April and May are months
where a lot of transitions are happening, and our students really feel it! We
have friends moving away, siblings stressed with exams, families who may have a
lot on their plates, not to mention the excitement of kindergarten approaching!
We are really sensitive to all of these changes, and try to have a calm, safe
and lovable environment for all of our students, but do know that at this time
of year your child may need some extra special hugs and kisses. J Many parents have said
that at home they are seeing more cranky behavior, and we really do believe
that these transitional months are hard—please let me know if we can help in
any way.
One of the ways we do try
and help is to give our children plenty of opportunities to visit the
Elementary School and interact with the students and faculty there. Today we
visited Ms. Gray’s kindergarten class! We spent some time in the classroom with
the students and they showed us their “reading toolkit” and special “whisper
phones.” We looked around, sang some songs together and played a game called
“One, two, three, POP!” Our kiddos left happy and OBSESSED with this game—I see
a lot of it in weeks to come! In the following weeks we will also visit the
library, art, music and PE classes, have a snack in the Elementary School
cafeteria and head to the rooftop playground again. By June the children will
be kindergarten experts! Be sure to ask
your child about today!
Some of our learning
explorations this week included:
*continuing with our “Loose
Parts” project (manipulating and changing materials.) Several students made
amazing art projects out of bottle caps, boxes, beans and feathers (I think
they could be in an art studio!) Some students interacted with stickers,
buttons, beads, different types of paper, and colored glue.
*making rockets with Ein’s
mom! A big thank you to her for coming
in!
*creating beads out of clay
that we can actually use in the classroom!
*being a part of the
Telluride Mountainfilm Festival.
*using fun rollers to
create colorful paintings.
*building a road out of
unifix cubes (a very long one!) where animals could talk and watch for other
animals to come. This road was many other things throughout the week but it was
interesting to watch the patterns, the symmetry and conversations that emerged
from this one idea that came from a group of students.
*And much, much, more…
REMINDERS / UPCOMING DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
*Return library books and blue bags on Monday
*April 26th:
Alternate Dress Day
*May 1st:
Labor Day-No School
*May 5th:
Celebration of Learning—8:00-9:15am in our classroom-please see previous notes for details
*May 10th:
Vesak Day-No School
*June 1st:
Last Day for Students—normal 1:30 dismissal
*SUMMER BIRTHDAYS: if your child's birthday is in the
summer and you'd like to celebrate it at school before the year is over, please
send a note and we will celebrate! J We don’t want to
miss anyone! Let me know what day works for you.
*IF you are leaving early, withdrawing from SAS or will be
missing certain days over the next few weeks, send me a note. This will help me
manage those last-minute details regarding report cards, work sent home,
portfolios etc.
Week 32 April 17 to 21
130 new photos · Album by Lynsey Howitt
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