, core strength, and shoulder stability; they are developing their vestibular and interoceptive sense and motor planning abilities. All of these are foundational skills that support later academic learning and overall confidence in their bodies.
The Turles continued their woodworking project, which complements our story, The Brave Little Deer and the Storm. In the tale, winter is approaching, and food is scarce, so Mother Deer sets out to find something for her little ones to eat. While she is gone, the little deer wander beyond the shelter of their forest home. On their way back home, they find a blue blanket, where they curl up for a rest and fall asleep. While they are asleep, a storm rolls in, and they are awakened. Frightened, they pull the blanket over themselves for comfort. Wrapped in its protection, they feel brave and strong and make their way back to the forest where Mother Deer is waiting for them. The children have worked with diligence and pride on each part of this project, and finishing it up this week will be both rewarding and fun!
This week, we will have so many fun things planned!
Monday - we had a fire and roasted s’mores – weather permitting
Tuesday - Make pomanders (oranges with cloves) for the children to bring home
Wednesday - Students may bring a stuffed animal to school. They can play with their stuffies in the forest, eat snacks and lunch with them, and rest with them at rest time. Please make sure the stuffed animal is small enough to fit in their backpacks and is one that is okay to get dirty.
Thursday - Musical instruments to play in the forest
Friday - Game Day – Play games in the forest all morning
It has been a wonderful Fall semester in our forest. We hope you all have a restful break filled with fun, family, and lots of love. Thank you for sharing your children with us. We look forward to being back together in the new year!
Announcements and Reminders:
Rest mats will go home on your child’s last day of school next week. Please wash them and return them after the break.
December 19: Last Day of Fall Semester-Grades Assembly at 11:00 am, all families welcomed (Half Day)
December 22-January 2: Winter Break (No School)
January 5: Teacher-In-Service (No School)
January 6: First Day of Spring Semester
January 7th: Tour for current families interested in learning more about our Grades & Kindergarten Programs at 9:30 am
Grace and Peace,
Ki Kim
