It's not so dark with these kiddos!

Walking into our pre-k classroom in late December is a beautiful thing. Four and five year olds are still developing their sense of time, and so the idea of “vacation” and “holidays” doesn’t have the impact that it does as children get older. In other words, the frenzied energy of the holidays is quite lacking in pre-k. Instead, kids are engaged in their play, deepening friendships, and generally having fun. We adults could all learn a lesson from them this time of year!

We were so disappointing to have to cancel the Solstice Celebration last Friday night, but it was such a delight to see so many families on Monday, and to have ALL of our students participate in the event. Thank you for making the effort, and stay tuned for an invitation to a winter campfire sometime in January or February. We’ll get those lanterns lit with REAL candles one way or another.

This week we’ve read a couple different versions of an old folk tale called “The Turnip.” One version, by Jan Brett features different animals trying to pull a turnip from the ground. The other version “Grandma Lena’s Big Ole Turnip” features a family from the southern U.S.working on the same problem. Kids engaged in pointing out the similarities and differences, and even got to try a piece of turnip for themselves.

Lastly, I want to let you know about our school’s Diversity and Equity Committee. The committee is made up of teachers, parents, and community members, and meets on the second Tuesday of the month after school. Everyone is welcome! Our committee is currently reading Jennifer Harvey’s book Raising White Kids, which provides a framework for understanding children’s development of racial identity, along with tools to help children (and ourselves!) address racism when they encounter it. Copies of this book are available for families to borrow - please let me know if you’re interested!