Klahanie School
March 2018 Newsletter
Transitions are almost always signs of growth, but they can bring feelings of loss. To get somewhere new, we may have to leave somewhere else behind.
~Fred Rogers, Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers
February 2018 Reflection
What a wonderfully swift and rich month with your families and children and what transitions to new growths we are honored to witness. Thank you for all the time and care devoted to making the Valentines and sharing them with children and Teachers. Our class experienced wonderful opportunities to continue our Inclusion practice. When a friend approaches saying “Can I play with you?” our Klahanie practice response, “Sure, we’ll figure something out. We are playing…..” and the children let the friend joining know what the play or lesson is or say “No thank you, I am having alone time. Maybe later and thanks.” Our Teacher opportunity is to facilitate gentle reminders about the words used and walk around helping mediate when needed inside and outside the classroom. Our garden outside time and classroom exploration has developed amazing partnership games, group games and those seeking a bit of quiet time. The flow and balance has been amazing to witness. Our class has entered into a normalized classroom, Montessori name for the time when the class flow is effortless, smooth, kind and quiet. Lessons are between teacher and child (two most) and only speaking with intermittent repeats from children while we teachers offer new vocabulary and communication practice. We are now ready for some big fun. This is a meaningful time in class when we all really feel the impression of connection and empowerment. These words become sensory meaning and the children are so kind to one another as a result.
Fantastic quote of March between a five year old girl and five year old boy snuggled on our library pillow looking over the child biography of Sally Reed, the first American female astronaut at age 32.
M: Can you believe people thought women were not smart?!
C: I know. Look at Me. So silly.
M: Ya look at You!
C: Ya.
Thank you parents for continuing to communicate inquiries about your child’s school time and support with home experiences. We are so thankful for the opportunity to explore beside your child! Jordan highlighted the wonders of this job as, “you really see the changes in people, quickly.” We are honored to honor such delightful humans. As we giggle and place respect, this becomes our own imprint on this earth. We all are organisms, mammals. We share and hear story. And with that, our morning circles have become Circles with candle, talking rock or stick and exploration of listening and empathy creation following morning greeting of songs and movement/dance. All your children seek to participate either with listen-and-speak or listen-and-listen. We share space and honor our elements each circle, close physically as we share space (blow candle out) and have a bit of group lesson introduction. Ending circle Jordan leads us in Spanish songs, lessons and stories. We all LOVE this time!
I re-found this quote I enjoy and believe we replicate at Klahanie School,
In the middle of the Pacific, Hawaii is just a dot. And we live close together in this small spot. With all our diversity, how do we live together peacefully?
Hawaiian culture & tradition play a big part. Living with aloha means giving from the heart. It is a gesture of aloha to give a flower lei. Showing kindness is the aloha way.
On these islands that are so small, the Hawaiian people made room for them all.
Hawaiian culture tells us: Honor our elders, our kupuna. Our kupuna give us guidance and affection.
Dr. Carolan & Joanna Carolan, A President from Hawaii
• Spring: Review of seasons and loads of observation and sensory exploration
• The Structure and importance of Mycelium and Fungi:
• “Fungi are specialized eukaryotes that can break down very complex structures in nature. They have cell walls rich in chitin (the hard material found in the exoskeleton of insects) and utilize asexual reproduction through spore release. These spores have the ability to turn into mycelium.” Mycelium can then create fruiting bodies, known as mushrooms. Mycelium come in many sizes, from very tiny to as large as a forest and are made up of rigid cell walls, allowing them to move through soil or other environments that require extra protection. Under a microscope, mycelium can look like little deciduous trees in the winter.
• Puppet Show: the group requested to create a puppet show making puppets, the set and writing the play. We will keep you posted on material needs and when the show will take place!
• Starting to talk about our Peace Pole. We will put this pole up in April and have a May-Spring honoring. Please start collecting colorful long ribbons to donate.
• Wood-working, this will go on until the end of the school year
Reminders/Thank You
• March Spring conferences: Monday March 19-Wednesday March 21 (please refer to our google doc form to sign up)
• April 1 is enrollment submission for Summer Session
• Enrollment open, thank you for spreading the word as we fill a couple of spots
• Thank you for the Play-dough donations!
• Please let Emmy know about help establish calendar for remainder of school year for KVI field-trips
Island Community Developments:
Klahanie School has been host space for Vashon Maury Teen Talking Circle honoring the Feminine, our Circles will begin to include a bi-weekly 3rd-5th grade Circle after school on along with the Teen Circle on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday and Thursdays of each month. If you know of any individuals who identify as female who might be interested for 2018-19 school year please give them our school’s contact information.
If you seek to be involved in the ever growing work of youth empowerment and peace and empathy education extensions as a Mentor and community outreach person, please contact the school. Thank you!
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
~Mahatma Gandhi
