We are like any school out there – we aren’t perfect but we are working hard to do things well. I say “we” like I teach there or something. I don’t. I’m not even on a board, committee or anything. I volunteer my time in certain areas and I support our staff through prayer every week and I am a huge fan of our school for many reasons. Recently my heart has just been so full with appreciation and admiration for our teachers and school staff.
We are transitioning our current playground into an outdoor learning environment and the kids are already having a blast just in the transition phase. An outdoor learning center might sound all granola and boring but it’s so not. The kids LOVE it. It’s all natural stuff that kids play with…..sticks, big rocks, trees, gardens, etc. There is strategic planning and placement of these natural materials to give kids the opportunity to play like kids used to play back in the day before video games and electronics. The preschool director of our school has been researching this type of playground and has visited other facilities that incorporate an outdoor learning center. She also applied for a grant to help with the process of making our outdoor learning environment. It thrills my heart as I sit in the carpool line to watch the boys build forts, dig in the newly churned dirt and the new big rocks that were brought in. And no need to feel sorry of the girls because they love it equally. Sophie informed me last week that she is the weapon builder of some club. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s not exactly the desired goal of the natural learning center but oh well. I’ve been impressed at how quickly they’ve trained the kids not to hit each other with the sticks or turn them into swords.
I’m also loving the creativity of our teachers and the new ideas they’re incorporating. The elementary school is doing a live wax museum and it’s really awesome sounding. I just got the papers this week and am still learning more about it. But I’m super excited. It will be a lot of work but a really exciting and fun project for the kids. They have to research their “character” and come up with a monologue that they will memorize and present when their “button” is pushed during the museum night. They also are provided with a large poster board that they will paint or color as their backdrop. And then they have to have one prop of some sort. Our characters are Pocahontas and Houdini. I am really loving this.
Our son came home talking about the things he was learning in regards to computer and cell phone safety the other day. He said, “Mom, when I’m done with this course I’ll be ready for a cell phone. Just thought you’d want to know that.” It did my heart good to know he was hearing safety precautions from another source besides me and his Dad. He doesn’t even have a phone yet and won’t be getting one until he needs it. Although I did have to admit it was a nice subtle try on his part to get one now that he has been trained in safety. Ha! But I don’t think we can talk about these issues too much with our kids. And I’m glad our school is taking these things seriously.
I also admire the fact that our teachers are followers of Christ and are committed to their calling no matter the cost. They do what they do because they love God and they love their students through the strength of Christ. It shows through their teaching, through their love for their kids and through the prayers they cover their students with. As teacher appreciation week comes up in a few weeks I can’t help but approach it with an overflowing heart of thankfulness and gratitude to both God and our teachers.
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