Pajama Day!! Pancake Day!! What better way to celebrate Pajama Day than with a stack of pancakes! A group worked to prepare a delicious bowl of berry compote to go along with our pancake snack. The team of chefs used their knife skills to chop strawberries and blueberries. Next, they drizzled a touch of vanilla…
As the children prepare for their next steps, we are trying to balance giving too much and not enough information. Conversations about next steps begin to emerge allowing both children and adults to process the upcoming change. Understanding the importance of tangible information, we created boards where next steps are clearly visible. We must keep…
As we close out the year, we think of next year’s possibilities. We begin to consider everyone’s experience and interests and how the new spaces in the East Wing can support. We’re envisioning a gorgeous future together. We’re seeing new relationships on the horizon and solidifying good, old relationships too! For the last couple of…
Hello, Friends. When I reached out to let everyone know that I was very ready to meet in person and get back to doing the Coffees with Roleen that I so love to do, the Dandelions reached back and last Thursday, five parents gathered in the Kotek’s backyard. And this time I brought Erin Cypers with…
Dear Friends. Our Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour/Dinner on Friday was a really special evening and the perfect setting to honor the teachers. Thanks to you all for your heartfelt wishes and gifts and a special thanks to Heather and Jake (Marley/Cilantro), for opening your home to us. With a Butcher’s Daughter feast, complete with a bartender who…
Bridging Relationships This week, our morning meetings have held space to share with the children that the Cilantros, Dandelions, Mints (NSW online group), and three current East Wingers will be the new East Wing group after summer break. The pod rosters were held side by side as a visual to symbolize coming together. Marley recognized…
On Monday, the children learned that next Tuesday would be Keaton’s last day at New School West. During morning meeting, he shared his upcoming travel plans: I’m going to visit great grandma and grandpa in Maine. There’s a broken down hotel there, and I’m going to see if there are diamonds in it. I’m also…
It was such a monumental moment seeing all of our families come into the school and share the heart that beats inside the walls of The New School-West. After having a year without having parents on site, we were overjoyed to welcome you all back and honor you as the amazing parents that you are.…
BIRTHDAYS!!! At New School-West, we have established a Birthday Book Tradition where children and their families bring a favorite book to read to the group. The Birthday Books are donated and kept in the classroom to revisit. They become a permanent part of our whole school library with a special bookplate inside the cover celebrating…
Poppy and her family will be traveling to New York for the rest of the summer and they will be missing our group graduation so we celebrated her last day with us on Thursday. The children spent Poppy’s last week making cards, posters, having special appointments with Poppy and celebrating their relationship together. Below are some…