Klahanie Nursery School Newsletter
December 2012
Goodness must come out of
reciprocal helpfulness, from the unity.
Dr. Maria Montessori
November Reflection
The holiday season can bring many lovely experiences as well
as unintended strain and fatigue from the burst of fun opportunities and
additional transitions to get ready for these wonderful occasions. Children can become more emotionally fragile,
erratic tantrums, greater intensity of demands during the holiday season. In class we observe these holiday day
strains in differing degrees in the children and continue to do our best to
support the children’s need for calm and contemplative concentration as a mode
of offering an outlet to process the hustle and bustle of the outside
world.
For fun take a
morning or afternoon with your child, throwing aside the “to-do’s” and snuggle
with your little one on the couch with your favorite-shared book or movie, bake
some goodies to enjoy together or venture into nature during these busy days
and walk silently, following your child to explore the forest, beach or meadow. And here’s the biggest challenge:
don’t bring a camera or phone, just enjoying the silence and moment-to-moment
exploration with your child, no matter where you are. We all deserve this gift!
Connected to the idea of families and the holidays
approaching, the following quote from Aline Wolf’s book Nurturing the Spirit in
Non-Sectarian Classrooms felt like a lovely way to say our Klahanie
gratitude and acknowledgment for all the warmth you wonderful families show on
a daily basis!
With so many young families today living long distances from their own
extended families, the school community can offer them a welcoming place to
belong. Here they can meet other
parents with similar aspirations for their children; here they can talk over
their mutual concerns ….A community relationship that can be celebrated in this
way is usually one that has matured over time in an atmosphere of openness and
acceptance. Such a community is
nourished by supportive acts of kindness—one parent driving for another who is
ill; one family sending a casserole when another family has a new baby;
families helping teachers in the time crunch before the first day of school;
teachers giving extra time when it is needed and many other gestures of mutual
support. As each individual feels
respected and valued by others in the community, all gradually become
comfortable in this family-like atmosphere that serves as a paradigm for our wider
participation in the global community.
‘The key to community,’ Scott Peck writes, ‘is the acceptance—in fact
the celebration—of our individual and cultural differences. Such acceptance and celebration…is also
the key to world peace.’”
“The School As A
Family/Global Community,” (133-134,141) 1996.
Reminders and Thank Yous
·
Please Submit a PHOTO OF
YOUR CHILD by this week. Thank you!
·
Thank you Kelly
Reese for the wonderful Apple Butter the children enjoyed with their
pumpernickel bread during a fun Practical Life Food Preparation during class
this month!
·
HOLIDAY BREAK: NO SCHOOL
December 19-January 1
·
PLEASE PACK EXTRA WARM, rain resistant, easy to get into
clothing and boots for your child as well as labeled hats. We go out no matter the weather!
·
PM Class: Teacher Sara begins
this week through end of January with her baby daughter Dena! As our class community adjusts to these
wonderful shifts: Please help Teachers by supplying your
child with:
o Clothing
that is easy for your child to get into (comfy sweat pants are perfect!)
o Notes
about your child’s morning if fatigue/illness/super busy morning, etc (as well
as best contact number if parent needs to be called for early pickup)
o Lunches
(food and containers) that are easy to open for your child to do
independently—please offer a mini lesson to your child on how to open the
container/bag/etc before coming to class.
o Klahanie
supplies filtered water throughout class in BPA FREE glasses
December Topics
·
Holiday of Lights: a brief, age appropriate
celebration of Winter Solstice, Devali, Christmas, and Hanukkah,
·
Extended look and story-telling/songs of Giving
Thanks
·
Winter days: animal preparation to hibernation
(specifically bears--weaving the beautiful song “Douglas Mountain” sung by
Raffi and written by Arnold Sungaard & Alec Wilder as a guide of storytelling to
illustrate this subject. Please
note: in class we change the words to: “so Earth can bring the night.”
·
Fun Holiday gift making J
Meetings & Celebrations
·
Lauren on baby Stanley’s birth, as soon as we hear, you will
too! A Meal Train Sign
Up will be emailed out.
Thank you!
·
Montessori In The Home Parent Meeting set for Thursday March 7, 2013
7pm-8pm: Get a babysitter and come join us for a fun night of Montessori
ideas for your home, wine/light snacks and time to discuss parenting process in
a supportive space.
·
Celebration of Love Party February 2013! This party will be for
fun, food, and dancing as well as a Raffle for goody baskets to support our
School Financial Aid and future Parent Talks. Please call Emmy if you have venue ideas and want to help
organize! Thank you! Date of party
To-Be-AnnouncedJ
