Festivals Of Light

For the past several days we have been learning about celebrations in other countries during this time of year.

For Hanukkah, we read several books such as Hanukkah! By Roni Schotter and Latkes and Applesauce by Fran Manushkin. As a follow-up we made latkes with sour cream and applesauce with our older friends.

On St. Nicholas Day we read the book The Baker's Dozen retold by Aaron Shepard. We designed colorful replica St. Nicholas cookies.

For St. Lucia Day (December 13, in Sweden) we lit our evergreen candle crown to celebrate the Festival of Light. We made our own crowns in the art area.

We also shared the Legend of the Poinsettia retold by Tomie dePaola and made our own Poinsettia flowers from tracing our hands, cutting them out and connecting them in a flower shape. We talked about Navidad and posadas in Mexico.

Next week we will read The Gift of Kwanzaa by Synthia Saint James and talk about The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. They are Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.

Gingerbread has been the theme in our classroom this week. On Monday we learned about the St. Nicholas Day holiday celebrated in many European countries. Children clean and polish their shoes or boots and leave them by bedroom doors or on porches for St. Nicholas to fill with sweet treats like gingerbread cookies and small surprises. The children enjoyed the story, The Bakers Dozen, a St. Nicholas tale by Aaron Shepard. It was the perfect lead into our gingerbread cookie extravaganza!   On Monday we mixed up 3 batches of cookie dough and chilled them overnight. On Tuesday each child rolled out dough and cut the shapes of their choice. On Wednesday our cookie artists glazed and decorated. Everyone enjoyed tasting his or her hard work at closing circle while we read the folktale, The Gingerbread Man. We've also enjoyed reading and comparing different versions of this classic folktale.

The snow and cold weather has arrived in full force. Thank you for sending warm clothes and appropriate outdoors gear. It's the time to start including an extra pair of socks and an extra set of insulated mittens in your child's backpack. Remember we have three outdoor play times in our day and no one likes to put on cold, wet mittens.

We hope you enjoy the snow this weekend!

Melissa and Ellie

The UE and art room this week are a factory of student projects. Olives are being pressed for an olive oil lamp; models of an aqueduct, fracking, farm pollution run-off, the Roman Colosseum, and more are in the works; games to share facts on water uses; the carbon cycle, the Trojan War, and Greek theater are underway. These projects and more can be viewed at our museum next Thursday, Dec. 19, from 2-2:50, and Friday from 8:30 to 9:00.

We are also looking forward to next Monday's Saturnalia feast. Our Saturnalia potluck feast is on Monday. Please help your child prepare a Greek, Italian, or colonial American dish to share with the class for lunch. Saturnalia was an ancient Roman holiday that honored the god Saturn and brought light to the darkness of winter. Seeing that we have been studying ancient Greece and Rome, a Saturnalian feast seemed like a wonderful way to celebrate our growth and successes during the past term. Below are a couple links to websites that have ancient recipes. While it is fun to look at these recipes, do not feel you and your child need to hunt and then prepare a wild boar this weekend. Any Greek, Italian, or early American food will do. We also studied Egypt this fall, so if you have a favorite Egyptian dish.There are food allergies in the classroom, so if your recipe has tree nuts, gluten, or eggs in it, please have your child attach a note to the dish. Thank you for helping your child with this.

Thank you to those who have offered to come in for present-making following the museum next Friday, Dec. 21. If anyone else has crafts to share, let us know!

Secret Santa persons have been assigned. Students are to give a used or home-made item, or used book, that will be exchanged on the last day before break.

Finally, here is a wish list of items we hope to acquire for the UE in the near future. Please keep these in mind during holiday shopping, or you may have a good quality used option that could be shared:

-         2 sturdy floor lamps, "torchieres," (approx. 72" high) with side light;

-         2 sturdy desk lamps (not a huge base as space is limited);

-         plastic sleds; 

-         1 working digital camera (video capability a plus);

-         1 good working vacuum cleaner (used is fine!).

These will help cozy-up our room during the winter months, and allow us to continue sharing great pictures of your loved ones.

Note: When visiting the museum next week, please check out the display of lost clothing items living in the hallway. These will be donated at the end of next week if left unclaimed.

Also, helmets must be worn on children using snow skates!  

The middle school has been a beehive of activity as students work toward completing their community portrait photo collage, history project book and spontaneous project before the end of next week. There are photos everywhere, collages in various states of process, and draft after draft of text being written. On top of it all we are beginning our next study, A Struggle For Peace" with an introductory class on Monday. The curriculum, project explanations, and calendar will all be coming home for your perusal and signature on Monday.

Today was the last official day of elderly companions and younger mentoring. Amidst the fun and joy there were sad faces and promises to return. I think sometimes we don't know the profound happiness we bring to other people in the simple act of visiting and conversation. As Mack wrote in his reflection: "And when we do end, we will hug and say goodbye and I will visit her because that is what friends do for each other."

On December 15th at 1p the Bruins Alumni will play our own Brattleboro Greyhawks in a benefit game for the Brattleboro Hockey Association.  Come have a good time and support the many Hilltop kids taking part in the Brattleboro youth hockey programs.
And don't forget the raffle.  Win an autographed Bruins jersey, a signed stick, and more.  Go to www.brattleborohockey.org for details and tickets.

2014 Mount Snow Ski Ticket Fund Raiser

To benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro

Thank you for your support of the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro by assisting in the sale of ski vouchers to Mount Snow, Valid January 6-17, 2014.

Tickets will be available from December 5, 2013 through January 5, 2014 or until they are sold out. We only have a limited supply of tickets.

The price of each ticket is $40.00 , payable in cash or by check made out to the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro. There are NO REFUNDS.

Contact information:

Beth Baldwin, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro

802-254-5990, ext.109     cell: 802-579-7448

Battle of the Paddle: Saturday, January 4 registration 8-8:30am

The Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary will host this double elimination Ping Pong Tournament at the Gibson Aiken Center, 3rd Floor. Divisions for 11 and under; 12-15 and 16 and over. Fee is $15 in advance and $20 day of. Prizes awarded. Net proceeds benefit Sunrise Rotary projects. for more info contact Sandy Shriver.