Together Again

HappyFriday! What a week, and a lot of updates - please read on! We're so happy to be with your children right now, even during this pandemic uptick. Here's an update on our pre-k specific Covid strategies: 

• Children are masked all the time inside, unless they are sleeping or eating breakfast. 
• We're eating snack and lunch outside, and will continue to do so unless the weather is particularly cold/wet/windy. Children who eat breakfast are "quiet like a little mouse" while they eat, and put their masks on to talk. 
• As per the guidance from the state, children are masked outside as well (that began on Tuesday and will go through at least January). We let children take breaks as they need when they are distanced from other children.

When we first started masking in school at the beginning of last year I was worried that it would impede upon our ability to connect with children. I'm glad to say I was wrong. It's amazing how quickly we've all adapted, and how flexible the children are with all of the changes we've faced in the past two years. 

There have been some questions about Superintendent Spino's most recent communication about when to quarantine. To clarify, the test-to-stay program has not gone away, but depends entirely upon the supply of rapid tests (which we currently don't have). SO, if there's a close Covid contact in pre-k it is possible that children will have to quarantine for 5 days. 

This week we spent the majority of our time remembering our routines and getting back into the swing of things. The indoor start has helped with our outdoor stamina, and we can feel how happy the children are when we arrive in Wildwood forest every morning! By Thursday there was an overall sense of exhaustion - it's hard work coming back to school after a long break! Check out this very short article on the importance of sleep for developing children. 

Enjoy some pictures of more specific play activities below, and enjoy the fresh SNOW!

A major theme of the week was ICE. We were delighted to find containers in the mud kitchen full of ice and did lots of exploring and investigating. 

Pull the lever and slide down the tree!

This ice was particularly interesting - why is it yellow? One child thought that an animal came along and peed on the branch. :)

This ice was fun for slipping and sliding.

Chipping away - definitely need the safety goggles for this project!

This kiddo found some amazing ice crystals he's showing a friend - what a treasure!

Using Kristine's flint and steel to try to make some sparks.

They weren't able to start a fire, but we'll keep practicing! (We've only ever had ONE child be able to do this!)

We read a silly book called Those Darn Squirrels - ask your child what it's about. These three are working on squirrel traps!

Farmer Sarah visited on Thursday and helped us make a rainbow collage of fruits and vegetables. We continue to eat the rainbow!

We mixed up some pizza dough on Thursday for...

Friday pizza over the fire!

Thumbs up all around, despite the crispy bottom!

Our amazing fire tender came with a HUGE rope that he strung between two trees - what a great wobbly bridge! Thanks Peter!

Have a great weekend!