Hello 2023-2024 Klahanie School Families!
2023-24 Klahanie School Meet & Greet: September 5th 10am-11am
Parking is limited, thank you for carpooling and parking off 81st or walking from KVI.
For our families with 2yr olds and new to Klahanie School, and feeling a bit nervous as parents about the freshness and transitioning of caregiver to school team, with wonderments how your child will find resiliency in the face of natural separation anxiety, please come to school: September 5th 9:15am to offer your child another walk about with you in the environments with less people present.
Friendly Reminders below to all families for Sept 5th Meet and Greet, that will help in separation anxiety movements:
Being that we are a Children Space, September 5th will be asked for guardians to turn speaking volumes to 1-2 and allow time for your young learner to absorb the space. Take this time to do a brief and kind introduction-acknowledgement to guardians around you, and then move to more quiet focus opportunities for your child and yourself to feel the space and form connections. Teachers and interns will be quietly staged throughout the campus to focus on your children to connect and to do greetings to you. In the Art Tent: Magical Teacher Deb will help us collect change of clothes and emergency bags, slippers in the art tent as well as helping families check over our emergency contact information for your child.
Helpful tips:
Review the 6 Ways to Ease Your Preschooler’s Separation Anxiety post: https://klahanieschool.org/2023/08/29/6-ways-to-help-ease-your-childs-preschool-separation-anxiety/
Check out Mr. Rogers and Daniel Tiger content regarding going to school or new places and feelings of nervousness.
Using consistent, similar resiliency language and calming breathing exercises (4 Square Breathing) and saying comfort steps together (“Let’s focus on eating a nice breakfast and brush our teeth. Let’s focus on getting our boots on and moving to the door….) is key to helping the entire family transition. Take bits at a time and be gentle and positive. “I hear you are nervous, I hear that. I too get nervous, I breathe. Let’s move one step at a time. Right now let’s get a nice breakfast together and read a book. We will always figure this out together and I only take you with me to nice, cozy places. Let’s focus on that.” The language and naming of emotions can pause frustrations for your child. and the transition process is important in supporting yourself and your child(ren) in the freshness of school introductions by starting mantras that can help, “I feel nervous during new things, and I will be ok. Teachers at Klahanie School care about me and will listen to me.” Have siblings-cousin buddies come together:
Offer the benefits of multi-age mentoring and ask for the elder sibling to support the newness for their sibling by being beside them. They do not have to feel pressure of caring for the younger sibling, they get to introduce the space by showing their own enjoyment and comfort here. Alumni students, if not in school, are welcome to attend with siblings if available. Establish Carpool help and alternations of grandparents/neighbors that might be able help get your children to school, and practice trust building outside the family.Bring a stuffy inside their backpack and ask them to help pack for the day.
Plan those steps, take time and try budgeting 20minutes a day/evening before bath to get ready for the upcoming day. And maybe begin a little checklist drawing of the morning duties to get transitioning out the door. The more consistencies have huge benefits for children in the long run and independents are not far to follow.
Please start a “2023-24 Klahanie School” email folder to continue saving school correspondences to refer to. Scheduling and logistical information can still be found updated on the school website, http://www.klahanieschool.org/.
Autumn 2023 Klahanie School will undergo The AMS Anti-Bias, Antiracist (ABAR) Certificate Program which provides a thorough examination of ABAR education to support Montessori schools and classrooms in creating just and equitable spaces for all. This program responds to Maria Montessori’s mandate that we engage in a systematic study of self. We are very excited about this process and certification and another great step for our school moving to AMS accreditation completion.
Wishing you all a great day and very excited to connect soon! Thank you for maintaining communications to the greater community that we have spots open for young island learners in our program.
Below are some great resources we enjoyed exploring as a staff:
Work Needs Play: In this article, originally published in Montessori Life magazine, Paul Epstein reviews Montessori positions on play, looks at research on the effects of social isolation, and advances the premise that “work needs play.”
- Born Inside: Montessori Gives Hope to Children Living Their First Years of Life in Mexico’s Prisons
- The Future of Montessori Education: AMS and AMI/USA Host U40 Summit
- How Families Can Foster a Love of Reading in Their Children
Fantastic article to Reflect on:
Children in the Kitchen: 8 Tips for Cooking with Your Child: Discover methods to inspire young children to get involved in the kitchen.
- The Power of Yet: Helping Children Develop a Growth Mindset
- 5 Tips to Talk to Children about Difficult Topics
- Promoting Cultural Fluency through Folktales in Elementary Classrooms
Warmly,
Emmy, Toby, Deb, Austin
Klahanie School 