Dragonfly - Brooksfield School
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Dragonfly
FALL 2020
Times A Biannual Newsletter for Family and Friends
FOUNDERS FOOTNOTES
By Mary Anne Duffus
The positive aspects of teaching during Covid-19 have made our time at
Brooksfield with our students so wonderful!
Our brave, committed and hardworking staff agreed to end their summer
early and return to work so we could provide child care to our parents as
soon as we could. It meant COVID-19 training and a commitment to
lifestyle changes that would be limited in scope with interaction with
outsiders and travel being greatly reduced or eliminated. A reduced
lifestyle choice coupled with longer work hours and increased work
responsibilities defined a real change for our team. They all agreed with
enthusiasm and loyalty to their calling as teachers and support staff.
Longer hours at work, washing kids hands at least 8 times a day, setting
up their Montessori classrooms with COVID-19 restrictions coupled with
increased cleaning procedures became our new normal. Many of our
schedules, systems, programs and procedures had to be put aside as
we met daily to develop our new way of teaching and existing in a COVID
compliant school.
The focus became: Health and Safety first, Montessori second. We reduced
our class sizes and expanded our classrooms to 7 additional learning
stations outside. We have 5 glorious acres and with half of our students
outside at any given time, learning became a sensory exploration in the
great outdoors. Our kids were learning about nature and the seasons
while also bringing Montessori materials to designated workstations.
There were pauses for visiting creatures such as deer, snakes and a fox to
the mischievous golden retriever who picked up a lunchbox and ran down
the street with it clenched in its mouth! Our students are happy and
thriving. School has been an oasis for them in the midst of a chaos they
could not possibly understand.
We feel privileged to be serving our community as it provides us with a
sense of purpose and allows us to contribute to the enhancement of the
lives of our families. Our families have been very supportive and have had
to adjust to all the new rules including taking daily temperatures at
carpool, answering COVID questions, and not being able to walk inside our
school buildings.
Thank you all for making these last several months as positive and loving
as humanly possible. It’s been a path of uncertainty and clearly one none
1830 Kirby Road, McLean VA of us have traveled before.
www.brooksfieldschool.org
703.356.5437 It has taken tremendous trust, teamwork and courage to forge our way.
We feel blessed in this process and look forward to 2021!
PARENTING FRIENDSHIP
CORNER
With Carlie Cooney
Wow, what a year! We have been
through so many changes and
challenges in 2020. We feel so lucky
to be teaching our kids in-person
this fall and helping them to build
resilience during this difficult time.
This school year we are using the
Peace of Mind curriculum in our
classrooms. This program helps
teach our students the important
principles of social and emotion-
al skills, conflict resolution and
mindfulness. The curriculum helps
our kids to connect to their breath
and utilize their coping skills when
they become triggered. Our staff
has also been working on their own
mindfulness practice and breathing
exercises so that they are able to
model these skills for the students.
We feel so lucky to have such a
mindful community of students,
teachers and parents! Finally, I am
always available to help- I am happy
to meet with parents at any time to
provide resources, brainstorm and
problem solve about any challenges
going on at home or in the class-
room!
AFTERNOON ANTICS
EXTENDED DAY
With Mary Rivera
The Extended Day children have been enjoying playing on the playground,
the top and back fields and in the peace garden with their friends. We
have taken full advantage of the nice weather and being outside as much
as possible. The different pods have been doing art projects, playing bingo,
and making lots of pictures and necklaces.
2 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org
3 YEAR CYCLES in a Montessori program. During parts which were traced, colored
With Sarah Krawchuk the third year everything he/she and labeled will have functions to
has been doing for the past two learn about in the third year.
Every year, parents of five-year old years comes to maturity, resulting
children are faced with the decision If the child goes off to kindergarten,
in exciting leaps in reading, writing
of sending their children to all the careful building up for the
and math concepts. The child often
kindergarten or to the third year big events of the final year, all the
bursts forth into reading effortlessly
of Montessori education. Many preparing of many tools and skills
and avidly, writing stories from real
send them back, but a few opt for must be set aside. The kindergarten
life, imagination and dreams.
kindergarten. The latter decision year is spent getting adjusted
He begins to abstract the math
may work out well on the face of socially and getting ready to settle
concepts he has been working with
it for a number of reasons. After down to first grade work. Whereas
sensorially for the last years. In the
two years in a Montessori school this may be necessary for most
third year of Montessori program,
a child is generally well-adjusted, children, for a child from a
the child brings together his
alert, broadly stimulated intellec- Montessori program it is a year of
geography to an intellectual level,
tually, muscularly coordinated and letting time pass and missing out on
a level of conscious understanding
has refined sensory perception. what could be done in a Montessori
and meaningful relatedness. For
Such a child is adaptable and, thus, school. From another point of view,
example, the wonderful series of
performs well wherever he finds it seems a shame for the parents’
puzzles that the child enjoyed in the
himself. This is, of course, quite large investment of tuition and time
first two years become continents
pleasing to teachers and parents, to be interrupted just when it is
and countries in the third year. The
and makes the child feel good. about to yield such a rich reward.
geometric shapes which he/she
For more information regarding
What is completely overlooked is traced, matched and named in his
Brooksfield’s Kindergarten program
that the child misses the fulfilling first years, in the third year have
please contact Sarah Krawchuk.
completion of the three-year cycle parts and definitions. The botanical
WE LOVE OUR STAFF
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 3
YA GOTTA HAVE ART
With Pamela Saunders original art that introduces them to well-
known artists such as Vincent van Gogh
Hi Brooksfield Families! I was just
and contemporary artists such as Yayoi
reading an article about the science
Kusama. My virtual art lessons align with
behind why art is so important for kids.
the Brooksfield curriculum and reinforce
As an Art Specialist, now in my 17th
ideas and lessons that they are learning
year of teaching art at Brooksfield,
in the classroom.
I know firsthand that participating in art
activities has many positive benefits. My student’s parents always ask me how
Parents tell me that their children are to best display and preserve their favorite
happier and calmer after my virtual classes, pieces. I found a great company called Artkive
and I know from the smiles on the faces of children which is a service that takes all of your children’s art to
at Brooksfield that my virtual art lessons are creating professionally photograph and turns it into a keepsake
some joyful moments and time to explore materials, book. These are wonderful ways to keep all of the art
learn new techniques and strengthen their fine motor in a special book and especially around the holidays
skills. would make a really special personal gift for a
grandparent or family member. If you do try Artkive,
It didn’t surprise me a bit that one of the first category
use the code YOUNGATART20 for $20 off the starter
of items to fly off the store shelves back in March was
kit! I reached out to Artkive and they were kind enough
art supplies. Art is entertaining, therapeutic and an
to give me a code to share with my student’s families!
activity that people of all ages can do. Despite inventory
https://www.artkiveapp.com/#about
challenges, I managed to find amazingly versatile
art supplies to make an individual art kit for each In the National Geographic article, scroll down and find
Brooksfield student. Each little bag has the paints, five fun art projects that you and your kids might want
specialty crayons, beautiful mixed media paper and to try over the winter break!
paint brush to create and learn. Each week, children
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/fami-
engage with my virtual classes and independently
ly/2020/09/art-is-good-for-kids-heres-the-science-
manage and care for their art supplies.
why/?fbclid=IwAR2r_nM5Zm-sYLPrwIxdIYvfgGE1XlrX-
Our weekly projects have included lessons on shapes GRp17QtYFMS7RJakrU1tb8Kq5IM#close
and color, wax resist methods, watercolor techniques,
the elements of art and color-mixing, all while creating
4 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org
MONTESSORI CURRICULUM UPDATES
KINDERGARTEN CLASS We look forward to seeing what is
in store for the Kindergarteners
The Kindergarteners have had in the Winter and Spring! They will
a busy year so far. They have all be learning about poetry, parts of
stepped up to their new roles as speech, solids liquids and gases,
leaders and role models for the time and measurement just to name
younger students in the classroom a few of our units.
and they have built strong connec-
tions with one another, forming
a nice group of peers. They have
displayed their leadership skills by
helping out their younger friends
as well as helping to set a good
example for the younger children in
the classroom.
They have also enjoyed listening to
various chapter books with their
peers. The teachers have been
reading, and the children have
been working on their summarizing
skills as well as learning about the
elements of a story. Reading these
books together gives us the chance
to learn about character, plot and
setting — and also to discuss story
development by reviewing what has
already happened and predicting
what may happen next in the book.
We have also had hands-on lessons
in Geometry. We learned about
types of angles, triangles,
quadrilaterals and polygons —
supplementing these lessons with
concrete activities like creating
angles out of wooden sticks and art
projects using construction paper
and pin punching to make triangle
booklets. We also began to explore
the concept of phonograms such as
the “sh” phonogram. The children
have been working on their pho-
nogram lists and they will continue
to do so throughout the year. Each
week we practice creative writing,
either by using guided exercises
in the Handwriting Without Tears,
“Building Writers” journals or
coming up with our own descriptive
sentences in the regular creative
writing journals.
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 5
MONTESSORI CURRICULUM UPDATES
PRE-K CLASS Students work on writing using
Handwriting Without Tears booklets
Brooksfield Pre-K students have and other Montessori methods.
been immersed in a supplementary Dr. Maria Montessori believes, “the
sound of the week program during hands are the instruments of man’s
the afternoons. While each Pre-K intelligence.” The Pre-K afternoon
group remains in their classroom is an enriching program that strives
pods, the Brooksfield teachers to instill a love for learning along
continue to work and collaborate with laying a solid foundation for
together to ensure the Pre-K reading and writing.
curriculum is uniform and engaging.
The sound of the week program
taps into the child’s sensitive period
for learning phonics and writing
and capitalizes on his/her innate
and natural ability to absorb this
knowledge. Providing students with
a sound of the week allows them
to reinforce concepts that are
taught during their morning work
time using additional activities and
experiences.
Over the course of five weeks
students learn a different sound
each week from a sound box color
coded with five sounds. These
sounds are grouped based on
frequency used in the English
language. Students are introduced
to a new sound using the Montessori
sandpaper letters. These sandpaper
letters are comprised of 26 wooden
squares and each square has a
letter of the alphabet made out of
sandpaper. This tactical experience
helps feed and imprint information
on the brain. Students touch, feel
and repeat the sound to help
reinforce the sound to symbol
relationship.
Based on the sound of the week,
students engage in different
activities such as an art project,
movement activity, games and
writing lessons. The writing and
art lessons are either sent home
weekly or compiled into a sound
folder that students can take home
and practice with their families.
6 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org
HALLOWEEN BASH
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 7
TODDLER CLASS ACTS
ENNY, TINA, MARIA, PAIGE
J mirrors what the children are able
to observe and experience outside
AND MYKIEL’S CLASS
of the classroom. Therefore, some
We’ve had a great start to the of the work is based on the
school year! The children have all season as well as holidays that are
adjusted well to the environment. approaching.
We often emphasize the importance
During the month of October and
of keeping a consistent routine. As a
Halloween, the children absolutely
result, the children come to school
LOVED doing activities and singing
ready for Outdoor Class/Gardening
songs based on witches, ghosts,
or morning circle time. The children
and pumpkins. Our classroom was
have an understanding that they
filled with pumpkins and Halloween
alternate the days for when they
decorations! For the month of
have outdoor classes or morning
November and Thanksgiving, our
circle time. Alternating these days
topic of discussion involved sharing
gives the children the opportunity
and learning about different types
to participate in both the Outdoor
of foods.
Classes as well as circle time and
new lessons for the week. For December, our focus was on
Christmas and Hanukkah. We
Circle time is an important part of
decorated our classroom with
our morning routine. We discuss the
Christmas lights, a Christmas tree
weather, day of the week, month
and a Letters to Santa mailbox. The
of the year and give new lessons.
activities on the shelves related
During our daily circle time
to both Christmas and Hanukkah.
discussions, we ask the children
There is a sense of appreciation
questions based on the theme of
when the children are able to
the month. For example, for the
bridge what they’re able to learn at
month of October we asked the
school with things they are doing at
children what they were going to be
home.
dressed as on Halloween, and for
the month of November we asked Lastly, we are personally thankful to
them what they are thankful for see so much growth and love from
and why. This month, we asked the each child. Thank you all for your
children what they wanted for the care and support! We truly look
holidays. Our circle time discussion forward to the remainder of the
develops language and gives each school year.
child the opportunity to speak as
well as respecting others by waiting
their turn.
After their morning routine, the
children have their snack and
immediately jump into the
Montessori work period. The
classroom is broken down into
sections that include art, practical
life, math, sensorial, manipulative,
movement, and a peaceful area.
During the work period, the
children are busy doing activities
from each shelf. Our work often
8 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org
CLASS ACTS TODDLER
LAIRE, ALEJANDRA &
C studying the parts of the apple, WORK TIME
parts of the pumpkin, leaves and
ELLA’S CLASS
trees. We took many nature walks
Claire, Alejandra and Ella’s class has to observe the world around us. As
adjusted smoothly to the changes Thanksgiving approached, we loved
of our daily routines and safety hearing all the wonderful things the
protocols and are having a great children are thankful for! The end
year! We hope that during this of 2020 was filled with joyous
challenging time, Brooksfield has celebrations as we learned about
provided comfort and normalcy to the holidays of Diwali, Hanukkah
our families. While our school is a and Christmas.
bit different this year, the joy of
At Brooksfield, we recognize the
learning and being together brings
important role and the benefits of
smiles and laughter throughout the
the arts in the development of
classroom.
children. The arts are incorporated
We started the school year with daily in classroom works and
Grace and Courtesy, where the activities. Art projects are set out
children were encouraged to use for the children to choose from
manners to demonstrate respect to throughout the Montessori work
others, the Montessori materials, cycle. In our classroom, we
the environment and to themselves. studied and created artwork like
Grace and courtesy help to make the famous artist, Henri Matisse.
our classroom and school a better We also learned about and read
community and helps the children several books by the author, Oliver
to build their own independence. Jeffers. The children had so much
The students also started the year fun learning and performing “Have
studying living and non-living things You Ever Seen a Pumpkin?”, “We are
and studied the globe as they Thankful”, and “Jingle Bell Rock”.
learned that the world is composed The children also enjoy doing our
of three elements: air, land and mindfulness lessons throughout the
water. We took advantage of the week. These practices provide the
beautiful fall weather and spent children with simple, practical tools
much time outside exploring and to help them regulate emotional
states and focus attention.
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 9
CLASS ACTS
OELLE, HELENA &
N In November we dove a little deeper
into our families and learned about
CRISTINA’S CLASS
each child’s family tree. This was
It was a wonderful Fall for our class! an extensive unit the children
We began the school year learning were very excited to enjoy. Using
about the classroom, working on pictures, we created each child’s
independence and developing a full family tree using paper and fall
Montessori work cycle. We explored colored leaves! Later in November,
science and the world we live in. the class spent time learning about
We learned about classifying living gratitude and thankfulness before
vs. nonliving things in the world, as the Thanksgiving holiday.
well as the three things the world is
We wrapped up 2020 by learning
composed of: air, land and water.
about the holidays, Hanukkah and
Our class studied the parts of an Christmas! The children enjoyed
apple! We cut an apple in half and learning about the holidays they
discussed all the different parts already celebrate at home, as well
that make up an apple (skin, flesh, as, some they had never heard
stem, leaves, core and seeds). of. Noelle and Helena are looking
Lastly, we wrapped up our apple forward to a wonderful Winter and
unit by having an apple tasting. Each Spring in our classroom! Our class
member of the class brought in one will enjoy units of study on Antarctica,
red, one green and one yellow Community Helpers, Weather, Asia
apple and took a vote on which and butterflies and their life cycle!
apple was the class favorite! It will be a busy and fun filled 2021
Next, the class studied the parts of in Noelle and Helena’s Class!
a pumpkin (leaf, vine, stem, seed,
strand, skin). We cut a pumpkin in
half and examined the inside and
found the different parts. The
children had an opportunity to
make a parts-of-the pumpkin
booklet. The children colored and
labeled all parts of the pumpkin in
his or her booklet for repetition
and to deepen their study on the
pumpkin. In preparation for
Halloween, the children also
enjoyed an in-school Halloween
Bash. Although this was not our
usual Halloween celebration the
class still had a blast!
The class completed our first artist
unit of study on Vincent Van Gogh.
The children learned all about his
life and many of the colorful
paintings he painted. Each child
had an opportunity to create his or
her own copy of Van Gogh’s famous
painting, “Starry Night”.
10 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.orgCLASS ACTS
ANESSA’S, ANI &
V stencils on the line, opening their
own lunch containers, zipping up
CAYLEY’S CLASS
their own coats are all examples of
The multitude of new protocols how the work at hand helps build
hasn’t stopped the orange room on everyday life tasks. These
from exploring their environment. It seemingly minimal tasks to an adult
is such a gift to see that the joy of are what our works in the practical
learning continues in the midst of life area help develop. Academically
this year’s challenges. We began our speaking, the classroom is full of
year learning about safety and how opportunities in each subject area
to protect ourselves and others. that enhance their knowledge and
These lessons went hand in hand experience of the world around
with our Grace and Courtesy unit. them.
The social and emotional
Moreover, stimulating each child’s
development of each child is a
curiosity and nurturing their confi-
strong emphasis in our classroom
dence is my ongoing commitment.
culture. Caring for others is
The resilience and adaptability of
constantly practiced and modeled,
each child has left me with a spirit
leaving each child with a plethora
of thankfulness and gratitude and
of opportunities to effectively
very hopeful with anticipation for
communicate with their peers.
what the new year will bring!
We’ve learned what it means to
fill one another’s bucket and how
a kind word or act of service can
make someone feel better. In turn,
this is also a way to fill our own
bucket if we are feeling sad. Our
pod operates as a tight knit family
and it warms my heart to see how
caring the children are towards
each other.
Consistency is key and it’s aiding
in their overall development. Their
daily work is building on their ability
to practice order, coordination,
concentration and independence.
We begin our mornings with a new
lesson that reinforces or builds on
the current topic. Thus far, we have
had so much fun learning about
planet earth, living and non-living
things, vertebrates and inverte-
brates, life cycles and more! The
beauty of a Montessori environment
is that it encourages each child
to discover and engage in work
that they find interesting, which in
turn helps them develop a positive
self-image. I love seeing a child
light up after completing a difficult
task on their own. Carefully cutting
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 11CLASS ACTS
LLEN, ALEX & TRISHA’S
E The arts are an important focus at
Brooksfield and are incorporated
CLASS
daily in classroom works. Various
In the new 2020 school year Ellen art projects and lessons are set
and Alex’s class adapted and out for the students to choose
embraced the new normal of what from throughout the morning work
the Montessori classroom looks like cycle. These works may enhance
during COVID. Our class community unit studies that the class is
has come even closer together as focusing on, along with free art for
we embrace being in our “pod” the students to explore and express
with one another. In our class pod their creativity. Students are
the students have built an enjoying more projects this year
inseparable bond. As we utilize the with a focus on the seasons,
outdoor space even more this year, holidays and literacy studies in the
we have developed creative ways to class. Authors the students have
bring the academics to the outside studied are Julia Donaldson and
and outdoor studies inside. Jan Brett.
As the students continue to be Mindfulness in the classroom is in
immersed in the Montessori full swing. The students continue
curriculum receiving individualized their weekly mindfulness lessons.
lessons, the class has been focusing These lessons are to help give them
on various studies as a whole. These the tools to handle their emotions
studies range from science, in a more effective and positive way
geography, the arts and mindfulness. amongst their fellow peers, teachers,
Engaging the students in these family and most importantly them-
important studies is key to laying a selves. They will continue these
solid foundation for their child de- weekly mindfulness lessons for the
velopment and educational journey. second half of the school year.
In science, the students have been Despite being in our class pods, we
learning how to classify. Through are still creating virtual assemblies
this process they are being taught for the students and their parents
the difference between various and enjoying holiday parties in a
groups of animals such as safe setting outside. Thank you to
vertebrates and invertebrates, what all our parent volunteers for helping
makes something living or non- make this all possible. It has been
living and the differences between such a pleasure building a strong
plants and animals. Geography is a classroom community. We are
Montessori staple in the classroom. looking forward to another
Students have been introduced to enriching semester ahead.
globes, maps, continents, and their
cosmic address. The Montessori
continent puzzle maps allow the
children to manipulate and get a
deeper understanding of the world
around them. As an extension of
this, students can create their own
continent maps. We have been
delving deeper into the continent
study of North America and coming
up, Antarctica.
12 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.orgCLASS ACTS MINDFULNESS
LAINA, JANEÉ AND PHIL’S
E
CLASS
It has been a wonderful Fall for
Elaina, Janee and Phil’s class! We
started the school year learning
about the classroom, working on
independence, and developing a
full Montessori work cycle. We also
started our year learning about
science and the world we live
in. We learned about living and
non-living things in this world, as
well as what the world is made of
air, land and water!
We then spent time learning about
gratitude and thankfulness before
the Thanksgiving holiday. Through-
out the month of December, the
children took time learning about
different holidays that we are
celebrating this time of year
amongst different cultures. The
children enjoyed learning about
the holidays they already celebrate
at home as well as some they had
never heard of.
In the Fall the children also enjoyed
an in-school Halloween Bash!
Although this wasn’t our normal
Halloween celebration, we made
the most of it and the children had
a blast wearing the costumes to
school and celebrating with their
friends. The children have also been
enjoying recording virtual assemblies!
We look forward to a wonderful
winter and spring in the classroom.
We look forward to learning about
subjects such as Antarctica,
Community Helpers, Weather,
Asia, the Olympics, and Butterflies
and their life cycle! It has been a
wonderful year so far, and we look
forward to seeing what is in store of
Elaina, Janee and Phil’s class!
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 13THE GREAT OUTDOORS OUTDOOR EDUCATION With Katie Beasley As we prepared for the return of students this school year, we found ourselves most appreciative of the natural learning environment of the outdoors. The Brooksfield campus allows for such a unique opportunity for our students to learn, explore and grow in a way that connects them directly with nature. Maria Montessori was very clear in her writings about the relationship between the natural environment and the child. “There is no descrip- tion, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving,” said Montessori The Brooksfield students love every day in the outdoor classroom. They are often found observing wildlife, identifying flora and fauna, and typically all of this while covered in mud. The true joys of childhood are deep rooted in our renown mud kitchen. At any given moment a fresh soup is simmering, cupcakes are baking, and eggs are being scrambled. The children are so creative and spend most of their time working together and problem- solving ideas. As we continue to navigate this year, we are continually reminded that our school outdoors foster an environment of love, happiness and learning. 14 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org
johnhenrymusic.online
THE SOUND OF MUSIC https://www.facebook.com/kidsconcertsDC
PRESCHOOL MUSIC “Singing makes us breathe more deeply than many
With John Henry England forms of strenuous exercise, so we take in more
oxygen, improve aerobic capacity and experience a
As we celebrate the Fall season we are mindful of the release of muscle tension as well.”
many gifts of mother earth. It is wonderful to spend
our time in nature. We are able to see the seasons — Professor Graham Welch, Director of Educational
change as we grow each year. Our classes have enjoyed Research, University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK
singing and dancing outdoors. We’ve loved celebrating • Sound therapist Jovita Wallace says “Sound vibrations
Halloween and Thanksgiving with our classmates. (Have massage your aura, going straight to what’s out of
you seen the ghost of John Henry?) balance and fixing it.”
At Brooksfield we are now preparing for the Holiday • Singing the short-a sound, as in ahh, for 2-3 minutes
Performance. We can’t wait to share our seasonal will help banish the blues. It forces oxygen into the
favorites with you. Singing brings joy to the world and is blood, which signals the brain to release mood-lifting
good for you too. A nice reminder of the health endorphins.
advantages is in the quote below.
• To boost alertness, make the long-e sound, as in emit.
We look forward to singing Bobby The Brooksfield It stimulates the pineal gland, which controls the
Dragonfly and to seeing each other again in the spring! body’s biological clock.
Singing is good for you. Many studies…have focused • Singing the short-e sound, as in echo stimulates the
on the health benefits of singing, and the evidence is thyroid gland, which secretes hormones that control
overwhelming. the speed which digestion and other bodily processes
• Singing releases endorphins into your system and occur.
makes you feel energized and uplifted. People who • Making the long-o sound as in ocean stimulates the
sing are healthier than people who don’t. pancreas, which regulates blood sugar.
• Singing gives the lungs a workout, • To strengthen immunity, sing the double-o sound, as
• Singing tones abdominal and intercostal muscles and in tool. This activates the spleen, which regulates the
the diaphragm, and stimulates circulation. production of infection fighting white blood cells.
PRIMARY WORK TIME
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 15ELAINA’S CLASS THANKS… • Thank you to our class librarian, ANESSA’S CLASS
V
Katie Duncan. We are so grateful
• Thank you so much to everyone THANKS….
for you taking time out of your day
for making this year such a success to pick out books for our class! • Thank you to our room parent
so far! It has been an exciting year Claire Wright for all her time and
and I have enjoyed working with • Thank you to Jen and Kevin Lavelle
organization. Her help is greatly
your children. for hosting our Class Halloween
appreciated!
Party! It was a wonderful Halloween
• Thank you to Nicole Kahle and celebration and a great opportunity • Thank you to Jennifer Houthuyzen
Maria Cochrane for being such for our classroom community to for her many donations of books,
helpful and supportive Room come together to safely socialize! puzzles and more!
Parents for me this year. I couldn’t
have done it without you! • Thank you to all the parents who • Thank you to all who have donated
sent in a bouquet of flowers for flowers and playdough. The children
• Thank you to all of the families flower arranging! love using these works!
who have brought in flowers for
flower arranging! The children love • Thank you to all the parents who • Thank you to everyone for being
that work! volunteered their time to be our so flexible as we work together to
Mystery Reader! We love having you make a safe environment for your
• Thank you to all of the parents join us outside for a fun story! child!
who have been Mystery Readers!
The children are loving that weekly • Thank you to the parents who
helped make his or her child’s CLAIRE’S CLASS THANKS…
tradition!
‘Child of the Week’ a success! • This year more than ever, we
• Thank you to Mindy Lee for This is such a special week to appreciate our wonderful parents!
preparing a Halloween craft for the celebrate your child’s birthday and
children again this year! • A huge thank you to our amazing
we couldn’t have done it without
room parents, Palak Sampat and
• Thank you to all the families who your help!
Katie Skalka. The support,
helped make your child’s Child of • We are so grateful for each and encouragement and help has been
the Week celebration a wonderful every parent in our classroom so appreciative.
one. We loved sharing all the community and we cannot thank
posters, books, and special • We would also like to thank all
you enough for all that you do!
treasures! the other parents who have
volunteered so far this year. Thank
• Thank you to Rosie Pandhi for ELLEN’S CLASS THANKS… you for volunteering your time to
helping us with our Diwali
• Thank you to our classroom pick up library books, make play
celebration! The children loved
parents, JoAnn Perry and Geeta dough, bring in flowers for the
learning about that holiday!
Sen, for volunteering your time and children to arrange and bring home
• Thank you to Neha Vohra and helping organize and facilitate so our Thursday parent folder. We are
Jessica Tischler for filling our much behind the scenes. so grateful for such a wonderful
classroom with fun books that the group of children and parents!
• A big thank you to all our parents
children love!
who volunteered their time creating
crafts and activities for holiday TODDLER CLASS THANKS…
NOELLE’S CLASS THANKS… parties • Thank you to Jen Lavelle for being
• Thank you to our amazing room • To all the parents who continue to our room parent! We appreciate
parents, Jen Lavelle and Katie support us in the classroom. your help, and we will miss the
Duncan! We are so grateful for all We are forever grateful for the Lavelle family at Brooksfield, all the
the hard work and dedication you support, even more so this year! best in Texas!
both show to our classroom!
• Thank you to Jennifer Finnegan for
16 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.orgtaking on the role to be our room
parent for the remainder of the SPEAK UP
school year!
• Thank you to the Lavelle, Bluhm, ESPAÑOL
Tweddle, Treanor, Black, Huey and With Eleana Velasco
Botting families for signing up to
¡Hola amigos! We
supply for Thumper’s food and
bedding! have been enjoying
our Spanish classes
outdoors this year
and the weather has
been on our side.
We have been talking
about the weather,
the seasons, colors,
shapes, numbers, and
we are now learning
about body parts. We are also counting from 1 to 10 and 1-30 with our
kindergartners. We begin our class with “The Good Morning Song”
(Canción de buenos días). If you would like to sing along, the lyrics are
included below. Amelia, the puppet (who does not know she is a puppet),
always sings with us and asks silly questions. We read Demasiados gatos
(Too Many Cats) by Sindy McKay. Amazingly, the cats came out of the book
and were hiding around the Spanish tent, but luckily, we were able to spot
them all! Keep safe and warm.
¡Hasta muy pronto!
Canción de buenos días The Good Morning Song
(Tune: Frère Jacques/Brother John)
Buenos días, buenos días Good morning, good morning
¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo estás? How are you? How are you?
Muy bien, gracias. Muy bien, gracias. Very well, thank you. Very well,
thank you
¿Y tú? ¿Y tú? And you? And you?
Buenos días, buenos días Good morning, good morning
¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo estás? How are you? How are you?
Muy mal, muy mal Very bad, very bad
¿Y tú? ¿Y tú? And you? And you?
Buenos días, buenos días Good morning, good morning
¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo estás? How are you? How are you?
Más o menos, más o menos So, so, thank you. So, so, thank
you.
¿Y tú? ¿Y tú? And you? And you?
Buenos días, buenos días Good morning, good morning
¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo estás? How are you? How are you?
¡Fantástico! Fantastic!
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 17HELPING HANDS MOVEMENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH With Mary Rivera
With Alexis Adkins The children have been enjoying doing movement for the sounds of the
week. They have learned space awareness, teamwork, underhand throwing,
During these difficult times,
chasing, fleeing and catching through games. We used hula hoops for
Brooksfield has been pushing airplanes to play Airport and Space City to learn space awareness. Balloon
into the community and helping Madness to teach us hand-eye coordination. The game Oodles of Noodles
those who need it most affected encourages creative movement and practice various locomotor skills.
by COVID-19. Brooksfield held a The children played Tick Tock to teach the proper form for a one-handed
underhand throw. Monster Mash taught us chasing, fleeing and dodging
canned food drive to be donated to
skills. The children also played a couple of fun Thanksgiving games called
Share of McLean, an all-volunteer Turkey Feathers and Stuff theTurkey. These games we used our underhand
organization helping people in need throw and teamwork skills.
in our local community. Share
provides assistance to its neighbors
in need with food, furniture,
clothing, laptop computers,
back-to-school supplies, holiday
programs, and emergency family
assistance.
This winter, Brooksfield will also
hold a Coat Drive where our
community can donate new and HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
gently used coats to be donated
to One Warm Coat, a national
non-profit organization that works
to provide a free, warm coat to any
person in need and raises aware-
ness of the vital need for warm
coats. The coats we collect will
be distributed here in our local
community, to any person in need,
without charge, discrimination or
obligation.
We cannot wait to continue more
community outreach this spring!
Thank you to all the parents,
students, and teachers who took
the time out of their busy schedules
to instill the love of giving back to
our community and those in need.
These are compassionate
leadership skills that Brooksfield
students will carry with them
throughout their lives!
18 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.orgORGANIC GARDENING to focus on composting, soil, and
With Melissa Webster preparing the greenhouse for spring
plantings. Taking time to learn
The garden is a space where magic about the process of growing things
happens; it is a space where a child sets the students up for success
can watch something grow from and gives them the confidence to
nothing, and we understand that enjoy the garden when it warms
moment is priceless. We are so up again. It is my hope that time
thrilled we are able to provide these in the Brooksfield garden gives
special moments in the garden every child a lifelong passion for
for every child at Brooksfield. Even growing things, and the added love
though the temperatures have of spending time outside. I can’t
dropped outside, our garden is still express enough how special it is to
thriving as we enter the winter watch each child grow confident in
season. It is filled with arugula, the garden throughout the year. I
chard, cabbage and broccoli. I know am truly grateful for your support
some of you have received some of of the garden program, and all that
these goodies in a bag home in the we grow here.
last few weeks.
When the students came back to
school in September the garden
was lush and filled with tomatoes,
cucumbers, squash, eggplants,
and flowers. We even had tons of
worms, every Brooksfield student’s
favorite! We started the year off
learning about the lifecycle of a
plant. We learned all about seeds
and how to care for them. We
planted hundreds of seeds
ourselves, taking great care in
handling them. Each student was
able to start seeds, and then in a
couple weeks, plant the seedlings
themselves. This gave them the
opportunity to keep track of each
plants growth. Ownership of his or
her own plant made every trip to
the garden exciting, as each
student would run to the garden
gate to check on his or her “leafy”
to its progress. It is warming to
watch each child take extra care
while watering the seedlings or
observing whether a bug has taken
a bite of its leaf that day. As the
school year went on we even got
a visit from a duck and a chicken!
The birds taught us all about farm
animals and how they can help the
garden.
As we start to enter the colder
months our lesson plans will start
Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.org 19Calendar
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
January - 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
CLASS RESUMES VIRTUAL VIRTUAL VIRTUAL VIRTUAL
VIRTUALLY LEARNING LEARNING LEARNING LEARNING
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
CLASSES RESUME
IN PERSON
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
MARTIN LUTHER INAUGURATION
KING JR. DAY DAY
ALL SCHOOL ALL SCHOOL
CLOSED, NO ED CLOSED, NO ED
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
SCHOOL
PLANNING DAY
ALL SCHOOL
CLOSED, NO ED
31 February - 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
PRESIDENT’S DAY
ALL SCHOOL
CLOSED, NO ED
20 Dragonfly Times • FALL 2020 • www.brooksfieldschool.orgYou can also read
