This Week at WSRF: The Early Childhood Programs

The Early Child programs are the foundation for all we do at WSRF. The steady rhythm and calm routine of the classes, hand-in-hand with the celebration of nature and its seasons, teach our children trust in the world and their own growing capacities.

This is where our students discover the importance of kindness and warmth towards each other, and the certainty that hard work and right deeds will win out in the end. The tenants and truths established in the Kinderhaus resonate throughout the grades and into adulthood.

With this in mind, we take a look at how our youngest students are meeting the world (and themselves!) this week at WSRF:

The Sunflower classroom is vibrant with autumn colors and festivity as the children prepare for Martinmas by making lanterns. They have been watching the puppet play about Johnny Appleseed and his journey to plant seeds that eventually grow into trees of all sizes. With a splendid visit from King Winter, the children have been bundled up in their warm layers and playing together in the snow. And every day magic swirls in the many ways the children help each other and care for the classroom and play yard. We had a birthday celebration and the children helped to make apple crisp. We are grateful for each day we get to spend together.

-Miss Sigrid

Moonflower Kindergarten: Snow! Snow! Snow! From Heaven snows the snow! Happy Autumn! What a magical time it is in the Moonflower Kindergarten! With the beautiful autumn colors dancing in the changing breeze, and most recently SNOW! The children’s imaginations are soaring as they delve into deep play with each other. All of the little one’s have finally arrived from Fairy Mother, our wool pumpkins have magically grown stems and we even carved a Jack-o-Lantern! We have some very special 4th grade buddies that gave us some Halloween joy this week and today we all tasted some roasted pumpkin seeds and yummy pumpkin soup from Ms Pam!

Our Kindergarten hums along every day with a strong rhythm of practical work that is meaningful whether it be chopping vegetables, washing dishes or folding the napkins. We love our meals together and we have so much to share with one another there never seems to be enough time for everyone. We know that even if we do not get a turn to share this time, there will be the next time for sure.

Outside our time is spent making fairy houses, rolling down the hills-or recently sledding! We all raked the leaves into a large pile and jumped into it over and over again! Did I mention we harvested all of the beets and greens from our garden? They made our soup taste extra yummy. Now we are turning towards the days becoming shorter, the cold outside and King Winter peeking up his head to remind us of the days we have ahead and the brightness that lies within. It is a very special time in the Kindergarten and we look forward with great warmth and anticipation-glimmer lantern glimmer!

-Miss Heidi