Joyful Beginnings Hummingbirds: August 17-21, 2026

Aug 24

Dear Hummingbird Families,

Our first week of school has been full of energy, nature finds, and joyful exploration. The children are getting to know one another, beginning to form new connections, and becoming familiar with the gentle rhythm of our days. Through our weekly activities, play, and time outdoors, the Hummingbirds are beginning to find their place within our sweet classroom community while keeping their natural curiosity alive.

Our Hummingbirds are also beginning their weekly journey to the Learning Farm! During our first visit, the children had the opportunity to meet and feed the animals while remaining safely on the other side of the fence. This gives them time to become familiar with the animals, the farm environment, and the boundaries of this special space. Our visits to the Learning Farm will happen twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, and will be shared with our friends from the Bluebirds classroom. These visits offer a beautiful opportunity for the children to expand their social circle, build connections beyond our classroom, and experience the joy of exploring nature together.

This week, we will begin our new apple-chopping rhythm, inviting the children to participate in the simple, meaningful work of preparing food together. For our students, this is so much more than preparing a snack. Practical work gives young children the opportunity to imitate the meaningful work they see around them, strengthen their hands and fine-motor skills, practice concentration and coordination, and experience the joy of contributing something to their community. There is something especially beautiful about preparing food together and then sitting down to enjoy the fruits of our work.

These early connections will continue to be nurtured as we guide the children to become more comfortable with the boundaries and rhythms of The Garden School. During walks to the Learning Farm, there will be space to explore nature and notice the small wonders along the way. Through these everyday experiences, the children will learn to care for themselves, their friends, and the world around them.

This Friday, the class will celebrate Gaia’s birthday.. We are excited to spend this special day with her and her family!

Class Reminders and Announcements

Bring an apple: Please bring an apple on Mondays and Thursdays.

Rainy days: When it rains in the morning during outdoor play time (8:45-9:30), we will have an indoor drop-off. Please come to the door, and we will open it for you. Thank you!

Half-Day dismissal: On days when the school has a Half-Day dismissal, Joyful Beginnings’ pick-up time will be 12:00–12:15 p.m.