September has come to a close, and we have had a good time of settling in, learning routines, and getting to know one another.  The first classroom theme was shells and sea creatures, including an abundance of real shells for children to study and feel, sort and match, and even use in a mindfulness meditation (see below).  For October we will rotate shells out and bring in the apple and pumpkin work!

 

 

September is also when the season’s last generation of Monarch butterflies emerge, ready to make the 2,000 mile journey south to their overwintering grounds among the evergreens of Michoacan, Mexico.  Since the first day of school, we’ve watched our monarch grow from a caterpillar of 1 cm to about 5 cm, pupate into a chrysalis, darken from green to black, and, finally, eclose (emerge) and gradually expand its wings.  Upon its realease, Thursday, we cheered it forward to Mexico.   

 

  

The children are doing an absolutely beautiful job of wearing their masks, letting us know if they need to switch to a dry one, and even kindly reminding others to mask up after eating, etc.   They are also taking hand-washing in stride and patiently bringing their materials to the cleaning shelf after using them.  Maria Montessori observed the way that procedures and routines serve as anchors for young children, who are developing an internal sense of order from the order they percieve around them, and these caring community health precautions are no exception.  Thank you a hundred square, no – a thousand cube!, for all of the extra clean masks you send in each day.  It helps so much for your child to feel comfortable and independent!  

 

 

 

 

• Happy September Birthday to Savannah and Amalia!
• Thank you to the families who have brought in fresh fruit and veggies for snack thus far, plus the beautiful flowers.  
• Will you be our classroom parent?  We still need one additional parent or one family to volunteer.  It’s a helpful role, but not terribly demanding.  Email Mrs. Brown and Ms Prestas for details.

 

Shell mindfulness mediation

Sitting in a comfortable position, hold a special shell with one hand low and at rest in your lap or on the floor beside you.   Breathing in, lift the shell in an arc above your head.  Breathing out, complete the arc down across to the other side of your body.  Repeat in the opposite direction.  Try adding these words aloud or in your mind as you inhale and exhale:  In…out,  deep…slow, calm…peace, here…now.    

 

Didn’t see your child in this blog entry?  Please accept our apology – We do strive to feature each child, but we have been so busy it’s been hard to take many photos yet.   Please Stay Tuned for more photos soon!