Farewell For Now Week!

Farewell For Now Week was here before we knew it!  The children had a wonderful time on Field Day (despite the rain), and did a great job at their "Book Reading"!  We are delighted that so many of you were able to join us for our Songs, Book Reading and Picnic.  It has been a truly wonderful year!  We wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you in September!

Looking Deeper:  Exploration and Learning through Play

Let's take a closer look at the children's social emotional growth.

I always love looking at the photos taken of the children during the special events of our last two days of school; namely Field Day, our Book Reading and our Family Picnic.  Over the course of the year we have routinely looked deeper at the growth occurring in the developmental areas of fine & gross motor, speech & language, and cognition.  This week's photos aptly illustrate the social/emotional growth which has also been on-going.

 

Every single day as the children have come to school they have strengthened their social/emotional skills and utilized these emerging and intricate skills to broaden their circle of relationships.  We spend a life time working at improving our inter-personal relationships.  This year as parallel play has moved into the realm of interactive play, the children have worked hard daily to move beyond themselves and "play" with friends.  Achieving this end is one of the paramount goals I have for my young students.  Meeting this goal is at the heart of my plans each and every day.  The classroom is designed  to support and expand interactive play as are the Units and Themes presented.  Each day I have observed the children as they have stepped outside of themselves and worked at making and being friends.  Witnessing these efforts and the fruits they bear is one of the most gratifying gifts of my job as their teacher!  It has been a privilege and a joy to behold the children sharing their thoughts, ideas, opinions, preferences and imaginings with one another as they build and strengthen friendships.

Field Day, Book Reading and Family Picnic brings us full-circle.  The abandonment and delight on the faces of the children on Field Day illustrate how far they have come in building important interpersonal relationships.

The lovely photos of today's final activities brings you most appropriately back into the picture, as you are ones who gave the children the wonderful foundation and confidence to expand and transfer their trust from home and family to school and friends! 

Thank you for sharing your children with us!  They have become a vital part of the Parker family/community, and it has been an absolute joy to witness this process and their abundant growth daily.  It has been a lovely school year!  Have a wonderful summer, we look forward to seeing you again in September!  

Have a fun and restful Summer!