- We recently spent a weekend closing in part of the playyard for the toddlers. The "kiddie corral" is great as it allows us better visibility of the little ones while we're all outside. Believe it or not, the Pre-K kiddos love the corral as well and ask to play in the new area all the time. We're hoping to have mulch down in the entire playyard in the upcoming weeks.
- We are working on sorting wood from the recycled barn that Leslie's husband Jesse tore down to use to build a new shelter for the animals as well as individual areas for each animal as part of the petting farm that we hope to have up and running this summer!
- The children have been busy working with Leslie to get the garden ready for planting. Thanks to Colton's grandfather, Chuck, for tilling the garden for us! We have corn sprouting and have planted tomatoes, peas and potatoes. Leslie and Janie's mom, better known as "Grandma" helped Iris and Asa get the potatoes in the ground last week.
- We've been on a lot of nature walks the past two weeks and the children are enjoying the interaction with the animals as well as picking flowers to dry for an upcoming craft project.
- The infants--Alex, Ali, Gage, Emma Grace and Lorelai are all growing so fast! Alex is walking--small steps but getting around on his own. Ali is pulling up and taking small steps...she'll be walking before we know it! Gage is babbling non-stop and always has a big smile for anyone who ventures into the classroom. Emma Grace is close to sitting up on her own, babbling and enjoying all the sights and sounds on the farm. Lorelai is laughing and smiling and enjoying floor time with her friends.
- The toddlers--Leo, Luke, Orion, Vivan, Jack and Maya are all starting to talk more and use each other's names. They enjoy community time at the table eating snack and love going on farm walks.
- The twos--Kaleb, Maksim, Kai, Gavin, Waylon, Mason and Gabrielle have welcomed a new friend, Hutson, to the class. The children have been learning about colors and enjoy identifing the color of objects both in the classroom and around the farm! We're discovering that water play is one of their favorite activities and will add more of this to their daily routine as we enter into the heat of the summer.
- The Pre-K are enjoying cooking throughout the week along with baking bread. Wet-on-wet painting is a favorite and we have some beautiful paintings hanging in the classrooms. Much time is spent outside completing farm chores and going on farm walks. The children take their jobs very seriously! Recycling has become a very important task at school and the children are eager to recycle just about everything they can.
As always, thank you for your continued support of the school. Please watch for volunteer opportunities that will be posted very soon.
Happy Mother's Day to all our moms. We hope you feel as blessed as we do. Thank you for sharing your children with us!
~Janie
