Greetings from the preschool,
Happy New Year, and welcome back from vacation! One big new change in our classroom is the sturdy wooden loft that now stands in the middle of the preschool. Some of you remember the loft from years past, and how much the children utilized it each day. We took it apart and stored it in pieces until we were able to reassemble it again in the new space. We are currently looking for a piece of clean carpet (4’x8’) to put on the deck, and a similar-sized, sturdy cloth that could serve as the curtain. If you have either of these and would be willing to part with them, please let us know!
The other big change, of course, is newcomers Natalie and Margaretta to our program! Margaretta turned 3 in December, and Natalie will be 4 in just a couple of weeks. And with Hannah and Charlotte having just joined us recently, we now have an enrollment of 14 children! Today we will make blueberry muffins to celebrate Isabelle’s 5th birthday (Dec. 21). It’s amazing – it always is – to see how much she has grown up in two years. She is so excited about being 5! We will be making birthday treats soon for Margaretta, and for Natalie later in the month. Happy birthdays, girls!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday vacation. I’d like to thank you all for your generous gifts and cards and expressions of holiday cheer. I’m looking forward to our family using the Fireworks restaurant gift certificates – and a movie across the street afterwards! Thanks also for all your contributions toward the fabulous holiday lunch that was put on for the faculty and staff at the end of school in December. This gathering, and the accompanying food and conversation, are a highlight of each teacher’s year here at TGS. Thanks again for helping to make it so memorable.
In some ways we are well into winter already, but on the playground we are in need of new snow – lots of it! And the pond is not quite ready for us to slide around on. We will try out the skating (sliding) on the rink at the upper school this week. We checked out some animal tracks at the top of the hill on Monday, and we’ll be on the lookout for more tracks throughout the season. Thanks for bringing your child with plenty of warm outer clothes for this weather: boots, mittens, hats, snowsuits/pants, coats, etc. as well as a complete change of clothes in case of classroom spills, bathroom accidents, etc. Children should all have indoor slippers/shoes, too.
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We will try to start our self-portraits today. This is a project that covers a big topic and accordingly will take us into February, with self-portraits, biographies, descriptions of our homes and families and of ways we are simultaneously different and the same. We’ll have ample opportunities for some fun songs and games and early-literacy activities in the process.
We started talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. today, and how he dedicated much of his life to promoting the concepts and practice of fairness and justice for all, and the importance of solving our differences peacefully. One of the catch phrases you may hear in the preschool these days (and beyond) is, “How would Martin Luther King solve that problem?” or “What would Martin Luther King say?” TGS will be closed in observance of MLK’s birthday, observed on Monday, January 17.
Thanks for your continuing efforts toward filling our Food Collection Box each month. The Putney Food Shelf was delighted to receive our contributions last month. Thanks for all your help with this ongoing cause.
In appreciation of your children!
--Ken and Leelee
