This week we had Special Person’s Day. The students did a great job of organizing, cleaning the room and preparing what they wanted to work on with their guest for Special Person’s Day. Knowing how to prepare and organize for a guest is a wonderful life skill and all of your children were wonderful hosts.
Next week we only have two days and we will begin baking for our annual fundraiser for the Foster Children of the Greater Lansing Area’s Holiday Party. This is one of our favorite activities that we do. The children are very thoughtful in their preparations as they know that the more funds they have the more gifts they can purchase for the children. If your children would like to prepare a baked good at home you may. Please make sure they are individually packaged and have a list of ingredients for those who have allergies.
As the holiday season begins remember that through the excitement, this can also be a time of anxiety for some children. Take time to slow down and enjoy time together as a family. I hope you all have a tranquil Thanksgiving break.
Thank You,
Miss Christine and Miss Sheena
Week of 11/10/17
Dear Parents,
We celebrated Harvest Fest today. We did activities such as migration maps of birds, acrostic poems, weaving, identifying spices, and drawing winter scenes for the Greater Lansing Foster Children’s Holiday Party wrapping paper and much more. Thank you to the adults who were able to take time from their busy schedules to help out at the many stations. Ava Abood, Abbott, Clara, Scarlett and Miss Danielle were in charge of our monthly community lunch but they went above and beyond to make a much more demanding menu in celebration of our annual observation of thankfulness. It is lovely to see both classrooms come together with older students helping younger children.
In art this week, we are exploring abstract expressionism though different emotions and paint. It is very interesting to see how anger, love and happiness are expressed through art.
The highly anticipated Special Person’s Day is quickly approaching (Friday, November 17th) and our class will be very busy preparing the environment for their arrival. As an annual reminder many students leave for the rest of the day after Special Person’s Day is over. Please make sure to remind your child to let me know if they are leaving for the afternoon.
The cold weather has arrived! Please remember to send your child with the appropriate outdoor attire. We go out unless it is 0 degrees. If your child would like to keep an extra set of clothing or layers for outside at school, they are more than welcome to leave them at their coat hook.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Ms. Christine & Ms. Sheena
Week of 11/3/2017
Dear Parents,
What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” – Karl Lagerfeld
Last week we talked about facing our fears and writing our own stories of how a character faced a fear. Some stories had happy endings but some did not. Halloween is about pushing boundaries just like the spirits push the boundaries between the living and the dead. We see this in folklore all around the world.
This time of year is full of melancholy, many ancient cultures chose this time of year to celebrate and remember ancestors.
Like the memory of a loved one that never fades, Dia de Los Muertos also survives. It may change and evolve, but it never vanishes. The Spaniards learned that when they arrived in central Mexico in the 16th century. They viewed the ritual, which was started by the Aztecs some 3,000 years ago, as sacrilegious. But the festival couldn’t be quashed.
Not only did it survive, it thrived, moving from southern Mexico and spreading north. It also merged with elements of Christianity. Originally celebrated in the summer, it was moved to November 1st and 2nd to coincide with All Saints Days and All Souls Day.
This week ( although very short!), we celebrated the lives of loved ones ( humans and animals) that had an impact on our lives by building a traditional shrine to commemorate the dead.
Some chose to bring in pictures, to draw, or share a story about a loved one. A traditional shrine has photographs, letters, objects previously owned by a dearly departed, candles and flowers. It was very lovely to hear the children speak to each other about those people who are dear to them. Our history is what makes us who we are, and photos and stories are treasures. Remember to get them out and share them with your children.
