Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds: March 16 - 20, 2026
Dear Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds Families,
Just like the class’s little lima beans that persisted through the unexpected frost and sprouted last week, so too have the Hummingbird children emerged on the other side of the cold months with great flexibility and resilience. It is our joy to officially welcome Lady Spring to the forest and calendar.
Last week, the children enjoyed hearing the story of Grandma Ivy’s River Adventure for the first time. This is a playful tale about a grandmother who sets off for a float down the river by her house on a sweet spring morning, declaring that the only way to truly know a river is to float down it without hurry. Along the way, many forest creatures join her raft. The story ends with an overly enthusiastic deer leaping up to greet a friend, losing his balance, rocking the boat, and all of the travelers tumbling into the water before swimming to shore, laughing and making their way to Grandma Ivy’s house to dry off and enjoy lunch and tea. The story closes with the words, “and all was well in the world.”
In Waldorf early childhood, there is a deep intention to protect childhood and to meet the young child’s need to feel that, at the end of the day, all is (generally) well. The children are uniquely satisfied by simple stories that involve little to no mischief, no true conflict (beyond perhaps an unexpected swim), and, by adult standards, very little “plot,” but rather a simple narration of life’s rhythms. As students age, the opportunity to add more texture to stories through details, complex characters and emotions, and dramatic elements arises; in early childhood, however, it is ideal to protect children from overt drama, a practice we encourage families to carry into the home as well.
The children participated in their portion of the spring auction project last week by scooping loose-leaf tea into tea bags. They prepared lavender, butterfly pea flower, and peppermint tea, taking time to smell each variety and confidently determining that the lavender seeds were, in fact, “purple rice.” The class auction project is coming together beautifully, and we are immensely grateful for each of your thoughtful contributions.
The class will enjoy a nature walk to the pond dock this week. Along the way, they will collect pinecones for a springtime creation involving wet felting and a bit of age-appropriate scissor-work.
Announcements & Reminders:
If you have a rising kindergartener, please note that they will participate in a two-day kindergarten observation beginning after Spring Break. Please help your child practice wearing their own backpack and carrying a lunch bag (if participating in a full-day observation). You will receive more information from the admissions team in the near future.
Grandfriends Day is Wednesday, April 1! Grandparents and other special grownups are warmly invited to join us in the forest classroom for light refreshments, community time, and a chance to watch the children at play. Guests are also encouraged to attend the Grade performance at 10:30 a.m. Please email your visiting guest information by Friday, March 27.
April 1: Grandfriends Tea at 11:00 (All students and family members are welcome to join)
April 6-10: Spring Break (No School)
April 24: Annual Auction Fundraiser (Half Day)
April 25: Community Work Day
Warmly,
Ki Alycia
