November 23, 2009

Calendar

November

24  *Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Early Dismissal

25-27  NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Holiday (Holiday begins on Wednesday)

December

18  Preschool Family Heritage Potluck

     Last Day of Classes Before Winter Break

19-1/3  NO SCHOOL - Winter Break

31  Calendar Year Giving Ends

January

4  Classes Resume

18  NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day

February

5  *No Preschool Classes - PS Admissions Day

15 NO SCHOOL - Presidents' Day

*Prearranged childcare available as space permits

 

To start, thank you all so much for your time and care during conferences last week. Having this one on one time with you allowed us to share and learn so much about your children, and in return we are better able to support their growth. If any questions have arisen for you in this last week, please feel free to ask or e-mail one of us.

 

In preparation for our Stone Soup play, we read four different versions of the classic fable. In each story, someone in need, usually a weary traveler, knocks on a door in a quiet village and asks for a warm meal and a place to rest. Sometimes the traveler is a young boy, an old man or woman, or perhaps, as we saw in one version, three wise monks. The villagers are unwilling to share, and the traveler decides to show the people how to make soup from a stone – fancy that! A pot is found, water is boiled, and the stone is dropped into the pot. It smells good, but it would be so much tastier, proclaims the traveler, with a few carrots, a bit of onion, or perhaps a mushroom or two. Before long the villagers are bringing out their extra potatoes, beans, cabbage, and spices, and a delicious soup is ready to be shared by all.

 

On Thursday, to begin our play, a mysterious old woman knocked on our door and asked for a place to rest and something to eat. At first the villagers, played by the Honeybees, said, “We don’t care, we won’t share.” When the old woman told us she could make soup from a stone, the villagers began to bring out a few bits of this and that they had hidden away to add to the soup. (A big thanks to all of you grown-ups who helped to chop and prepare the ingredients). As the pot bubbled and simmered on the stove, the old woman went down the road and took a nap at the fire station (they just happened to have an extra bed). When she returned, we had a huge feast of delicious Stone Soup. It wasn’t until after our meal that the old woman revealed herself to really be… Jay’s mom Hadley! It was a fantastic surprise for the Honeybees, and a terrific performance by Hadley. Thanks to everyone who helped make our play such a success.

 

Ask your Honeybee: What’s the magic ingredient in stone soup? SHARING!

 

 

If you came into the classroom last week, you may have smelled the sweet aroma of gingerbread. Rebecca read the story of the Gingerbread Man to the Honeybees, and then helped them make their own decorated gingerbread people. With the leftover dough, a few Honeybees worked together to make a gingerbread house, complete with swimming pool, hot tub, and vegetable garden. They may have been inspired by another version of the story we read, The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett, in which the little boy catches the runaway cookie by making him a tiny gingerbread home. Be sure to take a look at their sweet creation on your next visit.

 

 Top Secret Projects have begun in the classroom! We hope you haven’t noticed the clay creations, and I’m sure you definitely missed the dazzling paintings made at the art table this week. Rest assured, all will be revealed at the Family Heritage Potluck before Winter Break.

 

One thing we want to make sure you all DID see was the new addition to Fairyland, our play area behind the Beehive. Our friends on the Grounds staff made the Honeybees a new fairy ring, which is a circle of beautiful logs for children and fairies alike to play on. The Honeybees watched the process as the holes were dug and the logs set in. Be sure to ASK YOUR HONEYBEE how they got the heavy logs into Fairyland?

 

Grandparents and Special Friends

Tuesday Morning Schedule

10:00	Welcome guests in Cabell Center
10:15 - 10:45	Preschool and Kindergarten students arrive for sing along
10:45 - 11:30	Classroom visits
11:30	Goodbye to all (early dismissal for Beginning School)

 

We hope you have a wonderful week and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

The Class of 2011 has created a fundraiser inspired by the rich natural surroundings of our campus and the Northwest. Our generous neighbor CORNELL FARMS is providing beautiful evergreen arrangements produced locally and sustainably. The juniors will sell these arrangements, garlands, and mantelpieces featuring noble fir with variegated holly and berries, royal fruit, and canella berry cones.  See the Catlin Gabel website for further details and order forms.

All products may be charged to your Catlin Gabel account. We are accepting orders through December 1st. Your purchase will be available for pick-up at Cornell Farms (half a mile east of Catlin Gabel on Barnes Road) approximately two weeks after your order is received. You will be notified of the pick-up date when your purchase is confirmed.  

Please email Madeleine Girardin-Schuback or Nancy Donehower, junior class co-advisors, with any questions.

The Class of 2011 appreciates your support of our prom fundraiser. Thank you!

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Annual Fund.

For those of you who have not...

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