sun, giants, food, home dismissal, workshop

Hi Folks,

Here are a few quick and hopefully pleasant notes.

SUN -- What a pleasant time we had at the sunny meadow (the 10 acres we use for festival parking) today!  It is so much warmer there than on our playground, and it is warmer in the woods than in our playground.  During these colder months, Molly and I will try to start our Monday and Tuesday walks as soon as possible (9:30ish) to get warm.  When sunny, we will go to the sunny meadow or other place to warm up.  When rainy, we'll appreciate the shelter of Grandmother Rock or Fairy House Grove.  On a rare instance (like the WETTEST DAY WHIDBEY HAS EVER SEEN, now confirmed by people who have lived here longer than me), we will go inside and improvise.

GIANTS -- We walked the upper loop today (our usual Monday trek) and continued past Bumberdeen the Giant's playground to get to the sunny meadow.  This imaginative way of describing the ropes course came to me via Dyanne (who got it from Chris McFee years ago).  I live my life with the pleasant assumption that the creatures of the forest, including giants, are all there to help us, that a stream of well being is always flowing around us if we are just able to notice it.  My Bumberdeen is a super friendly guy that I have never seen.  He lets us walk through the playground.  Out of friendliness, we stay off his giant sized playground (this is the ropes course, which we would participate with trained facilitators).

That said, I also appreciate how children love to explore power and transformation through creating scary stories.  There were a few vivid stories told by children of a mean giant who eats many things, who fortunately lives in another country.  While endorsing the wonderful power of a story such as this, I always reflect back my full confidence in the friendliness of the creatures of the woods towards us.

FOOD  --  We are in pretty good shape with food.  Feel free to bring contributions for our soup by Wednesdays.  While chickens have slowed down, we almost have a dozen eggs for Thursday; if you have a few to spare, that will get us there.  I've switched to scrambled eggs for the winter time; it does not require as many eggs to satisfy the class.

Even though apples are no longer so plentiful on trees, if you can bring a few apples for snacks in the woods and apple sauce, that is wonderful.  Several children are doing incredible work and growth through cutting apples in conscientious and artistic ways.

DISMISSAL ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS  -- Because it might alternate between being relatively nice at 12:20ish to being fairly wet and/or cold, I've decided to switch Wednesday and Thursday mid-day dismissal to in the hallway.  I will do my best to have children ready to trickle into the hallway beginning at 12:20 so that you can gather your child and her or his possessions before extended care children from the Sunflower Class move into the hallway.  Monday and Tuesday dismissals will remain the same.

CLOTHES BAGS HOME THIS THURSDAY OR FRIDAY  --  I think it will bring the most peace of mind to everyone if you bring your child's spare clothes bag and anything and everything from your child's cubby home on Thursday or Friday, leaving the space clear for the Holiday Workshop, and helping you to know with confidence where your child's gear is for next Monday.  The little ones who have already come to us will be heading to their own festival and will like to depart on Thursday.  Perhaps they'll meet up with little ones yet to manifest in our classroom and tell us stories of them.

With appreciation,

William

Real invitation

Friday, November 9

Lantern Walk

 The Lantern Walk is a festival that marks the threshold time of year between longer summer days and longer winter nights.

From Nature herself we can witness the in breath of the Earth as she pulls the plants back toward her.  The leaves begin to fall and cover the ground with a blanket of protection and quietude.  During this time, we humans also find ourselves pulling inward.  Yet, it is at this very inward-pulling time that we rekindle our connection to our own inner most self.  While all of Nature is falling asleep, we are called to "wake up" and take note of our own inner flame.  Festivals are a way of marking these poignant occasions in community with one another; and some would add, in collaboration with the Earth and the Heavens.  

The early childhood community of WIWS would like to celebrate and honor this time together with a Lantern Walk at Maxwelton Beach on Friday, November 9th, 4:30-5:30in the evening.  We have timed this event so that we can gather in the light, walk in the dusk and finish in the dark.  In this way, we can move together through this threshold, shining our little lights with one another in a community of love and good will.   And a large community we will be....Butterfly, Golden Forest and Sunflower classes, plus any interested Rosebud families.  We are making our lanterns at school for this occasion while singing lantern songs both familiar and unfamiliar.  Of course, the preparation is almost as important as the festival itself! (Below is a more detailed schedule of the hour)   

4:30---early bird arrivals:  play at the beach/playground for short time.  Warm cider available

4:50 Light lanterns and gather to commence our beach walk

4:55 Begin our walk together

5:20  Return to public beach area, Adults sing "Oh How Lovely Is the Evening" for the children

5:30 Say goodnight to one another with a shared experience of darkness and candle light

Remember!  We will be at a beach in November.  Please dress accordingly!!

The public park at Maxwelton Beach is called Dave Mackie Park.  Take Maxwelton Road (away from Langley) all the way until you come to the end.  There you will find Dave Mackie park.  There is parking on both sides of the big field.  Please ask a teacher or another parent if you need further instructions.

  

  

lantern walk invitation