Julia's Garden Newsletter ? This One's For the Parents: Happy New Year! Parent Ed, Parent Portal, PTA, Waste Free Policy and More!

Dear Garden Parents, New and Returning!

In the Garden 🥕
Happy New Year!  We have 2 new children to welcome into our community: Percy Watterson joins Casa and Edith Black joins the Hay House.  We hope you both have a fantastic first week!  

Our garden beds could not be happier with the mild weather and plenty of rain to keep them growing green.  Ms. Natalie and the children have been busy thinning and harvesting root veggies, as well as prepping, pickling and sampling them. We have lots of announcements so be sure to read on to keep fully informed of the going-ons this month!

In the Classroom 📚
Our children are back from break and working as though they never left.  Without skipping a beat they are in full school groove, choosing work and excitedly receiving new lessons. Our eldest children are building reading skills and we are excited for all that this door will open for them.  In keeping with their progress, we are inviting children 5 years+ to participate in Library Days Wednesdays at 10:30 AM in Casetta. During Library Days, children may check out books independently to keep in their cubbies at school for one week at a time. These books may be for research or for reading enjoyment. In the latter cases, we encourage children to select books that are “just right”: not so hard so that they become frustrated, but “just right” for their age and reading level so they can be successful and enjoy content.  With the assistance of our morning librarians, Ms. Annie and Ms. Natalie, children can enjoy a special time in the library each week that will encourage literacy, teach care of books and foster independence.  

We will kick off our first Library Day with a special lesson from Ms. Annie on how to use our library AND we will welcome a special guest!  September Scott, author of the new book release, Sunshine Cake, will read and sing with our children in a storytime created just for them!  Sunshine Cake is the story of a happy 8 year old girl and her 5 year old pal who spread joy to their community by doing good deeds together.  Welcome, Ms. September!

Administration 👨‍👨‍👧
We are beefing up our parent communication!  Julia’s Garden has always held strong to the value of including family in all that we do, however, we recognize that rapid growth can make that family connection feel less cozy.  Therefore, we are implementing changes we hope will bridge the gap between staff and parents. With the launch of our online Parent Portal, parents will have easy access to registration forms (yes, yes they are online now), the complete school calendar, snack calendars, weekly curriculums for each class and more!  In addition, parents and staff will be able to access newsletter archives - no need to search your inboxes for past letters and information ever again. What a change for the better!  

Another communication initiative we’re taking is to establish a PTA and invite parent partnership on campus.  Stay tuned to hear more after our information session.  All parents are welcome!

Waste-Free Community 🗑❌
Julia’s Garden is a waste-free community. This way of life supports our mission of instilling green practices within our children and preserving our planet.  We require all food to arrive in reusable containers, we compost or re-pack food that the children do not consume and we sing The Compost Song. It makes sense that we are also a diaper-free community. Starting February 1st our morning communities will be diaper-free.  Families practicing toileting with diapers who have questions surrounding this transition should contact their lead guide and/or attend our Toileting with Your Tot Talk on January 30th.  Toileing with Your Tot offers clear, practical ways and resources to support your child’s transition to wearing underpants during waking hours.  Waste-free, here we come!!

Parent Education
We have so many fantastic parent ed opportunities coming up.  I encourage each of you to attend at least one and use it as a refresher course on child development.  Staff and parents alike comment on how much better connected they feel after attending a talk or series and agree that any inconvenience it may pose is well worth the takeaway. We would love to to see each of these talks as well-attended as your schedules will allow.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Coffee Talk with Katherine Parlette Hunter 
Toileting and Your Tot
Casetta
Wednesday, January 30th 10:15 - 11:30 AM

OPEN HOUSE: Wine & Wisdom with Meagan Welch 
The Mathematic Curriculum in Montessori
Main House 
Thursday, February 28th 5:30-8:00 PM

Hands-On Parent Education Series with Natalie Atwater
"How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk"
Living Room of 1702 S. 3rd Street
Wednesdays, January 23rd - February 27th, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Parent Orientation Night - JG Teachers & Staff
All invited, new & incoming parents strongly encouraged
Thursday, May 2nd 6:00-7:30 PM

Firefly Fridays 🧚🏽‍♀️
We had great time dancing our cares away with Ms. Zoe from Firefly Expressive Arts during her demo class this week. Your child can keep the rhythm going each and every Friday starting January 25th on our campus for the discounted price of just $150 per 6-week session for children over the age of 3.  JG children have priority enrollment and we hope you take advantage of this special offer.  There is still space so so contact Zoe at zoe@fireflyatx.com with questions or sign up online!

Enrichment Fridays!
January 25th - May 24th, Fridays 9:00 - 1:00 PM
Cost: $150* per 6 week session, scholarships available
*supply fees may apply
serving ages 3 - 8 years

Sample Schedule
9:00 - 9:30     Arrival, free play indoors
9:30 - 10:15     Theatre/dance class with Firefly
10:15- 10:30     Snack
10:30 -11:00     Outside time
11:00 - 11:45    Enrichment Guest Lesson
11:45 - Noon    Set up for lunch
12:00- 12:30     Lunch
12:30 - 1:00     Stories and departure

Calendar Reminders
January 21st: MLK Day, School Closed
January 23rd: How to Talk Series with Ms Natalie begins Enroll Here!
January 25th: Enrichment Fridays with Firefly Expressive Arts begins Enroll Here!
January 30th: Toileting & Your Tot with Katherine Parlette Hunter

Birthdays 🎂
A very happy birthday this month to Aldo & Emile on the 13th, William L. on the 16th, Harvey on the 19th and Senna, Emma Y. and Vivian all on the 31st!  Wonderful wishes for a great year to each of you from Julia’s Garden.

Enjoy the first of 2019 candids! I hope everyone had a great first week back in the Garden ☺️