Dear Leila Day Families:

Happy New Year! While the whole idea of a "new year" is terribly abstract for young children, we as adults perhaps can use the concept to tap into the child's natural inclination to begin each day anew. With that in mind lets embrace the new year, and the new day, with all the joy in life that we can.

My goodness, we might even have some snow this weekend. In case of snow closures, delays, and early dismissals we align with the New Haven Public School System, so you can check with your local radio or television news service. In rare instances, we may decide to deviate from the New Haven Public Schools. And if so, we will notify you by 6:30 am via email or text message our schedule for the day. For early dismissals we will make sure to notify you by text.

Please take the time to stop at the world map at the entrance way to the school and pin what region of the world your family's ancestors come from. And continue to find ways to share your family and cultural traditions with your child's classroom teachers and friends.

The first family/school weekend trip will be Saturday, January 13th , and it will be a trip to Possible Futures Bookstore and Edgerton Park (more information forthcoming).

All the classrooms are involved in different areas of inquiry, growth, exploration, and wonder. As a school we are doing our usual thing by paying attention to events occurring in the natural world, things going on in our community, and what we need to address to be present to what is happening:

• In the natural world we will appreciate the Full Wolf Moon on January 25th, and we'll have fun exploring the ice, cold, snow, and how animals adapt to winter.

• We will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by exploring his life and contributions to culture and society, and we'll participate in different activities in correlation with MLK National Day of Service, where each class finds a way to be of service to the community (socialpresskit.com).

• January is a time where we, as a teaching community, think about the stories we read and tell the children. We turn inward, gather around the "fire", and treasure the opportunity to share special and important stories. What are the stories which you share with your children to entertain them, give them some kind wisdom and insight, and fill them with delight and wonder? What "stories" do you find particularly pernicious and harmful to your children, and how can we combat those stories with different stories, and tell new stories?

Finally, Maria Montessori founded her first school, Casa Dei Bambini, on January 7th, 1907. I certainly hold Maria Montessori to be one of the rightful leaders in progressive education (despite the commodification of "Montessori toys" in the marketplace, and sometimes overly rigid and mechanical application of certain Montessori principles at some Montessori schools). What do you think of when you think of "progressive," good, early childhood education? Maria Montessori argued for an educational system that would cultivate Erdkinder, or earth children, who would have both the confidence and competence (actual skills), to live in the real world in sustainable ways. As parents, what do you want us to be thinking about as a collaborative learning community, as we go about crafting the best possible educational experiences for your children?