Dear Parents,
I'm really excited to be back with the children at school tomorrow. Our Monday hikes and play in the wood have been so rich, so full of physical challenge and gorgeous social interaction, that my intention is to start our week tomorrow (Tuesday) as if it were Monday. We'll take our long hike and end up for snack (almond rice cakes, tofu almond nori rolls, almond, veggies), an ample amount of play, and The Bremen Town musicians at Grandmother Rock. On Wednesday, Molly and Kristin lead the children on another pleasant hike (serving hummus and crackers and veggies and fruit).
(It was thrilling to tell the Bremen Town Musicians last Monday. Children were so engaged, a little tense when wondering what the robbers would do, and laughing with a hearty sense of relief when the robbers mistook the 4 animals for powerful opponents).
On Thursday we'll celebrate our first birthday of the year (Leon's) and have an extended time to play indoors for the whole class. I am so pleased that we started with a lot of outdoor time; it is going to help us so much find delight, alignment, and just the right amount of challenge and contrast with our indoor work and play. Thursday we'll eat soup with roasty toasties (egg donors can take a week off, or if you already have brought eggs, we will store them for a future week)--and of course little muffins that we will bake in class.
We'll celebrate 5 birthdays before the end of October.
Now that the weather is colder and wetter, on hike days (normally Monday and Tuesday), we will try to leave as soon as possible (9:30 or earlier). The kindergarten playground is likely colder than your house, and it is certainly colder than where we hike and play in the woods. If it is possible (only if it is possible) to provide your child an additional layer for the playground that we will shed before the hike, that would be ideal.
I will be finding what works well for our days of eating snack and playing and creating art and crafting inside (and slowly, with anticipation, meeting our little ones again and the like). Rather than persisting with painting with small groups while others play outside, I plan now to keep us together as much as possible on the playground, and then come inside with plenty of time to snack, move and/or hear a story, play, craft, create, tidy up, and the like. With the 5 birthdays and muffin baking, it is likely that it will take us a few weeks to settle to an indoor rhythm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Many events are marching toward us, hopefully with guffaws of delight.
Tuesday, October 16 Kim John Payne at WICA. This is an event not to be missed. Kim John Payne is a gifted speaker with a great amount of experience and wisdom on many topics. This talk will be on Raising Socially Resilient Children. Please attend if at all possible.
Wednesday, October 17 William not at school. I am part of the core Social Inclusion Group, and I will be meeting with Kim Payne all day. I look forward to sharing the gifts of his wisdoms and insights with anyone interested.
Monday, October 29 PUMPKIN CARVING with the 7th grade. Kim always had her daughter's classes come assist our kindergarten children. Ms. Lindstrom is thrilled to be asked, and we thnk her students will love helping us. Please bring a pumpkin with your child's name on the bottom to school on that Monday. If it helps relieve anxiety, feel free to bring the pumpkin earlier. Small and simple is wonderful. Our intention is to foster community and have a great time--I am less worried about final products.
Tuesday, October 30 Middle School Open House. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the gifts of the middle school curriculum in a Waldorf School; to see where the children eventually get to from here.
Wednesday, October 31 Halloween…Of course. Since Halloween is filled with all kinds of wily activity in the latter part of the day, we will do our best to keep a normal rhythm in the morning. The children love to tell each other what they are going to dress up as. Please leave all dress up clothes and Halloween paraphernalia at home so as not to create further distraction from healthy imaginative play. (By the way, my sons convinced me to dress up this year as Superman, but I will resist wearing my new costume to school as well).
Thursday, November 1 The day after Halloween. Since children are up later than usual the night before, and they are often coming down from an extra surge of excitement and sugar, we encourage you to consider bringing your child late to school on this day. Giving them some time to sleep in, take the morning routine a little more slowly, etc. can be very helpful in some cases.
Sunday, November 4 Time Change. Move the clocks back one hour
Tuesday, November 6. KINDERGARTEN PARENT EVENING, 6 to 7:30pm. Please send me any topics you'd like to see as part of the meeting. I envision us giving the Holiday Workshop parents time to speak, solicit help, whatever is needed. We will sing and prepare for the lantern walk. We will preview December's advent spiral. I think it likely Dyanne and I will share insights from Kim Payne particularly suited to early childhood, and I'd love to have a discussion about Kim's lecture and reports from any parents who have tried anything he suggests.
Thurs & Fri November 8 & 9 Parent teacher conferences. Early dimissal for Grade School. 12:30 dismissal for all EC classes. No Robin Song Extended Care. Cordula will be offering fee based child care for the time that parents are in conferences with the teachers. If interested, please see Cordula for more details regarding age span, fees, etc.. Cordula will also be using my room for care, and for this and other reasons, I will be offering my conferences during my Tuesday office hours (or another time if needed). In EC we find a different rhythm works best for conferences. Before Christmas, I would like to meet with the 3 families with children of age to rise to first grade next year. I would like to have conferences for the ten younger children in January and February, during office hours (and probably other times to fit them all in).
Friday November 9 Lantern Walk Festival for kindergartens, nursery, and parent child families. This year will be a new location(!) with new inspiration(!) More information will be coming out soon.
Wednesday, November 21 Beginning of Thanksgiving Break.
With appreciation,
William
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