Kindergarten Chickadees: December 9-13, 2024
Osiyo, Chickadee Families,
Last week was a beautiful and reverent lead into the winter season. The students all showed incredible bravery, confidence, reverence, and inner light as they walked the winter spiral, lit their candles, and placed them along the path to light the way for others. The following day, the students made their own candles, using patience and perseverance as they slowly took turns dipping waxed wicks into melted beeswax. The wicks appeared to change suddenly from empty wicks to recognizable candles; the children were amazed to watch their candles turn solid and grow. Their faces shone with pride! The class experienced candles a third way this week as they watched the puppet show about King Winter caring for the animals in winter. In the story, King Winter places candles in a cave to bring light and warmth before calling the animals to enjoy a winter feast. During the puppet show, King Winter used a match to light candles in the cave, as in the story. The students were delighted to see “real” candles glowing as they watched the story unfold. On Monday, the students used crayons to draw a snowman and blue watercolor paint to paint over their picture. This maintained their drawing while creating a wintery background. Once students were finished painting, a snow fairy flew over, adding sparkly white snow to their pictures.
It has been an incredible first semester in the Chickadee classroom, and everyone is excited to finish the season with special activities, snacks, and guest readers this week. Special thanks to Heidi Kling, Erica Sharifzadeh, Zuri Niemien, and Julie Gee for reading special seasonal stories to the class. The students will bring home crafts most days this week; please check their backpacks daily. They will also bring home a small end-of-semester gift on Wednesday. When the children return in January, we will have a new winter circle and story and resume regular daily activities.
Announcements and Reminders for Chickadee Kindergarten:
12/20: Grades Assembly - 11:15 a.m. (All families are welcome to attend)
12/20: Last Day of Fall Semester (Half Day dismissal)
12/23 - 01/06: Winter Break (No School)
01/07: Spring semester begins
Your child’s rest mat will be sent home for cleaning; please return it on your child’s first day at school next semester.
The break is a great time to check your child’s boots and other gear and ensure they fit your child properly; young children grow quickly! Please be sure to send them back to school with all the needed Garden School layers and gear.
We hope everyone has a restful, restorative, joyous semester break. Thank you for partnering with us and allowing us to be part of your child’s and your family’s educational journey.
Gyvalieliga,
Ki Holly
