December 7th Newsletter

Ana and Mary’s Newsletter ~ December 7, 2018

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. – Harriet Tubman

We launched our study of Peace Maker Harriet Tubman this week.  We study the biographies of peacemakers in order to find inspiration for becoming peacemakers in our own lives.  One thing that all peacemakers have in common is their commitment to making the world a better place, to seeing a problem and working together with others to find a solution, to persevere, and to stand up for justice.  We have been learning about the life of young Harriet Tubman – known as Minty – and what she endured as a slave.  We have stepped inside her shoes and used schema of the heart to empathize with her life.  If I were Minty what might I think, feel, or believe?  As readers and writers, we are learning to determine importance, and consider which facts to include and which parts of Harriet Tubman’s story touch our hearts. We are thinking about what we might want to include when writing our own biographies about the life of Harriet Tubman.

We also enjoyed watching two performances this week.  The Nutcracker here at school was a magical experience.  After the show, our students were pirouetting all over the playground.  If your child is interested in seeing the full-length production, it is now at the Lakewood Cultural Center.  We also enjoyed seeing Corduroy at the DCPA this week.  This magical performance brought a much-loved story to life for all of us.

Upcoming dates

• Thurs., Dec. 13, Fri., Dec. 14, Sat., Dec 15 – MARY POPPINS 7:30 pm at JCOS
• Friday, Dec. 21 – Community Circle 8:45 am hosted by Molly and Jim’s Class
• Friday, Dec. 21 – Hibernation Day! Students can wear pajamas (they must bring warm clothes to wear over pajamas since we will still go outside to play) and bring a stuffed animal – preferably one that hibernates – which can fit inside a cubby or backpack.  We will snuggle up and read books to celebrate winter.
• Monday, December 24 – Tuesday, January 8 – Winter Break

With gratitude for all you do to support your children and the Open School,

Ana and Mary