Because "It's Monday" is a holiday!
Hi, Friends. I'm writing this late Thursday night in my little
house in Santa Barbara and I'm busy putting the final touches together in preparation for the teachers' arrival and our Annual Retreat this weekend. It's always a
great time to reflect, get some solid work done, and learn more about each
other both personally and professionally. We've invited Flor Ferro from
First Presbyterian Nursery School to join us on Saturday and the teachers'
first stop on Friday will be to First Pres. to see her classroom. We'll keep
you posted with pictures along the way so you can get a peek in on what we're
doing.
Sounds like the NSW Family Bowling Day is going to be big hit. We'll be
thinking of you and hope someone will do a write-up about it for the blog.
Any volunteers? This is the
kind of stuff we love. Families playing together.
We still have room for our Four Part Parenting Series with Marilyn
McGrath starting on Tuesday, the 19th. Seriously, she’s great and I know
you’ll get so much from being with her.
I always learn more and more just listening to her. Think about it. You can e-mail her directly if you have
any questions. Her e-mail is mcgrath_marilyn@smc.edu.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 23rd, from 9:00 to 1:00. I’m throwing together a quick Parent Workday in preparation for our
up and coming NAREA tour in April.
We have lots of little projects and we would love your help. I’ll be putting together some specifics
this weekend with the teachers help.
Hope you can join us.
We’re beginning to throw together the registration for the new school year. The current families have priority for
changing schedules and adding or subtracting days, then come the siblings. With that as a base we’ll be filling in
the pieces. It’s never an easy
process, rather painful, really.
There are so many wonderful families that want to be a part of our
community that I just wish I could shout out a big “YES” and let everyone
in. But, that’s just wishful
thinking. That said, you’ll find
forms in your child’s box for returning
children schedules. Please complete the information and return
it to the envelope on the office door by February 1st. Letters to prospective families go into
the mail by the first week of March.
The
Wonders of Learning Exhibit will be up and going by
it’s opening on January 28th.
There are still ways to be involved and we have several parents who have
stepped forward. If you want to
help or even attend the conference you can talk with Susan Smiley (Marzhan’s
mom). She’s the point person for
NSW and will coordinate with Jean Kaneko and the other parents to answer any
questions.
Thanks to all the parents who came to my
impromptu meeting last Thursday night.
Even though it was last minute, 20 parents (anyone up for writing
something for the blog?) gathered to find out more about the Reggio approach and get in on the
excitement of the Wonders of Learning
exhibit and what it means to do what we’re doing. It’s not easy but sharing the work with the parents and
community is so important and fulfilling.
It was important for me to be reminded that we’re not alone in this
learning journey and sharing our story gives it all that much more meaning. In
Carlina’s words, “You give me visibility.” Thanks for that.
I want to send as many teachers as I can
to the Reggio Conference on Friday, the 29th. We are not closing the school which
means I am setting up a schedule for substitute teachers. Mima will be here, as well as Peggy’s
Gymtastics. Milena (Pablo’s and
Jackson’s mom) will also be here.
She was a teacher here before the children and knows the routine. Sandi Gish and Kirsten Heckes have also
committed to coming. You’ll
recognize both of them and the children know them because they interned here
from SMC last semester. Michelle
Weiner works as a teacher at Blueberry in the mornings and will be here through
naptime and until closing. We’ll
be ironing out the details over this weekend and once decided, the teachers
will let the children know what’s going on. If you have any questions or you feel your child will have
any difficulties with the schedule shifts, don’t hesitate to call. I just don’t want my teachers to miss
an opportunity but there is lots to consider and I will be weighing all the
possibilities.
So that's it for Friday, January 15th. Have a great four day weekend. The teachers will see you on Tuesday. I'll see you on the 23rd for the Parent Workday! xoxoxoRoleen