Sunday, January 3, 2016

January 2016 Newsletter

Klahanie School
January 2016 Newsletter

December 2015 Reflection
Happy New Year!  We hope you and your family experienced a joyful holiday season.  We are excited to venture into the New Year with intention and care to reacquaint your child back to the classroom community and experiences. 

January Curriculum Topics
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Along with revisiting our daily routine we will begin to focus our attention and circle-time lessons on Martin Luther King Jr.  MLK is the first of many Peacemakers we will study from around the world.  We begin the discussion of civil rights using age appropriate and relatable-fictionalized stories along with open-ended questions the children can identify with.  I also like to continue incorporating examples and role-playing of classroom community issues to assist the children in finding some understanding of human rights, empathy and compassion development through listening and sharing.

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

To celebrate MLK day we will make personalized “I have a dream” clouds for all children who want to participate.  The clouds state what the child’s dreams are for the future of selves, family, community and/or world.  These clouds will be hung in the classroom.  We will also make MLK posters and have a peace march on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th (his actual birthday), where we chant:
“Martin Luther King was a mighty, mighty man and a mighty, mighty man was he.  He worked for peace, he worked for love, he worked for harmony!”

While celebrating diversity we will begin making self-portraits.  Each child will have the opportunity to observe his/her features in a mirror then with the assistance of an adult, create a self-portrait that will be displayed in the class until the end of the school year.  When you come to visit our classroom have fun finding your child!  Please contact me if you would like to help in class on this wonderful project. 

January and February we will be introducing different musicians, authors/poets and artists that have had important roles in using his/her art as a tool for looking for answers to world injustices.

“A simple and exhilarating truth: music and open, honest, human-to-human communication can shift ideologies and create meaningful change” (Lee Hirsch).

Two artists we will begin to study and celebrate during January will be Bob Marley and Michael Franti of Spearhead.  Marley is a reggae artist from Jamaica who sang about civil peace and equality. Michael Franti and Spearhead are San Francisco based musicians working for peaceful listening and communication around the world.  What is important about these musicians is they actively took the messages of MLK to the next level for bringing awareness and understanding in their own communities and beyond.

This unit study is close to my heart for it stimulates the children to look deeply and proudly at ways they themselves are peacemakers.  I look forward to hearing your home observations of family conversations and questions asked by your child while we study Martin Luther King Jr. and extended Peacemakers.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns, I am happy to listen and make time.

We will also begin study:

·      Pacific Northwest beavers and their vital importance in our ecosystem
·      Winter birds
·      Snowflakes and clouds

Reminders/Thank You

·      Parent Kindergarten Curriculum and 2016-17 information Night: Monday January 11th 5-6/6:30pm

·      Thank you for the sweet Holiday Gifts from families to Teachers, such kindness!

·      Cold & Wet Days!  Please & thank you for remembering to layer your child in warm clothes, our schedule remains the same!  Please pack extra socks (can be mismatched): socks are great mitten substitutes when needed as well as extra cozy pants and rain pants if have them. 


·      Thank you Sara Bennett for the Play-dough!