13 Septemeber 2013
Dear Parents,
A big warm welcome to the start of a new school year. We have new families on board and new members of the staff team, and so far it has been a really lovely atmosphere of learning and working together for all.
It was very reassuring on Monday morning to see so many eager faces wanting to come back to school. The children have begun preparing the spaces with labelling, and making themselves acquainted with new arrangements. To take advantage of the lovely harvest time, the children spent lots of time preparing for the tea on Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon workshops were offered by Brockwood Park Mature Students who have had experience and interest in working with children, and may come again periodically over the year.
On the first day the children were challenged with one of the most important skills needed for life: team work. They were put into groups and asked to build an imaginary creature using a vast variety of junk modelling materials. How to communicate ideas, to agree and disagree, to persevere, to problem solve, and to complete something together that all are pleased with, were unavoidable essentials to this activity. Despite moments of frustration, arguments and the temptation to storm off… five wonderfully creative creatures were made and with very little help from adults.
Since our last announcement of new families joining this year, we have had two new children enrol for the term who will be attending Fridays only to start with. They are twins Grant and Brooks and mother is Karen Parker.
In this Weekly, please take note of the action points and get back to us with your responses and any questions. With a new start and new elements to the term there is naturally a fair bit to share and clarify. We hope you can make the curriculum meetings next week.
Best wishes for an enjoyable weekend ahead.
Mary-Ann and the Inwoods team
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Quote
Education for the very young
With the very young what is most important is to help them to free themselves from psychological pressures and problems. Now the very young are being taught complicated intellectual problems; their studies are becoming more and more technical; they are given more and more abstract information; various forms of knowledge are being imposed on their brains, thus conditioning them right from childhood. Whereas what we are concerned with is to help the very young to have no psychological problems, to be free of fear, anxiety, cruelty, to have care, generosity and affection. This is far more important than the imposition of knowledge on their young minds. This does not mean the child should not learn to read, write and so on, but the emphasis is on psychological freedom instead of the acquistiion of knowledge, though that is necessary.
J. Krishnamurti, Letters to the Schools
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Parachute games, introductions and remembering our rules
Action
And important reminders:
- Curriculum Meetings: Please let Mary-Ann know if you are unable to make the curriculum meetings next week.
- Cleaning floors and kitchen clean-up: Help is needed everyday in these areas, please let Julie or Sarah know if you can help out on any day.
- Sponsored Walk: Jasmine would like to organise this in aid of raising funds towards under floor heating in the Small Barn. It would probably be the first weekend in October. Please get back to her if you are interested.
- Walking to Inwoods: Please ensure your children are well dressed with the appropriate rain gear with a good back pack for their belongings. We are requesting that all children carry their bags to school in the morning. Occasional heavy items can be brought by one parent in a car, and spares could be left at Inwoods in a labelled bag on their hooks.
- Car Park Policy: Please make an effort to park at Brockwood and walk to Inwoods at the end of the day to collect your children at least 50% of your collection time. To meet our transport agreement, if you do drive to Inwoods, please park in the car park, not on the lane. The lane should be used briefly only if there is no space in the car park.
- Absences: Please let Mary-Ann know, preferably by text if your child will be absent.
- Data Protection: Though we haven't asked for this in the past, we would now like to have everyone's consent for us to share parent and teacher contacts with current parent and teachers only (email address, home address and telephone numbers). A form will be distributed shortly, but in the meantime please let Mary-Ann know if you would rather not give permission.
- Labeling: Please help us to help the children be orderly with their belongings by labeling coats, shoes, boots, waterproofs and as many other items as possible. Thank you!
- Farewells: To Rufus, Joseph and families (these were decisions made during the holiday).
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Pilates Tuesday morning. Thank you Beth!
Apple harvesting at Brockwood
Wednesday afternoon workshops: potato prints with Soairse...
Paper Batik with Suseela and Laxmi...
And painting with Evelyn.
Apple chopping, juicing and cooking
And finally a welcome tea and a taste of our local, hand-picked and baked produce.
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Calendar
Dates for your diary:
Curriculum Meeting for 'Redwood' Parents
Monday 16th September, 2.45pm
Curriculum Meeting for all other parents
Wednesday 18th September, 3.30-4.30pm
Parent Meeting
Sunday 29th September, 10.30-12.30
Book Week
7th to 11th October
Open Morning
Wednesday 16th October
Half Term Break
Monday 28th October
Autumn Celebration
Saturday 9th November
Parent Meeting
Saturday 23rd November
End of Term Party
Friday 6th December
End of Term
Friday 6th Decemeber
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Work Party in preparation for the term
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