Here you will find the Magnolia Blog, a bi-weekly sharing from Magnolia teachers that contains photos and information about all of the fun learning and playing we’re enjoying together. Make sure to subscribe if you haven’t already 🙂

Looking Ahead 

  • Our first Sharing Day will be Monday 18th! Here are the guidelines for our Sharing Day:
    • We invite children to bring one item to share on Mondays. If there is no school on Monday, we will have sharing on Tuesday.
    • There are three categories for shares: Something your child made (art, sculpture, a model of something, a craft), a photo (a photo they took, a photo of a family trip, a photo of someone special, etc.) or something from nature (a seashell, a feather, a cool rock…etc.) No toys please! (Examples of toys: toy cars, stuffed animals (those are fine for naptime), balloons, things that light up and make noise…) If you would like your child to bring a musical instrument or something related to a special tradition or event in your family, please inquire about joining our class for family sharing! We want to make sure your family’s special objects are safe from our general share basket.
    • “Why no toys?” Please do not invite your child to bring a toy. Toys are almost guaranteed to be lost and/or broken, and/or create too many distractions. Please help us help you! If you bring a toy for sharing, teachers will remind you and your child that toys are for home. Is your child insisting that they must show us their toy? During drop off, show the teacher, then take it with you when you leave. Thanks! 
  • Friday September 22nd is our staff and faculty Professional Development Day. It will be a half day and no Extended Day.
  • Back To School Night is Thursday September 28th from 6:00p – 7:30p. Grownups only! We look forward to welcoming you to Magnolia to get a glimpse of our routine and participate in some opportunities for connection we have planned!

Finding our Flow 

The first few weeks of school are all about getting to know each other, adjusting to routines and finding our flow. During our morning circle, teachers have demonstrated how to choose a choice for the morning on the choice chart, bring our activities to a table or floor rug, then demonstrate how to carefully put our work away. Many friends have elected to be classroom helpers- supporting our youngest and newest Magnolians in our daily activities! The children know to listen out for the morning tambourine to line up, freeze and listen when teachers give a clean up message, and enjoy coming together as a classroom community for circle times.

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

We welcomed Nova’s mom Laura and Micah’s mom Atara to learn about traditions during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. We learned that people might say “Shana Tova!” which means, “Good Year!”. A common treat is apples with honey, to symbolize a sweet new year. We read some books and even listened to some music about family and traditions. Darius, Phillip (Kai and Airu’s dad) and Melissa (Robin’s mom) invited the children to prepare and cook applesauce. The children in Live Oak Classroom even brought us apples to use for our Applesauce! This act of kindness and generosity mirrored a story called “Apple Days: A Rosh Hashanah Story” that we enjoyed. We look forward to learning about all things Apples next week when we begin our sound of the week curriculum.

Two New Things in Magnolia

For friends that are returning this year, you may have noticed two special additions to our classroom! One is Mary Lou, our campus’s treasured upright piano! This piano is named after Mary Lou Williams, who was an American Jazz pianist, arranger and composer. Mary Lou used to live in Eugenia Classroom where Emily taught a few years ago. Since we are a musical classroom, it only made sense that we brought Mary Lou to Magnolia. The children have enjoyed playing the keys gently with their fingers.

We are so delighted to have a newly renovated grassy area in front of our classroom this year! Workers helped remove all the rocks from the former rock garden and replaced it with beautiful faux grass. Friends have been having a great time enjoying snack and lunch al fresco.

 

Art with Julianne and Upcoming Music

We are so excited to have teaching artist Julianne and music teacher Chrissy join us in Magnolia this year! Julianne visits bi-weekly and Chrissy, every week. Julianne visited and brought a beautiful beaded sculpture of a chameleon. She introduced the children to looking for familiar shapes to draw the chameleon with many bright colors. Chrissy joines us to sing songs next Tuesday. We look forward to all of the fun ways we will create, sing and dance this year.

Around Magnolia

♥ Emily.Mitra.Darius