Issue #11 May 31, 2020

This is our last newsletter of this school year, but as I look at the silver linings of this time, one contemplates what we have done that we want to continue.  I plan to take the good things from this time and keep them in our future.  The newsletter is one of them that I hope to continue next school year.  Probably on a more monthly or quarterly basis, but it will remain.  I hope to use this newsletter as additional support to the parents as it has hopefully been during this time.  

We leave you with this song, one we usually sing with the children during the last weeks of school.  It is one that really helps the children process the end of something that they may hold dear.  The children come up with all kinds of ideas, from silly stuff to things that bring tears to our eyes.  My hope is that singing this song with them year after year will not only help them process the end of another school year, but will build in them the resilencce they need to fall back on for all the bittersweet endings in their future lives.  Click on the link below and enjoy!

Did you know?  Bears can smell something the would like to eat from 20 miles away!

Nature Connection- Summer Beach Activities

contributed by Teacher Philipp

• Make a fairy house
• Make your child into a race car
• Make a dragon out of your child in the sand

• Dig a deep hole nearby the shoreline until you reach water at the bottom of the hole. Continue digging until you have a nice sandy soup in there. Use that wet sand to make a drip caslte by just allowing the wet sand to drip on the ground and keep dripping on the same spot. It looks beautiful.

• Go to a beach with tide pools and let your kids explore the tide pools at low tide.

• Collect drift wood sticks, shells, dried seaweed etc. to make art with it at home e.g. a dreamcatcher / necklace

• Draw stories / names / random letters / pictures in the wet sand with your fingers, toes, or driftwood

• Somersaults, handstands, and cartwheels are great to practice on the soft sand

• Jump in the waves (if your child is afraid, take him on your shoulders. Each time a wave is coming, squat a bit lower so your child gets close to the wave and then just before the wave crashes, jump up again –>this also a great workout for you)

• When your child is more confident in the water, let her experience the pull and push of the waves at the shoreline in shallow water and while you are nearby.

• When your child is already a comfortable swimmer, boogie boards can be a great way of starting to surf. Just make sure your child is not being pulled out by a current while hanging out on the board.

• Look at the horizon when you have a calm minute on your own, maybe you see some whale fountains? Point out wildlife like pelicans, sandpipers, dolphins etc. to your child.

Where to go? We prefer beaches for free which are wild and not closed.

 1. Tajiguas Beach, off the 101 coming from Buellton driving in direction to Goleta

Copy and paste these coordinates in google maps and it marks exactly the gravel pulloff where you can park:         34°27'48.0"N 120°05'55.6"W

Supervise your child while crossing the train tracks quickly and safely. Train traffic is frequent.

2. Canada San Onofre, off the 101 coming from Buellton driving in direction to Goleta

Copy and paste these coordinates in google maps and it marks exactly the gravel pulloff where you can park:         34°28'16.8"N 120°11'10.8"W

Supervise your child while crossing the train tracks quickly and safely. Train traffic is frequent.

More Arachnid "Bugs"

contributed by Teacher Sarah

Crafternoons- Flower Pounding

contributed by Teacher Sarah

Preserve the full bloom colors of your favorite flowers by extracting their pigments through Flower Pounding!

What you need:

-Light colored cloth or paper

-Hammer or rock

-Flowers and leaves from the plants in your garden. Encourage your children to do the collecting.

What to do:

-Place your piece of cloth or paper on a hard surface like a cutting board or even a large, flat rock.

-Place the plants on the cloth/paper.

-Fold over the cloth/paper and have the kids start to pound! "Pounding" is a little misleading... you really only want to softly tap. You can experiment with different  "pounding" strengths. You can also place a separate piece of paper over the cloth, to give it a little more protection. 

-After significant pounding, open the cloth and remove the plants.

-Let it air dry.

And that's it! You can use any size cloth or paper and even frame them with regular picture frames or embroidery hoops.  They can be the center of a dreamcatcher!  Use your imagination and enjoy connecting with plants in a new way and sharing that joy with your child. 

Parenting Tips

contributed by Teacher Tracy

Now that families are beginning to leave their houses a little more, young children will  see people in masks.  My guess is that mostly they are resilient and will go without many questions, but it is quite possible some of them will be afraid.  From the time children are born, they look to faces and facial expression as a means for feeling safe in this world.  If a face is partially covered it is much harder for them to read non verbal cues.  Allow very young children to stay close to you and comfort them if needed.

Moment of Zen

contributed by Teacher Tracy

We hope your summer is full of nature and connection.  We love you!