We had a wonderful get-together with the kindergartners on Monday for Valentine’s Day. Maybe you heard about the heart-shaped toast we made, sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar – or the favorite Valentine’s stories that Libby read – or perhaps the occasion itself for mixing together with the bigger kids. All together it was a lovely way to celebrate the day. Earlier that morning all the preschoolers exchanged their Valentines, and I could not help but notice what efforts your children put into making these beautiful cards and expressions of friendship. They were exquisite! Each child brought in something uniquely different and wonderfully creative – and they clearly spent a significant amount of time putting them together. Thank you, parents, for your efforts at facilitating this considerable effort at home.
We’re coming up to our February vacation (no school Feb. 21 – 25). I hope you’ll all enjoy some fun family time during this break. My hope also is that the weather will warm up enough to melt the ice and hard, slippery snow that have forced us to be so cautious at recess time. We haven’t yet been able to trek into the woods for our tracking activity – the snow is just too deep – but as soon as the snow melts and compacts a bit, we’ll be able to walk on it.
As the upper school musical begins to gather momentum, I’d like to inform you all that there will be four preschooler cast members this spring. These four – James, Ben, Isabelle, and Niavh – have small parts as children in the performances. They’ll have a minimal amount of rehearsal time with the big kids, who are being tutored regarding how to be positive and inclusive role models for these preschoolers. It is, of course, exciting for these four to be part of such a big group effort, but we plan to be appropriately circum-spect here in the preschool as there is potential for envy and disappointment among the others. We just won’t be talking about it that much.
We’re continuing our occasions of inviting the older preschoolers into the kindergarten, and they clearly enjoy these chances to participate in some of the things that the bigger kids are doing. When we return from vacation, we’ll organize a schedule for including these children in the kindergarten Morning Meeting in addition to the PSD ski time that they currently enjoy.
Have a great vacation! (Please consider checking the Lost and Found before the weekend!)
--Ken and Leelee
