Our 2nd Annual Nomadic Festival!!!!

We are so excited to be hosting the Nomadic Cultural Festival again this year. It is going to be bigger and better! We will have a few vendors, a food truck to buy a healthy meal or smoothie, more performers and activities for children and adults as well! Go to the main page to buy a ticket!! Don’t forget some raffle tickets!!

Yuletide at the Yurt

It was a chilly day, but friends, parents and students warmed themselves with hot cider and a toasty campfire. Inside the yurt three local vendors set up their wares for last minute shopping. The kids were excited to see that Santa took time out of his busy schedule to see them. Even two staff members brought their handmade crafts to sell. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the season.

Wishing a Safe and Happy Holiday to our Apple Blossom family and friends!

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If you would like to know more about our wonderful vendors here are their websites:

https://www.maggieshealingpath.com/ herbal products and remedies

And beautiful fine art made with seaweed and other items from our coastlines https://saltwaterstudionewport.com/

https://www.whatifkits.com/ creative play kits curated for children

The Yuletide Yurt…

…..was dressed up for the holidays and Santa came by to say “hello”.

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!

Our students participated in our annual Lantern Walk last week.

Our Lil’ Roots, Sprouts, and Blossoms classrooms shared a beautiful, light-centered experience called the Lantern Walk, which took place in each of our three classrooms. Here’s how the Sprouts in Miss Destinii’s classroom celebrated the event:

After dimming the lights, Miss Destiii sat in her chair with the “little gnomes” in her charge gathered in a circle around her. In a soft, soothing voice, she called each child up one by one to quietly collect their sparkly lantern that they had decorated that week.

The electric candle lanterns emitted a soothing light that tamed even the most talkative tots. As the teacher handed out the lanterns, she whispered: “This is how the lantern likes to walk in the night, so quietly, and so gently,” lulling each child into a mood of reflective curiosity.

As each child collected their lantern and headed back to their circle of friends, an expectant expression washed over their faces – they knew something special was at hand.

Finally when the last child collected their special lantern, Miss Destinii, still in a hushed voice, told an ancient tale of a man named Martin who was traveling on foot to the city of Amiens one day. Martin reveled in his natural surroundings, and pleased with the bounty nature had to offer, proclaimed that the world was good.

As night fell and he entered the city gate, Martin lit his lantern and saw a man barely clothed, crouched and shivering. Martin removed his own cloak, tore it in two, and lay one half over the man, giving him his lantern for light and warmth.

That night, Martin had a dream that an angel, addressing him as “St. Martin” , thanked him for giving warmth and light to the shivering man. Inspired, Martin vowed to feed and clothe those in need for the rest of his life.

The lanterns the children held in their small hands symbolized the potential in each child to bring light and warmth to others, just as Martin did for the shivering man.

At the conclusion of the story, Miss Destinii asked the children to rise from their places on the rug and form a line. Joined by Apple Blossom’s director, Miss Tracey, everyone began to sing together: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”

When the song was finished, Miss Destinii gently instructed the children: “Now little gnome, share your little light with all your friends!”

The Lantern Walk culminated in a special snack of cider, the kids pressed the day before and apple cake prepared by Chef Michaela in Apple Blossom’s vegetarian kitchen. By lantern light, the children ate alongside Miss Destinii and Miss Tracey and chatted about the story, and about their day.

Our Staff is now Fully Vaccinated!

Our entire staff was invited to get vaccinated at Barrington Middle School on March 13th and our second shots on April 10th. This clinic was set up for all teachers and day care workers in the town of Barrington, shortly after the State announced that all school workers were eligible, no matter what age bracket.

We still follow recommended protocols in the classroom, wearing masks and disinfecting our hands but along with our UV air disinfecting system we are happy that we are able to keep our Apple Blossom family safer and moving forward to normalcy.

It’s been a hard year, but sharing our days with our friends here at the school has made it joyful and a lot less difficult. There is nothing like a child’s smile to make you forget the world’s troubles. Our teacher’s assistant Kelly once said “if I could do this every day, I would”.

Lil' Roots Spring/Summer Newsletter

Dear Lil’ Roots Friends and Families,

We are so happy the sunshine is here to bless our little school! The trees are
blossoming and the flowers are blooming! The children have loved making new
friends and learning to play with one another! As the days get longer and the
sunshine warmer, we find ourselves opening up and breathing outward. Fresh
organic vegetables and fruits prepared by Chef Ayo, gardening, and interactive
circle times provide many wonderful sensory and relationship building
opportunities together.
One of the Nursery Rhymes we will enjoy is:
‘Caterpillar and the Mouse.’ This slow and quick tempo song helps children with
their breathing and brings surprise and joy to the game!
“Caterpillar and the Mouse”

Slowly, slowly, very slowly, creeps the caterpillar,
Slowly, slowly, very slowly, Up the wooden pillar,
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Runs the little mouse,
Quickly, quickly, very quickly, Round about the house!

Taking the time to be outside in nature allows the children to breathe fresh air,
allowing for more peaceful rest. It also allows them to gain many wonderful
sensory experiences playing with sand, mud, soil, grass, flowers, and moss.
We look forward to welcoming summer with our June Festival on June 23rd from
10am to 12pm! We look forward to spending the morning with you and your
families, sharing food, crafting, mingling, and listening to live music! We hope to
see you there!

Love,
Ms. Niya and Ms. Caroline

‘Sprouts’ Preschool Summer 2018

Dear ‘Sprouts’ Family and Friends,

Time is flying! The children have had such a wonderful first few months here
at Apple Blossom making new friends. With the warmer weather we have been
enjoying our time outside in the sun playing in the sandbox and discovering new
plants and animals. We began planting our seeds for our garden and cannot wait to
see them grow into fruits and vegetables that Chef Ayo will use for our meals.
With the longer days that summer brings us, we will bring the light of the sun through
fairy tales and songs. This season we will sing a song about the Bed of Summer.
Through regularly repeated stories, delivered in a puppet play, children grow familiar
and learn story lines and naturally build a broader vocabulary. This helps them identify with
characters which in-turn they learn to express their own thoughts and feelings in their daily
lives.

During this season, we will be singing:

‘Bed of Summer’
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see,
The birds still hopping in the tree.
Or hear the grown-up peoples feet,
Walk past me on the street.
And it does not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue.
And I should so much like to play,
To have to go to bed by day.

Welcome Sunshine!

Peacefully,
Ms. Emily