Dear Parents,
As I sit down to write this after a tired, slightly cranky post-Halloween day, I suddenly realize it’s the first of November! FINALLY — cooler weather, peak foliage, coughs … okay, just kidding about that last one. But we have reached the time of year where it’s definitely a good idea to ensure a good night’s sleep for your young ones — experts recommend 10 to 12 hours nightly. With daylight savings wrapping up just around the corner, it’s always a challenging transition when dark comes much earlier, so getting more sleep will definitely support an easier time with the changes.
I also wanted to share some wonderful pictures with you, because October was just jam-packed with activity! But first, I want to say that I very much enjoyed getting to know all of you better during our conversations at conferences. I always enjoy getting a deeper perspective on your child.
Here are some pictures from the classroom, where we have had so many children sewing buttons, slicing apples and grating cinnamon to make crockpot applesauce, learning the names of three-dimensional geometric solids (cone, sphere, cube etc.), experimenting with watercolors and charcoal, “playing” addition with the stamp and snake games, and practicing cursive letters with rainbow chalk. Nearly all of the children have received a lesson with the “self care” table, where they can use a warm cloth to wash and dry their crusty noses and dirty faces, put on hand lotion, and blow their noses in front of a mirror. What freedom and comfort to be able to care for one’s skin whenever needed, without any help! We recited the poem “Leaves” by Emily Dickinson and “Nature, 27″ by Emily Dickinson, the monthly poems in Elsa Beskow’s Seasons of the Year — and a funny poem about twitchy, itchy witches and Three Little Ghostesses” from a wonderful library book containing various Halloween-related poems. We have been singing “Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, and America the Beautiful, in addition to our seasonal rotation, which includes “Five Little Pumpkins.”
Here is a peek into our field trip to Valley Forge National Historical Park, where we got to walk along a riverside hiking trail. We found earthworms and daddy longleg spiders, felt the pelts of coyote, fox, and deer, learned to identify poison ivy (did you know it can grow all the way up a tree trunk?), and saw the ruins of an old home. Ranger Beth was a wonderful guide. Thanks to all the parent volunteers who drove children to and from the park!
Then, we had the fire department visit ….
… and finally, Nate’s mom came the day before Halloween to carve our jack-o-lantern! She even brought us pumpkin seeds roasted with cinnamon and brown sugar, which were delicious.
We still have a lot to look forward to in November, including our Diwali and Thanksgiving celebrations. In the next blog post, I will share with you all the pictures from our Fall Fest! Thanks for all the parent volunteers who made it so special for the children. It was such a fun day, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather!
Until next time, I wish you all the best. Go easy on those Halloween treats still sitting in the bowl (I’m talking to you, Mom and Dad)!
Karen