New Nursery/Kindergarten on Thursday/Friday beginning in September

Spindlewood is pleased to announce that we will be offering two programs next school year in order to accommodate all of the families seeking Spindlewood for their children. The Three-Day Kindergarten will be offered on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday and a new Two-Morning Nursery/Kindergarten will be offered on Thursday/Friday as of September 2010.

Both programs will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end with a 12:30 dismissal. The Mon/Tues/Wed program will offer an optional afternoon until 3:00 p.m. The Thurs/Fri program will end at 12:30 p.m. for all of the children.

The Thursday/Friday Nursery/Kindergarten will be for 3to5-year olds with a smaller group children enrolled, so that the three-year olds may have the nurturing care and assistance that they require. We feel that four and five year-olds will also thrive in this program. The Mon/Tues/Wed Kindergarten will enroll seventeen 3-6 year olds, with a limited number of 3yr olds.

We are fortunate that “Mr.” John Palumbo will be our teacher for the Thursday/Friday Nursery/Kindergarten. John is completing his fourth year in the Waldorf Kindergarten as assistant teacher (two years at Merriconeag Waldorf School and two years here at Spindlewood.) He has also offered Heartwood programs for young children in his home in Thorndike for a year. He will continue to assist Susan Silverio in the Mon/Tues/ Wednesday Kindergarten next school year, thus providing continuity of care as the children transition into the three-day kindergarten as they grow older and space is available. There will be one parent volunteer each Thursday and Friday to assist.

John has completed his Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy at Merriconeag, and is now participating in the LifeWays Early Childhood and Human Development Training as student, teacher and chef-in-residence. LifeWays will be moving to Ashwood Waldorf School as of this summer.

We are happy to report that there will be no increase in tuition this year. Tuition will remain $2,695 for 2 Mornings, $3,595 for 3 Mornings, and $4,995 for 3 Full Days.

We are planning a Maple Sugaring Open House on Saturday, March 13 from 9-11:00 a.m. at Spindlewood as an opportunity to meet Mr. John and experience a circle time and puppet story with him.

We look forward to welcoming your child to the Thursday/Friday Nursery/Kindergarten.

Warmly,

Susan Silverio

Candlemas/Ground Hog Day

Candlemas Day, Candle-less day,
Half our wood and half our hay.

Dear Spindlewood Parents,

Sorry to be delayed in sending this out. I was away this weekend to visit my parents.

This day mid-way between the solstice and the equinox was once known as Candlemas Day in Medieval Europe. The supply of candles would have been almost exhausted, and this was a good time before spring plowing to replenish the supply. In Japan, there is a celebration of this return of the light on February 3.

So this week in the kindergarten we dipped beeswax candles and later Mr. John drilled holes in slices of ash or birch as candle holders.

Here are some of our verses:

Bears hug in their caves so snug.
Squirrels are restless in their hollow trees.
Fox family yawns and stretches in their lair.
Ground hog pokes his nose from the ground.
Will or won’t his shadow be found? Betty Jones

Song

Ground Hog in your hole so deep
Lift your head and take a peep
If your shadow makes you leap,
Curl back up and go to sleep. Cynthia Aldinger

The children, who respond so readily to changes in the weather, seemed to arrive today ready to jump! So we used the final verse for jumping over a candlestick!

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candle stick.

On our seasonal table, King Winter now rules! The children who have been here last year are already anticipating the day that King Winter falls asleep on his throne, and the sweet sap begins to flow from the maple trees!

Warmly,
Susan