December 2016 Newsletter

Klahanie School

December 2016 Newsletter

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

November 2016 Reflection

Our classroom has been a buzz from all the special earth projects we have embarked on.  The children helped each other kindly while making their Thanksgiving meal.  The Elder students set the table and escorted their younger friends to seats.  We sang, we thanked, we shared love with one another.  Jordan began adding to  our circle time darling Spanish songs and finger-plays the children love!  Thank you Jordan for all your gifts.  Our time this month was full of adventure and big projects the children loved. 

December Curriculum Topics

“In the wilderness is the preservation of the world.”

Henry David Thoreau

This year’s shortest day of the year is on Wednesday, December 21, which will also mark the longest night of the year. Every year, the winter solstice marks the turn of the calendar as autumn ends and the winter begins.  And from an astronomical standpoint, the winter solstice means that the two opposite points in the sky to which the Earth’s axis of rotation points change very slowly. Over the course of about 26,000 years, a complete circle is created.  Culturally, winter solstice was used to mark a number of events, including sowing of crops, mating season for animals and monitoring winter reserves of food.

In respect of this amazing wonder our earth experiences, our class will slow down.  Life can be very busy for children and families during the holiday season and we would like our classrooms (inside and out) to offer calm environment to explore and play.  We will sing many varying holiday songs as well as many opportunities for quiet.  We introduced a small bell and singing bowl.   When either instruments sings, we pause and count for five seconds then resume activity.  We hope the practice can create some sensory positive imprint during times when life is busy and whirling around, we can find inner calm from a pause.  This could be a positive addition to family life. 

·      Orcas: We continue our look at Orca family pods migration and life cycle.  Alumni environmental specialist educator and islander, Maria Metler introduced the wonders of Orca Puget sound life and we continue that guide to understand this important J Pod community.

·      Conifer Trees

·      Owls: Local owls and habitats (this as well as the topics listed below will roll into January).

·      Water Forms: liquid and solid introduction.  What is a snowflake and can we read snowflakes if magnified?  Also the geometric wonders such a small object can hold.

·      Winter Solstice and Festivals of Light holidays

Reminders/Thank You

·      Cold Days!  Please & thank you for remembering to layer your child and pack layers in backpacks: zip-up sweaters and hoodies are fantastic!   Please pack extra socks and share with your child he (can be mismatched): socks are great mitten substitutes when needed! 

·      Thank you Elizabeth Shaw for the Play-dough!

·      Please help this Holiday Season & consider donating a New Toy(s) & Books for a local Holiday Toy Drive for children in need through our Vashon Maury Food Bank and backpack program.  With inquiry, an entire family could be sponsored. 

·      Happy Holiday Break!   No School: December 15-January 2^nd 2017

SOUNDS OF THE WINTER

By Walt Whitman

SOUNDS of the winter too,

Sunshine upon the mountains—many a distant strain

From cheery railroad train—from nearer field, barn, house,

The whispering air—even the mute crops, garner'd apples, corn,

Children's and women's tones—rhythm of many a farmer and

of flail,

An old man's garrulous lips among the rest, Think not we give

out yet,

Forth from these snowy hairs we keep up yet the lilt.

Great reads for October 2016

A wonderful book in Cheri J. Meiners' series focusing on empathy development and practical pointers for preschool age group and adults caregiving children of this age.

A beautiful story about grief process for children and families.  

November 2016 Newsletter

Klahanie School

November 2016 Newsletter

THANKS A LOT

Thanks a lot,
  Thanks for Sun in the sky.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for clouds so high.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for whispering wind.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for the birds in the spring.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for the moonlit night.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for the stars so bright.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for the wondering me.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for the way I feel.

Thanks for the animals,
 Thanks for the land,
 Thanks for the people everywhere.

Thanks a lot,
 Thanks for all I've got.
 Thanks for all I've got.


-RAFFI CAVOUKIAN

October 2016 Reflection

Thank you parents and children for such wonderful conferences, what fun sharing about your children.   As shared during conferences, your children makeup a warm and inviting group.  The leaves are changing and the rain has re-emerged, autumn is fully here.  Thank you parents for dressing your kids so weather ready with warm layers and easy to slip on boots!  Thank you also for practicing with your child at home ways to put clothing and coats on independently.  We use the following technique at school:

“You put your tag by your toes, hands in the holes and your flip it” flipping the coat on by laying coat upside down by child’s toes.

We have been talking about how our rain gear acts as our own personal tent when in the weather elements.  Inside and outside the children are exploring new friendships and with that we are able to support the natural and normal relationship dynamics playing out and figuring out how to open our listening ears and learning to speak from the heart, and what defines a kind leader.  I am taking a lot of time to help the children figure out joyful ways to connect with friends and introducing mediation “holding our concentration” complimented with movement stories.   There is a great amount of kindness offered and received during class daily.  The main focus I leave them with is how kind they are.  We explore together that kindness and gratitude will lead to a joyful life on earth and possibility greater connection with others and earth.  We continue to build our empathy development with inquiry and listening along with important grace and courtesy response to friends’ questions and actions. 

“Dad believes that the things of nature are a gift.  And that in return, we must give something back.  We must give thanks…..

To me, it’s a little embarrassing to say thanks to trees and things.  But Dad says it becomes a habit; it makes you feel good.  ‘Thank you, stars,’ I say as we near home.  And the stars come out, one by one, as if from hiding.”

Giving Thanks by Jonathan London

November Curriculum Topics

·      Salmon: amazing life cycle journey, Pacific Northwest salmon and habitats.  This is a very dear unit to me and we read some amazing books and poetry about the salmon’s inspiring life. 

·      Giving Thanks: exploring ways to express our thanks to those we love and the earth.  Before our Thanksgiving break we will make a meal as a class over a couple of days, set our table, sing a Thank You song and eat our class made meal together.  The meal will be applesauce (pealed cooked by the children, a bit of honey added), smoked salmon and corn bread (made by the class).

·      Thank you song: “Thank you for the food we eat.  Thank you for the friends we greet.  Thank you for the birds that sing.  Thank you, thank you for everything.”

·      Orcas: Like Salmon, we are very honored as an island community to be able to observe first hand the Orca migration led by Grandma, the matriarch of the Puget Sound J pod.  We will learn about Orcas and compare our native whale activity to those surrounding Scotland’s archipelago Inner Hebrides. 

·      Turkeys: parts of the turkey and behaviors, get ready for some funny words coming home! 

Reminders/Thank You

Thank you Jordan Beck-Vroom for your amazing help in class and loving patience and gift with children co-teacher colleague!  Thank you Elizabeth Mendana for your substitute teaching and fantastic movement, we are learning so much from our Specialists!  Thank you Jen Parker and Elizabeth for the play-dough donations.  Thank you Klahanie School parents for your participation creating a fun and memorable Pie Auction fundraising event. 

Thank you for leaving Halloween sugar treats at home. 

·      No School: Wednesday November 23^rd or Thanksgiving Thursday 24<sup>th

SAVE THE DATE!  SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11th is our ANNUAL PIE AUCTION SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER!  Join us for a fun and festive night of music, auction zaniness for some of the top savory and sweet pie creations, adult time to catchup with friends in a warm and inviting community building evening!  All proceeds of the evening cover the Klahanie School scholarships program for the 2017-18 school year as well as donation to our Maury Vashon Food Bank.</sup>   

October 2016 Newsletter

Klahanie School

October 2016 Newsletter

“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.”

Mr. Fred Rogers

September 2016 Reflection

What a fun way to begin our school year!  Thank you Klahanie School parents for all the warmth and opportunity to educate and nurture your children!  Thank you also for being on time (or super close to on time as possible) for drop off and pickup.  On time drop off helps the classroom flow fantastically for this is when we have beginning circle.  Beginning circle is when we sing songs surrounding our topics as well as introduction to new projects (art and otherwise), day of the week and agenda for the day.  This month, our circle time has been spent enjoying singing “getting to know each other” songs, group lessons using finger plays, movement and stories.  Circle time can help the children adjust back to the school environment and routine as well as understanding the day so transitions are expected and dependable.    

This 2016-17 class is a lovely group of people and we have had such fun observing all the new friendships.    They are exercising amazing memory and practice how to move in the classroom around one another’s workspaces.  We teachers have thoroughly enjoyed observing the children pair off into new friendship play and cooperative concentration.  We work daily on grace and courtesy of asking to join a person/group as well as polite responses (if in a group in play or concentration, “sure, we’ll figure it out.” Then sharing the play/intention and if alone and wanting to be so, “no thank you I am playing alone, maybe later.”).  We also practice how to politely ask for someone’s attention, adults included.  We practice placing a silent hand on the shoulder or hip of person whose attention is sought after.  If the person places a silent finger up that means, “One moment please.”  This is a very handy tool at home while on the phone or in talk with a parent in the store, etc.

We are diving quickly into engaging lessons in language, math, zoology and botany as well as storytelling, poetry and story writing.   Elders have started journal writing and sound box projects.  I will continue to introduce Sand Paper Letter lessons to children; a wonderful phonetic and sensory lesson of the alphabet as well as indirect aim to work on speech and vocabulary expansion using engaging steps to make the concrete, sensory experience fun.  The children have loved the garden playtime and many have helped harvest and eat from the garden and play imaginative play and big motor projects. 

Some core words we use daily in class (classroom and garden) are: inclusion, compassion, helpful choices to ourselves-environment-group, permission, concentration, independence and connection.  We also use the words: tools, work and activity.   

Our first birthday celebrations were for sisters Madeleine and Charlotte!  If you would like to schedule a birthday celebration for your child, please contact us two weeks prior.  Celebrations happen at 11am in class, parents bring a photo and something sweet to say about your child during those ages as we light a candle for each year of life on earth and sing the Montessori birthday song.  Please bring young child’s favorite book we can read during that ending circle.  Healthy treats are fine and not mandatory.

October Curriculum Topics

·      

Specialist visits begin October!   

·      

Spiders (arachnids) and Bats (mammals): looking at their life cycle, parts of the bodies, habitats, how they help the earth and ways to understand them better.  We focus on spiders and bats very concretely as well as observation of their timid tendencies.

·      

Pumpkins, Gourd family & Apples: life cycle, parts of the plant and sensory games, songs and food preparation and tastings.  This past week I told an autumn faerie story using the seed star inside an apple when I cut it horizontally in half and we shared the cut-up treat in class then used the second half as an apple stamp.

·      

Friends & Neighbors: What makes a friend and peace and empathy practices (invitation to play, concentration together) on how to be neighborly and available for help when asked.

·      

3 Part Card Introduction to Weather and Land Forms: A language and earth education lesson that focuses on picture and word matching and earth vocabulary introduction. 

·      

Garden preparation for winter/ our Pacific Northwest island environment changes: Winter crops and soil care for winter preparation as well as our natural environment of animals and plants making transition to cooler days and nights.

Date Changes & Reminders

·      

Parent Curriculum night changed to Thursday October 20^th 5:30-7pm (please RSVP)

·      

Parent Conferences will be changed to Tuesday October 25 (1:30-5:30 half hour slots), Wednesday October 26 (1:30-3:30pm slots) and Thursday October 27 (1:30-3:30pm slots) 

·      

Pie Auction changed to Saturday November 19^th

Reminders/Thank Yous

·      

Thank you Parent Volunteers!  Thank you play-dough makers and substitutes if a teacher is out sick!  If no subs are found then class is canceled so your subbing short notice is beyond helpful!  Class is also canceled if both teachers are out sick same time. 

·      

Thank you for getting involved with our Pie Auction committee planning!!  Please contact Emmy to get info.

·      

Halloween: children are welcome to wear costumes if easy to remove, move around in and warm for outside time.

·     

Sharing: Children take the sharing bag home and bring it back the next Wednesday or Thursday with a little written description in the journal inside each bag that returns to class.  Children are welcome to bring one item from nature or item that starts with a letter sound (“a” for apple, etc.) or something cultural.  Please make sure the sharing can fit in the bag.  Parents are welcome to call and schedule with teacher if child wants to have a family pet visit class for sharing. 

  

2016-17 Calendar

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Info	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Info
SEPTEMBER						APRIL
	30 OpenHouse	31	1	2	10-11:30am					1	RE-Enroll
5 H	6 Intro	7 Intro	8 Intro	9		3	4	5	6	7	Due
12 F	13	14	15	18	Intro Days:	10 B	11 B	12 B	13 B	14 B	SpringBreak
19	20	21	22	23	9:30-11:15	17	18	19	20	21
26	27	28	29	30	11:45-1:30	24	25	26	27	28
OCTOBER
3	4	5 C  5:30-7pm	6	7	Curriculum	MAY
10	11	12	13	14	Night	1	2	3	4	5
17	18	19	20	21	22 6-8pm	8	9	10	11	12
24	25	26	27	28		15	16	17	18	19
31				Pie Auction!	Info TBA	22	23	24	25	26
						29 H	30	31
NOVEMBER
	1	2	3	4		JUNE
7	8	9	10	11 H	Autumn				1	2
14	15	16 AC	17 AC	18 AC	Conferences	5	6	7	8	9
21	22	23 H	24 H	25 H	Happy	12	13	14	15 Potluck	16 LG
28	29	30			Thanksgiving				Last Day & Graduation: 11:30 Klahanie Sch
									End-Year Sch Family Potluck: 5pm Dockton Park
DECEMBER
			1	2		JULY
5	6	7	8	9		Stawberry Festival Parade!
12	13	14	15	16		Saturday of Festival, Meet at Methodist Church parking lot 10:30am dressed in your
19 B	20 B	21 B	22 B	23 B	Holiday	Klahanie tie-dye and decorated wagons and bikes (lets get together and make a float!)
26 B	27 B	28 B	29 B	30 B	Break!
						Summer Session: July 24-27
JANUARY							reserved for currently enrolled and alumni 3.5-6yrs
2 B	3	4	5	6		AUGUST
9	10	11	12	13
16 H	17	18	19	20	MLK Parade!
23	24	25	26	27
30	31
						Klahanie goes off of the Vashon Sch.Dist. Calendar (w/slight variances)
FEBRUARY						H: HOLIDAY NO SCHOOL				I: Intro Days
		1	2	3		B: BREAK NO SCHOOL				C: Curriculum Night
6	9	10	11	12		AC/SC: Autumn&Spring Conference Days					5:30-7pm
13	14	15	16	17		F: First Full Day of school
20 H	21 H	22 H	23 H	24 H	WinterBreak	LG:Graduation Sing-A-Long/EarlyDismissal			(Everyone please come promptly11:30am)
27	28					Holidays, Breaks, Non-School Days:
						Sept.5 Labor D	Nov26/27:ThanksG		Jan16:MLK Day		April10-45Spring
MARCH						Nov.11Veterans	Dec19-Jan2 Winter Holiday		Feb20-24 Winter Break		May29:Memorial
		1	2	3		SNOW & EMERGENCY CLOSURES:
6	7	8	9	10		Klahanie will follow Vashon School District closures with slight variances:
13	14	15	16	17	Spring	* If Vashon Schools closed, Klahanie closed
20	21 SC	22 SC	23 SC	24	Conferences	* If Vashon Schools have a 1 or 2 hour late start, Klahanie regular schedule w/late start
27	28	29	30			Parents will be called.
						Snow days &/or Emergency days will not be made up.

May 2016 Newsletter

Klahanie School

May 2016 Newsletter

I’m not saying we need to save the trees.  I’m saying that we need to not overlook their capacity to save us.  Put it in your yard and watch it for a while.  And pick it carefully because it’s hard to get a tree going.  You know if every seed turned into a plant, we’d be living in a very different world.  So choose well and open your eyes to give it everything.

Hope Jahren, NPR interview April 29^th, 2016 “Lab Girl”

April 2016 Reflection

Our class has leaped into the spring with enthusiasm and creativity in imaginative play and classroom material exploration as well as amazing recycle art projects.  Please check out our school’s Facebook page and blog for wonderful pictures of the recycle art creations children appeared to thoroughly enjoy this month, expanding wonderful creativity with the materials.  The garden has taken new shape and inspired creativity in exploring play in the space as well as respect for the garden, hosting habitat to many insects, arachnids, oligochaeta (worms) and birds.  We began planting seeds and discussion of plant life cycle and plant care.  With the increase of imaginative role-playing during garden time we will be introducing more performance encouragement on the garden stage. 

Ending our month of Earth focus, I encourage many of you to listen to Hope Jahren’s NPR interview from last Friday April 29^th as well as look into her recently published memoir “Lab Girl” focused on her geobiologist quest described in a deeply poetic way.  I found her study and focus of botany deeply inspiring.  Another fun find was Time magazine’s focus “The Science of Siblings” with some interesting articles and research focused on the inner workings of children within families of varying topic exploration.

May Curriculum Topics

Ten little eggs all in a mound.

Out they will crawl, crawling around.

And then they will sleep and we know why, out they emerge as butterflies.

Butterfly, butterfly what lovely wings.

Flutter by, flutter by how my heart sings.

Butterfly, butterfly I’d like to know, when it rains, when it rains where do you go?

We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are.

Fred Rogers

·      Butterfly life cycle and habitat: egg, larva (caterpillar), chrysalis (pupa), butterfly.  Our painted lady butterfly larva is on display observation of the life cycle in class until ready for release.

·      Moms!  Amazing moms and how we show love to our Mamas as well as May Day celebration!

·      Amphibians: the amazing world of amphibians and habitats.

·      Insects: what is an insect, why are insects important and habitats.

·      Woodworking and sewing projects.

·      Self Portraits: self-portrait paintings.  These treasures will be on display in class until the end of school. 

·      Friends, Our Neighbors creating empathy development fun: what makes a friend and using Compassionate Listening models as foundation to practice listening games and role playing during circle time.  We will make Talking-Listening Sticks to bring home for family time (taking turns holding the Talking stick to speak and listen.  Each family member taking turns and repeating back facts, emotions/feelings, values).   

·      Thank you Klahanie School families for your scholarship raffle donations!  May 5^th is the drawing! 

Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force.  The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward.  When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.

·       - Karl Menninger

Reminders, Thank-Yous, Dates to Save & Changes

·      Thank you & Reminder: May 5^th is our scholarship fundraiser raffle drawing, thank you for your donations, time-organizing and support! 

·      Thank you for the play dough donations!

·      Thank you for spreading the word for next year enrollment!  Would be great to enroll two four-to-five year old children to balance out our multi-age class ratios