School Menu, Week 12/7-12/11/09

Monday 12/7

AM Snack: dry Chex cereal, water
Lunch: cheese pizza, buttered organic corn, organic milk
PM Snack: yogurt, organic animal crackers, water

Tuesday 12/8

AM Snack: bananas, water
Lunch: homemade chicken noodle soup, crackers, cheese cubes, organic milk
PM Snack: organic hummus, tortilla chips, water

Wednesday 12/9
**Children bake St. Lucy Buns**

AM Snack: grapes, water
Lunch: turkey sausage links, scrambled eggs, buttered toast, organic milk
PM Snack: organic strawberry-peach smoothie, granola bar

Thursday 12/10

AM Snack: organic apple wedges, St. Lucy Buns, water
Lunch: nitrite/nitrate free turkey on whole grain bread, organic baby carrots, organic milk
PM Snack: veggie straws, clementine oranges, water

Friday 12/11

AM Snack: organic raisin bran, water
Lunch: spaghetti with grass fed beef marinara, tossed salad and/or green beans, organic milk
PM Snack: "make your own snack mix", water

OPEN NORMAL HOURS

Normal business hours for school today--7 AM - 5:30 PM

In the event that Leander ISD announces an early dimissal, we will contact parents immediately via phone to inform you of such.

Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Hats and gloves/mittens labeled with your child's name along with warm socks and a coat are important with the cold weather that we're experiencing. If we do have some snow flurries today, we will get the kiddos bundled up for a short visit outside to enjoy this rare event!

Stay warm and see you at the farm!

-Janie

Menu, Week 11/30-12/4/09

Monday
AM Snack: Cheerios cereal, water
Lunch: organic spaghetti with grass fed beef marinara, buttered green beans, organic milk
PM Snack: organic hot-air popped corn, dried plums, water

Tuesday
AM Snack: bananas, water
Lunch: turkey meatloaf, organic broccoli, buttered whole grain bread, organic milk
PM Snack: yogurt, water

Wednesday
AM Snack: organic cinnamon harvest cereal, water
Lunch: black bean chili, cornbread with organic butter, Colby Jack cheese sticks, organic milk
PM Snack: crackers with cream cheese and organic strawberry preserves, water

Thursday
AM Snack: organic apples, water
Lunch: pasta salad with ham and organic peas (organic pasta, nitrite/nitrate-free ham), organic milk
PM Snack: organic fruit pastry, water

Friday
AM Snack: clementine oranges, water
Lunch: wild salmon salad (salmon, mayo), crackers, organic baby spinach/tomato salad, organic milk
PM Snack: granola bars, water

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Siler brought a little red wagon to share.

Rub a dub dub, Elijah in a tub.

Gabrielle, McLeane, and Soleil groom Lily Belle.

All of the letters are complete at the petting farm, thanks to Sarah Justice!

Hudson got some cactus needles in his socks and shoes. Nurse Catherine wheeled in the injured victim!

Siler, Wacy and Soleil helped chop broccoli to make quiche.

Kari reads a book about spiders.

Sophia wore her peacock costume to school for fun--beautiful!

We did "spider web rubbings" with beeswax crayons. Catherine did a nice job, and added a spider!

Here's another nice one . . .

To say something unexpected happens every day at farm school is an understatement. Today, poor Janie dropped an entire pan of quiche! Bummer!

Catherine dressed Leilani up--Little Red Riding Hood????

Ari, Hudson, and Elijah enjoyed building a large track with the train set!

Monday, November 16, 2009

We have moved to one lesson plan each week for our Toddlers, Twos, and Prek classes. Miss Kari is preparing the plans and making modifications for each class and its level of development. She is also assembling the week's kit of materials for each class. This has streamlined our curriculum, and we really appreciate your work, Kari!

This week, our kids are talking about spiders and weaving.

Kari brought a beautiful kite to share on this very windy day! The children had a good time trying to steer it in the petting farm area.

Ellen took Maya, Ali, and Maddy on a wagon ride, and the girls' enjoyed seeing the beautiful kite!

Go Ari!

Go Austin!

Go Asa!

Catherine and Austin made black bean nachos.

Painting with black . . . spiders? webs?

Leah works with magnets.

Working with nuts and bolts.

Our chalkboard drawing for this week . . .

Learning to braid . . .

Isaac loves the train set.

Menu for Nov. 16 - Nov. 20

Good morning! Please note that the menu will be labeled "Farm Cooking" on the blog from now on. Each week, I'll identify the small group cooking projects the children will be involved in. This Wednesday the children will be baking bread braids as part of their weekly curriculum and bread braids will go home for families to enjoy as a snack or as part of your meal. Have a great week and look for cooking project photos for the week to be posted daily!

-Janie

Monday 11/16
AM Snack: Bananas, water bottles
Lunch: Organic black bean nachos, steamed organic mixed veggies, organic milk
PM Snack: Organic strawberry-blueberry yogurt smoothies**, organic animal crackers, water bottles

Tuesday 11/17
AM Snack: Organic red delicious apples, water bottles
Lunch: Organic broccoli-cheese quiche**, whole grain wheat bread with organic butter, organic apple juice
PM Snack: Organic applesauce cups, pretzels, water bottles

Wednesday 11/18
AM Snack: Whole grain cereal, water bottles
Lunch: Lasagna, organic baby spinach and tomatoes tossed with homemade vinaigrette**, organic mik
PM Snack: All natural veggie straws and organic raisins, water bottles

Thursday 11/19
AM Snack: Cantaloupe, water bottles
Lunch: Homemade chicken salad**, whole grain crackers, organic baby carrots [steamed for toddlers], organic milk
PM Snack: Air popped popcorn, giant raisins [prunes], water bottles

Friday 11/20
AM Snack: Organic red delicious apples, water bottles
Lunch: Turkey sandwiches, cucumber salad**, organic milk
PM Snack: Make-your-own snack mix, water bottles

**Asterik denotes daily cooking project that children will assist with. Cooking projects will involve small groups of 2 - 3 children daily. Wednesdays are baking days where all children will have the opportunity to bake bread.

Hope for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum

Thoughtful House is located in Austin, and has the mission of: "Fighting for the recovery of children with developmental disorders through the unique combination of medical care, education, and research."

It takes great courage to consider the work of people like the folks at Thoughtful House, especially when pediatricians and even family members question "new thinking". When you are the parent of a child, it is wise to: "Respect and value your instincts about your child - never ignore them, no matter what anyone tells you. Holding a loved one's life in your hands means that you have to accept a position of power even when you don't want it. You must become an advocate for your child, even if it means standing alone against the world." (Karen Siff Exhorn)
That's power and responsibility, but most of all, hope!

Bless all families dealing with austism spectrum disorders. These children are warning us of the consequences of personal and environmental pollution, and we can learn so much about what clinics like Thoughtful House find effective. It could be a lesson to us all.

www.thoughtfulhouse.org