Back to School--Fall 2013

 Our beautiful garden entrance. Thank you Josh for making the trellis, Julie and April for organizing and planting with the children.


Our favorite first school activities:

                                                                  Playdough

                                                  Independent Book Reading Time                             

Soccer with Gian, Challah with Mara

This week Gian came and did a soccer workshop with the class. Children practiced kicking the ball with different body parts, feet, head, bottom and back. They played a crocodile game, half of the children had to pass by the other half of the children who were hungry  crocodiles.  The workshop ended with a game, or an attempt to play a soccer game. Once Gian got everyone out of the goal posts, children began to get the idea of kicking and passing the ball. It was great fun!

Mara visited and shared the tradition of making Challah and Shabbat. Children got to shape the dough (Mara had prepared ahead of time). After reading two books about the Jewish tradition of Shabbat, the children watched Mara prepare a new batch of challah. It was nice that the children got to see the entire process, bubbling yeast, dough transforming from wet to sticky to soft, dough rising and baking. It was delicious!

Singing with Emily, Planting with Julie and Observing Chicks

Shutesbury Community Helpers

Last week we visited our  Shutesbury Community Helpers.  We began at the Post Office. Melissa gave us a tour of the Post Office. Diane, the mail carrier (driver), showed everyone their postal slot.

 The next stop was the Spears Library. Mary Anne read to the children and shared a picnic snack.

 We crossed the street to Town Hall.

 The first task was to vote on a favorite color. Everyone signed in, cast a ballot and signed out.

Chief Harding spoke to us about the job of a police officer point. Being able to communicate effectively is the most important tool for a police officer. The children took an oath to use kind words and were sworn in to be deputies for the day.

 Becky, the Town Administrator introduced the warrant. The Select board took their seats and the meeting began. The question was, "Should there be summer school?" After a discussion, an amendment was added to have only one week of summer school. Children voted, the article passed.

 Chief Tibbits talked about his job as a firefighter. He put on  his gear and showed the children how a firefighter rescues people.

It was a great day. Thank you Shutesbury Community Helpers!

Visiting School Community Helpers, The Rubber Ramp, Friday Feast

Spring

What a busy week!  The highlight of the week was our May Day celebration. Children paraded to the upper field to "welcome in the summer." We danced around the May Pole, sang "Oats and Beans and Barley Grow", and ended with "Rockin Robin.  

 In the classroom there was a lot of activity at the Post Office, writing, stamping and mailing letters. A few children drew portraits of primroses and grape hyacinth flowers in cray-pas. Julie and April had the children help with the garden. We placed everyone's house on the Shutesbury map. Busy, busy, busy.