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Dear Families,
I am excited for our school year together! I feel truly lucky to be a part of your child’s education. It is important for the children to feel at home in the classroom and come together into a learning community. Our community is made up of unique individuals each with their own learning style, strengths, interests, history, hopes and dreams. I look forward to being a partner with you in your child’s learning experience. Thank you, Chelsea Seals "Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment" -Dr. Maria Montessori
Room Parents Sarah Kebler |
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Classroom Highlights
April 15, 2025
Dear Fern Families,
Happy April! It’s been such a joy hearing about your spring break adventures — both near and far. Lately, we’ve seen a resurgence of excitement around Show and Tell. The treasures your children have brought in from nature, along with the stories behind them, have been a true gift. These moments offer wonderful opportunities for us to practice gracious listening, patience, and the art of asking thoughtful questions.
This season is filled with celebrations, and we’re looking forward to Earth Day! We’ve begun conversations about the importance of caring for our planet and recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things. April is also National Poetry Month, and as a culmination of our poetry study, we’ll be creating a class poem about planet Earth. Once it’s complete, I’ll be sure to share it with all of you.
In our afternoon chapter book time, we recently finished our first autobiography of the year. We explored the life of Helen Keller and how she opened doors and sparked important conversations about ability. It’s been inspiring to hear the thoughtful discussions born from curiosity and wonder — a beautiful reminder of the open hearts and inclusive spirits of young children. The sense of belonging and the belief that everyone is welcome are powerful lessons that resonate through our classroom and beyond.
Upcoming Dates:
April 25th Parent Visting Day 8:30-9:30
May 1st May Day Celebration (Kindergarten families only - see Waypoints for details)
Wishing you all good health and joyful moments in the weeks ahead!
Warmly,
Chelsea, Junghwha, Penny, and Merissa
March 17, 2025
Dear Fern Families,
I want to thank you for your time during conferences this past week. It is always an honor to share your child’s growth and progress. Your support and partnership mean so much, and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with you.
During our afternoon chapter book time, we have been exploring some of Aesop’s fables. These timeless stories have sparked wonderful discussions about qualities such as perseverance, humility, friendship, and honesty. It has been a joy to see students reflect on these values and how they can apply them in their own lives.
As we head into spring break, I wish you all a restful and refreshing time, whether your adventures take you far or you are staying close to home. May this break bring joy, relaxation, and meaningful moments for your family.
Looking forward to seeing everyone after the break!
February 18, 2025
Dear Fern Families,
We’ve had a wonderful few weeks in the Fern classroom and are excited to share what’s been happening!
Lunar New Year Celebrations
We recently learned about Lunar New Year and the traditions that make it so special. Junghwa shared some meaningful family customs, including the creation of lanterns. These lanterns remind us to welcome light, hope, and unity into our hearts and homes for the year ahead. It was a beautiful opportunity to reflect on new beginnings and the power of light!
Sledding Party Success
The Sledding Party on National Hot Cocoa Day was a huge hit! It was wonderful to spend time outdoors with the Elementary classes and enjoy the crisp winter air together.
Valentine’s Day Reflections
Valentine’s Day was a time for us to explore authentic ways of spreading love and kindness. Leading up to the day, we read the touching book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. This story helped us understand how every act of kindness creates ripples that can impact the entire community. As a part of our activities, the children took turns dropping pebbles—symbolizing acts of kindness—into a bowl of water. It was a powerful reminder that kindness spreads far and wide.
Our favorite part of the day was hearing your children share thoughtful and sweet messages for their Surprise Valentine. It truly warmed our hearts to see their thoughtfulness in action!
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Primary Parent Visiting Day: February 26th from 8:30–9:30 AM (One adult per child, please, as space is limited)
- Conferences: March 13th (half day) and March 14th (no school)
- Grandparent’s Day: Please share Grandparent’s Day addresses by March 21st via Ravenna
As always, thank you for your continued support. We look forward to all the exciting things to come!
January 15, 2025
Dear Fern Room Families,
Welcome back! I hope everyone’s break went well and you find yourself refreshed and filled with readiness to ring in the New Year. It has been a delight to hear about all the different adventures that took place these past few weeks. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly children settle back into their routine – despite the time away. It is a good reminder to check my own heart: am I too, flexible and gracious with change or do I tend to be rigid and unwavering with the waves of the seasons? Lao Tzu says it best, “A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind.”
In honor of MLK Day on January 20, we are spending time this week honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our study will culminate with a birthday celebration in his honor complete with a taste of one of his favorite foods and a declaration of our dreams for peace.
It’s my pleasure to welcome Mason and his family into the Fern Room. Mason recently moved up from Agnes’s class and we are so glad he is here!
On January 30th, the primary team is hosting our Montessori Up Close night. We will share details about the Kindergarten capstone experience. While your child must meet the age requirement (five years old by September 1) and receive an invitation from their guide to begin kindergarten, this informative event is for everyone. Please use the link below to RSVP and sign up for child care.
December 16, 2024
Dear Fern Families,
It happened again…we blinked and December is upon us!
We would like to extend the warmest of welcomes to Liam who recently moved up from Betsy’s YCC room and Adrian who joined us from Agnes’s community. As our classroom continues to grow, it has been an honor to witness how our older students have embraced the younger ones. It is a true testimony of growth and empathy.
For many families, this time of year is an opportunity to prepare our homes and hearts for a season of joy and giving. It is so easy to get caught up in the flurry of activity and I am often reminded that simply our presence is the greatest gift of all.
As we move into our final week together before the break, we wish you all health and happiness as you ring in this New Year.
November 22, 2024
Dear Fern Room Families,
During this season of thankfulness, I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for the time you took to meet during conferences. Raising children takes a team and I am honored to be part of yours.
Last week, the Elementary classrooms invited the Primary communities to participate in our annual Ruby Bridges Walk. It was a great opportunity to come together as a larger community and remember that sometimes the most powerful actions begin with a single step.
Your children have been working hard to prepare our centerpiece for our upcoming Harvest Feast (Tuesday, Nov. 26th). We have taken inspiration from one of our new favorite books, Thankful by Elaine Vickers, and are creating our own gratitude chain. We have all been adding a new link to our chain each day, and watching it grow brings great joy!
Please take a look at the attached flyer for more details about our Harvest Feast.
*Most notable is that gluten can now be enjoyed by everyone! If your dish contains dairy, eggs, or sunflower and pumpkin seeds ...please label it!
Lastly, I would love to welcome the newest member of our community, Ellie! Ellie’s older sister, Chloe, is across the hall in the Thistle Room. One of the most tender parts of each day is watching all of our pairs of siblings help one another get settled into their coat rooms before popping over to join their classrooms. The tender, loving care that ripples throughout our whole school is the truest testimony of the heart of this community.
On behalf of all of us in the Fern Room, we wish you and your family the very best during this time of Thanks and Giving.
Cheers,
The Fern Room Team
October 16, 2024
Dear Fern Families,
In true Michigan fashion, it feels like we have welcomed a new season seemingly overnight! We have been bustling with new autumn energy and enjoying the beauty that comes with the changing of the season. Penny has initiated a Seed Saving project that has prompted us to explore the far reaches of our gardens where we have gathered and prepared to store seeds from native plants. Our Seed Bank will house these precious seeds until they are ready to plant next spring. As our weather continues to turn, please be mindful of labeling all items of clothing that come to school.
At the very end of September, we came together as a school for the first time this year in honor of the International Day of Peace. Angela led us in a beautiful chorus of the Peace Round followed by the song Give Us Hope. Hearing our voices lifted in song as one unified school, was a truly moving experience.
These experiences are not purely a result of special events or celebrations. Each day, we are witnesses to beautiful moments both big and small. We are excited to extend an invitation for you to plan a time to observe through our observation window so you too can be a witness to the beauty within our classroom. This link will lead you to an opportunity to sign up for a 30-minute time slot. Upon your arrival, you will find a set of guidelines posted near our observation stool. These guidelines will help you understand a more complete picture of what you may be seeing.
Announcements and Upcoming Events:
-Oct. 18th: Join us this Friday from 6:30 – 8:30 for our Primary Deep Dive: a flyer was sent home today and information can also be found in the latest edition of Waypoints
-Oct. 21st: School Picture Day
-Oct. 29th: Parent Visiting Day 8:30 – 9:30
-Oct. 31st: Pumpkin Fun Day
Please see the message below from our team of specialists: Steve, Alison Hoffman, and Angela;
The kindergarten group has been practicing lots of throwing and catching both independently and with a partner. The 3- and 4-year-olds have spent their time in the gym on balance bikes and tricycles as well as balloon play.
Kindergarten art has it’s first lesson this Friday, can’t wait to spend some time with those students!
During group time, we have been working on “Funga Alafia” with the arms and legs motions. Eventually, this becomes a circle dance. It is a song of welcome and community. We have also started working on keeping a steady beat while singing “Senwa Dedenda”. We are also 5 instruments into our exploration of new sounds from African origins. Kindergarten music starts next Friday.
Lastly, we would like to welcome Brody and his family into the Fern Room. Brody moved up from Betsy’s class at the beginning of October and we are so glad he is here!
Peacefully,
Chelsea, Penny, Junghwa, and Merissa
September 16, 2024
Dear Fern Families,
What a gift these past few weeks have been! Your children have brought so much joy, light, and laughter into our space and already our classroom feels like we are building a strong sense of community.
We have been talking a lot about what it means to work together and to care for and create a classroom with a strong sense of teamwork. One of our favorite works to share at the beginning of the year is the Roman Arch. When we construct this replica, based on the knowledge passed down from the builders of the ancient civilization, we quickly learn that each stone has a purpose and a place. Each is needed to support the stone beside it, and without each piece in its proper place – the whole structure will tumble down.
We too are part of something bigger than ourselves. We all belong to a community of learners who deserve to feel safe, enjoy the right to work, discover, explore, and learn peacefully, and use the gifts inside ourselves to contribute to the greater good. Whether your child is a kindergartener learning to be a gracious role model or a new student who is learning to roll a rug gracefully, we all belong.
It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your family through your child and we look forward to the partnership to come!
Reminders:
- Welcome calls will begin this week. If you see a number from the school pop up, please don’t be alarmed, I am just checking in.
- Photos have been uploaded through Transparent Classroom. If you haven’t seen anything come through in your email, please let me know and we will get the issue resolved.
Thank you for entrusting your greatest gift to us.
Cheers,
Chelsea, Penny, Junghwa, and Merissa